Some Monument to Last Now Available
When television viewers see James Muñoz on the air, they see a man who has achieved his lifelong dream. They don’t see the lonely, sexually abused child with a father-sized hole in his heart. James grew up missing the father he never knew and spent much of his early adulthood searching for his paternal family.
Today he uses the name Muñoz (his mother’s maiden name) on the air to honor his maternal family and Hispanic heritage and the name Doughty (his surname) in private life to honor his father and his paternal family’s legacy. He shares his story to inspire and encourage others to achieve their dreams regardless of the challenges they face. His grandmother’s poems and his father’s letters that helped fill that empty place in his heart will touch the hearts of readers, and his advice to young people will motivate them to build their own monuments to last.
The book Some Monument to Last: Memoir of TV Journalist James Muñoz with Family Poems and Letters is now available. Place your order today.
A Family Legacy
When I finally made contact with my father's family, my aunt gave me photographs and my grandmother's journal containing poems she had written between 1936 and 1971. Though old and frayed, this journal is a priceless treasure to me because through it I have come to know the grandmother I never met.
An Historic Meeting
My interview with Walter Cronkite was special because I was interviewing a legend in the news business. But the occasion was even more special for me because that's when I met my great-uncle Preston Doughty and finally had the link to contact my father's family.
Our Doughty Families
My great-uncle Preston gave me a book, Our Doughty Families published in 1969. Through this book, I learned that my legacy is public service. Over the years my people have demonstrated courage and a strong commitment to do the right thing. The name Doughty means bold, and it is a fitting name for the family I am part of.
