Ever driven around town or a farm with the windows down and the air conditioning on, just soaking it all in? That’s how Charlie Kamuf spent much of his free time, typically with Diet Coke in his hand and an Oatmeal Cream Pie always within arm’s reach.
The accomplished attorney, philanthropist, entrepreneur, and local character died on Saturday, leaving behind a legacy as colorful as the stories he used to tell. He was 85.
Born on April 23, 1939, Kamuf grew up on what was then the outskirts of Owensboro, where the Texas Gas building now stands.
“That was the old home place,” his wife of 56 years, Linda, said. “Four families lived in that house together, and it was always full of life and stories.”
After selling the property to Texas Gas, the Kamufs moved to the corner of 12th and Hickman, where a young Charlie took advantage of the home’s close proximity to the Sportscenter and Moreland Park. He even took a job at the iconic Sportscenter just so he could have a front-row seat when professional wrestling came to town.
His family described his life as one of determination, community involvement, and an unparalleled knack for making connections. They said he “never met a stranger.”
Whether chatting up someone in line at the Big Dipper or striking up a conversation at church, Kamuf had a gift for turning acquaintances into friends.
Kamuf also had quite a sense of humor. He authored a self-published book, Quotable Quotes for Everyday Life, filled with sayings like, “Pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered,” and, “You only live once in life, but if you live it right, once is enough.” Another favorite of his was “A Lawyer’s Guarantee: Reasonable doubt for a reasonable price.”
Linda recalled how he wanted to number his jokes so he could just say, “Let me tell you number 25,” and everyone would know which punchline was coming.
His humor extended to family traditions.
After surviving a bout of E. coli, Kamuf began moving marbles from one jar to another each week, essentially counting his time left on Earth. When the marbles ran out, his family joked; he would just move them back in the other direction, filling up both jars on multiple occasions.
“We started buying him marbles for Christmas and birthdays,” his son Charlie Kamuf II said.
His family emphasized that his lighthearted approach didn’t mean he lacked depth.
“He believed in education, work ethic, and a positive attitude, which are lessons he instilled in all of us,” Kamuf II. “He would often say, ‘If you have four friends, you’re very blessed,’ and emphasized the value of meaningful relationships.”
Professionally, Kamuf practiced law for 59 years and represented organizations like the Diocese of Owensboro and Brescia University, where he served as a board member and former chairman.
Despite his professional polish, his family described him as “one of the worst drivers in Owensboro,” often distracted by everything happening around him. It’s no surprise, given he had a front-row seat to Owensboro’s transformation over the years.
He was also a self-described “collector of farms,” spending weekends driving through western Kentucky and southern Indiana with his family, stopping at small stores for Cokes and sandwiches. Linda said he had a notepad in his wallet, where he would continually add some of his favorite dining destinations.
Several of the farms he scouted and eventually purchased would later house notable businesses, including his personal favorite: Texas Roadhouse.
His knack for business extended to co-owning tobacco warehouses, which occasionally moonlighted as event halls hosting the likes of Duke Ellington and Count Basie.
As a student at Brescia University, Kamuf once found him in the middle of a conversation with John F. Kennedy during his presidential campaign.
“He went to Louisville to see JFK,” Linda said. “He tried to get by to speak with him several times but couldn’t. So, he posed as a reporter and got right in. He said, ‘I just spoke to JFK for 15 minutes.’ He did, too, and he has the photo to prove it.”
Kamuf II joked about how his father always had lady luck on his side.
“He always had a knack for showing up at just the right time,” he said. “We would all just finish setting up the Christmas tree, and then he would walk in the door. Or, he would show up right at tip for a game at the Sportscenter, and somehow, a spot near the entrance would come available.”
His daughter, Christy Hayden, reflected on one of his common euphemisms: “If you do it wrong the first time, they won’t ask you to do it again.”
“He mowed the yard one time, and he didn’t do it right,” Linda said. “He would mow all of the clippings to the middle, but then he would mow over them again and throw them everywhere.”
Needless to say, Linda handled the mowing from that point forward.
His grandson Chandler Head recalled multiple hunting trips with his grandfather, where the elder would show up wearing cashmere sweaters while hunting.
“His hunting buddies eventually bought him camouflage,” Chandler said.
In his typical forward-thinking style, he planned ahead for his funeral in a uniquely personal way, hosting a “pallbearer’s breakfast” in 2013 to gather the men he wanted to carry his casket. Since then, most of those men have passed away, and only one is in condition to join some newcomers in fulfilling that role on Thursday.
Kamuf served on the board and regularly volunteered at St. Benedict’s Homeless Shelter and the Help Office. He was the previous chairman of the Daviess County Democratic Party and donated land to Brescia University to house their baseball and softball programs. He was also instrumental in developing the parking lot near Owensboro Catholic High School so students no longer had to cross Parrish Avenue to enter the school.
Kamuf’s funeral will be held on Thursday, December 5, at 10 a.m. at St. Stephen’s Cathedral, with Bishop William Medley presiding. There will be a visitation at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory on Wednesday, December 4, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
So, here’s a reminder to enjoy those Oatmeal Cream Pies. If cruising through town with windows down and the air on feels right, go for it. Time flies, and no one knows when it will be time to move that last marble.
“Charlie never sat still,” Linda said. “He loved life, and he loved people. And in return, everyone loved Charlie.”
Author’s note: Two weeks ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Kamuf for the first time on the sidelines of Steele Stadium during a Catholic High football game. We exchanged jokes, and he asked me to subscribe him to the Owensboro Times on the spot.
