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| Tallapoosa Journal
January 7, 2008
Looking Back and Ahead
Your humble homeboy had the opportunity of being  in an
episode of the television show "In The Heat Of The Night" that starred
Carroll O'Connor who will be more remembered as the character Archie Bunker
from "All In The Family". Alan Autrey was also in the cast as Bubba Skinner.
Alan's current job is mayor of Fresno, California. On the show that I was on
I played a character named Duke that ran a nightclub in the  mythical town
of Sparta, Mississippi. Duke had hired a washed up Country music singer to
perform at his club. The part turned down by Willie Nelson and Merle
Haggard. The role of Eddie Laran went to Robert Goulet. Mr. Goulet was the
man who brought us Broadway's "Camelot" and performed with his powerful
baritone on television shows like "The Ed Sullivan Show" and numerous talk
show appearances. I recall seeing him on "The Mike Douglas Show" and "The
Merv Griffin Show" perfoming "If Ever I Would Leave You". Robert Goulet in
2007 indeed leave us. I will remember him as being a true professional who
didn't take himself too seriously.
If you ever see in T V Guide that "When The Music Stopped" is
on a rerun of "In The Heat Of The Night" check it out. You will see why I
didn't quit my job in radio for the glitter of Hollywood. By the way, the
show was shot on a sound stage in Covington, Georgia.
In 2007 Tallapoosa lost two of the kindest citizens and two
of the best friends I ever had. Gary Gray passed away in September and he
will be remembered by me as a big fan of the Yellow Jackets of Georgia Tech,
Elvis, Southern Gospel music and most of all for the love for his wife Diane
and their three sons. Gary grew up on Alewine Street about a block from
where I grew up and he played football for the Tallapoosa Red Devils and was
at the top of his class academically.
Gary was very encouraging to me to enter the field of
broadcasting over 36 years ago and was always happy to see me when I'd come
visit him over the years. I miss him and think about him everyday now.
On Thanksgiving morning I got the phone call that Johnny
Holcombe had died. His kindness to me over the years will never be
forgotten. He helped push the wagon that carries my dream of finding a cure
for leukemia and lymphoma.
I think his going home celebration was one of the high spots
for me spiritually for 2007. I miss him and think about him everyday as
well.
Here we are into 2008. I have make resolutions as many of
you have. I am going to get back into a walking on the treadmill after I
take the coats and blue jeans off of it. I am going to eat better. I am
going to eat more whole grain cereal and less sausage and gravy biscuits,
cheese grits, pork chops and the like that need to be eaten in front of
Miller Funeral Home so Keith and Tammy won't have far to come get me.
I drove out to see a friend last week who turned 52 the day
after Christmas. He lives on a hundred acre estate between Monroe and
Loganville in Walton County. He is a millionaire probably a hundred times
over and he is constructing a 72 thousand square foot building to house his
bus and helicopter on his estate. Last month he had a quadruple heart bypass
operation at St. Joseph's Hospital in Atlanta. His surgery and the loss of
friends in 2007 have made me realize that life is precious and that the Lord
gives us life in 24 hour increments. I plan on using the next 359 days to
savor what is granted me and to spend as much time as I can at the only
place that I have ever called home.
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