August 28, 2010

It was late August in 1960. I just had turned 9 and entering the 4th grade and the Tallapoosa was electric in excitement for a milestone in our town's history. Tallapoosa's Centennial celebration 50 years ago is a wonderful memory for those of us who experienced it. If you missed it they have copies of a video disc that captured some of the things that made it such a fun event at the museum on Bowdon Street. The town had a big parade and the open air play held at the old ball park recalling the town's founding was memorable. I remember seeing hoop skirts and period fashions of the 1860's worn by the women. I remember many of the town's male citizens grew beards. A number of people dressed in Civil War uniforms. Mostly Confederate gray and not much "Yankee" blue. It should be noted that I don't use the word "Yankee" except when talking about my favorite American League Baseball team. My mother told me as a kid that Yankees from New York and New England help establish our town in 1860. She told me that had it not been for folks from up north, Tallapoosa might have been just a meeting ground for the Creek Indians. I remember going to the open house at the American Thread Company during the Centennial weekend 50 years ago. Mr. Wesley Littlefield and the folks at ATCO rolled out the red carpet and showed us how thread came from a bale of cotton. 9 years later Jessie Lee Newman was personnel director and gave me a job my last month of high school. Because of the wonderful people at American Thread, I was able to get a college education. I used to get questions over the years from people who'd say "what did you do before you got into radio?" My answer would be "I was a horticulturist for a textile firm." Translated, I cut the grass at the American Thread Company. Many folks referred to it as "the cotton mill." I made a lot of lifelong friends there. Sue Muse worked in the office and made me aware of Country music. Lee Roy Brooks, Clarance Ballew, and Waylon Lee kept me in stitches during lunch breaks. I worked with school mate Joe Craven who went on and graduated with honors at Georgia Tech and has worked as an engineer for Kimberly Clark for 3 decades. Joe recently bought the house he grew up in on Georgia 120 last June. We both have the same feeling that Tallapoosa is "home." He pulled up a couple of weeks ago on his motorcycle in my driveway and we had a great chat about how we both feel about our hometown. To borrow some lyrics from Alabama's first hit song, my home's in Tallapoosa, no matter where I lay my head. I hope to see you all at the upcoming festivities. An attaboy goes to all the people who did the hard work and planning of our town's 150th birthday. I would like to wish a speedy recovery to Miss Tallapoosa 1960 who was involved in the Centennial celebration 50 years ago, Betty Jo Newman. I also would like to offer condolences to the family of Ray Allen who passed away on the 22nd. Ray Allen constructed many of our town's houses and buildings. Sue Allen last April 10th. When I heard of Ray's passing last Sunday I thought of the old Ray Charles song written by Buck Owens "Together Again." A line it goes, "nothing else matters, because we're together again." Ray and Sue Allen are together again in heaven. To daughters Fay Allen McClendon and Kay Allen Newman and to the grandchildren Ray McClendon, Sarah Carr, and Holly Newman and to Ray and Sue's great grandson Carson, our hearts, thoughts and prayers are with you.