Willie Nelson Photo Courtesy of Lost Highway Records
December 26, 2007 — Willie Nelson hasn't forgotten a town that knew him before he was famous, and he gave a gift that showed how much he valued his time there.
The AP reports that Willie has donated $40,000 to Vancouver, the southwestern Washington city where he sold some of his first records a half-century ago. When he performed at the Amphitheater near Vancouver on June 30, he promised to share some of the proceeds with the city and area charities.
In the late 1950s, Willie worked as a disc jockey for Vancouver station KVAN. He financed and recorded the single "No Place for Me" and sold it to some of his listeners. He soon moved back to his native Texas and then on to Nashville and fame.
Vancouver received the $40,000 check three weeks ago. On Wednesday, the city gave $15,000 to the Humane Society of Washington and $15,000 to the Boys and Girls Club. Colleen Kawahara, Vancouver special projects coordinator, said the remaining $10,000 would be used for efforts to make city government and the community more ecologically friendly.
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