Southern Magnolia

 

This is the Magnolia trèe that was in the front yard of my family home in Headland, Alabama. I took this photo in 2009.  Click here to learn more about this type tree.

Popping Up Everywhere

Bears

Stopped off at Green Sage on Merrimon Avenue for a wonderful breakfast.

The Rest Is History

A few years ago somebody asked about Uncle Watty (Watt Espy) after watching one of his interviews.  I responded.

Watty was 50 then. At that stage, he had received a large federal research grant - not employed by the university.  

He was a master storyteller with an incredible memory.  

While stationed with the US Navy in Naples, Italy, Watty walked into a hotel and recognized "Lucky" Luciano, a mafia godfather who was the chairman of the board of all the major mob families in NYC. Walked right up to him and introduced himself. Luciano invited Watty to dinner that evening. Now that's quite a story.

Another person, a professor at Northeastern University in Boston, was ten years or so ahead of Watty initially in this death penalty field. One day he got a letter from "this man in Alabama." In the letter, Watty told him he's intrigued by his work, admires it....but... "I found a number of mistakes I can help you correct." This professor went back and double-checked some of his research, and sure enough. That letter led to a phone call to one of the bigwigs at the ALCU, and together they concluded that they needed to quickly go down to Alabama to meet this guy. The rest is history.

Henry County - 1867

 

Mom & Cub

HHS

Headland High School

LA RESUME

'87 - '89

Sibling and Cousins

Life Advice

Arnold Talks Aging

June Walks

These images are actually from a few walks a couple of summers ago.

Dad Jokes

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Growing up, on our rides to Auburn on Saturdays for football and weeknights for basketball, we would pass through Eufaula, Alabama.  On occasion, and probably more often than we'd like to hear (lol), my dad would remind us of how Eufaula got its name.  He'd say, "There was an Indian family walking along the top of a mountain.  Suddenly, the mother noticed her child getting too close to the edge.  In a panic, she hollered, 'Come back. Come back. You falla, you falla.'"  We'd all laugh.

"Carolina"

Eric Church

Mowing

Starting in middle school, I would cut the grass at both grandparents' homes, and I did it every now and then for the bank, which only had a tiny strip of grass to mow.  My grandmothers were very generous (w/ pay), but they expected a good job.  I actually enjoyed doing it, and I liked making them happy.  I'm sure I spent my earnings on baseball cards.

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Oops

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When I was a very young child I remember my dad bringing in some groceries he had picked up at The Piggly Wiggly.  As he was carrying a big pack of Coca-Cola up the garage steps, the cardboard container suddenly ripped open and the glass bottles smashed when they hit the bricks.  He got in touch with The Pig and they refunded him.  Dad was very upset!  He loved Coca-Cola.

Cherokee - 1950s

My reply to a friend when he reminded me that I took him to the Cherokee history museum years ago.

And I took you to Harrah's Casino. We also saw a couple of waterfalls. When I was growing up, the easy, regional vacations were: down to the Florida panhandle to the beach, to Disney World in Orlando, to the mountains (with a stop in Cherokee) and up to Atlanta, our nearest really big city. If families were able to pull off these trips, it was considered a great thing, and kids were thrilled.

Scuppernongs

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We had scuppernong vines in our backyard in LA (Lower Alabama).  They produced bronze and dark purple fruit.  I enjoyed the sweet taste, and I would even occasionally eat the peel.

How to eat a scuppernong

I think we called them "scuplins."  Scuppernongs would have been a bit hard to pronounce for Southern boys.  😉 

Mosquito Sprayers

 

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Who remembers hearing the loud mosquito sprayers going through their town on a hot summer evening?  In Headland, I would hear it coming down Main Street.  Usually I was playing basketball in the driveway.  At some point, I'd smell and even taste the spray, then run inside.

Jimmy Vann

The Summer

[Chorus]
And it's always summer back in Alabama
And I miss you forever, baby
More than you will know
Yeah, it's always summer back in Alabama
And I miss you forever, honey
More than you will know
Uh huh more than you will
More than you will
More than you will know

1925 Baseball Team

From Aunt Clois pics. Headland baseball team 1925. Her husband is 3rd from left on back. Wyatt Oates is 1st on left on front. Is 2nd from right on front either Sam Vann or Jack Vann? See if anyone can tell.  I thought that the kid 3rd from left on front row looked like your dad and you. Time would lend itself to Uncle Major!!

- Sid Brannon

Favors Dad a little bit..and that would mean ME. lol If the year is firm, can't be granddad Major. That kid would be too young.  

And The Winner Is

For church training back in the 70s, one teacher I had was Nona Solomon.  One Sunday we had to bring a treat to class.  I wanted to make Rice Krispy Treats.  Of course, our parents had to really do most of the work!  There was a vote to see whose treat was the best, and I won.  Well, my mother and I won!

"Big Game James" Worthy

Archive 75: James Worthy

James Worthy was an incredible addition to the Lakers in the 1980s.  He was huge part of Showtime and was unbelievable on the fast break.  But he had a really amazing all-around game.  I recall one time as a kid dropping by the bank to see my dad.  My uncle, who was working there, came out of his office and said, "James Worthy might be the best one-on-one player in the game."  It was likely summertime and the NBA playoffs were in full swing.  He knew I was a big Lakers fan!

These days, I enjoy hearing Worthy sharing old stories.  Besides having a great voice, he is quite funny! 

Headland's Main Street

May 31, 2023

The Club, Inc.

 Opened on June 12, 1951

Birmingham, Alabama

History of The Club

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I went to The Club to hear a speech given by a Fox News political analyst who was popular in the 90s.  Several people from AmSouth Bank, where I was working at the time, told me about it and I accompanied them there.

Tim Russert

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Remember when he died? It was June 13, 2008.

Raiders of the Lost Ark

 
Released on June 12, 1981

The Sporting News

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Mark Jones

Marcus Samuel "Mark" Jones

Find a Grave

Mark was a classmate of mine at Samford. He sat right next to me in the required freshman course, Marriage & the Family. He was very friendly and funny. Suddenly one day he didn’t come to class. Somebody said he had a heat stroke at football practice.