Some Monument to Last

Book excerpt: 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.