by Karl Terry

He might have been an Italian from Raton at the core, but he became a true Portalesano long before his life in the desert ran out on Aug. 20 at age 81. I really didn't know Tony Gennaro closely, but like a lot of other people who got acquainted with him, if you chatted with him once you felt like old friends. When you saw Tony again that's just the way he made you feel — like an old friend.

Before I knew the man I knew the legend from television. That's right, Tony was the star of his own television show and quite the celebrity — at least within the broadcast range of KENW-TV in eastern New Mexico.

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Source: http://www.pntonline.com/