I recall the following doctors in North Vernon during my school days:
1. Dr. Thayer---My late mother thought Dr. Thayer not only hung the stars and moon, he probably made them!. He was always our first choice. I recall he smoked cigarettes rolled in brown paper. He set my arm after it was broken at Lovett Grade School. My left wrist is still smaller than my right one. Both Dr. Thayer and Dr. Green made rural house calls to our house.
2. Dr. Green---He was a blue collar doctor---in comparison to Dr. Thayer. His language was salty and down to earth. I recall he had a long narrow office. His desk was at the end of the room and the front right hand part contained medications that he dispensed from large smokey brown jars. He put the pills in a paper envelope that looked like church offering envelopes. Both he and Dr. Thayer gave me lots of sulfur pills. I can still smell them today just thinking about them and I start to get sick! They were HUGE!
Once my father took me to see Dr. Green, couldn't get in to see Dr. Thayer, for a camp physical to attend the Westport Church Camp. Dr. Green was seated at his desk and said, "Cecil, what the @#!*% do you want?" Dad said, "Glenn needs a physical and you need to sign this form." Dr. Green looked at me and asked, "Did you walk in here unassisted?" I said I had walked in by myself. He said, "Gimme that form!" He filled it out without ever performing any kind of exam. He didn't charge anything. When he retired he ran a notice in the North Vernon Plain Dealer that all of his patient's debts were cancelled!
Believe It Or Not Department: My English 101 professor at Purdue University was Dr. Green's brother! Another fellow, also from a small school was struggling with me to keep up with the assignments. My engineering math classes were eating my lunch. Professor Green, on his lunch hour met with Fraizer and myself to do extra reading and written assignments. The first non-textbook I read at Purdue was assigned by Professor Green: Amid the Alien Corn, a true story of an Englishman's struggle while attending Purdue. Fraiser always kept his head down when talking to anyone. Professor Green, I guess he learned this from Dr. Green, said, "Look those sons of @#!*% in the eye and let them know you are just as good as they are!" Without Professor Green's special help neither Fraiser or I would have passed his fast-paced class.
3. Dr. Matthews-- Seldom saw him. I think he was the grandfather of Leland Matthews who is now an OB/GYN doctor in Bloomington. Leland was a very special friend to me during my PCHS days. He introduced me to many of his friends, some of which were very well to do. Leland's father had been in the Indiana House of Representatives and was the the Postmaster in North Vernon. Leland and his family lived in North Vernon but attended the Commiskey Baptist Church with us. He had two aunts who lived in Commiskey. They would often give me clothes that Leland had outgrown.
4. Dr. Calli---Don't recall we ever saw him. I believe he raised race horses as a hobby. A Nature Preserve near Vernon today bears his name. His family donated the land to the county.
Perhaps no professional field has changed as much as the practice of medicine during the last 50 years. We were blessed to have had some dedicated doctors to help us during those pre-MRI, pre-Ultra sound, pre-Specialist, pre-open heart surgery and pre-short stay in the hospital days.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
J.C. PENNEY'S
EVER WONDER WHERE SAM WALTON GOT MUCH OF HIS EARLY TRAINING--READ ON!
The Wal-Mart story is part of American folk lore and history. Mr. Sam (he liked that name) received early marketing and selling advice from John Cash Penney.
Mr.Sam worked thru TG &Y supply channels to fill the demand for his first three stores. He could not get the supplies fast enough. He went to Dallas to see Mr.Gibson who had a large chain of discount stores and was asked if he (Mr. Sam) had 100K dollars for collateral. He said no and Gibson threw him out of his office. (Anyone seen a Gibson store lately?)
Back to J.C. Penney--he would often sit in his car outside a store and count the customers that went in and how many came out with Penney's shopping bags. He would evaluate the manager accordingly. (I learned much about Mr. Penney from a retired Penney's store manager here in Shawnee.)
Mr. Penney was having a lunch interview with a man he wanted to place in a top company position. The food came and the interviewee immediately pick up the salt shaker and put lots of salt on his food. Mr. Penney immediately stopped the interview and said I don't want a man working for me who makes decisions before he knows the facts!
The closest Penney's store to us was in Seymour (during my school days). I loved to go there and watch the money canister that ran from each check out point to the cashier on the second floor. Change was made and the canister sent back to the clerk who gave the customer the product and change! Guess Mr. Penny had a trust issue.
The Seymour store had a large selection of candy and pretzels. That was about the only time we had sweets in the house. My Dad still likes those large puffy orange circus peanuts. I ate too many as a kid. Can't stand them today.
The Wal-Mart story is part of American folk lore and history. Mr. Sam (he liked that name) received early marketing and selling advice from John Cash Penney.
Mr.Sam worked thru TG &Y supply channels to fill the demand for his first three stores. He could not get the supplies fast enough. He went to Dallas to see Mr.Gibson who had a large chain of discount stores and was asked if he (Mr. Sam) had 100K dollars for collateral. He said no and Gibson threw him out of his office. (Anyone seen a Gibson store lately?)
Back to J.C. Penney--he would often sit in his car outside a store and count the customers that went in and how many came out with Penney's shopping bags. He would evaluate the manager accordingly. (I learned much about Mr. Penney from a retired Penney's store manager here in Shawnee.)
Mr. Penney was having a lunch interview with a man he wanted to place in a top company position. The food came and the interviewee immediately pick up the salt shaker and put lots of salt on his food. Mr. Penney immediately stopped the interview and said I don't want a man working for me who makes decisions before he knows the facts!
The closest Penney's store to us was in Seymour (during my school days). I loved to go there and watch the money canister that ran from each check out point to the cashier on the second floor. Change was made and the canister sent back to the clerk who gave the customer the product and change! Guess Mr. Penny had a trust issue.
The Seymour store had a large selection of candy and pretzels. That was about the only time we had sweets in the house. My Dad still likes those large puffy orange circus peanuts. I ate too many as a kid. Can't stand them today.
Monday, August 15, 2011
"PAST IS PROLOGUE"--Shakespeare
SAID ANOTHER WAY---MEMORY LANE IS THE ON RAMP TO THE HIGHWAY OF LIFE !
Friday, August 12, 2011
IT'S A LONG WAY FROM GRAHAM CREEK IN INDIANA
AN EVENT IN ALASKA IN 1977 THAT IS TIED TO GRAHAM CREEK !
A month after arriving at Elmendorf, AFB, Alaska, I got up very early on a Saturday morning and made my way to one of the five lakes located on the base. I had three rods and baited each and sat on a small dock waiting for action. I got action alright but not from the fish!
Within a few minutes I heard a loud rustling sound from a nearby patch of trees. Having been warned about the bears, I walked very fast to my Suburban. Out of the trees came a large, I mean large, 1800-2000 pound bull moose. I nervously sat in the Suburban with my windows rolled up, except for a small space on the driver's side. The moose was so near I could see the tell tale moisture trail from his nostrils. He walked around the small clearing, ate some grass and disappeared back into the patch of trees. After a few more minutes I went back to the dock to resume fishing.
Again, after a few more minutes, I heard a different kind of rustling in the trees. Once more I hot-footed it to the Suburban. As I closed the door a black Mama bear walked half way into the clearing, sniffing the air. She went back into the trees and soon reappeared with two cubs, obviously born earlier in the year. They made their way to some garbage cans where she found a few bites to eat and shared this "bonus" meal with her cubs. She, and her off spring, went back into the trees. I ran back to the dock, grabbed my rods and gear and made it safely back to the Suburban.
Before I could start up to head back to our quarters, two different black bears came from another direction to raid the remains in the garbage cans. In a few minutes a Security Police truck, on routine patrol, stopped at the lake and the two new bears scampered back from whence they came.
As I contemplated the events before heading home, I thought to myself "It's a long way from Graham Creek in Indiana to the wilds of Alaska."
Monday, back at my duty station, I made sign that said "Wildlife 6, Peck 0" I had lots of fun retelling the story to the many that asked about the sign. I also mention my Graham Creek thoughts as well.
A month after arriving at Elmendorf, AFB, Alaska, I got up very early on a Saturday morning and made my way to one of the five lakes located on the base. I had three rods and baited each and sat on a small dock waiting for action. I got action alright but not from the fish!
Within a few minutes I heard a loud rustling sound from a nearby patch of trees. Having been warned about the bears, I walked very fast to my Suburban. Out of the trees came a large, I mean large, 1800-2000 pound bull moose. I nervously sat in the Suburban with my windows rolled up, except for a small space on the driver's side. The moose was so near I could see the tell tale moisture trail from his nostrils. He walked around the small clearing, ate some grass and disappeared back into the patch of trees. After a few more minutes I went back to the dock to resume fishing.
Again, after a few more minutes, I heard a different kind of rustling in the trees. Once more I hot-footed it to the Suburban. As I closed the door a black Mama bear walked half way into the clearing, sniffing the air. She went back into the trees and soon reappeared with two cubs, obviously born earlier in the year. They made their way to some garbage cans where she found a few bites to eat and shared this "bonus" meal with her cubs. She, and her off spring, went back into the trees. I ran back to the dock, grabbed my rods and gear and made it safely back to the Suburban.
Before I could start up to head back to our quarters, two different black bears came from another direction to raid the remains in the garbage cans. In a few minutes a Security Police truck, on routine patrol, stopped at the lake and the two new bears scampered back from whence they came.
As I contemplated the events before heading home, I thought to myself "It's a long way from Graham Creek in Indiana to the wilds of Alaska."
Monday, back at my duty station, I made sign that said "Wildlife 6, Peck 0" I had lots of fun retelling the story to the many that asked about the sign. I also mention my Graham Creek thoughts as well.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
TIME TO CONFESS!
Growing Up I Had A "Drug" Problem !!!!
I was "drug" to Sunday School; I was "drug" to Morning Worship; I was "drug" to Training Union; I was "drug" to Evening Worship; I was "drug" to Youth Meetings etc, etc.
Thank God I Was !!
I was "drug" to Sunday School; I was "drug" to Morning Worship; I was "drug" to Training Union; I was "drug" to Evening Worship; I was "drug" to Youth Meetings etc, etc.
Thank God I Was !!
Leaflets From The Sky
Not Pennys From Heaven--Leaflets From Heaven
I had just exited Russel Vaught's bus at our house and I saw three leaflets floating gently to the ground. I caught one, one landed in a fence row about 100 feet from the bus and the last one disappeared in the woods directly south of our house.
Upon opening the leaflet I discovered the US Information Agency was conducting a test on the best way to drop ant-Soviet information into Eastern European countries that were under the firm grasp of the Kremlin. The balloon had been launched in MN. Finders were asked to complete a short questionnaire on the form and return it as soon as possible.
Because I could listen to English language broadcasts from Radio Moscow, Havana Cuba, and many of the Warsaw Pact countries on my homemade shortwave receivers, I was a staunch anti-communist and wanted to return the leaflet. In addition, my patriotism was enhanced by the print and electronic media, that was when the media believed in the American way of life
Enter my mother: Some of you know she could be very demanding and since my father worked at nights, she was the law, judge, and executioner. She said I could not return it. And that was that. (After her death on Sept 12, 1998 I was told by a close relative that my mother was "different" even as a child.) For years, I kept the leaflet. Even took it to high school where no one seemed half as excited as I was.
I had just exited Russel Vaught's bus at our house and I saw three leaflets floating gently to the ground. I caught one, one landed in a fence row about 100 feet from the bus and the last one disappeared in the woods directly south of our house.
Upon opening the leaflet I discovered the US Information Agency was conducting a test on the best way to drop ant-Soviet information into Eastern European countries that were under the firm grasp of the Kremlin. The balloon had been launched in MN. Finders were asked to complete a short questionnaire on the form and return it as soon as possible.
Because I could listen to English language broadcasts from Radio Moscow, Havana Cuba, and many of the Warsaw Pact countries on my homemade shortwave receivers, I was a staunch anti-communist and wanted to return the leaflet. In addition, my patriotism was enhanced by the print and electronic media, that was when the media believed in the American way of life
Enter my mother: Some of you know she could be very demanding and since my father worked at nights, she was the law, judge, and executioner. She said I could not return it. And that was that. (After her death on Sept 12, 1998 I was told by a close relative that my mother was "different" even as a child.) For years, I kept the leaflet. Even took it to high school where no one seemed half as excited as I was.
THE PINK PAINTER STRIKES AGAIN !!
Folks, you cannot make up stuff like this !
This event happened around 1956-57. A neighbor of ours worked at the North Vernon Arvin Ironing Board factory. (Note: Most of you recall North Vernon was once called the Ironing Board Capital of the World!) For what ever reason, he wound up with several gallons of paint that can only be described as a hideous PINK.
Within a couple of weeks he had painted his Model A Ford, using a paint brush, from his abundant supply of paint. By today's standards it might be called COOL. Then, it was merely dumb on four wheels!
Next, his entire small house was this horrible pink color. (Note: This was several years before spy satellites; however, if they had been around then I am confident his house could have been seen from earth orbit!)
This true story now takes on a really surprising turn. The Pink Painter gave a portion of the paint to the youngest son of his nearest neighbor. The son, not yet in high school, painted his bike---using a corn cob as a brush! Here you must use your imagination--- the painted bike had a crinkle like finish, with occasional curved streaks of the original bike paint showing through the new pink paint. His bike could be seen a quarter of a mile away.
The neighbor with the pink car and house was also a pioneer in television entertainment. During the hot summer nights he would bring his television out in the front yard and his family would arrange their chair in theater style to watch the TV. The screen faced the road, thereby making it possible to see what they and the many bugs were watching!
As I said at the start of the Post, you can't make up stuff like this!
This event happened around 1956-57. A neighbor of ours worked at the North Vernon Arvin Ironing Board factory. (Note: Most of you recall North Vernon was once called the Ironing Board Capital of the World!) For what ever reason, he wound up with several gallons of paint that can only be described as a hideous PINK.
Within a couple of weeks he had painted his Model A Ford, using a paint brush, from his abundant supply of paint. By today's standards it might be called COOL. Then, it was merely dumb on four wheels!
Next, his entire small house was this horrible pink color. (Note: This was several years before spy satellites; however, if they had been around then I am confident his house could have been seen from earth orbit!)
This true story now takes on a really surprising turn. The Pink Painter gave a portion of the paint to the youngest son of his nearest neighbor. The son, not yet in high school, painted his bike---using a corn cob as a brush! Here you must use your imagination--- the painted bike had a crinkle like finish, with occasional curved streaks of the original bike paint showing through the new pink paint. His bike could be seen a quarter of a mile away.
The neighbor with the pink car and house was also a pioneer in television entertainment. During the hot summer nights he would bring his television out in the front yard and his family would arrange their chair in theater style to watch the TV. The screen faced the road, thereby making it possible to see what they and the many bugs were watching!
As I said at the start of the Post, you can't make up stuff like this!
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
WELCOME BACK! WELCOME BACK!
After a short recess, the Blog is up and going and I'm alive and well!
Welcome back to our regular readers. I hope you will pass along the URL for the Blog to our classmates and anyone else who might want to join us.
MAYBE MORE THAN YOU WANT TO KNOW: Oklahoma has experienced a record number of 100 degree plus days. We are in the worst drought since the infamous Dust Bowl days. My yard looks like shredded wheat, most of the ponds have dried up, and many farmers and ranchers have been forced to sell most of their cattle. They have no grass, no hay, and precious little water. We live in the City of Shawnee and recently we had four deer in our backyard looking for water. Our old water system in Shawnee has experienced many water main breaks because of the drying soil. We had 15 breaks in a two day period (Hello, tax increase!)
MAYBE YOU HAVE HEARD THIS ONE BEFORE: One time in Kentucky it was a very hot and dry Summer and Fall. At Halloween, the folks filled up a #2 washing tub with apples and bobbed for water! Well, it could happen.
MAYBE NO ONE REALLY CARES ABOUT THIS: Because of our dangerous weather (tornadoes, blizzards, and range wild fire), most Oklahomans own a NOAA weather radio with alarms pre-set for your county and/or city. Mine goes off often. Smart phones make it possible to carry weather alerts with you and take action no matter where you are located. Weather is really big and big business out here on the Prairie! Storm shelters, roof repair, hail damage to vehicles and even house replacement. Not to mention healthcare costs for the injured. Even with all of the challenges, Oklahoma is still the best kept secret in America!
Welcome back to our regular readers. I hope you will pass along the URL for the Blog to our classmates and anyone else who might want to join us.
MAYBE MORE THAN YOU WANT TO KNOW: Oklahoma has experienced a record number of 100 degree plus days. We are in the worst drought since the infamous Dust Bowl days. My yard looks like shredded wheat, most of the ponds have dried up, and many farmers and ranchers have been forced to sell most of their cattle. They have no grass, no hay, and precious little water. We live in the City of Shawnee and recently we had four deer in our backyard looking for water. Our old water system in Shawnee has experienced many water main breaks because of the drying soil. We had 15 breaks in a two day period (Hello, tax increase!)
MAYBE YOU HAVE HEARD THIS ONE BEFORE: One time in Kentucky it was a very hot and dry Summer and Fall. At Halloween, the folks filled up a #2 washing tub with apples and bobbed for water! Well, it could happen.
MAYBE NO ONE REALLY CARES ABOUT THIS: Because of our dangerous weather (tornadoes, blizzards, and range wild fire), most Oklahomans own a NOAA weather radio with alarms pre-set for your county and/or city. Mine goes off often. Smart phones make it possible to carry weather alerts with you and take action no matter where you are located. Weather is really big and big business out here on the Prairie! Storm shelters, roof repair, hail damage to vehicles and even house replacement. Not to mention healthcare costs for the injured. Even with all of the challenges, Oklahoma is still the best kept secret in America!
Friday, July 29, 2011
President James A. Garfield & PCHS
SOMETIMES STUDENTS SUCCUMB TO CHEATING; SOMETIMES IT'S A LOT OF FUN WHEN A CHEATER IS CAUGHT!Setting all modesty aside, I was an above average student at PCHS. One particular male classmate made a habit of looking on my test paper before marking on his paper. One day the opportunity came to embarrass this habitual cheater.
Our government teacher, Mr. Boller, announced that the next day we would be graded on verbal answers to his questions. This announcement put the "paper viewer" at a distinct disadvantage. He knew that I was aware of his cheating. He boldly said just before the verbal quiz started, "Give me an answer to a possible question and when the question is asked that matches that answer, I'll speak out the correct answer. To let me know when to reply just reach back in your desk and punch my leg." I immediately saw here was the chance I had been looking for!
I said, "The answer is President James A. Garfield." (You probably see where this is going.) I don't recall the question Mr. Boller asked, but I sure remember that President James A. Garfield was not the correct answer.I tapped his leg and his hand flew up and proclaimed, "President James A. Garfield!" "That's incorrect," said Mr. Boller
I was on the verge of laughing out loud but was able to maintain a muffled composure. When the bell rang I got a few choice four letter words from the Cheater-in-Chief. However, he never again asked me for any answers.
THE GAME and THE SHAME V 2.0
Version V 2.0 provides additional info at the end of the Post
WARNING---This Post contains some material that may be offensive to some readers!
This story of the greatest basketball game I ever saw IN PERSON started at the Westport Baptist Youth Camp in the summer of 1957. I was assigned to a cabin that had many campers from Madison. For whatever reason, I immediately made friends with one of the Madison campers. Before the week was out I really bonded with the guys from Madison. The big topic of discussion was about the upcoming basketball season and what a great team Madison was slated to put on the hardwood.
My initial, and best friend, and I wrote to each other when we got home and I think I even saw him once down at Madison. Somehow, before the start of the 1958 Sectional at Scottsburg, he invited me to sit with the Madison fans.
The first game of the Sectional pitted the highly ranked Scottsburg Warriors against the unheralded small Catholic school---Madison Shawe Hiltoppers. Every fan, player, and sportswriter just knew the finals would be Madison Cubs vs Scottsburg Warriors. Scottsburg, as the host team, had a large number of seats directly across the floor from the Madison fans. Both were seated in sections just as you entered the gym, but on opposite sides of the court.
Even before the Shawe vs Scottsburg game started the fans from Madison and the fans from Scottsburg were exchanging, "We got Spirit, Yes we do...."
(There was a rumor the Scottsburg Gym was built because the seniors would perhaps take the State Championship. I have recently communicated with a Scottsburg person who runs the Warriors' web site and she said the gym was built in 1956 in an attempt to steal the Sectional from Madison. They did and Madison built a new gym and won it back. The 1958 Warriors team was 16-2 going into the Sectionals.)
The Shawe vs Scottsburg game was close all the way. Through some very late second heroics, Shawe put the game into overtime. Somehow Shawe won the game 44-41. Of course the Madison Cubs fans were going crazy because their biggest obstacle had just been eliminated.
The Scottsburg cheerleaders, some of the players, and many of their fans were crying at a deep emotional level of disappointment and genuine heartache. Individual fans from Scottsburg and Madison started taunting each other. Most of the spectators just sat motionless. We had just witnessed a modern day David defeats Goliath basketball game.
Before the next game started some of the girls from Madison returned from the restroom and reported grown women from Scottsburg and Madison were fighting---hair pulling and all. The games that followed mattered little to either Madison or Scottsburg. The shouting across the court grew in intensity. It was what ABC would later say of their Wide World of Sports: "The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat" A large number of Scottsburg police showed up and when the games were over I didn't see any fights, just lots of name calling. By the way Madison Shawe would defeat PCHS and go on to be beaten by Madison. Madison defeated Austin for the Sectional title.
HERE'S WHERE THE WARNING IS APPLICABLE:
The second night of the Sectional was tension filled from the start. The infamous Sheriff Jug Raiser and several of his Jefferson County deputies were present, along with a score of other law enforcement officials. To understand what follows it is necessary to report that Madison had many great players, Buster Briley best known, and one starting African American player--I think it was one of Humes brothers.
I was again seated in the Madison section and the taunting grew and grew. I don't know if what followed was planned or a spur of the moment action. The boys from Madison said in loud, coordinated voice, "Hey Scottsburg! Say Scottsburg! E*T us!!!!" I could not believe what I had just heard.
Very few seconds went by before the boys from Scottsburg shouted back, "Hey Madison! Say Madison! We don't E*T dark meat!" It was as if all voices in the gym went mute at the same time. What had just happened was racist, vulgar and mean spirited. This was after all Indiana, not New York or LA.
What happened next is where I went from shock and anger to being afraid. A pistol was fired from the extreme end of the Madison section. Instantly, Sheriff Raiser and two deputies charged into the Madison section. I cannot swear in a court of law that I actually saw the pistol. I did see something black being passed rapidly from fan to fan in the row just in front of me. Whether this was just a blank track starting pistol or a real firearm will probably never be known.
The taunting calmed a bit and attention went back to the games. The last night of the Sectional the National Guard was there, maybe just to direct traffic or maybe to prevent a riot. Many of the Scottsburg fans didn't show up for the final game. Those that did cheered wildly for Austin. I lost track of my Madison friends after the Sectional.
Now you can see why I call this Post THE GAME and THE SHAME.
ADDITIONAL INFO: My source in Scottsburg stated the 1956 Warriors team went 23-3 and lost to Oscar Robertson's team at the Semi-State.
Some may question my motivation in putting this Post on my Blog:
1. I had provided the major portion of this Post to the Sports Editor of the Madison Courier several months ago. Maybe he doubted my truthfulness; maybe he felt the story was too sensitive to print---it does not cast the fans of Madison in a favorable light; or maybe he felt it happened so long ago it would be of little interest to current readers. For whatever reason, he chose not to print it. I feel it must be told in the hopes it never happens again.
2. From a selfish point of view, I feel a need to go on record that I had no part in this regrettable incident. Even after 50 plus years, this incident remains as the low point in my high school experience. I am ashamed and embarrassed to been have sitting with the fans of one of the two schools involved.
WARNING---This Post contains some material that may be offensive to some readers!
This story of the greatest basketball game I ever saw IN PERSON started at the Westport Baptist Youth Camp in the summer of 1957. I was assigned to a cabin that had many campers from Madison. For whatever reason, I immediately made friends with one of the Madison campers. Before the week was out I really bonded with the guys from Madison. The big topic of discussion was about the upcoming basketball season and what a great team Madison was slated to put on the hardwood.
My initial, and best friend, and I wrote to each other when we got home and I think I even saw him once down at Madison. Somehow, before the start of the 1958 Sectional at Scottsburg, he invited me to sit with the Madison fans.
The first game of the Sectional pitted the highly ranked Scottsburg Warriors against the unheralded small Catholic school---Madison Shawe Hiltoppers. Every fan, player, and sportswriter just knew the finals would be Madison Cubs vs Scottsburg Warriors. Scottsburg, as the host team, had a large number of seats directly across the floor from the Madison fans. Both were seated in sections just as you entered the gym, but on opposite sides of the court.
Even before the Shawe vs Scottsburg game started the fans from Madison and the fans from Scottsburg were exchanging, "We got Spirit, Yes we do...."
(There was a rumor the Scottsburg Gym was built because the seniors would perhaps take the State Championship. I have recently communicated with a Scottsburg person who runs the Warriors' web site and she said the gym was built in 1956 in an attempt to steal the Sectional from Madison. They did and Madison built a new gym and won it back. The 1958 Warriors team was 16-2 going into the Sectionals.)
The Shawe vs Scottsburg game was close all the way. Through some very late second heroics, Shawe put the game into overtime. Somehow Shawe won the game 44-41. Of course the Madison Cubs fans were going crazy because their biggest obstacle had just been eliminated.
The Scottsburg cheerleaders, some of the players, and many of their fans were crying at a deep emotional level of disappointment and genuine heartache. Individual fans from Scottsburg and Madison started taunting each other. Most of the spectators just sat motionless. We had just witnessed a modern day David defeats Goliath basketball game.
Before the next game started some of the girls from Madison returned from the restroom and reported grown women from Scottsburg and Madison were fighting---hair pulling and all. The games that followed mattered little to either Madison or Scottsburg. The shouting across the court grew in intensity. It was what ABC would later say of their Wide World of Sports: "The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat" A large number of Scottsburg police showed up and when the games were over I didn't see any fights, just lots of name calling. By the way Madison Shawe would defeat PCHS and go on to be beaten by Madison. Madison defeated Austin for the Sectional title.
HERE'S WHERE THE WARNING IS APPLICABLE:
The second night of the Sectional was tension filled from the start. The infamous Sheriff Jug Raiser and several of his Jefferson County deputies were present, along with a score of other law enforcement officials. To understand what follows it is necessary to report that Madison had many great players, Buster Briley best known, and one starting African American player--I think it was one of Humes brothers.
I was again seated in the Madison section and the taunting grew and grew. I don't know if what followed was planned or a spur of the moment action. The boys from Madison said in loud, coordinated voice, "Hey Scottsburg! Say Scottsburg! E*T us!!!!" I could not believe what I had just heard.
Very few seconds went by before the boys from Scottsburg shouted back, "Hey Madison! Say Madison! We don't E*T dark meat!" It was as if all voices in the gym went mute at the same time. What had just happened was racist, vulgar and mean spirited. This was after all Indiana, not New York or LA.
What happened next is where I went from shock and anger to being afraid. A pistol was fired from the extreme end of the Madison section. Instantly, Sheriff Raiser and two deputies charged into the Madison section. I cannot swear in a court of law that I actually saw the pistol. I did see something black being passed rapidly from fan to fan in the row just in front of me. Whether this was just a blank track starting pistol or a real firearm will probably never be known.
The taunting calmed a bit and attention went back to the games. The last night of the Sectional the National Guard was there, maybe just to direct traffic or maybe to prevent a riot. Many of the Scottsburg fans didn't show up for the final game. Those that did cheered wildly for Austin. I lost track of my Madison friends after the Sectional.
Now you can see why I call this Post THE GAME and THE SHAME.
ADDITIONAL INFO: My source in Scottsburg stated the 1956 Warriors team went 23-3 and lost to Oscar Robertson's team at the Semi-State.
Some may question my motivation in putting this Post on my Blog:
1. I had provided the major portion of this Post to the Sports Editor of the Madison Courier several months ago. Maybe he doubted my truthfulness; maybe he felt the story was too sensitive to print---it does not cast the fans of Madison in a favorable light; or maybe he felt it happened so long ago it would be of little interest to current readers. For whatever reason, he chose not to print it. I feel it must be told in the hopes it never happens again.
2. From a selfish point of view, I feel a need to go on record that I had no part in this regrettable incident. Even after 50 plus years, this incident remains as the low point in my high school experience. I am ashamed and embarrassed to been have sitting with the fans of one of the two schools involved.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Alligators Near James Covered Bridge?
This Post is about an unconfirmed, but oft repeated, account that allegedly involved a PCHS student (year omitted). I personally think it would qualify as an Urban Legend! The story starts with a visit to the Lovett garage by the student in question. When he entered he was shown a shoe box that contained a baby alligator. (It must be noted that during this period it was possible to order baby alligators for around $2. They were advertised on the back covers of comic books.) Upon looking at the alligator the student asked where it came from?
The person displaying the baby alligator said , "We were seining for minnows down at the old swimming hole near the covered bridge and we dipped up this baby alligator."
The now very excited student allegedly said, "I'm never going swimming again by the old covered bridge. Because where there is one little one there has to be two big ones!"
(This unrelated account did happen near the bridge. My two very close cousins and I were seining for minnows at the south end of the swimming hole and we dipped up a very large jelly like object that was attached to a limb. It was large and we put it in a very large bucket and took it to school and hoped Mr. Blades could identify it. He could not and to this day it remains a mystery.
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