Some Who Have Made A Difference III

New York Times Obituary

Published: May 13, 2006

Former Representative G. V. (Sonny) Montgomery, a conservative Democrat from Mississippi who was a staunch voice for the military and the needs of veterans during his 30 years in Congress, died yesterday in his hometown, Meridian. He was 85.

His death, of natural causes, came six months after surgery for a bowel obstruction, said Ann Weddington, a spokeswoman for the Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center.

From 1967 through 1997, and particularly during his 13 years as chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, Mr. Montgomery championed legislation that increased veterans' eligibility for home loans, life insurance and medical coverage. In 1988, he was co-sponsor of the law that transformed the Veterans Administration into the 14th cabinet department in the federal government. "Veterans will no longer have to go through the back door to the White House," he said at the time.

What he considered his "signature achievement in Congress," said Kyle Steward, his legislative director for 15 years, was passage of a law expanding the G.I. Bill, the 1944 legislation credited with elevating a generation of working-class veterans into the middle class by opening their opportunities to higher education.

The so-called Montgomery G.I. Education Bill, which President Ronald Reagan signed in 1984, "enhanced education benefits for active-duty military personnel and extended those benefits to National Guard and Reserve members," Mr. Steward said. "And it was seen at the time as a boost for recruitment, because recruiting was lagging."

Gillespie V. Montgomery, known as Sonny since childhood, was born on Aug. 5, 1920. After graduating in 1943 from Mississippi State College, where he was a member of the R.O.T.C., he was commissioned as a second lieutenant. He soon saw action in Europe and received a Bronze Star.

Returning to Meridian after the war, Mr. Montgomery built a successful insurance business and began his rise to the rank of major general in the Mississippi National Guard. In 1956, he was elected to the Mississippi State Senate. Ten years later, he successfully ran for Congress.

In 1981, he became chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee, while also serving as a senior member of the Armed Services Committee. He worked consistently to obtain money for the military. Describing himself as a conservative Democrat, Mr. Montgomery was a leading sponsor in 1989 of a proposed amendment to the Constitution that would have banned the burning of the American flag.

"If we don't do something," he said at the time, "I fear that Americans, and especially veterans groups, are going to stop the desecration of the flag in their own way, and people are going to get hurt." The proposal failed, after a Supreme Court ruling that struck down a Texas law against defacing the flag.

The next year, Mr. Montgomery led a Congressional delegation to North Korea, where, for the first time since 1954, the Communist government there turned over the remains of service members killed in the Korean War.

Mr. Montgomery, who never married, was an only child and leaves no immediate survivors.

At a lean, athletic 6-foot-2, he was a good friend, and tennis opponent, of the first President Bush. Last year (2005), the current President Bush awarded him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.


 

Another Writer From Meridian

J. Gregory Keyes is a prolific author of fantasy novels. He received degrees in anthropology from Mississippi State and the University of Georgia before becoming a fulltime writer. He was born in Meridian and spent his childhood in Mississippi and on the Navajo Indian Reservation in Arizona. His immersion in Navajo culture at an early age, coupled with tales drawn from his own family’s partial Native American ancestry, led Keyes to his interest in linguistics, rituals, myths, and legends.

His first novel, The Waterborn was released in 1996, and his second, The Blackgod, came out the following year. His third novel, Newton’s Cannon, launched his Age of Unreason series, an alternative-history fantasy in which Isaac Newton discovers the secrets of alchemy. Subsequent titles in the series are A Calculus of Angels (1999), Empire of Unreason (2000), and the final installment in the series, The Shadows of God (2001). He has also authored several books in the Star Wars: The New Jedi Order series, Edge of Victory I: Conquest and Edge of Victory II: Rebirth, under the name Greg Keyes (2001). The Briar King (2003), was the first book in the Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone series.

He lives in Savannah, Georgia. Greg is also the head coach of the Savannah College of Art and Design's fencing club.

from the "Mississippi Writers Page" which is a multi-faceted Internet Resource about writers in, from, or otherwise associated with the state of Mississippi. It is presented by the Department of English at the University of Mississippi

A long interview with Greg Keyes

Some Who Have Made A Difference II

For boys and young men growing up in Meridian in our era, the contibutions to our lives on the part of the Davidson Family was huge. When they morphed out of the St. Louis Junk Company the very successful Southern Pipe and Southern Electric Companies, the result to us was that they provided many jobs — when jobs were precious and hard to find — and guidance to those of us who sought to strike out on our own. I have searched in vain to obtain brief biographies of Sammie and Meyer Davidson. Alas, I fear they won’t exist until someone decides to write and publish their remarkable stories.

I personally spent many Saturdays helping Sue Hillis maintain the lighting fixtures in the Southern Electric Showroom. I mounted and electrically connected the fixtures in the dropout mounting “tiles”. I enjoyed the work and, at that young age, I really enjoyed the ‘farmer’s daughter-type” jokes told by the contractors when they dropped by to select fixtures.

In my opinion, Jews were the “glue” that held together many small towns and small cities during our tumultous era. There is an active gentrification effort going on throughout the South, attempting to restore the nature and endearing character of these places back to that that existed before the Walmart-type, big box stores hollowed them out with their outskirts locations.

Are there price differences at the big box stores to add to their customer appeal? Yes, decidedly there are. But, do the store managers know shoppers by their first names and often allow folks to purchase items, knowing full well that the person just lost his— or her — job, but is of good character and will pay for the merchandise... eventually? Don’t bet on it.

This recognition is, in no way, a depreciation of all the others who have made Meridian that pleasant place of which we have fond memories. Many, many people have added a texture and meaning to our town. I just don’t want to let our memory of the large value- added that the Davidsons have made escape mention as we review our past.

I honor the contribution(s) Jews have made to my Meridian, in particular, and Southern life, in general. It is immeasurable. And knowledge of this is indelibly imprinted into my mind.

If you want to learn more about this subject, click on:

Jewish Contributions to our Meridian

I welcome input about other important contributors to our young lives who are no longer around.

Some Who Have Made A Difference

Paul E. Broadhead (10/36 - 8/07)

A native of Needham, Ala., Broadhead lived most of his life in Meridian. In the late 1960s, he founded a small Meridian real estate development company and grew it into what would become one of the nation's Top 10 regional shopping mall developers.

Hartley Peavey, CEO and founder of Peavey Electronics said that he’d lost his best friend when Paul died. “I met him in 1959 at a fraternity party and I've known him ever since”, Peavey said. Peavey said Broadhead was one of the greatest men he’s ever met and one of the most unique and extremely knowledgeable. ”You couldn’t talk about anything he couldn’t talk about”, Peavey said. "When I encountered problems in my professional life and frankly in my personal life, he is who I would turn to, and I'm going to miss him. There was a bond of entrepreneurship Peavey shared with Broadhead as well.

“Entrepreneurs are cut from a little bit different cloth”, Peavey said. He added that his friend was not always popular locally because he called it like was. But, he went on, "Successful people are people who are willing to do the things unsuccessful people don’t want to do, and those are the people who bring home the bacon, whether it is to their own home, throughout a community, a region, a nation or beyond. As human beings the best we can expect to do is help each other", Peavey said. "And Paul Broadhead helped a lot of people”.

Click on to read:
A profile in giving

His philanthropy in the Meridian community is well known through his donation of buildings and founding of numerous organizations including the Meridian Boxing Club, Hilltop House for Boys, Kress Building Youth Center, Friendship Center and the Lauderdale County Juvenile Detention Center, as well as his support of many local charities.

Meridian Museum of Art

For me, this place was the "liberry" until about age 6 when it became the library.

Click on for larger picture


       
The Little Museum that could, and did,
By Anne McKee
guest columnist, Meridian Star


The invitation dated October 1970 was simply stated, but loudly proclaimed a victory. The long anticipated dream of an arts center for the city of Meridian was realized in the form of a historic building, once having housed the Meridian Public Library, converted into an elegant center for the Meridian arts community.

The history of the arts community in the Meridian area is rich, and historically longstanding, which resulted with the formation of The Meridian Art League in February 1933. The first exhibition featured works of Charles Le Clair, director of the Arts Department at the University of Alabama, and at this period of time, the exhibitions were held at the Lamar Hotel.

In 1949, The League changed its name to the Meridian Art Association and held its first exhibit, under the new name, on the second floor of Marks Rothenberg Company (now the MSU/Riley Performing Arts Building) in March 1949. The show featured thirty paintings from seventeen New Orleans based artists.

Over the next two decades, the Art Association held exhibits, gallery talks, and workshops around the city at various locations, including the Meridian Public Library, The Strand Theatre, Alex Loeb Department Store, First National Bank, Merchants and Farmers Bank, Sears, and the Broadmoor Shopping Center, but the home for most exhibitions were located at Weidmann Restaurant’s, 1870 Room. The first exhibits in the 1870 room were of the work of Caroline Durieux of New Orleans.

And, finally, with the vacancy of the old Carnegie Library building, resulting from the building of a new Meridian Public Library at its present day location, the time came for the Meridian Art Association to have a permanent home gallery. In January 1968, a meeting was held in the conference room of the Carnegie Library, and with great excitement, plans were discussed to renovate the facility into a haven for the Meridian area artists.

As mentioned above, the original structure housing The Meridian Museum of Art first served as The Meridian Public Library, which was a Carnegie Library completed around 1912/1913, and served the Meridian community until 1966/1967, when the current library was constructed. At the time when Library property became available, in 1968, it was agreed by The City of Meridian to convert the building into the arts center. In December 1968, The Meridian Art Association initiated a drive to raise $10,000.00 seed money, to start the museum, and after many hours of concentrated efforts, by many Meridianites, the grand opening was scheduled for January 1970.

Then, the unthinkable happened; a fire severely damaged the facility less than 30 days before the scheduled grand opening.

The date was December 22, 1969. The fire was extensive.The arts community was devastated. Some even doubted if the building would be reconstructed; but that was not the spirit of Meridian and her people.The Meridian City Council ordered immediate rebuilding of the Museum of Art building and within eight months the rebuilding was complete.

The Meridian Museum of Art, now with over five hundred members, continues to lead the way in the Meridian area, providing artistic opportunities for every age group, with each level of technique and design, while blending the new trends with the old favorites.

Darryl Vincent and the Flares

Click on for a larger picture

The following information was generously provided me by the ageless George Cummings. Still rocking after all these years.

Darryl Vincent (1942 - 1975)

The original band on the early records were Darryl, Jimmy Pasquale, Denny Powers and Zack Martin. J Pasquale had to go to camp and I was hired to take his place in '58. After he returned, we went and got a job in Gulf Shores at the Canal Lounge, 5 nites a week. Zack couldn't leave Meridian, so we got Austin Phillips to drum. We got another gig in Mobile at the big Melody Club next to Brookley Field Air force base.The Club seated hundreds of people and we packed it out. Hired 2 black guys to play with us, Eddie Connors on vocals who had a regional hit at the time with" World of Make Believe", great record, I wish I had a copy of it today. Prince Connelly played great blues guitar and sang. We were probably the first integrated band in the South in '58.

Austin had to go back to high school so we got Knobby Walsh to replace him on drums. We loaded up Darryl's Volkswagen bus and drove to Chicago, our first big trip to a large city. We got an audition at Chess Records and they liked us and we cut two songs with Etta James, Larry Williams and Harvey Fuqua of the Moonglows (Etta's husband at the time) singing background vocals.(see below) One song was "Shed No Tears". I can't remember the other one. Because Darryl was already signed to Sandy Records in Mobile caused us some complications and our Chess record was not released.

Remember these? Click on to listen.

Etta James
Larry Williams
Harvey and the Moonglows

Want a tale from the road? I'm sure George, Jimmy and Denny have many, many stories. Maybe a couple could even be told to a mixed audience.

While in Chicago doing the Chess thing we rented a big room with 5 beds across the street from the record company. We were resting one day when the old black maid came in to clean, she told us this room we were staying in was Al Capone's main hotel suite. The next day we went to record and left our bus outside the door of the studio in broad daylight. After hours of recording we came back elated and excited only to find someone had broken into the bus and stolen everything we had brought to Chicago clothes, shoes, luggage, etc. and Jimmy's shotgun he had brought along. Totally wiped us out. Lucky we had left on our instruments and amps inside and they survived. We went and told Leonard Chess ( the owner of the record company) and he wrote us a check for $150. Found out later that they busted a ring of Chicago policemen for breaking into cars.

Darryl used his grandmother's old pistol to close out his gig in '75 at 33 years old.

Brad Watson - Meridian Author

Brad Watson's grandparents, Earl and Maggie Mae, his father, Robert Earl, and his aunt, Margie, lived directly behind me — and across Highway 45N — when I was growing up in Marion. If you remember going into the Vanity Boot Shop, you may have run into Brad (born in 1955) crawling around on the floor being chased around by his mother, Bonnie, Robert Earl's wife. The Watsons owned "Willow Lake", a 25+ acre paradise just north of Marion where I spent a lot of time fishing and learning how to water ski. I've been in touch with Brad via e-mail to congratulate him on his work and to exchange a tidbit of family information.

Brad's first novel: "The Heaven of Mercury" is set in a highly fictionalized Meridian (Mercury=Meridian) with rich images of our hometown. The deeply drawn characters resemble certain folks I think I recognize, but they are presented, as they should be, in such a way as to defy concrete identification. I love his vague, but discretely disguised Threefoot Building. I've read this book twice, enjoying it more the second time through. If you have not done so, I strongly recommend reading it — and his wonderful short stories, too . Brad Watson is a terrific writer. Importantly, he loves dogs and writes about them. That alone made me a fan. You should read his stuff.

He's another homeboy who done done good.

Click on:

If you don't know about him, you should.

A Review of Heaven of Mercury by Southern Scribe

A recent short story by Brad Watson in The New Yorker, "Visitation".

And a thoughtful, insightful review of "Visitation".


Homeboy done done good.

Sam Mockbee - A Meridian Masterpiece

12/1944 - 12/2001- gone, at just 57 years old. A world renowned architect and well-regarded artist

An article written by "Sambo" Mockbee

More about Sam Mockbee

Emerging Meridian Writer

Mary Miller "lived" in Meridian, Mississippi with her husband and puppy (Now she's single and recently moved to Nashville). She graduated from Mississippi State with a degree in Psychology. And she wrote that she was in graduate school and worked, but not very much, at a children’s shelter.

Mary Miller's short story collection, BIG WORLD, was published by Short Flight/Long Drive Books in February 2009. Though previously known mainly for her pitch-perfect flash fiction, Miller's debut collection of full-length short stories is already receiving some wonderful praise. Kim Chinquee notes that, "Big World is a world of wonder. A powerful collection by an amazing writer." Johnathan Messinger adds in his review for Time Out Chicago that the stories construct a "sense of claustrophobia [that] never lets up." HTMLGIANT is unequivocal in praise, stating simply, "I am, without a doubt, profoundly envious of her work: I wish it were mine." Miller's stories have been published in Black Clock, Mississippi Review, Oxford American, and New Stories from the South 2008, among other places, and more stories are forthcoming in such magazines as McSweeney's Quarterly, Opium, and Versal. She is the author of the chapbook Less Shiny and is an associate editor at Quick Fiction.

Mary Miller's myspace page

A Mary Miller Short, Short story

Humor in Meridian

From The Outrageous Funny Story Files...
The Best True, Funny Short Stories

A Little Police Action

George Phillips of Meridian, Mississippi was going up to bed when his wife told him that he'd left the light on in the garden shed, which she could see from the bedroom window.

George opened the back door to go turn off the light but saw that there were people in the shed stealing things.

He phoned the police, who asked "Is someone in your house?" and he said "No". Then they said that all patrols were busy, and that he should simply lock his door and an officer would be along when available.

George said, "Okay," hung up, counted to 30, and phoned the police again.

"Hello, I just called you a few seconds ago because there were people in my shed. Well, you don't have to worry about them now cause I've just shot them all." Then he hung up.

Within five minutes three police cars, an Armed Response unit, and an ambulance showed up at the Phillips residence and caught the burglars red-handed.

One of the Policemen said to George: "I thought you said that you'd shot them!"

George said, "I thought you said there was nobody available!" (A True Story - supposedly)

Martha's Art

Classmate, Martha (Markline) Hopkins is becoming well known among Southern contemporary artists. One of her paintings has been chosen for a juried exhibition at the Montgomery Art Museum. Only 61 works out of 362 submitted were chosen. The juror is the well-regarded contemporary art curator at the Birmingham Museum of Art.

Click to enlarge.


Title: BLACK STRIPE



If you have not done so already, visiting her work on myartspace.com can be a real treat.

Click on: Martha Ann's Homepage

SQUARE STUDY IV

by Classmate, Martha (Markline) Hopkins



Martha Ann told me: "It is 32" X 32" X 3", and created of wooden posts as an exercise in making a sculpture that fits within a square of these measurements. I am interested in minimal lines, but with expression."

1902 Meridian Cookbook

Probably used a lot of lard back then.

Click on to enlarge. Note the source and also the printer.

Hat tip to Joe B. Stewart for sending me these. Thanks, Joe

Meridian Phone Book - 1943

More good stuff from Joe Stewart. 

Remember your phone number from back then?  

Somehow, I remember ours from back in th' 40s. 

It was: 2081 J ( letter suffix = party line, I think). My Dad was in the Navy and money was scarce. Click on for a close up.

Lake Waukaway — Then and Now

Then:


Now


A History of Lake Waukaway

You won’t find it on a map or listed in any travel guides, but Lake Waukaway, Mississippi, located off Clarke County Road 391, a few miles east of Vossburg, is an amazing gem tucked away in the annals of east-central Mississippi history. The Choctaw people who once inhabited the area called the location, Waukaway, due to the coverging of three huge springs. The name translates into “cool and flowing waters”. Following the Choctaw Purchase concluded on September 27, 1830, one of the first European settlers to own the property was a fellow by the name of John Cooley. Some years prior to 1865, Cooley, and others unknown, constructed a combination cotton gin and a gristmill at the site of the abundant springs. Somewhat later, Andrew Jackson McDaniel, who was married to Nancy Ann Cooley, John Cooley’s daughter, acquired the mills from his father-in-law. The property later passed into the hands of a gentleman by the name of Perry.

Around 1929, the Laurel Mississippi Rotary Club purchased the property from Perry and developed it into a recreational site. They also hired Mr. Howard Allen to manage the facility. Six years later, Mr. Allen purchased the facility along with 120 acres of land. Howard Allen operated Lake Waukaway as a family business until 1978. His home was located at the site, upstairs from the offices and concession buildings, and the business was a full time venture for himself, his wife, and their three children. For some forty years, the people of the surrounding communities came to love their excursions to Lake Waukaway as well as their interactions with the Allen family. In the summer days before air conditioning, Waukaway remained open until 10:00 PM, thus allowing many patrons a place to cool down following a long and hot workday.

In addition to swimming, Howard Allen strove to add other Waukaway attractions. Through the years, there were alligators of all sizes on display, white tail deer in a pen, 7-pound striped bass, and a tame school of blue gill bream that would eat out of your hand. During the 1940’s, he sponsored group camps for churches, Boy Scouts, and underprivileged children. Through the 1950’s, a private two-week camp, with an Indian theme, was held. A Choctaw Indian named Cooley Jim was on resident making crafts as well as bows and arrows. The climax came in the form of kids donning Indian costumes and holding a “War Party”. During the 1960’s, participation in these camps came to an end as the various organizations established their own private facilities. In it’s place, a small RV park was added to the eastern area of the lake.

In 1978, Howard Allen passed away. Sadly, the Lake Waukaway that so many of us loved ended as well. The property was sold to Mr. Gene Garrick, who established the site as a christian retreat. Presently, the private facility remains in operation.

A terrific article w/photos about Lake Waukaway - from which the above was edited for length-DNJ

Thanks to Joe B. Stewart for identifying and suggesting this post.

Meridian History -Early 20th Century.

Cooper Postcard Collection

Forrest Lamar Cooper, a former Senior Customer Service Agent with Delta Air Lines, sold approximately 4600 color and black-and-white postcards from his personal collection to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History on November 13, 1991.  The cards span the years 1892 to 1927.

The MDAH reformatting staff is scanning the cards in the roughly geographical order into which Cooper arranged them. New images of cards will be added to the site as they are completed, until the entire collection is available online.

This remarkable collection includes the devastating tornado of 1906. The extent of the destruction is documented in the latter part of the collection. Perhaps current Meridian residents already know of this wonderful record. No matter, it is a delightful find... for me anyway. Enjoy the 75 , or so, pictures.

Click thru these puppies:

Over 100 Years Of Meridian History Captured On Photos and Postcards

In depth account of the tornado which struck Meridian on March 2, 1906.

If this is as impressive to the viewing audience as it is to me, y'all owe me "big time."

Another Homeboy Done Done Good

'58 Reverie picture - best close up I found.

Walk With Wardlow
Originally posted on BLUES-L
Copyright 1999 by Suz ( this is who? Suzanne LeBoeuf ?)

Every once in a while you just hit one of those sweet spots in life. Happened to me last weekend. Along with several others in the Dallas area, I had the chance to spend some time with Gayle Dean Wardlow.

Without going into all the details - I found him to be one of the most endearing people I have met in a long time. I talked with him throughout the weekend about life as well as music. When he speaks - it is with passion, animation and knowledge much more so than that of the "authority" that one might expect (altho there is no mistaking that he is one in his chosen field). His book, "Chasin' That Devil Music" as many of you know, is fascinating in the aspect of documentation of the music he so dearly loves and has spent all his life pursuing.

During the course of our conversations I found out that he was born in Texas :) where his father worked on the oil rig "circuit", moving to Mississippi, and losing that father, at an early age. His initial music fascination was with Roy Acuff. He still has great admiration for the man who allowed a kid with a box full of old Acuff records backstage. They became friends and Roy eventually took him him to some of his different shows. He has many different stories about the houses he visited asking to buy old 78's which years later have accumulated into one of the largest and most valuable collections around.

Gayle also enjoys Western Swing and has a deep knowledge of that genre too. I think he would eventually like to put something together that celebrates its' history and roots. He admits to being able to play guitar, altho humbly so, stating that he cannot play well enough to keep up with any of the professionals. Says he plays best with a dobro flat in his lap :). I watched in fascination as he showed one of Dallas' incredibly talented players where to add another slap or beat to a particular song for that "delta" timing. Also dragged out of him was that he loves to write songs. Hopefully we will be able to hear some of these one day.

A collection of guitars and banjos is growing too. Windows of opportunity in the 78 trade have allowed him to accumulate 50 or 60 to this point and he is always on the lookout for more. (edited for length-DNJ)



Gayle Dean Wardlow is a prolific author of many articles chronicling the Delta Blues and of a book, "Chasin' That Devil Music - Searching for the Blues" that is considered to be the "go to" source to learn about " th' Blues".

An interesting article by Gayle Dean Wardlow: Warning it's long, but good.

Mardi Gras In Th' Dirt

AKA the "Neshoba County Fair"

Click on for larger pictures


Or, because there are so many sweat-soaked, seersucker-suited politicians giving stump speeches, some of my "enlightened"(progressive) friends might be moved to call it, "Republican Woodstock".

On a twisty stretch of Highway 21 outside Philadelphia, Mississippi, since 1889, the Neshoba County Fair has celebrated the very essence of Southern hospitality (usually the last week in July). For seven days, folks do a lot of eating (fried foods required), drinking (you might find some 'shine), front porch sittin', and late-night pickin'. It's a time to slow down. To forget laptops and cell phones. And to practice the art of conversation and storytelling on a lazy summer day.

For one week in July during the Fair, the fairgrounds operate like a self-contained city. About 600 (difficult to acquire) brightly painted wooden cabins are divided into neighborhoods with names like Founders' Square, Happy Hollow, and Sunset Strip. Trucks drive around making daily ice deliveries (you go through a LOT of ice at the Fair). And there's even a post office on-site, where you can get your own Neshoba County Fair postmark.

The Homeboy Done Done Good.

George Cummings

George has got the blues "nailed" — as those of us that got to see and hear him at our reunion can attest. He's still making good music.


Feted at the Sucarnochee Revue

Dr. Rick Young, president of East Mississippi Community College, presents alumnus George Cummings with an honorary diploma from “Scooba Tech.” The tongue-in-cheek presentation came July 18 as Cummings performed onstage in Scooba with the Sucarnochee Revue.

Cummings, a native of Meridian, is best known as a founding member of “Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show,” which recorded hit after hit in the 1970s and 80s – including “Sylvia’s Mother” and “The Cover of the Rolling Stone.” And, just as the song prophesied, Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show was featured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine in March 1973.

As a teenager, Cummings learned a lot from Jimmie Rodgers’ cousin, Virginia Shine (Hortense Harvey), and was one of the “picking and grinning” musicians who sat up late at her house singing and playing. After high school and a tour of duty as a Marine, Cummings attended EMCC, where he played football and baseball. He was a member of the state championship baseball team in 1958.

Cummings graduated from college and made his way to the New York area in the mid-60s. He has enjoyed a long musical career, and still works from his home in New Jersey – although these days, he said, he also plays a lot of golf.

Note: The Sucarnochee Revue can be heard on numerous commercial and public radio stations across the country. The show airs Saturday nights at 10 p.m. on Alabama Public Radio, and Saturday afternoons on Meridian’s WMOX 1010 AM.

" Cover of the Rolling Stone"

Listen for one of George's solo lines: "I got a freaky ole lady, name a cocaine Katy who embroideries on my jeans. I got my poor ole grey haired daddy drivin' my limousine. "

And, they made it!

Downtown

Some days, with the light just right, everything is beautiful.

Click on:

See Anyone You Remember?

This is an interesting idea by a MHS, class of '54, member. Be sure to follow on to the subsequent pages.(scroll down and, on the left side. as you face the screen. click on "next page") You'll be glad you did. I'm impressed by the work that went into this.

What a well thought out presentation

Royal Drive-In Theater

Thanks to Lloyd Royal, I fogged a few windows here. You too?

Remember this Screen?

Remember this Entrance?