'Dukes of Hazzard' fan captures hearts of show's stars

BRANSON, Mo. -- Nathan Kissee has a room full of "Dukes of Hazzard" memorabilia, 42 "Dukes" shirts and photo albums full of pictures of him with the stars from his favorite show such as Catherine Bach and Tom Wopat. He even has his own basset hound named Flash.

But there is only one thing left to complete this loyal fan's collection: his own General Lee driven by Bo Duke, actor John Schneider, himself. And thanks to the efforts of a former Branson entertainer, Nathan's dream could come true very soon.

Priscilla Stewart, Nathan's mother, admits she isn't surprised by the possibility because she considers Nathan's whole life to be a miracle.

She says the 16-year-old has had 25 brain surgeries in his lifetime.

She said her son's ailments of hydrocephalus, or "water on the brain," and cerebral palsy began causing him brain damage when he was about six weeks old.

"The doctors told me he would never talk, never walk, never eat on his own, and all I could do was take him home and love him," Stewart said. "I prayed, I fasted and eventually he started to talk and started to walk and look at him now."

Stewart said Nathan's passion for "The Dukes of Hazzard" began when he was about five years old, and they were watching reruns of the show on television.

"He loved watching the car jump," Stewart said.

Nathan declined to choose a favorite episode saying, "I like them all."

Former Branson entertainer Paul Harris can be credited with helping Nathan meet Schneider.

Stewart said Nathan grew fond of Harris' comedy while the entertainer was performing at the Pierce Arrow Theater in Branson.

Stewart said Harris and Nathan's family became close friend.

Harris offered to send Nathan and his family on a trip anywhere they wanted to go through the Mariah Foundation, which Harris founded for children with cerebral palsy.

"So that night I asked Nathan where he wanted to go, and he told me 'Nowhere."' Stewart said. "Then he said, 'I want to meet Bo Duke.'

Stewart she made a call to a phone number she had received from a man claiming to be a friend of Schneider's, which he said was to the star's home.

"It went to his secretary. I was shocked," Stewart said.

Eventually, Nathan's entire family was invited to the actor's home in Agora, Calif., for a day.

"It was great," Stewart said. "He was so nice to us. He gave Nathan all kinds of things from 'The Dukes of Hazzard' and 'Smallville."'

Stewart said Schneider even made the promise to Nathan that when his General Lee was completed he would come to Branson and drive the car for him, so he could have a General Lee driven by Bo Duke.