by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
If you spend much time walking around Downtown, you’ve likely seen Duane Brown and Helen Senger at some point. At first glance, they probably came across as a pair of tourists.
That impression would be wrong.
Brown, 80, and Senger, 76, live in Cathedral Towers and they are much more than just pals who enjoy spending many of their days spinning around Downtown.
“We’re engaged,” said Brown, who declined to offer up a wedding date.
Senger moved to Jacksonville in June while Brown came here seven years ago. She’s a retired housekeeper and he is as he put it, “retired from working.”
Senger said the two spend most of their time at the Landing where they enjoy watching boats go down the river, the music and people watching.
Outside of the fact the two are wheelchair-bound and wear matching hats, the thing that catches most people’s eyes are the Ole Miss and Kansas State flags on Brown’s and Senger’s wheelchairs, respectively. Neither has an emotional or academic tie to either the Rebels or the Wildcats.
“He just likes the colors — red and blue,” said Senger. “Kansas State is just my team.”
Both added the flags and fancy pinwheels actually serve a purpose.
“They are for safety,” said Senger. “Cars and trucks can see us better.”