Sunday’s column on my “cowboy” years just about choked the email box and the phone rang a few times, too.
Two partials . . .
“ . . . column stirred up so many memories. I grew up in the 50s in Albertville . . . my weekly allowance was 50 cents . . . I could go to both the Princess and Carol theaters and eat all the popcorn, Coke and candy a boy could hold.”
That came from Chief Anderson of Ohatchee.
But err and you really find out if you have readers or not. We love ‘Gotcha!’ about as much as we do nostalgia.
Several were quick to point out that the jeep I referred to did not belong to Roy Rogers, but to his sidekick Pat Brady.
My apologies . . . and I sure hope the good Lord won’t take away my ticket for that.
(Hey, I can be a bit chinchy, too, huh?)
OK, in order:
1. The reason he didn’t make it to Anniston is he sold out at his first stop, Regions Bank in Oxford. I was there Friday morning at 6:05 and the crowd buying peaches looked as if it was half-price day at the local Baptist thrift store.
2. Good Lord willing and the weather obliges, Ken’s next peach run to here will be in late June of next year. Friday was the finale for this season. He still has peaches but not enough to warrant a 180-mile round trip.
So . . . try to stay warm this winter while you wait, ok?
Her name was Ruth Johnson Owens, but to those of us who were fortunate to pass through her life and to the multitude that love catfish at The Ark, she was “Miss Ruthie.”
She was 91 and until health issues deemed otherwise, she was around The Ark a lot. Her daughter Sylvia (and late husband Bob Cornett) owns The Ark. It was there we became friends.
A rabid Democrat, Miss Ruthie moved in the highest circles of the Democratic Party. She and Sylvia were guests of the party at most of its national conventions.
I was blessed to be in her home a few times and her wit and story telling was captivating. More precious was the warmth of her affection. If she loved you, she took no trouble in keeping it a secret.
Miss Ruthie really was special.
What makes “friend” and “personal” apply is I first met Troy back in the late 1950s. He was a “printer” at The Star in the days of “hot lead” and I was a newly-minted sports writer.
Troy was the make-up man on my sports pages. He worked on one side of the page form, I stood on the other and watched and marveled at how he put together some rather fancy layouts I had devised.
It was appreciated then, Troy . . . and still is.
Hope you had a great birthday, pal.
---
George Smith can be reached at 256-239-5286 or email: gsmith731@gmail.com.
