Photographic memories
Spanky Thomas
“Spanky” isn’t exactly a tough-guy name for a football player. Also, his build was slight for a linebacker, a position typically requiring size, height and speed.But Spanky had something else: a knack for excellence, a quiet, steady bearing and an unstoppable work ethic.As a black youngster growing up in Wiregrass Alabama, Thomas broke through the last remnants of racial divisions.When his all-Southern Conference college football days at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga were over, the NFL wasn’t waiting for him. Instead, he returned to his hometown, Dothan, to assist a Boys Club, to mentor youth who needed a role model like Spanky.Eventually, he moved on to central Florida to lead a Boys Club of his own.He died in a car accident 20 years ago yesterday — Feb. 27, 1990. He was 24.Two decades later, when friends and former teammates speak of Spanky Thomas, they express the same thoughts.Spanky was a natural leader, in the classroom, on the field and in life.Spanky had a great smile.Spanky is missed.The whole column is here. I was reminded of the column this afternoon while going through The Star's photo archives. The top photo here is of Spanky (No. 11) chasing an Auburn running back during a 1986 game. By the way, pictured in the bottom photo is Mike Makins, another teammate of Spanky's who spoke with me for the column.
"I say, 'God bless it!' "
It's difficult to get through December without a passing exposure to at least one the various film versions of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. As I recently shared with for The Star's Pop Cultured column, my favorite is the 1970 musical version with Albert Finney. Yet, moving picture and sound can't do full justice to the power of Dickens' words. This exchange between Scrooge and his nephew illustrates the point:
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"Nephew!" returned the uncle, sternly, "keep Christmas in your own way, and let me keep it in mine."
"Keep it!" repeated Scrooge's nephew. "But you don't keep it."
"Let me leave it alone, then," said Scrooge. "Much good may it do you! Much good it has ever done you!"
"There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited, I dare say," returned the nephew. "Christmas among the rest. But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round -- apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that -- as a good time: a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time: the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!"
***
Indeed. Merry Christmas.
Political football: Alabama vs. Louisiana
In a little less than a month the football teams from the University of Alabama and Louisiana State University will compete for the BCS national championship. The Star’s editorial board is planning a comparison of the opponents’ states beyond the gridiron, an examination of Alabama and Louisiana that has virtually nothing to do with football.
We are looking for other measurements from the political world.
Governor: Is it a former dermatologist (Robert Bentley of Alabama) or is it the son of Indian immigrants who took his American-ized name from The Brady Bunch (Bobby Jindal of Lousiana)?
All-time demagogue: Is it Louisiana’s Huey Long or Alabama’s George C. Wallace?
Longtime U.S.senator: Louisiana’s Russell Long (1948-1987) or Alabama’s Lister Hill (1938-1969)?
We are looking for other measurements from the political world - traditions, legends, quotes, landmarks, icons, embarassments, etc.
Your suggestions welcome.
Alabamian of the Year for 2011?
The Alabamian of the Year must be alive. He or she doesn't have to be an Alabama native, but a qualified candidate must have lived in the state at one time.
While deeds done in 2011 will be in full view, no person's life can be reduced to a single year. In other words, our AOY's lifetime achievements will be considered.
Our definition for AOY is, "An Alabamian (or Alabamians) who made a significant mark on events over the past year; someone who lived up to the state creed's dictate 'to foster her advancement within the statehood of the world.' "
The previous winners are:
2008: Albert Brewer, ex-governor of Alabama and leading advocate for constitutional reform.
2009: Wikipedia's Jimmy Wales
2010: Bob Riley, former governor of Alabama.
Who qualifies for 2011?
A parking garage for bike commuters
A highlight of last week's annual convention of the National Conference of Editorial Writers in Indianapolis was not on the impressive agenda.
It was a spot in downtown I visited every morning, the Indy Bike Hub YMCA. The facility is a full-service parking garage for bicycle commuters, with showers, lockers, 148 parking spots with locks for bikes (pictured), an in-house bike shop capable of repair work and top-notch exercise equipment just in case the pedalling from home wasn't enough. (Of course, non-cyclists are welcome at the facility, as well.)
As a member of the YMCA of Calhoun County, I took advantage of the Y's member-exchange which allows visitation privileges for out-of-towners. The staff at the Indy Bike Hub was friendly and I was able to get in a little spinning on a stationary bike.
"There is nothing like it in the country," Indianapolis mayor Greg Ballard told the Indianapolis Star during last week's grand opening. The city is planning to expand its accessibility to cyclists. "The goal is to make Indianapolis the healthiest city in America," YMCA of Greater Indianapolis President Eric Ellsworth told the newspaper. "This is one small cog in the wheel."
Next-door to the Bike Hub is the City Market. In the mornings, downtown office workers crowded around stands selling eggs, biscuits, pastries and coffee. One morning a coffee vendor noticed my sweaty workout clothes and remarked, "Hey, did you just come from the Y?"
"Yup," I answered. He smiled, and said, "I did,too." Fortunately for his customers he had a place to shower following his morning workout.
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| 22 | | Ohatchee council wants to know what’s underground before accepting land from county
Jun 19, 2013 | 457 views |
| 21 | | J'ville planning commission finds Mountain Street rezoning proposal OK
Jun 19, 2013 | 375 views |
| 27 | | Piedmont City Council spends $48K to improve electrical substations
Jun 19, 2013 | 337 views |
| 26 | | George Smith: I just love watching Ozzie ...
Jun 19, 2013 | 553 views |
| 26 | | WEDNESDAY’S LIST . . . of beans ’n greens ’n other things:
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DON’T TELL me I’ve nothing to do.
From the window of my barn I see Ozzie coming through the hedgerow from next door. I like Ozzie a lot, but I’m not sure he feels the same. Efforts to pet and feed over the years have been a flop at best.
What Ozzie likes to do is hunt. I mean really hunt.
You see, Ozzie is a brindle, bob-tailed, three-legged cat and he loves to feed on whatever he can find in the hedgerow across my back yard, including field mice and squirrels.
Ozzie is flat out deadly, too.
Since losing his right front leg to a tumor a couple of years back, he has taught himself a new way to hunt. He keeps stalking to a minimum. But with the patience of Job, he settles down and waits for a meal to come within striking distance.
When the meal does, it’s “Wham” and Ozzie heads for the dinner table.
He’s a wonder to watch ...
^^^
IT IS A typical day at the Smith Estate. I am out in my barn kicked back in what I call “Archie’s Recliner.” I am reading a book, listening to Merle Haggard on the stereo, and watching TV (how’s that for multi-tasking, huh?) The blonde is out and about.
The phone rings. It is from the blonde. She is at Sears in the Quintard Mall ...
“Sweetheart, I’m at Sears looking at vacuum cleaners. I can get a small one to go with a regular one. What do you think I should do?”
Recovering from the shock of her asking my permission for anything, I agree to the double dip and then make a mistake with “What’s going on, you asking my permission?”
From the other end, there is a happy laugh with:
“It’d be different if it were shoes and a dress.”
I managed a quiet goodbye (without choking), hung up, and went back to singing along with Merle. It seemed fitting he was in the middle of “I’m Gonna Sit Right Here And Drink” at the time.
^^^
JOE ESTEP deserves a standing ovation. Joe runs the Calhoun County Sports Hall of Fame and, this past Saturday night, put together another classic.
Held at the “new” Oxford Civic Center, the 2013 induction played to a near packed house.
Outstanding Joe, outstanding.
^^^
FOR THOSE asking, the Peach Man’s tomatoes are a week away, but Ken Easterling will be at Regions in Oxford on Friday morning at 6 with another load of Chilton County peaches.
If no sell-out in Oxford he heads for the Anniston post office along about 8 . . . but don’t bet he gets there.
^^^
IF YOU’RE lining up at the Walmart deli at Lenlock, I hope you get lucky and a young lady by the name of Vanesa Durham waits on you. She did for me a few days back and while I’ve had an unpleasant moment or two there, Vanesa left me feeling pretty good.
Walmart could use more like her.
^^^
BIRTHDAYS: June 12 – Annette Vice; June 14 – Sage Snow; June 15 – Twins Brettnie and Dakota Smith; June 17 – Aiden Lloyd; 11; June 18 – Don Beabout.
And Jeff Jones, June 17. A member of a vanishing breed (The Great Generation), Jeff drove a “weasel” jeep ashore at Normandy, June 6, 1944.
^^^
QUOTABLE: “My doctor tells me I should start slowing it down - but there are more old drunks than there are old doctors so let's all have another round.”
--Willie Nelson
Thanks for visiting ...
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George Smith may be reached at 256-239-5286 or email: gsmith731@gmail.com.
