Reflections

Reflections

His to Ke e ric al ps Sp e ake cia l E di tion 1

MonTGoMERy, ALABAMA - PoRTRAiT of A HisToRiC CiTy Published by: The Alabama Gazette Publishing LLC

August 1, 2015

Editor/Writer: Bill Rice

Table of Contents SECTION A Dale’s Penthouse Tragedy -Page 2A Pioneer of Lower Commerce Restoration - Page 4A Kat & Harri’s Memories - Page 5A ‘Lunch in Gump’ Ranks Eateries - Page 6A Whitfield Foods Changes with Times - Page 7A Leadership Montgomery Brings Races Together - Page 10A MA’s Football-State Title Remembered - Page 11A Civil Rights Titans - Page 13A Amazing Life of Aaron Aronov - Page 14A SECTION B All-Time Montgomery Football Team - Page 1B Our History ‘Roundtable’ - Page 4B Starke School’s Founder - Page 5B History In Prose - Page 6B New Book Tells History of Lee High School’s First Decade - Page 10B And: School histories, reader memories and photos galore!

Reflections Advertiser Directory Action Collision Center – 2B (www.actioncollisioncenter.com) Aronov Companies – 16A (www.aronov.com) Beasley Allen – 8B (www.beasleyallen.com Fouts Commercial Photography – 14A (www.foutsphoto.com Fitzgerald Museum – 12B (www.thefitzgeraldmuseum.org ) Goodwin Animal Hospital & Pet Resort – 11B (www.goodwinanimalhospital.com) Harmon Dennis Bradshaw – 16B (www.hdbinsurance.com) Jackson Hospital – 9B (www.jackson.org Jackson Thornton CPAs – 4A (www.jacksonthornton.com) Mark Shaw All-State – 6B (www.allstate.com) Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School (www.knights.pvt.k12.al.us) The Montgomery Academy – 11A (www.montgomeryacademy.org) Oak Grove Inn – 4B (www.oakgroveinn.org) Saint James School – 3B (www.stjweb.org) The Starke Agency – 5B (www.mystarke.com) Sikes & Kohn Country Mall – 13B Steineker & Dillon Dentistry – 10B (www.steinekerdillon.com) Trinity Presbyterian School – 8A (www.trinitywildcats.com) Troy University (Montgomery Campus) – 14B (www.troy.edu) Warren Averett CPAs– 13A (www.warrenaverett.com New Waters Realty– 6A (www.thewatersal.com) Whitfield Foods – 7A (www.whitfieldfoods.com)

The history of Montgomery’s first “Reflections” edition …

T hank you very much for picking up the first-ever copy of “Reflections,” an annual newspaper publication which attempts to present a snapshot of the people, organizations and events that shaped our past and still influence our community today.

The project was a partnership between The Alabama Gazette and myself.

History, of course, does determine the future. It did in my case. In the 1990s I owned a weekly newspaper in my hometown of Troy (The Troy Citizen). This is where I conceived of an annual publication, which would tap into our readers’ keen interest in local history. The publication was a hit and our staff produced one every year until I moved into the next chapter of my life.

Which brought me to my new home, Montgomery!

When I left my previous job, I

immediately spoke to Lorreta Grant and Sam Adams, Co-Owners of The Alabama Gazette and asked them if their paper would be interested in partnering with me on a similar publication (even has the same name, “Reflections”).

“Let’s do it,” they said. “Yea!” I said.

We have profiled several individuals and organizations that make Montgomery a better place to live.

Our hope is that this paper will remain on the coffee table with articles read at your leisure. If you’d like extra copies, please drop by or call The Alabama Gazette. I learned from interview subjects that in the ‘30s and ‘40s “everything cost a nickel.” Well, Reflections cost nothing!

A special thank you to the businesses and organizations who committed to advertising based solely on my description. Thanks also to Robert Fouts, The

The Alabama

Gazette Montgomery, AL 36104

Bill Rice, Jr, Editor

Owner/Publisher Owner/Publisher Managing Editor Samuel Adams Loretta Grant

Office (334)356-6700

Reflections

www.alabamagazette.com alabamagazette@gmail.com

Alabama Gazette Publishing, LLC

‘Ole’ Ice House and Segall Banana Building

Enjoy your reading!

Reflections Editor - Bill Rice Layout/Office Manager ~ Marie Hudson Volume 1 - Issue 1 Copyright 2015 The Alabama Gazette 32 pages- 2 Sec.

12 E. Jefferson Street

Montgomery Historical Society and The Alabama State Archives, where we obtained the majority of our photos of “vintage Montgomery.”

Thanks to Loretta, Sam, Marie Hudson, Ed Jones, Mary Ann Neeley and everyone who took time to help me with this project.

Next year’s “Reflections” should be bigger and better. One thing is for certain: When your “beat” is everything that happened in your city prior to today, you should never run out of compelling, inspiring and fascinating stories.

If this publication makes anyone reflect on the fascinating and important topic of history, we’ve done a good thing, I think.

The Gazette, (now The Alabama Gazette) was created in year 2000 for the people of Central Alabama with the intent of being a thought-provoking, non-partisan publication reaching over 20,000 readers monthly. Written comments, stories, advertisements, social and church events, as well as classifieds are always welcome. The publisher is not responsible for error in text reprinted from other sources. Furthermore, this publication does not establish due diligence on authors or advertisers and cannot guarantee that their offerings or writings are correct or suitable. We assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. We reserve the right to print, edit or condense any and all contents submitted. The publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising and submissions at its own discretion. All articles, ads and photographs may be subject to copyright.

MonTGoMERy, ALABAMA - PoRTRAiT of A HisToRiC CiTy 2A

Editor/Writer: Bill Rice

August 1, 2015

Published by: The Alabama Gazette Publishing LLC

February 7, 1967 Building today

“Tragedy at Dale’s Penthouse”

By BILL RICE, JR. IT WAS AN OUTING TO BE LOOKED FORWARD TO AND ENJOyED, a treat for both regular and first-time customers: Dining out with friends or loves ones at an upscale restaurant, a restaurant known for its outstanding menu selections, its plush décor and its unsurpassed views of a beautiful and historic city.

As was customary when attending such a place in these more elegant times, gentlemen were dressed in coat and tie and ladies in their best dresses as they dined at Dale’s Penthouse.

Nothing could seem more normal, or offer a smaller degree of risk than the prosaic act of enjoying a fine meal with friends and loved ones.

In anyone’s life, though, everything can change in an instant. Laughter and relaxed conversation can – in one moment – morph into inconceivable horror.

In most of our lives, such events thankfully do not occur. But on the evening of Feb. 7, 1967 at Dale’s Penthouse, at just before 10 p.m – about the time many guests might have been finishing a perfectly-prepared desert or enjoying a cup of freshbrewed coffee - such an event occurred.

For those who lived in Montgomery at the time, the horror of an evening 48 years ago is still easily and vividly recalled. Even those not yet born have probably heard the basics of one of Montgomery’s most unforgettable tragedies.

Family members of the 25 individuals who perished that night are still affected not only by the loss of loved ones, but by the way their family members departed.

“It changed everything that happened the rest of my life,” said the daughter of one of that night’s victims. *** THE FIRE HAPPENED ON A TUESDAy NIGHT –typically a night not associated with dining out. But on this evening, a nice-sized crowd, somewhere between 75 and 100 patrons, had gathered at Dale’s.

Several tables were occupied by supporters of The Montgomery Civic Ballet (predecessor to today’s Montgomery Ballet). Members of the Ballet had put on an “adjudication” performance at the Lanier High School Auditorium earlier in the night.

Board members, some parents of dancers and outof-town dignitaries in town for the event decided to continue the evening at Dale’s.

Among the other diners were a recent member of the Alabama Public Service Commission and his wife and the chief lobbyist of the United States Teamsters Union, a key lieutenant of Jimmy Hoffa.

Other guests that night included a young man celebrating his 13th birthday. Dale’s was certainly the type of place families would celebrate “special events.” It was also a place where movers-and-shakers in politics and business gathered to socialize or discuss big deals.

FEBRUARy 7TH WAS WAS A FRIGID NIGHT, temperatures in the upper 20s. Patrons checked their winter jackets with Dale’s staffers who stored them in a cloak room near the restaurant’s cocktail lounge.

Dale’s Penthouse was located on the 11th floor of the then Walter Bragg Apartment (now Capitol Towers) building at 7 Clayton Street near the corner of S. Court Street.

The restaurant was actually not part of the original apartment building, which was built in 1951.

The restaurant “penthouse” was added – basically built on the rooftop - a few years later. The facility was enlarged in a subsequent renovation.

“It was not a ‘penthouse’ in the sense of a New York City penthouse,” remembers Don Meriwether, the young man celebrating his 13th birthday with his parents that evening. “It looked like what it was - an add-on. It had a ledge that ran all around it with a railing.”

Built on one of the higher points of the downtown business district, the top floor restaurant offered panoramic views of the city. Diners could look out over the city in three directions. It also featured a balcony and small patio, both of which could be enjoyed in warmer weather.

Dale’s was not original to Montgomery. It was part of a small chain of “Dale’s” Restaurants. The original “Dale’s Cellar,” opened in Birmingham in 1946. (The family that started the popular restaurant and its spin-offs is today better know for the famous marinade that bears the same name.)

Nine Dale’s restaurants would eventually be opened in the South. The Montgomery location, locally owned by manager John English and Saul Ginsburg, might have been the first Dale’s that was not located in the cellar of an existing building. Instead of being located on the lowest floor of a building this one was a novelty, located on the highest floor of its host building.

“Fire!”

A 22-year-old cook, Jesse Williams, was among the first people to spot the fire. About the time the restaurant’s remaining guests would have been finishing their meals, he left the kitchen and went to the cloak room where he saw another employee

UNFORGETTABLE SIGHT: It took fire fighters about 2 hours to get the blaze under control. Ladders did not reach the 11th floor Penthouse. Note that power in lower floor apartments never went out.

attempting to extinguish a smoldering pile of used linens.

(Several reports said the fire was likely started by a diner’s pipe that had been left unextinguished in a coat pocket. Another account speculated that a still-burning cigarette, left on a table, had been accidently disposed of and placed in a hamper with table clothes and napkins by a waiter or bus boy.)

AT FIRST, THE FIRE DIDN’T SEEM THAT SERIOUS, Williams said in later interviews. He recalled running back to the kitchen to get a fire extinguisher. But in the short time that elapsed until he returned, the fire had grown much worse and was too big for him to put out with the fire extinguisher.

At some point - between 9:40 and 10 p.m., - “all of a sudden someone yelled, ‘fire!” recalled Helen Kirschenfeld, part of the Ballet group of about 15 diners.

“In the panic that ensued, people fought through thick clouds of smoke toward the elevator and to the kitchen, where there was another exit. But the fire … closed off that route, and the exit in the kitchen was locked” according to a Montgomery Advertiser story about the fire published in 2003.

Saul Ginsburg, one of Dale’s owners, “felt bad” that evening and had gone home early. A waiter called him at home. The message he conveyed didn’t give him the impression the fire was out-ofcontrol. Still he got in his car and raced back to the restaurant.

Four blocks from the restaurant, he could see the fire.

“You know what that did to me,” he later told a journalist with The Florence Times, which ran a story recounting the “most important state stories of the ‘60s” (the fire ranked No. 8 on the list).

William C. McCord was a captain with the Montgomery Fire Department on Feb. 7, 1967 (he later was promoted to chief).

“When we got there, it didn’t look nearly as bad as it was,” McCord said in an Advertiser interview published years later. “But when we drove up, window panes and glass were falling onto our vehicle on Clayton Street.”

INSIDE THE RESTAURANT, employees and guests were knocking out windows to get to the ledge or balcony, scrambling to get on one of the two elevators, or trying to find the only stairwell exit that was available.

Roy Anderson, a retired Air Force officer who taught at Robert E. Lee was also the board president of the Montgomery Civic Ballet. He and his wife, Mildred were among the group of Ballet diners.

It was many decades later that Anderson (then living in an assisted living facility) finally told one of his two daughters what happened that night.“He was with my mother and they were together at first,” said Carol Anderson Cameron, who was 13 at the time of the fire and now lives in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. “They were not sure which way to go. An elevator door opened and someone said ‘who wants to go this way?’ At the same time, he heard someone shout, ‘Come on and go this way!’

(My father) got on the elevator and in the confusion, he did not realize she was not on it.”

Roy Anderson was among the two groups that used one of the elevators to reach the ground floor.

Williams, the cook, led both groups, and was taking the elevator back up a third time when the power went out and the elevator stopped.

He was forced to climb out the roof of the elevator and slide down its cables to the ground floor.

An elevator-full of fire fighters in the second elevator had to do the same thing. The fire fighters had to press fire-retardant clothing into the partiallyopen elevator door to prevent flames from overtaking them.

On the street below, Roy Anderson frantically waited for his 49-year-old wife to appear, but Mildred Anderson would be one of the fire’s 25 victims.

Carol’s older sister, Katharine Anderson Hurd, was 17 at the time, a senior at Lee and the star performer at The Montgomery Civic Ballet (she later became a soloist for the Boston Ballet). Both sisters had gone home after the ballet performance.

“Daddy never spoke to me about that night. I couldn’t bring myself to ask,” said Katharine via email from her home in Connecticut. “The haunting question for me will always be, ‘How did he get out and she didn’t?’ Either they both should have made it or not,” she said, adding that almost 50 years later, “there are questions still left unanswered”

For many only escape was a ledge

Many of the estimated 50 survivors escaped by smashing windows and climbing onto the ledge as the flames raged behind them.

Dr. Jack Kirschenfeld, a long-time local physician, was among the men who broke out windows and escaped the flames and overwhelming smoke.

“I grabbed a chair and broke out a window – just smashed it,” he said in the 2003 Advertiser story.

“There was a lot of noise and smoke. Everyone was headed for the elevator or the kitchen. I grabbed my wife and (a female guest in town to adjudicate the ballet performance) and we stepped out on to the ledge.”

After carefully walking around the 3-foot ledge, a group waited at “least 30 minutes before fire fighters created ‘a wall of water’ that allowed those on the terrace safe passage through the flames to a stairwell and safety, Helen Kirschenfeld said.

Bill White, a truck line president from Dothan who was dining with Mr. and Mrs. Ed Pepper (the former PSC member), also “smashed a window and led others to safety,” according to an AP story by Rex Thomas published Feb. 8th, 1967. White’s hand was bleeding and bandaged when the reporter spoke with him).

The fire “erupted with a ‘whoosh” into a raging inferno,” according to White as reported by The AP. William McCord, the captain with the MFD, later said that the actions of those breaking windows to escape the flames no doubt “saved some lives, but (also) helped fuel the fire.”

“When that fresh air got in there, it was like someone turned a blowtorch on it,” he said in one interview.

BECAUSE OF THE CLOAKROOOM’S LOCATION NEAR THE ELEVATORS and the restaurant’s only stairwell, employees and patrons had few options for escape, according to the 1967 story.

On the streets below, spectators from throughout town watched in terror as the fire, which first seemed minor, escalated rapidly.

“Spectators reaching the fire shortly after it broke out heard screams for help from diners,” said one written account. “… God help us,” yelled an elderly man. “Help!

Help! Get us down,” begged a woman from the ledge 100 feet up.” “ …. Thirty minutes later the cries had ceased,” according to an AP account published the following day.

Among those watching from the street was a group of reporters and staffers from The Montgomery Advertiser, including its sports editor Jack Doane. Mr. Doanne’s wife, Rose Ellen, was a 34year-old hostess at the restaurant.

Continued on next page

MonTGoMERy, ALABAMA - PoRTRAiT of A HisToRiC CiTy Published by: The Alabama Gazette Publishing LLC

August 1, 2015

fussing at the firemen because they couldn’t get to us. I yelled at them to go back and get some bigger ladders.”

Another detail recalled by those who witnessed the event is the fact that the frigid weather (temps would drop into the mid 20s) caused the massive volume of water that had been directed onto the fire to freeze once it fell back on the street. Because of this maneuvering around the building became difficult. The City rushed in sand to cover the ice sheets of ice that were forming.

Strangely, power on many of the floors where the apartments were located never went out. None of the 200 or so residents who lived in the building’s apartment units suffered an injury. The residents were quickly evacuated. They either spent the night with in-town friends or were given rooms at local hotels.

‘A mass of humanity …’

The balcony area of Dale’s Penthouse was a popular spot for photographs. Note First Baptist Church and State Capitol in bacground. The restaurant was actually built on top of the roof after the apartment building was constructed in 1951.

(Photo/State Archives collection)

Jack Doane watched helplessly and in anguish “choking back tears” as the fire blazed out of control.

For guiding as many patrons as possible into the -elevators. Mrs. Doanne, along with Williams, were both proclaimed heroes. Mrs. Doane posthumously received a national award for heroism.

Ladders did not reach Penthouse Montgomery fire fighters also performed courageously, their efforts undoubtedly saving many lives.

At the time, however, much of the press coverage of the fire focused on the fact the fire department’s ladders did not extend high enough to reach the penthouse, approximately 110 feet above the ground. The ladders extended only about 80 feet.

Some fire fighters “went by ladder as far as it would go, then climbed in an apartment window and walked the rest of the way,” said a press account at the time.

In an interview, Mrs. Kirchenfeld said, “I was

Initial expectations were that casualties would be few. However, “it soon became apparent that the toll in the fire would be much greater than at first feared … The count rose from five to seven, to nine and then jumped as groups of four and five bodies were brought out,” wrote a reporter at the scene.

The “majority” of employees and patrons who did not make it out in the elevators or make it outside had “fled into the (restaurant’s) office – which had no exit.”

This is where fire fighters later found them.

“It was a mass of humanity,” McCord said.

“They were piled on top of each other. White and black, young and old, rich and poor.” One reporter on the scene heard a fireman who had helped remove many of the victims say, “I can’t go back up there.”

The blaze, which had started just before 10 p.m., was “under control” by 11:30 p.m.

The majority of victims died from smoke asphyxiation. Most of the bodies were “burned beyond recognition.” Victims were transported to four area funeral homes.

In addition to the 25 deaths (early reports cited the number as 26), eight others suffered injuries and had to be treated at local hospitals (most for smoke inhalation).

One nurse at St. Margaret’s hospital who specialized in treating respiratory issues was on duty and was later was horrified when she identified the remains of “her best friend,” she wrote in an on-line remembrance of the night.

“I heard they carried slabs of beef down, thinking they were bodies. That’s how bad the fire was,” said James Amsler, who was a 16-year-old spectator at the time and later became Montgomery’s fire marshal.

Even today, the scope of the tragedy is almost

Editor/Writer: Bill Rice

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At some point - between 9:40 and 10 p.m. - “all of a sudden someone yelled, ‘fire!” recalled Helen Kirschenfeld, part of the Ballet group of about 15 diners.

“In the panic that ensued, people fought through thick clouds of smoke toward the elevator and to the kitchen, where there was another exit. But the fire closed off that route, and the exit in the kitchen was locked. hard to fathom; the terror inside the restaurant too gruesome to contemplate.

When interviewed in 2003, Dr. Kirschenfeld said he will never forget the event.

“I’ve lived 84 years, but I’ve never seen anything as horrifying as that night. That was the worst.

I was in World War II and worked as a physician for 60 years, but I never went through anything like that.”

Fire was nation’s top story

The story was front-page news in newspapers around the country. At the time, the fire claimed more lives than any American restaurant fire since 1942.

In large part because of the fire, building codes for “high-rise” structures were strengthened and local fire-fighting tactics were changed. After this, the fire department got taller ladders and fire fighters also trained putting extensions on high-rise ladders.

The lack of a sprinkler system, “inadequate exits” and the presence of combustible materials all contributed to the great loss of live, according to a paper published in the Fire Journal of 1967.

“It was so shocking for the entire city,” said the late writer Wayne Greenhaw in an interview about that night. “I don’t remember any story that was quite as earthshaking. And (the burned out shell of the penthouse) was up there for the longest time after the fire. Every time you passed by, the scar was up there in the sky.”

Just about everyone in the city knew at least one person who had perished in the fire.

Former fire department officer William McCord summarized the horrific events of February 7, 1967.

“That was the worst night we ever had in the city of Montgomery,” he said.

Fire changed lives of daughters who lost their mother

By BILL RICE, JR. CAROL ANDERSON CAMERON, ALSO KNOWN AS CARA, WAS A 13-yEAR-OLD STUDENT at Goodwin Junior High School when her world turned upside down.

The night was February 7, 1967. Early that evening, she and her older sister Katharine had attended a special “adjudication” performance of the Montgomery Civic Ballet at the Lanier auditorium.

In fact, her sister (who would later become a professional dancer with the Boston Ballet) was the star performer that evening.

After the performance, many parents and supporters of the Ballet continued Mildred Anderson the evening with dinner at Dale’s Penthouse.

Older sister Katharine, then 17 and a senior at Lee, would “baby sit” her younger sister. The sisters dined on pizza at home.

The last time Carol, who now lives in Cape Cod, remembers seeing her mother Mildred was after the performance.

“I didn’t hug her or tell her ‘I love you’, Carol remembered in a recent phone interview.

There was a reason for this. The mother and daughter had always been “very close.” A few months earlier Carol had a discussion with her mother. She had asked her mother to go with her to the Alabama State Fair. Her mother eventually went with her daughter, but had told her daughter that she really needed to start doing more things with friends.

“I might not always be there for you,” she told her daughter.

This conversation was probably still in her mind when she refrained from exhibiting her usual display of public affection toward her mom. That is, the last words she ever spoke to her mother were not, “I love you.”

Late that evening the phone rang. Katharine answered it and responded with alarm.

“There’s been a fire at the restaurant and they can’t find mother,” she told Carol.

THE REST OF THE EVENING AND EARLy MORNING was sheer “panic” distinguished by a complete feeling of helplessness.

Around 1 or 2 in the morning, their father finally

arrived home. Roy Anderson was a retired major in the U.S. Air Force. While both parents were from northern states, the family decided to settle in Montgomery, home of Maxwell Air Force Base.

Mr. Anderson taught first at Starke University School and later Lee High School. He was also the board president of the Montgomery Civic Ballet at the time.

Mr. Anderson’s reaction that night still haunts Carol to this day.

Her father was extremely reserved, she said, almost never showing his emotions.

“I had never seen him cry before,” she said. When he told his daughters what had happened, his sobs were so violent that “his entire body shook uncontrollably.”

Even today, when she thinks about the fire, the memory of her father’s reaction is what she thinks of.

“I was traumatized by seeing him cry. I’d never seen him that upset, “ she said. Never again, did she want to see “that type of sadness.”

Her father had survived the fire by being part of two groups that escaped down one of the restaurant’s elevators. In the confusion of the panic that had ensued, he thought his wife was also in the elevator. She was not.

He later had to identify his wife’s remains.

Carol was told that her mother died from smoke asphyxiation. She assumes her body was burned beyond recognition but she’s not sure. At the funeral, the coffin remained closed.

The days that followed were a blur, she remembers.

She said she didn’t know how to act while her sister put on a brave face while greeting friends and family.

She does remember opening the door for one adult acquaintance, “who shoved a pie in my hands, told me how sorry she was and then broke out crying and ran back to her car.”

At school, many people were “very kind.”

But of course, one tends to remember the awful reactions. She thus remembers at least one classmate who “teased her” and made a negative comment about the fact her father had “left” his mother and thus let her perish.

THE ANDERSON SISTERS WERE NOT the only “dance children” who lost a parent.

Both remember that fellow dancer Mary Lynn Baum also lost her mother (Frances).

Mary Lynn had previously lost her father at an

early age and thus was left an orphan by the fire.

For decades, neither Carol nor Katharine ever spoke of that evening to their father and he never volunteered any information.

Carol’s sister left later that summer to attend Birmingham Southern on a dance scholarship, leaving Carol at home with her father. Carol later attended the University of Alabama.

See DAUGHTER, Page 15B

VICTIMS as reported February 8th (Note: 23 names are listed in this total so this list does not include names of two victims).

Mr. and Mrs. Ed Pepper of Montgomery (Mr. Pepper had recently served on the Alabama Public Service Commission and had recently lost a race for Congress to Bill Nichols. ) Sidney Zagri of Washington D.C. (chief lobbyist of United Teamsters Union).

Mr. and Mrs. Nick Mitchell, Montgomery Mrs. Frances Baum, Montgomery (described in one account as “a cultural leader” in Montgomery) Miss Carol Smith, Montgomery W.A. Weborg of Montgomery A.W. Roland, address unknown Arthur Lee Williams, Montgomery Gloster Lee Harris, Sr., Montgomery Jessie Mae Boyd, Montgomery Robert Lee Smith, Montgomery Miss Ann Harris, Montgomery (described in one account as “a beautiful fashion model”) Mrs. Jack Doane, Montgomery (receptionist and wife of Montgomery Advertiser sports editor) Col. Philip Neal, MAFB, Montgomery Mr. and Mrs. Powell, address unknown Mr. Calvert, Pinson Mr. Grossman, Detroit Mr. Dunn, Montgomery Mrs. Mildred Anderson, Montgomery (see sidebar story) Mr. Solberger, address unknown Note: Many victims were employees at the restaurant. Three couples died together in the blaze.

MonTGoMERy, ALABAMA - PoRTRAiT of A HisToRiC CiTy 4A

Editor/Writer: Bill Rice

August 1, 2015

Published by: The Alabama Gazette Publishing LLC

Jackson Thornton ‘led pack’ in ...

Bringing Lower Commerce back to its grandeur By the 1970s, beautiful buildings were losing their charm as deterioration wrought damages, and the strains of wear and tear became painfully evident. Too, people had lost interest in the riverfront as it had become a garbage dump and the lakes beckoned. Finally, with the coming of I-65 and I-85 and Urban Renewal, air and life were being sucked from not only Commerce Street but from all of downtown

By MARy ANN NEELEy THE LOWER COMMERCE STREET HISTORIC DISTRICT IS ONE OF MONTGOMERy’S BUSIEST AREAS, especially on week-ends with activities for the whole family and a year round night-life that attracts all ages. Since Montgomery’s inception, and even further back to even pre-historic periods, this has been true of the area along the Alabama River.

The main feature of this article—the Jackson-Thornton Building -- stands at the NW corner of Commerce and Tallapoosa streets. In the early 1890s, the McIntyre Brothers, John and James, rising young entrepreneurs in Montgomery’s version of the Gilded Age, were spreading their wings and developing their domain with buildings suited for rent to wholesalers.

Acquiring the NW corner of Tallapoosa and Commerce streets, they set about to construct a three-story warehouse on this now empty corner, It was probably the site of the home of John Gindrat, a businessman and Intendant of Montgomery in 1825 when General LaFayette paid his famous visit to the city. After the Grand Ball, this hero stopped at the Intendant’s house for a farewell drink as he moved toward the river and the steamboat.

Later, a large cotton warehouse occupied the spot. It was used as a Confederate Quartermasters’ supply depot during the Civil War and was most likely a victim of the fires that raged as Union forces moved toward the city.

The McIntyres’ architect, although nameless, designed the building in a less florid style than some of its neighbors, but nevertheless its Victorian-Second-Renaissance façade fit handsomely into the setting.

A bracketed metal cornice apparently once had a more decorative eave adornment, while six bays, separated by elegant arched pilasters, begin on the third floor

where the windows rounded are lined by metallic hood moulds. These Romanesque features are less defined on the second floor and are straightened as they reach ground level. The inside was all business with brick walls, large heart-pine beams and floors.

For much of its existence, the neighborhood served varied wholesale companies, and the area roared with great bustle and stir. Even though river traffic ceased in the early 1920s, railroads continued their importance, even with a Western line running directly along Tallapoosa Street and into an alley between two wholesalers where goods were loaded and unloaded.

Union Station clammered as trains poured travelers into town and scooped others up for destinations far and wide. Yet, with highways, trucks and automobiles improving, people took to the roads and wholesalers began looking at the convenience of roadway expresses straight to the customer; thus, changes occurred in many business practices.

Tourists and traveling salesmen embraced the excitement, hazards and convenience of automobile travel. Lower Commerce Street, too, felt the pangs of transition.

1970s deterioration of Lower Commerce By the 1970s, beautiful buildings were losing their charm as deterioration wrought damages, and the strains of wear and tear became painfully evident. Too, people had lost interest in the riverfront as it had become a garbage dump and the lakes beckoned. Finally, with the coming of I-65 and I-85 and Urban Renewal, air and life were being sucked from not only Commerce Street but from all of downtown.

In 1966-67, the Preservation Movement, sponsored by Congressional action and tax credits for commercial purposes emerged, and Montgomery citizens took action with the formation of city preservation authorities and private individuals organized Landmarks Foundation.

In cooperation with the city, it initiated efforts, which have resulted in Old Alabama Town. But as an independent association of concerned historians, preservationists and those eager to preserve evidences of the past. Landmarks turned its attention to Commerce Street and its unique collection of late 19th and early 20century high Victorian architectural styles.

James Loeb and Milo Howard, two dynamic determined leaders, focused on 200 Commerce Street and contacted Lanny Crane, urging him, as leader of Jackson-Thornton, an old-line accounting firm, to take the lead in the preservation effort with its rejuvenation. Lanny agreed, and with the encouragement of Landmarks began a process, which brought a once neglected, forgotten part of Montgomery back to vibrant life.

See JACKSON-THORNTON, Page 10A

MonTGoMERy, ALABAMA - PoRTRAiT of A HisToRiC CiTy Published by: The Alabama Gazette Publishing LLC

August 1, 2015

Editor/Writer: Bill Rice

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For many, Kat & Harri’s was THE place to gather Beloved local landmark was started by a Montgomery native who “didn’t know anything” about her new business.

By BILL RICE, JR. FROM THE SUMMER OF 1982 TO 1995, Kat & Harri’s was THE place to be after work and on weekends in Montgomery.

The restaurant and bar was the city’s most popular gathering spot. It was particularly popular with politicians, lobbyists, business professionals, and those just out of college or still in college.

Despite being in existence only 13 years, it certainly qualifies as a “beloved landmark” for many residents of a certain age and from a well-remembered era (that spanned most of the presidential administrations of Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton).

As it turned out, what became a local landmark was started by a Montgomery native who “didn’t know anything” about the restaurant and bar business. *** In 1982, Harriet Crommelin was 35-year old real estate agent with Re-Max who had “no money” to speak of. Prior to moving into real estate (where she worked for 3 or so years), she’d worked for the investment banking firm Frazer Lanier and as a legal secretary at Capell, Howard, Knabe & Cobbs (now Capell & Howard).

But in the early ‘80s, interest rates had skyrocketed to 21 percent.

“Needless to say, I wasn’t selling any homes,” said Crommelin in a phone interview from the office of her ultra popular current restaurant, Café’ Thirty-A in Seagrove Beach, Florida.

Crommelin’s father, Henry, a Montgomery native, had graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and had risen to the rank of admiral when he retired in 1960 and moved back to Montgomery. Harriet was 13 at the time. She graduated from Lanier in 1963 and from Alabama in 1967.

So she certainly knew a lot of people and had no shortage of friends. Plus, she had acquired some business experience, albeit in other fields.

First thought was to open a deli

But around 1982, she’d been through a divorce and admits that she occasionally required cash gifts from her mother when she and her friend Kathy Schultz decided to go into the restaurant and bar business.

As Harriet remembers, Kathy mentioned that it might be “fun” to open a deli. Harriet agreed. Their initial thought was to open a restaurant in the Joe’s Deli space on Fairview Ave. However, after doing some research and talking to different restaurant owners, the plan changed. Instead of opening a deli, they decided they would take over the space occupied by Kathy’s then husband, Bob Schultz. He had operated The Pavilion in the space that would become Kat & Harri’s (next to current Jubilee Seafood in Cloverdale).

The Pavilion had been known as “a late-night bar.”

Schultz, however, had started another bar, Brautigan’s, which had become his primary interest.

Today, Harriet admits, “all I knew about (the business) was from the other side of the bar – as a customer.”

With little money in her savings account, the two ladies formed a limited liability company. They raised $40,000 in investment capital, with most shareholder’s contributing $2,500 apiece. Harriet’s mother invested $5,000.

With $40,000 raised in stock, they then borrowed another $40,000 from South Bank (which later became SouthTrust). Ray Petty was the banker who signed off on he loan.

“For some reason, he believed in us,” says Harriet today. “I’ve always called him ‘our benefactor.’

Kathy’s daughter coined the name –which quickly became famous and remains famous today.

The owner of the property was Charles Smith, who everyone always called “Mister.”

Kat & Harri’s opened in August of 1982. Prior to its opening, she supervised an extensive renovation, adding new flooring, a new bar and other upgrades.

They also had to buy and install “some equipment.”

She remembers a “lot of R & D,” which consisted of visiting successful bars/restaurants in the region.

“Seriously, that’s what we did,” she said, adding that “plagiarism” of concepts that work in other locales still makes business sense to her “as long as you aren’t copying something in your own town.”

Houston’s and Houlihan’s of Atlanta were two successful establishments that influenced Harriet’s picture of what their establishment would try to be (basically a “Cheers” type bar, which also served food, where people would always feel welcomed).

She remembers creating a “simple” list of menu items (hamburgers, sandwiches, pasta and a filet) at her dining room table with the help of the late Doug Sileo, husband of her good friend, Alda.

Harriet has never done any cooking in any of her restaurants. Instead, she embarked into the “world of chefdom” to find the real deals. Still, she’s always enjoyed cooking (and has either selected or signed-off on menu items at her restaurants). And she’s always enjoyed entertaining.

At Kat & Harri’s she stuck to hiring, managing, handling the bookkeeping and interacting with customers. Her chief role, she jokes, was being “the hostess with the mostest.”

The establishment attracted customers from the beginning. Those operating in the political world and those who lived in the Cloverdale and nearby McGehee

Harriet Crommelin Estates neighborhoods provided the early core of patrons. But it was by no means an instant hit.

“I remember I didn’t get a pay check for six months,” she said.

‘Kat’ exits partnership

And soon there was no “Kat” helping run Kat & Harri’s.

According to Harriet, her friend was really not that interested in spending as much time at the business as would clearly be required.

And, she adds today, “I’m really not a good partner.”

In February, just six months after they opened, she came up with enough money to buy out her partner.

“I just paid her back what she had put in, said Harriet.

But this was about the time the bar/restaurant was starting to take off.

She remembers hiring long-time local TV personality Joe Hagler to come to her place every Friday night to be a DJ and gab with the patrons.

Hagler’s unique talents and personality drew more customers, she said.

The change of seasons also helped. It was now winter. Unlike in the summer, people were home “and didn’t have anything else to do.”

She kept trying new promotions and introducing new entertainment.

She installed “a big popcorn machine” and gave away free popcorn.

She started adding musical acts. Bobby Moore and the Rhythm Aces played every Wednesday night (usually starting at 8:30). She also began recruiting other bands that would play on Thursday, Fridays and Saturdays.

At first, she had served a daily lunch. She gave that up in “about six weeks.” Even today, she tells employees and friends that if she ever suggests introducing lunch “to shoot me.”

She did offer a “Sunday brunch” that was popular, even with the little old ladies of “Old Montgomery,” including a big group of her mother’s friends.

(One memory she has today is of her mother reminding her friends to “please tip the servers … apparently “they thought that only men tipped.”)

Mrs. Crommelin passed away about a year after Kat & Harri’s opened. Still, she lived long enough to see the restaurant and bar turn the corner. Unlike the vast majority of restaurant and bar start-ups, it was clear Kat & Harri’s was going to be a going concern.

And - who knows? - without her mother’s investment of $5,000 (the largest single investment in the venture), Kat & Harri’s. might never have even opened.

When scouting possible restaurant opportunities, Harriet recalls a friend who served as a business advisor rejecting a few places because of “inadequate parking.”

“Parking?” Why is that a big deal, Harriet remembers thinking at the time.

Fortunately, she settled on a location with ample parking. In fact, before long parking lots in the front and rear entrances were overflowing on a regular basis.

Why the success?

Today she cites a “good location” in Cloverdale as well as the fact her employees simply treated customers as “friends.

“I always thought we should treat customers how I would want to be treated,” she said. Again, her guiding vision was simply to operate a business that, if she were a customer, she would enjoy visiting.

And, slowly but surely, she “learned as she went.”

She experimented with all kind of promotions and staged special events. One memorable one was a “Beach party” where several loads of sand were actually dumped inside the building!

She later added a deck and outdoor bar that proved popular. Artist Claude Walker painted a mural on an outside wall in this new area.

She still remembers the first employee she had to fire.

He was a waiter of Asian descent who, bless his heart, “just didn’t get it,” she remembers. “I felt just terrible. I still don’t like to do that, (although she adds) “it’s not so hard anymore.”

Fortunately, she had more than her share of outstanding employees, people like bar manager Mo

Staff of Bistro at Kat & Harri’s

Mosley (who eventually went to Bud & Alley’s in Seaside) and bartender David Sides. Willie McGehee, her third chef, was outstanding and later followed her to Café’ Thirty-A. At the time Kat & Harri’s opened Harriet’s nextdoor neighbor tenant was Nancy Blount’s clothing boutique. When Blount moved to a new location, Harriet took over her space, adding “The Bistro at Kat & Harri’s,” s small space that could fit only 15 tables. (Its food was prepared in the Kat & Harri’s kitchen). This represented her first venture into “fine” or more upscale dining (her niche today).”

For the first couple of years, Varon’s was next to Nancy Blount’s. It catered to a “Sahara” type clientele and had “been around forever.”

The owner later moved his restaurant to the Atlanta Highway. According to Harriet, he came to believe that Kat & Harri’s had hurt his business and believed a second restaurant should never have been allowed in the common space.

When Varon’s moved, Harriet called her friend Bud Skinner, who was working in Birmingham at the time.

She told him he should open a restaurant in the Varon’s space.

He did and Jubilee Seafood, another Montgomery landmark, was born.

In 1995, Harriett sold Kat & Harri’s. The new owner promptly “made some changes” to the time-tested formula, and even changed the name (to Wesley’s).

While the owner was a “fine chef,” the establishment did not remain open for long.

Apparently the lady who “knew nothing” about the restaurant and bar business proved to be a quick study. If anything, she was driven and determined to succeed.

“I can say one thing. Failure has never been a partof my vocabulary,” said Harriet.

Looking back, she says she had a “lot of fun and made a lot of friends” during her 13 years as owner of Kat & Harri’s.

There’s no telling “how many political and business deals” customers made over drinks and good food at Kat & Harri’s.

Plenty of couples met their future spouses for the first

‘Gone to Beach’ party on back deck. time at Kat & Harri’s (included in this list are the author of this story’s brother and sister-in-law!).

Gone to the beach!

Kat & Harri’s might still be open today if Harriet had not fallen in love with the scenery, ambience and people of the “Beaches of 30-A.” She said she started travelling to Seaside every year for its “Seaside Wine Fest.”

“I really enjoyed that. It was so much fun.”

And by this time, the seasoned restaurateur noticed that for such a popular “destination area,” this portion of beach featured a surprising paucity of fine dining establishments (Bud & Alley’s and maybe one or two restaurants were the only ones that offered a memorable dining experience in her opinion.)

“There were all these yuppies from Birmingham, Atlanta, Memphis, Dallas and they really didn’t have many choices to eat,” said Harriet today.

She started looking for locations and found one in Seagrove right on “scenic” Highway 30-A. She sold Kat & Harris, and – in quick order - bought the property where she would build Café’ Thirty-A. [I bought the property and THEN sold K&H.] She also bought a town home and a lot where she would build her permanent home a couple of years later.

Café Thirty-A was an instant hit and has been considered one of the finest restaurants in the area for 20 years now. Indeed, Café Thirty-A has become a beach landmark just like Kat & Harri’s became a Montgomery landmark.

Many of its repeat customers are, of course, from Montgomery.

She said a week rarely goes by that she doesn’t see old friends who share happy memories of Kat & Harri’s.

Indeed some of those customers are the children and grandchildren of Kat & Harri’s alums. Younger generations know of Kat & Harri’s only through stories related by loved ones. For them, it’s one of many local “landmarks” that are a part of Montgomery’s business and social history.

It was life-changing history for Harriet Crommelin as well.

In her mid ‘30s, abandoning the only two careers she knew and with virtually no money of her own, she took a risk and hung out an “open for business” sign.

Montgomerians were cordially invited to drop by and unwind with friends, co-workers and business associates after work.

For 13 years, Montgomerians of all ages did just this.

What Harriet wanted to accomplish – the friendly locale she wanted to provide for her hometown – became a reality.

As history must surely record, at Kat & Harri’s in the ‘80s and first half of the ‘90s, “a good time was had by all.”

MonTGoMERy, ALABAMA - PoRTRAiT of A HisToRiC CiTy 6A

Editor/Writer: Bill Rice

August 1, 2015

Published by: The Alabama Gazette Publishing LLC

A Cautionary Tale from Lunch in The Gump

With our selections of Montgomery’s All-Time Gump restaurants

By Bidgood Bob (shamelessly plagiarizing from Shadow Pup and Whig in a Blanket, who don’t care) I checked my laptop and, sure Author’s note: While doing research for an article on the bygone enough, it appeared that all of Montdining establishments of Mont- gomery had simultaneously taken gomery, I was allowed a rare leave of their senses. They believed glimpse into the secret archives of the hoax, which prompted two “Lunch in the Gump.” Mind you, thoughts to pulse through my somethis was the real Lunch in the what cocktail-addled brain: First, that Gump… the scruffy band of social people really do believe everything observers who peaked in about they read, even on April 1st; and sec2010, with literally dozens of fol- ond, that this whole Internet thing lowers. The original LITG blog might just catch on.

The next morning, Chris’ Hot Dogs has now faded into near oblivion, falling victim to social media, like had a line stretching around the block and I thought, well, at least they’re everything else.

ON APRIL 1, 2010 THE MOST WIDELy READ POST in the history of lunchinthegump.com, before or since, went up into cyberspace for all to see. Here it is, in its entirety: “(We) visited with Theo this afternoon and it's true. After almost 93 years, this Dexter Avenue institution is closing its doors at the end of April.

Founded in 1917, this national treasure has survived two World Wars, a Great Depression, Elvis, the Bus Boycott, the Todd Road Incident and disco. The combination of the Great Recession and everybody eating lunch down by the Alley finally took its toll.

We suggest that you make an effort to visit Chris' at least one last time during April. LITG is declaring April to be ‘Chris’ Hot Dog Month.’ RIP friend.”

The loyal readers of LITG’s original blog (approximately 27 back then) all considered it a decent enough hoax.

Not up there with Taco Bell’s purchase of the Liberty Bell, or the whole NASA Space Program, but a good hoax nevertheless. The problems started when a LITG follower linked the post on Facebook and soon panic ensued.

April Fool’s night I got a call from fellow LITG poster and well-known foppish dandy, Chase N. Allpots, who said, “Bob, are you aware 15,000 people have looked at the blog today?”

ringing the register at Chris’ today. So at lunchtime I rang up Allpots on the Gump-phone and we walked up Dexter for some Chris’ dogs, only to find the line gone, and not a single dog lover inside. We asked Theo what the heck was going on.

“Some idiot started a rumor on the Internet last night that we’re going out of business,” he said. “First time in ninety-three years Chris’ ever ran out of hot dogs.”

Oops.

Well, the point is, Chris’ Hot Dogs is still here, by God, and we should all support our great homegrown dining establishments before they’re gone.

Next time you get the urge to dash out to the bypass for a chain dinner, at the conclusion of which your money is electronically zapped straight up to Wall Street, consider this: the best places to eat are always local.

If you can get a sitter to look after the squalling brats next Friday night, head to Jubilee Seafood instead of Red Lobster. Sure, it’s expensive as all heck, but that’s to keep the riff-raff out, and so the line won’t stretch all the way to I-65.

A few of today’s standouts …

We’ve got some wonderful local places to eat in this here Gump. Next time you get your bonus check (and the line at Jubilee is too long), try Central, A&P Social, La Jolla or

Elite Cafe (pictured in post card from 1920’s) In this grand establishment tuxedo-clad waiters who knew your name and most likely what you wanted, attended you and knew whether to bring your pre-prandial Martini straight up or cleverly concealed in a coffee cup. www.HistoricMontgomery.com

City Grill. If you don’t feel like drawing on the equity line, go to Charles Anthony’s (The Pub), Saza’s, Wishbone Café, D’Road Café, Mr. Chen’s, Seafood Bistro, Derk’s Filet & Vine… the list goes on and on.

Support the local folks. It really makes a difference in our community.

A trip down Cullinary Lane …

Do you remember the regal Ed Xides snapping for a waiter while escorting you to your table at the Elite Cafe? In this grand establishment tuxedo-clad waiters who knew your name and most likely what you wanted, attended you and knew whether to bring your pre-prandial Martini straight up or cleverly concealed in a coffee cup.

No one dared show up without a coat and tie. A great deal of political maneuvering went on at these tables, some of it even of a noble character.

Just because they were solving the plight of the great unwashed, the Elite’s clientele did not feel a need to dine among them while doing so.

The Sahara has been gone for a few years and is sorely, sorely missed.

News of the closing led the Montgomery Country Club to attempt hiring the entire Sahara wait staff, professionals all, but the opportunity was missed due to MCC’s insane drug-testing policy. Pity. It’s not like they were going to be driving forklifts.

Some will recall another place of great style, and that is the Francis Cafeteria downtown. It was a cafeteria-style restaurant, but there is no similarity between how the food was served at the Francis and the current all-you-can-eat, artery-clogging monstrosities we see in strip malls these days.

Behind the Francis Cafeteria’s counters to “serve you please” were white-shirted and white-dressed staff, who carried your tray to the table

when you were finished ordering.

There were always plenty of local businessmen, along with a sprinkling of behatted and begloved ladies in the crowd, and the sight of blue jeans would have caused an apoplectic fit among the doyens seated there.

Other departed favorites? Let’s never forget the famous and tragic Dale’s Penthouse. LITG could devote an entire series to Dale’s lore.

Other prime spots included the Riviera, Mr. G’s and the Beauvoir Club, MCC’s downtown adjunct that only the real old-timers will remember.

Now is where I break your heart. All of these are gone: The Beverly, Kat n Harri’s, Joe’s Deli, The Red Bird Inn, Tony’s Pizza, The Green Lantern, Capitol Grill, Walt’s Family Breakfast, Gator’s, The Blue Moon Inn, Embers Steak Pit, The Ranch, the just-closed Garrett’s… stop it, already.

As this is being written, there’s news that The Vintage Year will return, and soon.

Think globally and all that, but eat locally. If we don't, before long there won't be anything left but Olive Garden and other slingers of corporate hash. Don't let it happen.

Oh, and the 100th birthday of Chris’ Hot Dogs is just around the corner in 2017. Theo will not run out of hot dogs, I’ll bet.

Another local favorite from yesteryear ...

Photo courtesy of Mongomery Historical Society

Top-floor (fine dining) was available at Point Rouge, which was located on the top of floor of a Jackson Hospital building.

According to our sources, the food and service were outstanding. Can you name one restaurant still operating in Alabama where the waiters dress in tuxedos? Now, how many can you name where tank tops and flip flops are allowed?

MonTGoMERy, ALABAMA - PoRTRAiT of A HisToRiC CiTy Published by: The Alabama Gazette Publishing LLC

August 1, 2015

Editor/Writer: Bill Rice

7A

110 and counting!

Whitfield Foods has parlayed syrup, pickles and contract bottling into century-old success story.

By BILL RICE, JR. Montgomery’s Whitfield Foods will celebrate its 110th birthday next year. Best known for its Alaga brand cane syrups, today most of the company’s revenues come from contracting with other well-known companies to produce and package a variety of popular beverages.

Which proves the business maxim that to prosper – or even remain in business through many decades – a company must evolve and adjust to changing market realities.

But it was Alaga syrup that put the company on the map.

Mr. Louis Broughton Whitfield, Sr. started Whitfield Foods. Mr. Whitfield was born in 1868 – just three years after the conclusion of the Civil War – in Whitfield Crossing, Ga. Mr. Whitfield’s father died in an accident when Louis was only six years old, by which time the family had moved to LaGrange, Ga. Mr. Whitfield did what he could to support his family from an early age. His first paid job was selling and distributing The Atlanta Constitution newspaper from ages 8 to 12. At 17, he was working as a bookkeeper. At age 20, he went to work for a wholesale grocery business where he became a partner in the operation.

In 1905 he became one-half owner of The Southern Syrup Company. The next year (at age 36) he moved to the home of his beloved wife (Willie Vandiver) and started Whitfield Foods and introduced Alaga cane syrup to the world!

The name, of course, comes from the home states of the husband and wife.

Why syrup?

Why did Mr. Whitfield go into the business of manufacturing syrup?

Les Massey, CEO of Whitfield Foods since 2000, is not exactly sure, but he offers several theories that ring true.

“At that time in the South – remember this is only about 40 years after the Civil War – most people cooked their own meals. Many people also made their own syrup, “ he said.

One inexpensive staple of a typical family’s diet was biscuits or pancakes. Syrup made (and still makes!) a variety of food items an extra culinary treat.

So there was a proven demand for syrup. At the time, most canned food items also came from Northern states as the South, just exiting Reconstruction, was not known for its manufacturing.

And, one assumes, with better economic times more stores were opening, allowing consumers to buy syrup instead of having to make their own. Producing syrup with a unique “recipe” that didn’t have to be shipped long distances could be a profitable business.

And it was.

The initial business was located in a small 70 x 100-foot building. The company initially had just three employees, counting Mr. Whitfield.

At its peak, the company employed 250 people and grew to encompass six buildings on 27 acres at its existing location on North Court Street.

Alaga Syrup could be found in grocery stores in virtually all states east of Georgia.

Famous endorsers for the popular brand included Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Nat King Cole, F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, Paul “Bear” Bryant and Ralph ‘Shug” Jordan among other celebrities. (Most of course had Alabama or even Montgomery roots).

Family-owned for four generations, the company added”Yellow Label” syrup, its “beary special bear bottle” syrup (still among the most unique products on store shelves) and, later, a hot sauce which added “just the right amount of Alaga syrup” to give a product associated with Louisiana a sweeter Alaga kick!

IN THE 1920S THE COMPANy also, with great success, got into the pickle business.

Even today, the stately home Mr. and Mrs. Whitfield built on S. Perry Street is still known by many long-time residents as “The Pickle Palace” (the home was later purchased and restored by Mr. and Mrs. Milton McGregor).

Changing times ...

But times change and companies – if they hope to stay in business – have to change with them.

Pepsico’s ‘contract manufacturer of year’ ... again!

Around 1980, the company decided to diversify by becoming a “contract manufacturer,” helping produce, package, store and ship products for other companies and brands.

In a nutshell, the syrup business became much tougher.

According to Massey, new innovations and radical changes in “lifestyles” of families meant that fewer families were preparing as many meals as home.

(Alaga Syrup has long been a popular ingredient in any number of baked items.)

Some people began to routinely skip breakfast or started purchasing breakfast at fast-food restaurants.

Competition intensified as more competitors entered the market.

Popular grocery store chains that had long carried Alaga products began to close stores.

“Getting your product on shelves” became a much greater challenge, says Massey.

“At one time, a typical grocery store had 16 feet of (aisle) space devoted to syrup products. Today, that might be just four feet,” he noted.

THE COMPANy FACED PERHAPS ITS GREATEST FINANCIAL CHALLENGE in the late ‘70s when interest rates skyrocketed.

The company’s board members and executives also decided to sell the pickle line.

Around 1980 it also decided to diversify by becoming a “contract manufacturer,” helping produce, package, store and ship products for other companies and brands.

“Today (this part of the operation) is 85 percent of our business,” said Massey.

The company has excelled with its new niche.

It was recently named the “Contract Employer” of the year for PepsiCo for the second time in four years. This is quite an honor when one considers that PepsiCo has approximately 80 other “contract manufactures’” it uses to produce all of its popular brands.

In recent decades, Whitfield Foods has produced beverages for such well-known companies or brands as Ocean Spray, Tropicana, Minute Maid, Snapple, Gatorade, Arizona Tea, Nestle, Sweet-Leaf Tea, Vitamin Water and Campbell’s V-8 products among other well-known brands.

Today, the company employs approximately 100 people. Due to major investments in technology, its “production capacity” is far greater than it’s ever been, said Massey.

For example, the facility can fill, add caps and labels exceeding “500 bottles a minute,” said Massey.

Some of products or brands that Whitfield Foods serves as contract manufacturer.

“Truckloads” of raw materials are delivered and finished products shipped out every day.

While technology has elevated the production capacity of its plants, “our people” are still the secret to Whitfield’s success, says Massey.

The “longevity of our employees” speaks to the positive working environment Whitfield offers, he said.

The company has more than a dozen managers, with an average of 16 years with the firm. Currently four employees have been with the company 40 years or more!

“I’d like to think this is a nice place to work,” he said. “We try to be very family-oriented and supportive of our workers. We play hard but we also work hard.”

Lifestyle trends will no doubt continue to affect the strategic direction of the company.

Massey notes that carbonated beverages no longer command the level of market share they once did, with non-carbonated beverages becoming more popular. This would seem to be a positive trend for the company, which specializes in producing and packages such drinks.

The “beverage industry” is growing, he said.

The company’s “heritage,” however is its syrup products.

If Mr. Louis Whitfield had not met and fallen in love with Willie Vandiver there would be no Whitfield Foods in Montgomery, Alabama.

Needless to say, there would also be no Alaga Syrup products.

“My mom will not use any other syrup but Alaga.

She calls it her ‘Liquid Gold,” said one product fan on the Alaga Facebook page.

Other fans write affectionately about the fond memories they have putting Alaga on hot biscuits or pancakes at “breakfast at Grandma’s.”

Whitfield Foods is not exactly in the “sweet memory” business … but then again they are!

MonTGoMERy, ALABAMA - PoRTRAiT of A HisToRiC CiTy 8A

Editor/Writer: Bill Rice

August 1, 2015

Published by: The Alabama Gazette Publishing LLC

And the rest is history!

After years of discussion, Trinity founders finally said ‘let’s just do it’

By BILL RICE, JR. Today, most people probably associate the words “Just do it” with the famous Nike advertising campaign.

But these powerful – and potentially life and world-changing - words certainly pre-date a popular TV advertising campaign of the ‘90s.

In fact, they were probably uttered one Sunday in 1969 in the moments following Sunday services at Trinity Presbyterian Church.

Kathryn Stabler, the current activities director at Trinity Presbyterian School and someone who has researched much of the history of the school’s founding, said that four members of the congregation were visiting on the steps just beyond the historic church’s front doors.

The four men visiting after the services were John Albritton, Jack Noble, Withers Davis and Bill Joseph.

For years, church members had talked about starting a Christian-based independent school – an idea that had been first introduced by senior minister Dr. Robert Strong (as early as 1963).

The topic came up again this day.

“Let’s just do it. We’ve been talking about it forever. Let’s do it,” was the gist of the conversation, as related by Mrs. Stabler.

The birth of Trinity School traces back to Dr. Strong’s vision, followed at later times by congregation surveys and questionnaires and presentations to church Session.

But the serious work of converting a vision into reality did not start until that conversation ended with the above statement of resolve.

Mrs. Stabler has thought a lot about this conversation and the men who pledged to create a school out of thin air.

After much prayerful consideration, these men obviously “felt that this was what they were supposed to do,” she said.

Raymond Boykin, who had previously been at Lanier, was Trinity’s first headmaster She notes that each man was probably in early to mid 40s at the time. Younger than she is today.

But “they were willing to make the financial sacrifices, and use their own personal finances, to make this school possible.”

Getting things done ...

Historically-significant actions followed in rapid fashion.

In a matter of months, a board of directors for the school was formed, legal entities created, committees appointed, funds committed, financing secured and key employees hired.

The school would open in 1970 and would be housed at Trinity Presbyterian Church. Classes would be offered in grades 1 – 9 with grades 10-12 added over the next three years.

The first person the board hired– surely the most important – was Raymond Boykin, a retired Marine who had become a math teacher and coach at Lanier High School.

Boykin and the board hired 11 teachers that first year. The budget for the school year was $151,000.

On September 8th at 8:30 a.m., 200 students

attended their first classes at Trinity Presbyterian Church.

The back yards of two homes that surrounded the church were used for playgrounds for primary grades. The church parking lot was used for outdoor activities. The South YMCA was used for PE activities and sports teams for junior high classes.

Chapel services – conducted by Dr. Strong – were held twice a month in the church’s sanctuary.

Two hundred students “out of the gate” speak to the demand for an evangelical Christian school.

While many of the school’s first students attended Trinity Presbyterian Church, many did not.

The first year must have met and exceeded expectations as enrollment for the 1971-72-school term grew to 276.

Discussions for a “permanent school campus” began in January 1971 as well as a survey for the addition of a kindergarten grade level.

Again, school founders and supporters opened their wallets and/or “co-signed” notes, according to Mrs. Stabler.

THE BOARD PURCHASED 15 ACRES OFF PERRy HILL ROAD at a cost of $45,000. At the time, a paved road did not even exist on what became East Trinity Blvd.

(The location in east Montgomery was considered “out there” at the time, said Stabler).

Mr. Noble, a local builder and long-time Trinity board member, built the buildings of the first campus “at cost” – over the period of one summer!

The board later purchased 23 more acres, adding new buildings, wings and athletic facilities on a regular basis.

Trinity Presbyterian School opened its doors on September 18, 1972 – just two years after the school’s first classes had been held. It now offered classes through 11 grades and had 435 students (its enrollment having more than doubled in 24 months).

MonTGoMERy, ALABAMA - PoRTRAiT of A HisToRiC CiTy Published by: The Alabama Gazette Publishing LLC

August 1, 2015

Editor/Writer: Bill Rice

9A

The ‘Happy Days’ crew had Arnold’s, Montgomery had the Majik Market. Trinity Class of ‘86 gathers for group photo at a place they cruised well - the Majik Market. The students were probably stunned that gas prices had eclipsed the dollar-mark!

Major growth in ‘80s and ‘90s …

Brian Willett became Head of School (then known as “headmaster”) in 1976. Mr. Willett, a graduate of Cornell, had been recruited from “the North.” He remained in his position for more than 30 years. Much of the growth in the school – and improvement in academic and extracurricular programs – occurred during his tenure.

Today, the school that started with 200 students in nine grades typically has an enrollment of between 850 and 900. From 13 or so original faculty and staff members, the school now employs approximately 110 teachers, coaches and administrators.

More than 2,300 graduates have gone on to excel in virtually every profession. Children and grandchildren of Trinity graduates now attend the school that has long been considered one of the finest in the state.

The school’s first sports state champion was the basketball team of 1976 (then in the AISA division). The school soon transitioned into the AHSAA. Stored in its overflowing trophy cases are state championship trophies in football and baseball (including another one added to the collection this year).

As Stabler notes, it’s probably easy to say, “Let’s start a school.”

Doing it – and growing it and nurturing students one at a time year after year – is the challenge.

Once upon a time a small group of men said, “Let’s do it.”

The “rest of the story,” the truly inspirational one, is that - with divine guidance and countless numbers of helping hands - they did do it.

Trinity Tidbits * THE FIRST TRINITy yEARBOOK (“The Crusader”) was published in 1971. It was a soft back magazine-style publication with 24 pages (it cost $3).

By 1973, the yearbook was the typical hardback of the genre with its page count numbering 96. * Many faculty members have taught at Trinity for decades. However, none have taught longer than science instructor Sara Tyus and Latin teacher Robert McGowin. both of whom have been employed at the school since 1974!

Stabler told the story of former student Marianne Payne, who recently returned to campus for the induction of her mother, Mary Katherine Payne, into the 2nd class of the Trinity Hall of Fame.

“Is Mrs. Tyus still teaching?” she asked Stabler.

“Yes she is. Do you want to go see her?” asked Kathryn.

Marianne Payne, who works in the science field, instantly began to tear up.

Yes, of course she wanted to go see her.

“She’s the reason I am who I am today,” she shared.

One can only wonder how many similar stories Trinity could tell graduates.

* By NOW LONG-TIME COACHES Randy Ragsdale and Ken Whittle have probably lost track of how many children of former players they have coached.

But Whittle, recently inducted into the AHSAA

Q & A with Mayor Strange...

Mayor Todd Strange, his wife Linda, and their family came to Montgomery in 1977, when Strange became the regional manager for Bell Telephone.

Someone in our community who probably doesn’t get enough credit for his contributions to our city … Jerry Kyser. He’s so low-key. He is a visionary who is not afraid to risk his assets to create his vision. He is a major factor in the success of the Alley; not just with his two restaurants, but also with his loft apartments. Jerry’s fingerprints are all over this city with residential, multi-family apartments and commercial buildings.

Hall of Fame, did have a first this year. Player Sam Nunn, who will be a junior this season, was a member of the 2015 state championship baseball team – just as his father Michael had been 29 years earlier in the 1985 season. The Wildcats compiled a record of 21-1-1 that year, capturing the 1A state title.

* THE SCHOOL’S FIRST HEAD MASTER, Mr. Boykin, actually came back after retirement and helped coach several Trinity teams. He also returned to teaching math.

The comment: “He was the toughest teacher I ever had,” is a common comment of now appreciative former students, said Stabler.

When you are at a small or growing school, you better have employees who go above and beyond the job description.

Trinity certainly had (and has) countless employees and volunteers who fit this description.

The “revered” Boykin was certainly one.

The fully mature and beautiful oaks that now provide shade in front of the school were hand-planted as saplings by the school’s first headmaster. He also planed or leveled the school’s football field, said Stabler.

* AS MENTIONED ABOVE, TRINITy GRADUATES ARE NOW REPRESENTED in almost every career or profession.

However, the school had never had a graduate elected to the U.S. Congress until recently. Martha Roby (Class of ’94) is now serving her second term representing much of central and southeast Alabama. Mr. and Mrs. Roby are also “Trinity parents” today.

The best advice I ever received about being mayor?

Don’t let perfect be the enemy of the possible. Seek wins however small when you can.

Cities and ships take a long time and a lot of energy to move them.

In life, be respectful for all views, because some of them may be right Also… Never let the lack of money get in the way of the vision…it may interfere with the timing, but it must not diminish the vision.

A few “unforgettable” or inspiring individuals I've been fortunate to be around ....

Ray Scott - a legend in his own time, synonymous with B.A.S.S. He helped put Montgomery on the map with BASSMASTERS. David Bronner - a visionary with resources who is still contributing to our community and the state of Alabama.

Red Blount -an entrepreneurial businessperson with a keen sense of respect for quality-of-life matters.

Something that has happened in Montgomery I never thought I’d live to see … The re-development of downtown and apartment living coming back to downtown.

The prettiest or most scenic place/location in Montgomery is … Few places can match the natural beauty of an early morning sunrise on the Alabama River at Riverfront Park. The nighttime view looking up Dexter Avenue from the Court Square fountain is breathtaking.

The best feature of Montgomery’s history is … The fact that we are the only city that can claim two cataclysmic events starting here: the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement. A third leg of this “historic stool” is our status as the birthplace of civil aviation; with the first flying school and first night flight by the Wright Brothers.

How does the City use our history to build on our future? We are trying to preserve and re-vitalize our history through maintenance of places and building in our city that have historical significance.

OUR BIG MOVIE! In 2003, director Tim Burton (left) and actor Albert Finney (right) spent several months in Montgomery, Wetumpka and other central Alabama locations filming the critically-acclaimed movie “The Big Fish.” Most of the cast and crew stayed in Montgomery and numerous local residents landed roles as extras.

James Fuller appeared in about 10 scenes, he told us. Melissa George was Helena Bonham Carter’s “double.” Eric Leisy taught star Ewan McGegor how to fly fish. We’ve heard tales of Montgomerians who shared a brew with Steve Buscini at Bud’s and even of families who hosted Burton and other stars at dinner parties. One scene was filmed at Huntingdon and the wardrobe and extras headquarters was based out of the old Cloverdal School. Jessica Lange, Danny DeVito and Billy Crudup were other well-known Hollywood stars who got to experience Montgomery hospitality. And plenty of Montgomerians learned first-hand what goes into making a big-budget film.

(Photo/Compliments Montgomery Historical Society).

MonTGoMERy, ALABAMA - PoRTRAiT of A HisToRiC CiTy 10A

Editor/Writer: Bill Rice

August 1, 2015

Published by: The Alabama Gazette Publishing LLC

White leaders didn’t know black leaders.

Todd Road Incident prompted effort to bring races together Leadership Montgomery program has undoubtedly achieved its primary goal

By BILL RICE, JR. T H E S TAT E O F R A C E RELATIONS has been a constant theme of much of Montgomery’s history. Events that helped change our nation occurred right here on our front door. Despite this history - and the profound changes that occurred in education integration and in electoral politics - in many respects, little social progress had taken place even as late as 1983.

Not counting black and white students who now attended school together, few adult citizens in the dayto-day working world interacted on a regular basis with members of the opposite race.

Blacks and whites seemed to get along well enough on the surface and in casual encounters.

As historian and Montgomery native Dr. Richard Bailey puts it, “race relations are considered either ‘good’ or ‘bad’ depending on circumstances. If no big event that disturbs the “status quo” occurs, people might think everything is fine.”

But when some news-making event involving conflict between the races occurs, the old wound is suddenly re-opened.

Such an event occurred on the evening of February 23, 1983. The event became known as “The Todd Road Incident.” Suddenly, Montgomery was back in the national news.

“The city was about to explode,” remembers Lanny Crane, then in his early 40s and a CPA at Jackson Thornton.

Could something positive emerge from an event that had one again inflamed racial tensions? Maybe. For the sake of Montgomery’s future, someone ought to at least try to cultivate change, thought Crane and others.

A life-long Montgomery resident, Crane, who is white, is candid in talking about his own history as it relates to contacts with fellow black citizens.

“Growing up, I never really knew any blacks except for those who might have worked for our family,” he says.

Dr. Bailey is just as candid.

“I didn’t know a single white kid in this town,” said Bailey, who was born in 1947.

Crane continued: “It was like there was a wall built in the center of the city.

One (race) was enclosed on one side and another on the other side. We didn’t know anything about the lives of those who lived on the other side of that wall.” *** Crane was long-time friends with George Goodwyn, a local engineer and real estate developer and Mike Jenkins, owner of Jenkins Brick Company They thought something could be done to bring white and black peers in the professional and civic worlds together.

And each of them had the same revelation, something that surprised and embarrassed them at the same time: They didn’t know any “black leaders.”

“It was like there was a wall built in the center of the city.

One (race) was enclosed on one side and another on the other side. We didn’t know anything about the lives of those who lived on the other side of that wall.”

- Lanny Crane As fate would have it, about the same time as the Todd Road Incident, Crane, Goodwyn and Jenkins had each learned of ‘leadership” programs that had been recently started in Atlanta and Macon, Ga. One goal of the programs was to bring community leaders of both races together in a structured, almost year-long program.

We could start a similar program in Montgomery, they thought. One of their first steps was to meet with then mayor Emory Folmar. The men presented their rough idea of creating a program similar to Atlanta and Macon’s.

And, again, they admitted their quandary – they didn’t know where to start in any potential recruitment of black leaders because they had never formed friendships or in-depth business relationships with anyone in the black community. Did he have any suggestions?

Yes, as it turned out, he did. AfricanAmerican city councilman Solomon Seay, Jr. THE MAyOR MADE CLEAR THAT HE AND SEAy had butted heads numerous times, but he told his visitors, “I’ve always respected him.

‘Go ask for his support and help.’”

So off they went.Seay politely listened to his guests.

“He must have been thinking, ‘What are you white boys up to?’ said Crane with a smile. He told them he would think about it. Soon after, he told them he was fully behind the idea and would do what he could do to help.

The plan was to recruit a Steering Committee of an equal number of blacks and whites. Solomon Seay ended up recruiting almost all of the African-American leaders.

As anyone knows, a good idea is just half the battle in introducing anything new. Execution and details ultimately determine if a vision becomes reality.

Crane remembers Jenkins had the vision and Goodwyn, the engineer, developed the educational process.

They talked to people they knew in the Atlanta group and visited Macon to get ideas from their group. Montgomery would be the only city in Alabama to launch such a program (as it turns out, completely independent of Montgomery’s efforts, community leaders in Birmingham were also creating a similar organization) The idea was simple in its essence: Bring people who rarely interact with one another together. The group would meet all day once a month for nine months. It would start with an orientation breakfast where members met their classmates and departed for a weekend retreat, an immersion in team-building exercise. The first retreat was held at YMCA Camp Chandler in Wetumpka.

In a nutshell, the organization’s founders believed that when people get to know one another, they become more comfortable with others not of the same racial group.

The best feature of Montgomery’s history is … Although some might disagree, the growth of its young professionals in respecting people of all races. ... When I first became an administrator at Carver High School in 1983, many white citizens were so afraid to come onto the campus that we had to meet them in the parking lot and escort them into the building. The growth and development of the Carver Creative and Performing Arts Center helped break down those barriers, and eventually we filled the 1,700-seat auditorium to capacity with performances for a mixed audience.

Children today probably have no conception of this aspect of my own childhood … That I can remember times when my brothers and sisters and I had no food in the house to eat.

Someone in our community who probably doesn’t get enough credit for his or her contributions to our city …

Foster Dickson, a teacher and award-winning author who teaches at BTW Magnet High School because he gives so unselfishly to stimulating students to think for themselves and develop their talents when he could be doing more lucrative things.

- Cheryl Carter, Executive Director

Leadeershp Montgomery.

Original “Steering Committee” members of Leadership Montgomery circa 1983.

“When community problems develop, you will likely have an easier task of dealing with them if you are working with people you know and respect,” explained Crane.

Dr. Bailey, who was in “Class 2” of Leadership Montgomery, echoed Crane’s sentiment.

“People fear what they don’t know,” he said. “Once you get to know people you become more interested in knowing more about them and you become more likely to interact socially with them.”

OTHER GOALS AS WELL …

While most people believe Leadership Montgomery was created solely to improve race relationships, Crane says the initiative always had broader goals.

One of those goals was to cultivate new leaders, regardless of race. He mentioned that when he was growing up and even into his middle ages, there was a nucleus of older business and community leaders who always seemed to make things happen and could “work behind the scenes” to get things done and “smooth out” potential problems.

This was something he realized belatedly, he said.

“Who is going to take their place?”

Crane remembers thinking.

A further goal, if possible, was to help keep talented people in the city.

The networking opportunities afforded by Leadership Montgomery, and the fact that real friendships could be formed, might make people “more invested” in the community and enhance their quality of life.

Indeed, Leadership Montgomery subsequently expanded its mission, creating two somewhat similar programs (Emerge and Torchbearers) which bring young emerging leaders together.

“The bottom line is to keep our bright young people here. Help make them feel they have a stake in our community.”

Crane also stressed that leaders, existing or potential, are not just “bank presidents or CEOs.” “Leaders come from all walks of life,” he said, defining a “leader” as someone

“who has a vision and the ability to get others to buy in.”

Even today, Crane said he’s not 100 percent sure if Leadership Montgomery achieved its own vision or goals.

“It’s not something you can measure,” said the long-time CPA. But anecdotal evidence shows the program has done exactly what it set out to do.

APPROXIMATELy 1,000 RESIDENTS HAVE “GRADUATED” from the program, which now numbers 31 graduating classes. The program now has a full-time director (Cheryl Carter) and a support staff.

Participants not only make new friends, they learn about different elements of their city – from education, social services, law enforcement and criminal justice, healthcare, the city’s history, etc.

“I had lived here all my life and really didn’t know much about my city,” said Crane (who, although he was the group’s first president, didn’t participate in a class until years after the group’s founding). “I had lived a sheltered life,” he joked.

Due to demographic changes, African-Americans have become the majority in the city’s population. All elected executive positions in county government are held by AfricanAmericans.

At some point in the future, the City of Montgomery will have an AfricanAmerican mayor.

As the community makes “this transition,” it’s more important than ever that blacks and whites know one another and work with one another in a friendly and supportive manner, he said.

“I hope we now have many more people who are able to reach across racial lines,” he said. “I’d like to think that Leadership Montgomery played a role in making that happen.”

One thing is for certain, thirty two years after the Todd Road Incident, a lot more white and black Montgomerians know neighbors of the opposite race.

Leadership made that happen!

Jackson-Thornton restored historic building Continued from 4A Architect Thomas Blount, an ardent preservationist himself, provided talent and skill and with Lanny, restored the façade to its former dignity. The interior reflects modern needs for an extensive accounting concern and employee and customer comforts within the original exposed brick walls, wide heart- pine beams and floors. Along the street, by the time 200 was complete, other restorations were in full swing as the leader of the pack, Jackson-Thornton, invited clients and townspeople to an opening reception on January 18, 1981. All agreed that it was a job well done!

The Lower Commerce Street Historic District, noted in the prestigious National Register of Historic Places and listed as a Montgomery Historic District, began to sing again.

Now numerous other buildings and sites, including Union Station, the Alley where once engines chugged between buildings, the revived pleasures and possibilities of the Alabama Riverfront, and Biscuits Baseball all contribute to a new kind of hustle and bustle in an old setting, proving again that people are indeed concerned not only with today, but with a past that provides a context for daily life.

This area also represents and demonstrates what cooperation between private and public entities can produce for the good of a community.

MonTGoMERy, ALABAMA - PoRTRAiT of A HisToRiC CiTy Published by: The Alabama Gazette Publishing LLC

August 1, 2015

Editor/Writer: Bill Rice

11A

That perfect season …

Reflecting on the 1987 MA State Championship Football Team Coach Tatum says he can’t single out any one superstar on defense. Every player was good, he said. with Tatum “far ahead” of his coaching peers in his ability to break-down film of opponents, spot tendencies he could exploit and create the perfect game plan for each opponent.

“We were always so well prepared, and because of that we played with a lot of confidence,” said Greene.

At the time, no private or independent school had ever won a football state title in football in the “public school” league (AHSAA).

Beware of stereotypes ...

By BILL RICE, JR. LOOKING BACK, THE 1987 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP won by The Montgomery Academy football team – still the team’s only title in the sport – was not totally unexpected.

In 1986, Coach John Tatum’s Eagles lost just one game in the regular season and advanced to the state semifinals where they lost a “heart-breaking” game at small-school powerhouse Sweetwater.

The game was played in a torrential downpour and could have gone either way. The next week Sweetwater won in a “blow out” to claim the state title. The logical conclusion being that the semifinal game was the defacto championship game.

“That loss only motivated us more,” said Hamp Greene, the team’s star running back as well as one of the best kickers in city history.

The Monday after the loss, team players were back in the weight room determined to win at least two more games the next year, said Greene, who is now an associate pastor at The Church of The Highlands in Birmingham. Greene remembers a passionate team meeting about next year’s goals.

And the Eagles were also dropping down an athletic classification. Playing at the 2A level in 1986, they would compete at the 1A level in 1987.

COACH TATUM WOULD BE COACHING HIS FOURTH EAGLES’ TEAM. He had succeed his friend and former teammate Spence McCracken.

“Spence had done a great job building the foundation,” said Coach Tatum, who coached the Eagles

for 23 years and is now in the AHSAA Hall of Fame.

Tatum, who played high school ball at Lee and college ball at Troy, had been hired from Walker High School in Atlanta, an all-black school.

When interviewing for the MA job, he was asked by a board member on the selection committee to talk about his goals and expectations. One of the prominent goals was wining a state championship.

“That will never happen here,” Tatum remembers one board member telling him with a smile.

Four years later that board member was as happy as anyone to be proven wrong!

The 1987 team was average in size – Tatum remembers few players who would have weighed even 200 pounds. But, boy, did this team have the drive and intangibles that could make a team special.

“We were extremely close,” said Greene, mentioning that most team members had been playing together since sixth grade. Many of them played more than one sport together. In other words, they were almost as close as brothers.

Greene said the team “was nowhere near the best group of athletes in 1A football that year, but because of chemistry and determination we went 14-0.”

And throw in coaching.

“Coach Tatum was an amazing football coach, but more than that he is an amazing person,” he said. “He poured his heart into coaching us.”

The team was always extremely well prepared

Teams from schools like MA might have had the reputation for being “soft, rich white boys.”

Tatum nor any players interviewed for this story remembers that dynamic as being a motivator for the team though. They just wanted to win and play their best.

However, Tatum does remember hearing word that one opponent had created a chant about the perceived silver-spoon background of the Eagles. The chant mentioned something about the school’s coeds being “Buffy’s,” recalled Tatum.

As far as the team’s style of play, he remembers delivering only one coach speech.

“I told our kids that when (our opponents) roll over and slide out of bed the next morning (after playing us), you want to make sure you had hit them hard enough so they could feel it (that next morning).”

Although the team has lost several key players from the excellent squad the year before, it had a strong nucleus of lettermen and seniors returning.

Tatum remembers dressing out only about 28 players. Many players played both ways and on several or all of the special teams units. Needless to say, the athletes were in tremendous shape.

“We ran the tar out of them,” Tatum said.

As with most championship teams at any level, the team also benefitted from “tremendous” injury luck. Tatum cannot remember a player missing more than one game because of an injury.

Greene did crack a collarbone later in the season but doctors said he could keep playing, which he did. “I was a little beat up at the end” is all the still ultra-modest Green says today.

Note: This story focuses on MA’s one football state championship.

The school’s athletic teams have won scores of state titles in other sports.

CONTINUED, Page 12A

MonTGoMERy, ALABAMA - PoRTRAiT of A HisToRiC CiTy 12A

Editor/Writer: Bill Rice

August 1, 2015

Published by: The Alabama Gazette Publishing LLC

“I told our kids that when (our opponents) roll over and slide out of bed the next morning (after playing us), you want to make sure you had hit them hard enough so they could feel it (that next morning).”

Hamp Greene turns upfield with help from Lee Burt.

Domination …

In the regular season, MA was one of the more dominating teams in the history of AHSAA football.

Every game was a blow out (and no doubt could have been worse if Tatum hadn’t substituted liberally in the second half of games.)

The closest margin of victory of the regular season was 27 points in the opener (a 42-15 win over Highland Home – a game that avenged the team’s only regular season loss from the prior season.)

MA beat city rivals Saint James (42-6), Catholic (52-0), Alabama Christian (36-3) and Trinity (42-7).

IN 14 GAMES, MA RECORDED FIVE SHOUTOUTS. Only two teams scored more than

seven points against the Eagles. For the season, MA outscored its opponents 512-72.

That school (Ariton) that joked about a school made up of “Buffy’s” was thrashed 42-6.

As prolific as the MA Power-I, smash-mouth offense was, the defense earned the squad its state title.

In four rounds of the playoffs, MA won 24-6, 17-0, 17-0 and 10-6.

From these scores you can also tell that MA kicked more field goals and converted more extra points than most high schools (both then or now).

So the special teams were also exceptional.

Greene, who also handled the punting, sent almost every kickoff into the end zone. As a field goal kicker, he was good enough to sign with North Carolina and, after transferring, to letter at Alabama for two years.

Even today, Greene holds the all-time career record for points scored in a career. Not only did he score most of the team’s touchdowns running the ball for three years, he also hit almost every extra point and converted on many field goals.

Coach Tatum says he can’t single out any one superstar on defense. Every player was good, he said.

(The team did put four different players on the AHSA first team All-State squad: Greene (the “Player of the Year”), Mont Highley (LB), Robert Johnson (OL) and Trey Silvest (OL). Junior quarterback/defensive back Rick McBride was honorable mention).

The team had talented blockers on the front line who were good defensive linemen as well. The team was made up of hard-nosed, disciplined, smart and determined players at every position grouping. It was full of strong leaders as well.

According to Greene, one of the team’s “keys to success” was that the players remained level-headed and focused game after game. The oldest cliché in sports – “play them one at a time” – definitely applied that season, he said.

Finally, a nail-biter …

The captains - Highley, Fitzpatrick, Sylvest, and Greene

The team cruised through the season in such an overpowering manner Tatum must have wondered how his squad would respond in a nail-biter.

Which, as fate would have it, did not occur until the final game of the season.

Greene and teammate Michael Berringer (see sidebar Q&A) remember that every seat in the concrete bleachers was filled that night in near-by Billingsley “on a freezing cold night.” Not only were the bleachers crammed full, “they were packed six or so deep” around the fence lines, Greene recalls. They saw a thriller, a classic defensive battle.

Players reflect on championship season …

MICHAEL BERRINGER Michael Berringer was an offensive lineman and defensive end on the 1987 state championship team. Today he is a CPA in town with Warren Averett.

All these years after the state championship season, what stands out to you the most about that season and team? We were generally smaller and lighter than most of the teams we played, but were so well trained and coached and knew we could beat any team. The majority of our team had played football and other sports together since elementary school and knew how to win games together regardless of size or speed. We prepared thoroughly for every game and our undefeated season outscoring our opponents 515 to 72 was proof of our winning attitude and thorough preparation.

What made this team so special? A few very good athletes and coaches motivated us to thoroughly prepare for each game. We never let a stronger, heavier, or faster team intimidate us.

What game(s) stand out the most to you and why? The opening game against Highland Home as we opened the season dominating our opponent and that was our only regular season loss in the 1986 season. The semi-finals was certainly special when we shut out New Site to take us further than the 1986 season or any prior MA team. And, of course the freezing night at Billingsley when we took advantage of some last minute Bear errors to win the championship.

We filled those tiny stands with bundled up friends and family members from all over and they all stayed until the end. I remember seeing my grandmother in the stands with blankets completely covering everything but her eyes.

RICK MCBRIDE Rick McBride was the junior quarterback and cornerback. He later attended and played football at Princeton. Today he is an attorney at Rushton Stakely.

What stands out to you the most about that season and team? The thing that stands out to me the most about our 1987 football team is how much we dominated everyone we played that year. Other than the state championship game against Billingsley, there was not a game that we played that was in doubt at any time. Our average margin of victory in the 13 games we played prior to the state championship game was in the mid 30s. And we would win our games by these large margins with our starters sitting for a good part of the second half.

What do you think made that team special? We had great coaching.

We were very disciplined. We were athletic. But most importantly, we were

CRUNCH! Highley delivers form tackle.

MA took an early lead after Billingsley fumbled as it was moving in for a potential touchdown. At about the 10-yard-line on a fluke play, the ball popped into the air and defensive lineman Trey Silvest grabbed it out of the air and took off.

“I knew he wasn’t going to score but I thought ‘get as much yardage as you can,’ ” recalled Sylvest’s coach.

He got enough yards to set up a Greene field goal of 45 yards.

In the second half, Billingsley took a lead after a flea-flicker pass play got them near the goal line.

There was a controversy about whether the receiver fumbled the ball at the end of the play (with linebacker Dee Fitzpatrick apparently recovering it), but the officials ruled it was not a fumble.

Billingsley missed the conversion and took a 63 lead, where the game stayed until the game’s final seconds.

“One more chance …”

With only two or so minutes left in the game, MA took over around mid-field. The season was on the line.

“We had one more chance,” said Greene, who remembers Fitzpatrick, Hiley and quarterback McBride “talking everybody up.”

Until that point (because Billingsley had such great team speed), MA had not called a toss sweep.

Tatum called the perfect play at the perfect time and, behind perfect blocking, Greene broke free into the secondary. He was finally corralled inside the 3-yard-line.

Three plays later, with the clock ticking under one minute, Greene burst untouched into the end zone for the winning score. MA intercepted a Billingsley desperation pass and the celebration commenced.

“They responded fairly well,” said Tatum in his typical understated fashion. “… Needless to say that team holds a real special place in my heart.”

It was the conclusion to a perfect season that is still cherished by those who were a part of it.

“It’s something I will never forget,” said Greene.

“Sometimes it seems like it has been 28 years, but sometimes it seems like it was only yesterday. I still have such vivid memories because it was such a special accomplishment. So few people can say they were part of a state championship.”

extraordinarily tough, both physically and mentally. We had a bunch of kids who loved to be physical and who weren’t fazed by adversity. And our toughness had a very real impact on our opponents. There were a number of games that year where you could clearly see that our opponents didn’t want to be on the field with us. Our toughness was very intimidating.

How big a deal was it to win a state title at MA? It’s hard to describe just how big of a deal it was to win a state title at MA. We were the first team to win a state title in football at MA, and that made it a big deal in and of itself.

However, at the time we won the title, few private school teams had won state titles in football in the AHSAA, and so we had accomplished something that few schools like us had. And, if I am not mistaken, I believe we were also the first private school in Montgomery to win an AHSAA state title in football …. I think our team that year is a great example that you can win football – and win football big – in ways other than simply being the fastest or the biggest football team out there.

PEyTON CHAPMAN, III Chapman, a local attorney at Rushton, Stakely, was a senior offensive guard and nose guard in 1987.

What stands out to you the most about that season and team? The primary thing that stands out is how dominating our defense was. The first-team defense did not give up a point until the semifinals of the playoffs! We swarmed and pretty much beat down almost all of our opponents.

What made this team special? We had a great group of guys that had played together all the way since Junior High. Our group was very committed, well conditioned, and played very hard-hitting, relentless football. We were also blessed to have some pretty significant athletic talent for a 1A team, primary case in point being “Mr. Everything” Hamp Greene who played tailback, safety, kicker, and punter – basically never came off the field. Finally, we were extremely well prepared by our coaching staff. Head coach John Tatum gave us scouting books on every opponent that rivaled what major college players were getting, and he never put up with a second of complacency, even when we were playing weaker teams. Assistant coaches Joe Mooty and Tim Bethea provided great leadership as well.

How big a deal was it to win a state title at MA? It was huge, never been one before or since for MA in football (despite all the trophies in other sports).

It provides a pretty strong bond for the guys on that team, and it’s pretty neat when I have guys who played there since (or even are playing now) that get all wide-eyed when they hear that I was on the ‘87 team.

Anything else our readers might find interesting about that team/year?

Part of our plan was to come out on fire at the beginning of every game. Coach Tatum would play the Phil Collins’ song “Coming in the Air Tonight” in the locker room as background to his final pregame speech before kickoff. The speech would conclude when the song reached its crescendo, and we would all go running up to the field for kickoff in a fever pitch.

MonTGoMERy, ALABAMA - PoRTRAiT of A HisToRiC CiTy Published by: The Alabama Gazette Publishing LLC

August 1, 2015

Editor/Writer: Bill Rice

13A

Also had many friends in white community

E. D. Nixon, Rosa Parks shared interest in helping youth The definitive book on distinguished black Alabamians is Professor Richard Bailey’s They too Call Alabama Home, which features profiles of more than 300 blacks with strong state roots who made valuable contributions to their communities (and, in some cases, the nation and world).

The 503-page book (full of photos and a comprehensive index) was published in 1999 and is available at local bookstores.

Dr. Bailey served as a research historian at Maxwell Air Force Base for 31 years.

He also taught as an adjunct professor at several area universities. Born in Montgomery in 1947, he was in “Class 2” of Leadership Montgomery (see story in this edition).

Below are excerpts from this book on two of Montgomery’s most prominent and historically significant citizens – E.D. Nixon and Henry Loveless. *** Edgar Daniel (E.D) Nixon was born in 1899 in Lowndes County but moved to Montgomery early in life. Other than Rosa Parks, he was the person most responsible for the Montgomery bus boycott and ushering in the modern Civil Rights movement. He is sometimes called the “father” of this nation-changing movement.

Nixon’s place in history is that he chose the time to begin the bus boycott.

Rosa Parks had worked for him as a secretary of both the state affiliate of the NAACP (which he served as president) and with a union (the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters). Therefore when Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger on a Montgomery bus, Nixon was doing his job in helping to secure her release from jail.

“After I heard she’d been arrested, I said to my wife, I believe Jim Crow dropped in our lap just what we were looking for to start the bus boycott.”

Nixon called the city’s two black lawyers – Charles Langford and Charles S. Conley – but he said he could not locate them. He, in turn, called

E.D. Nixon Clifford Durr, a local white attorney, who helped Nixon to secure Park’s release from jail. Nixon pledged his property as bond.

Nixon later called local ministers and invited them to a meeting at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. served as minister.

In calling the meeting, Nixon became the founder of the Montgomery Improvement Association, and King its first president.

After the boycott ended in success, Nixon said he and King disagreed over the spoils of victory and parted company, never speaking to each other after 1958. *** In an interview for this publication, Richard Bailey said that both Ms. Parks and Nixon shared a deep interest in helping “young people. They always were eager to interact with youth. They were also both very honest people, people you could depend on. They (also) never stuck their fingers up in the air to see which way the wind was blowing,” said Bailey.

He added that Nixon was a “tireless worker, who was full of energy.” Despite having no “formal education,” this never “served as an obstacle in accomplishing his goals.”

Bailey said that both Civil Rights titans (Nixon and Parks) also had “as many friends in the white community as they did in the black community. ***

Pine Level School The Pine Level School was built in 1920-21 with students attending first classes in 1922. The building served students of south Montgomery County until the mid ‘60s.

The above photograph shows the building in the 1956-57 school year. When the school closed, many of its students began attending Montgomery County High School in Ramer. The old school building was purchased at auction by James Sikes, owner of Sikes & Kohn Country Mall located on Highway 231 halfway between Montgomery and Troy. The business was originally located in a former National Guard Armory in Ramer.It has since become an Alabama landmark.

One of the most influential AfricanAmerican community and business leaders in Montgomery’s history was Henry A. Loveless. Today, a “magnet school” considered one of the finest in America is housed in the facility that bears his name.

A street was also named in his honor.

Loveless was born a slave in 1854 in Bullock County. (Even after the “real” emancipation of Southern blacks on January 1, 1866,) Loveless essentially still lived as a slave for five more years (“under the ruse” of the property owner) who said he needed to say to care for his mother.

Loveless escaped to nearby Montgomery, where he successfully engaged in the city’s business, educational and religious affairs largely because of his reputation for honesty, especially in his business dealilings.

By 1895 LOVELESS WAS A SUCCESS STORy. He operated a butcher’s shop, which he gave up to become a mortician. As a mortician, Loveless found it difficult to compete with the influential and well-established Elijah Cook. He also operated a hack and dray line and a coal and wood yard. He employed as many as 25 people at a cost of $25 daily.

Loveless was also instrumental in making possible the successful move of the State Normal School (now Alabama State University) to Montgomery from Marion.

He, Cook, James Hale and Alfred Billingslea – business giants in the city – prodded sureties on a $10,000 bond to purchase the Semple Tract from former Confederate Major and Republican politician Henry Churchill Semple.

The men certainly had the financial means to do this.

Loren Schlesinger reported that between the 1870s and 1915 the wealth of Cook stood between $20,000 and $49,000; Hale between $50-$100,000 and Billingslea more than $100,000.

Loveless also was a founder and member of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church

Rosa Parks in 1877. Others who helped start the historic church were Samuel Philips, Alfred Thomas, Charles Stevens and William Watkins. He was among two other church leaders who helped to purchase a lot for the church on Jan. 30, 1879 for $300.

Reflections’ tidbit: In the “How Things Have Changed” Category, Professor Bailey shared an anecdote about the newspaper business I’d never heard.

Like many people who go on to achieve great success, Bailey’s first job was a newspaper delivery boy, beginning at the age of 13 in the 1959-60 time frame.

He said he delivered The Advertiser in the morning and Journal in the afternoon.

But he did not deliver the same Journal to all customers on his route.

“The (circulation people) put three black stars on the top right corner of the papers that were intended for blacks, only” he told me. These papers “featured one single page” of news of interest to the black community, he remembers. “Things like (black) obituaries, wedding announcements and other topics” where blacks had achieved newsworthy, accomplishments.

MonTGoMERy, ALABAMA - PoRTRAiT of A HisToRiC CiTy 14A

Editor/Writer: Bill Rice

August 1, 2015

Published by: The Alabama Gazette Publishing LLC

Aaron Aronov’s ‘big dreams’ helped shape Montgomery “I’m in America.

This is the land of opportunity. Life is good here. What I eat, you shall eat. Where I live, you shall live. you must come.”

Drive around Montgomery in any direction and you are going to pass by, live in, shop at, or work out of a building that was created by the son of a Russian immigrant (or, later, by his two sons).

By BILL RICE, JR. WHEN I DECIDED TO PRODUCE A “REFLECTIONS” NEWSPAPER THAT WOULD PRESENT A SMALL SNAPSHOT OF MONTGOMERy HISTORy, I wanted to write at least one feature story on a person who helped shape our community in the most positive of ways.

I knew Montgomery’s history was full of such inspiring, giving and ultrasuccessful people - men and women who excelled in their professions but whose success also helped shape an entire region.

Aaron Aronov was certainly at the top of any list of men who fit this description.

“Yes, definitely” agreed several local friends, community leaders and history buffs when I mentioned my desire to write a story on the life of Mr. Aronov, who passed away in December, 1991, just prior to his 72nd birthday. *** I called Owen Aronov, one of two sons and one daughter of Aaron and Marjorie Aronov, and feeling that the project was worthwhile, he said he was happy to meet with me at his office.

What followed was a thoroughly enjoyable visit that, after my own period of reflection, left me in awe of what one man can accomplish in one life.

As I like to tell stories chronologically, my first question was about Aaron’s own father, Jake Aronov (the grandfather of Jake, Owen and Teri).

In 1910 at the age of 16, Jake Aronov left his native Russia on a ship. He travelled alone. Like millions of immigrants before him, he was seeking only a “better life.”

His ship docked in Galveston, Texas.

Jake then made his way to Columbus, Georgia where he knew a few Russian immigrants. His first job was as a laborer at a warehouse. Before long, he started his own scrap business.

He also met his future wife in Columbus, Nora Varlow, who was also a Russian immigrant. Nora had boarded a ship for America after receiving a letter from an aunt who already lived in Columbus.

The letter raved about how great life in America was.

Owen can still paraphrase the letter’s contents: “I’m in America. This is the land of opportunity. Life is good here. What I eat, you shall eat. Where I live, you shall live.

You must come.”

Destiny plays a hand ….

The Aronovs ended up in Montgomery – and Jake’s children and grandchildren would go on to change our city in about a thousand ways (and literally build many portions of it) – all because of a fire at Tuskegee Institute.

The fire apparently caused significant damage to several campus buildings.

Hauling the debris away would be a major job. Jake Aronov’s scrap company was among many businesses that bid on

- Letter to Aaron Aronov’s grandmother, encouraging her to leave her native Russia.

Aaron Aronov was 32 when he started his first company the project. He was low-bidder.

Per Owen, his grandfather decided that because Montgomery was closer to Tuskegee than was Columbus, it would be less expensive to haul scrap to Montgomery. So Tuskegee’s sad loss also became Columbus’s loss …. And Montgomery’s great gain. The Aronov family had a new home and a new base of operations, one that continues to this day.

The family arrived in Montgomery in 1918.

Jake Aronov, who learned to speak “broken English,” ended up starting an automobile tire, parts, and accessory business in his new hometown. Jake was a smart, hard-working family man, and his business prospered.

Almost as a hobby, Jake Aronov began to “dabble” in real estate. Per his grandson, he would often build one house and before it was even finished, or not long after the family moved in, someone would want to buy it, and he would begin building another The five Aronov children – Hilliard (“Hilly”), Aaron (born in December 1919), Herman (“Hermie,”), Ruben (who tragically died at the age of 14) and Thelma - “must have gotten used to moving,” Owen said.

On a small scale, the patriarch of the family began to develop a few houses he could sell. He built in Capital Heights on a street he named Vonora Avenue – “Aronov” spelled backwards.

Skip forward a few years. Aaron Aronov, after graduating from Lanier High School in 1937, was a student at the University of Alabama. He chose to discontinue his studies and return home to Montgomery to help run the family automobile tire business after his father passed away prematurely.) At some point, Aaron’s brothers joined him in the business.

“Dream big.”

As it turned out, although the brothers were successful over a number of years, Aaron “didn’t particularly enjoy” this business, says Owen. In 1952, at the age of 32, Aaron decided to start another company.

He focused on a business his father had only dabbled in – real estate. The name of his company was Aronov Realty Company, and in building that company, Aaron heeded what his father often told him: Dream big.

“Have no small dreams,” he said. “There is no magic in them. Dream as big as the sky – there is magic in big dreams.”

Aaron Aronov was, according to Owen, a natural entrepreneur, who obviously had a natural bent for real estate. And, especially in that area, he kept up with trends of the time. Two emerging trends Aaron felt strongly about were particularly important. One was the “suburbanization” of America. Put simply, people were moving greater distances from historic downtown centers.

The second trend was that more and more people were buying houses. These were the post-World War II years, and millions of veterans had returned home, gotten married and started families. Many had earned degrees thanks to the GI bill.

They also could qualify for home financing programs that favored veterans.

So, housing in America was booming.

The trick – then as now - was to anticipate where people in any locale were going to move in the future.

In Montgomery, one such area was land around Norman Bridge Road. Any real estate developer also has to be a gambler of sorts or, said differently, you have to take risks …with large sums of money.

Almost immediately upon going into business for himself, Mr. Aronov acquired an option on a 200-acre piece of property that had previously been known as the “Mastin Plantation.” Before that the family of William Sayre had owned it.

He then started selling lots to builders for homes, and once the homes were constructed, his company marketed and sold them. He also started mortgage and insurance companies to provide financing for the purchase of homes and to provide homeowners’ insurance.

But Aronov’s vision was greater than just developing subdivisions. He felt as more homes were being built further distances from downtown Montgomery, retail should follow so that people could shop closer to where they lived. At that time, there were no shopping centers in the Southeast and very few in the country.

In fact, the concept of shopping centers was basically unknown. And, it was unknown to Aaron. Nevertheless, Aaron envisioned shopping centers as the next logical step in suburbanization, and he felt Montgomery was ready.

Such a facility would feature retail establishments of all types, all adjoining one another, and covered with a canopy that would protect shoppers from inclement weather. He even wanted to install an intercom system for announcements and speakers where music could be piped-in. Aaron was es-

pecially interested in having all merchants open and close at the same times and joining in common promotions “Very importantly,” says Owen, the shopping center would feature free and abundant parking. All of these ideas were novel.

AT THE TIME, DOWNTOWN MONTGOMERy was of course the retail and entertainment center of the city.

But people had to pay to park. And the buildings did not feature covered awnings so bad weather affected one’s ability to move from shop to shop. And people had to walk a fair distance to go from business to business.

The proposed “shopping center” solved all of these problems for consumers and patrons in addition to providing shoppers a place to buy goods within closer distances to where they lived But to develop the unique center in the first-class manner Aaron Aronov envisioned would cost over $3 million. And those are 1953-54 dollars! In today’s dollars – with compounded inflation – the figure would be in the tens of millions.

Aaron went to “multiple” banks in town seeking financing.

A typical response was “Aaron, we think you are a fine young man. You are ambitious, and we think you will be very successful one day … but we don’t think your concept is realistic.”

They would not agree to provide the financing. To them, people would always want to shop downtown because that’s where people had always gathered. It’s where the banks were, the retail establishments, the restaurants, the post office, etc.

In defense of the bankers, what Mr. Aronov was proposing was radical in the extreme. While, as mentioned above, there were a few “shopping centers” in other parts of the nation, in the entire Southeast, there were exactly zero such facilities.

Remember Aaron Aronov was only 34 years old at the time. He’d gone in business for himself only two years earlier.

But he wouldn’t take “no” for an answer.

If Montgomery bankers wouldn’t provide financing, he’d look elsewhere. And he found it with a financing company in Chicago.

(Above I mentioned that I was in “awe” of Mr. Aronov’s life. Right now I’m trying to picture this young man, scheduling a meeting with bankers. “I’d like (today’s equivalent?) $25 million please.”

And he got it!

And easily paid back the entire loan with interest.

NORMANDALE SHOPPING CENTER WAS A HUGE HIT from the day it opened (September 9, 1954).

It featured 29 retail establishments (all of them air-conditioned). Aaron Aronov

Family Photo: The Aaron Aronov family Owen, Jake, Aaron, Marjorie and Teri.

MonTGoMERy, ALABAMA - PoRTRAiT of A HisToRiC CiTy Published by: The Alabama Gazette Publishing LLC

also personally recruited every one of his tenants.

Not only did he need to get tenants, he also needed to get the right mix of store concepts, so as to create an exciting shopping environment where everyone’s retail needs were fulfilled.

Many businesses were locally owned and their owners had to be convinced that it was smart to move to a new location.

Others were national or regional chains that had to be convinced to buy into Mr. Aronov’s concept.

Loveman’s – a two-story department store - was one of the two “anchor stores.” Kwik-Chek (the predecessor to Winn-Dixie) was the other. The shopping center featured gift shops, men and ladies’ clothing stores, shoe stores, a cafeteria, a photography shop, jewelry shops, restaurants, you name it.

It soon expanded, later adding an enlarged Woolworth’s, an A&P, WT Grant’s and about 25 other businesses in its 400,000- square foot location. (Even today, its size would qualify as a large “ open air” shopping center or mall, said Owen).

In fact, Owen said the “open air” shopping center of 1954 was essentially the kind of “life style” shopping center that is in vogue in the industry today.

Simply put, the shopping center changed the face of Montgomery forever.

The City Fathers supported it. After all, it was providing jobs and tax revenues.

And, as Mr. Aronov predicted it would, it drew shoppers from within a two-hour radius of Montgomery.

Owen remembers visiting the shopping center often with his father. Observing how his father interacted with people taught Owen a lot about his father’s business and about one of the “keys” to his success.

Aaron Aronov knew every Normandale merchant and most of the employees. It was clear that he cared about them and wanted to do everything he could to help them succeed.

His father, said Owen, was a man who was just as comfortable visiting with the CEO of a major company as a local laborer. He enjoyed and valued friendships with anyone and everyone.

Building on success With the overwhelming - one might say “historic” - success of Normandale Shopping Center, Mr. Aronov continued to expand his business operations.

Drive around Montgomery in any direction and you are going to pass by, live in, shop at, or work out of, a building that was created by the son of a Russian immigrant (or, later, by his two sons).

Aronov-developed subdivisions are situated throughout the Montgomery metro community and include such names as Deercreek, Halcyon South, Hillwood, newly planned Ansley Lakes and other communities like Prattville East, Overlook, Southlawn, Woodcrest, Green Acres, Forest Hills and Westminister - to name just a few of the city’s best-known neighborhoods.

The shopping center divisions of the company developed Eastdale Mall, Zelda Place, Cornerstone and Taylor Junction.

Just in the grocery store business, they helped bring to Montgomery Winn Dixie, all four Publix stores and, in a few months - at the new “Chase Corner” development across from EastChase Whole Foods.

They’ve developed apartment and office complexes, including their own corporate headquarters, Aronov Centre.

In addition to Aronov’s ownership in a diversified property portfolio, it develops, leases, manages, brokers and provides construction management and financial and capital market services to all its properties as well as for properties it manages for others. And that’s just in Montgomery.

Aronov companies have owned or managed properties in 84 communities located in 17 states, totaling more than 35 million square feet of space.

Just by way of example, Aronov developed University Mall in Tuscaloosa and

August 1, 2015

Editor/Writer: Bill Rice

15A

FREE PARKING! Normandale Shopping Center was a huge hit from its Grand Opening, which took place on September 9, 1954. Mr. Aronov personally recruited all 29 original tenants. (www.HistoryMontgomery.com now owns beach resort properties or condominiums in Panama City, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan.

At any given time, the different Aronov companies have employed as many as 400 people. Multiply their employment figures by the 63 years the founding company has been in existence and the total employment figure might require five digits. If you count the number of people Aronov tenants have employed, the figure might dwarf IBM. The different businesses have probably generated hundreds of millions of dollars in property and sales tax receipts for municipalities across the country. And he did all of this while still spending plenty of time with his family and friends, remaining as down-to-earth and humble as anyone in town. *** Maybe the best part is that many projects and developments occurred after Aaron Aronov’s death. That is, his heirs have maintained his standards, expanded the family business and even enhanced the already sterling “Aronov” brand.

Many key employees have been with the Aronov companies for decades. Families – thousands and thousands of them - live in homes in Aronov subdivisions that were built 65 years ago or 15 years ago.

If people associate happy times with shopping outings at wonderfully stocked stores – and most of us do – the fond memories Aronov developments helped create would be impossible to quantify.

Mr. Aronov – directly or indirectly – helped give Montgomery retail stores that provided gifts for all our special events, restaurants entire families could enjoy and that couples visited on first dates, movie theatres (and the memories associated with this beloved medium) and even Alabama’s first ice-skating rink.

And I haven’t even talked about the contributions he and his children (and Aronov employees) have made to Montgomery’s cultural, educational, religious and charitable organizations.

Like many of the giants of Montgomery business life, Aaron Aronov was happy to give back to a city that he “loved.” This generosity of spirit has clearly been passed down to his children and to Aronov employees.

Not only did he give financially, he also gave his leadership to countless organizations that have touched countless lives.

Like many of his Montgomery business peers, much of his good works were done behind the scenes.

Man of principle …

So what qualities made Aaron Aronov so successful?

“He was an entrepreneur with vision – an excellent businessman- who enjoyed what he did,” said Owen. “I know he had a passion – a sense of urgency – about

Owen Aronov next to portrait of his late father. He and his brother Jake now lead the Aronov companies. Owen said some of his greatest lessons in business and in life came from simply observing how his father dealt with people.

(Photo by Bill Rice, Jr.)

everything he undertook. He also always treated people well. He was a man of principle. I think he always did things the right way. He was a man of his word. His word was a contract and that’s the way it should be.”

Few businesses survive three years, let alone 63. In tough economic times and in prosperous times, the companies that Aaron Aronov created have evolved and prospered.

Real estate development isn’t for the meek of spirit. Indeed it’s common in the industry for its practitioners to taste great successes only to be followed by crunching failures.

Aaron Aronov apparently never greenlighted a project that might be considered a failure.

If Aaron Aronov was a major league baseball player, he might be Ted Williams … if Ted Williams’ career batting average was over .950!

Earlier Owen had told me that his father was basically a “conservative risk taker.”

Yes, he took business risks, but they were well thought out risks. Through instincts or research or both, what he thought would and could happen did.

And because his business ventures prospered, Montgomery prospered and became a better place to live.

Aaron Aronov, locally a civic titan and a greatly admired gentleman, was also an

authentic pioneer in his industry.

He dreamed big. Just as importantly he possessed the skill sets and personality traits to make those dreams into reality.

He “loved” Montgomery and he made it his family’s home. *** If you think about it, the most influential “events” in any city’s history are often not trumpeted by giant headlines.

They can be as prosaic as one family arriving by wagon, train or automobile in “your town.” The things members of this family later build, accomplish and make possible are the stuff historians later chronicle.

Those of us with a love of local history can also always play the “what if” game.

If one of Owen’s great aunts had not written a letter to his grandmother talking about all of the opportunity that could be found in America, Aaron Aronov would not have even been born. If a fire had not burned down several campus buildings at Tuskegee Institute, Owen’s father would never have moved to Montgomery.

Such is the fascinating stuff of genealogy, history and of fate. And explains how one remarkable man came to live in one city, and how this one person had such a profound impact on so many lives.

When you reflect on such people and think a little bit about everything they did, you can’t help but be in awe.

‘Short Answers:’ Patsy George

Andy Pritchett ...

Someone who might not get enough credit for her contributions to our city?

Well, I’m a tad biased but how about Melissa George Bowman (my daughter)? She contributes so much of her time and energy to helping others and always does the right thing. She does this quietly with her many talents and abilities and always tries to leave things better than she found them.

The invention that probably changed my life more than any other is …Air conditioning!

The best concert I ever attended in Montgomery was … Every “Big Bam” show I was able to attend.

The most scenic location in Montgomery is … Our beautiful State Capitol and surrounding buildings and grounds.

The most forgettable local teams I ever watched …From my high school years in the 1960s, all the Lanier-Lee games and all of these teams.

- Patsy George, life-long resident of Montgomery.

One of my favorite “hangouts” from yesteryear that I miss ….Hanging out at the Atlanta Highway K-Mart and Magic Mart in the 80's. Life was so much simpler without cell/smart phones and I don't remember a hint of racial tension at Robert E. Lee or Jeff Davis High Schools. Everyone got along, the public schools were safe and Cramton Bowl was packed for the Lee vs. JD football games!

The invention/development(s) that probably changed my life more than an other is … .The cell/smart phone...for the worse.

Children today probably have no conception of this aspect of my own childhood …Being able to roam freely all day as long as you were home for dinner!

Best concert attended in Montgomery… Collective Soul at Jubilee in 1999.

The most scenic view in Montgomery or central Alabama is …The view of downtown Montgomery from the Number 1 tee box of the RTJ Judge course in Prattville.

- Andy Pritchett (lived in Montgomery/River Region: From birth to Tuscaloosa and back and forth from Birmingham a few times; at total of 27 years.)

MonTGoMERy, ALABAMA - PoRTRAiT of A HisToRiC CiTy 16A

Editor/Writer: Bill Rice

August 1, 2015

Published by: The Alabama Gazette Publishing LLC

MonTGoMERy, ALABAMA - PoRTRAiT of A HisToRiC CiTy Published by: The Alabama Gazette Publishing LLC

August 1, 2015

Editor/Writer: Bill Rice

1B

Alabama Gazette All-Time Montgomery Football Team What did we get ourselves into!?

‘All-Time’ list - not comprehensive, but impressive!

By ED JONES AND BILL RICE, JR. In these lists we attempt to name as many outstanding football players as we can who called Montgomery County home. In order to have a starting point, we decided to list only those players who went on to play college football. Many also went on to play in the pro ranks.

The “college criteria” was added simply to limit the size of the list.

We recognize that many more players had stellar high school careers.

If we had not added the college criteria, the list would have grown far longer. In our view, the topic might also grow far too “subjective.”

We included walk-ons, but left off most players in this category to reduce the scale of our project. One walk-on we do believe deserves to be in our top category is former Trinity wide receiver Mark White.

As a prep player, all White did was set the all-time state record for career receptions. In four years, the under-sized receiver caught 312 passes for 3,368 yards with 33 touchdowns. Wow! For the most part, we also limited our players to those who had played at the NAIA, Division I-AA, Division II and Division I classifications (with a few junior college players included). Because of this, Huntingdon and Faulkner’s Division III athletes are not represented.

Looking through our list, it’s also clear we didn’t step up to the plate when it came to identifying players from state universities such as Jax State, UNA, USA and Tuskegee.

Another point worth mentioning: Our “team” is comprised only of players who lived in Montgomery during their high school years. We could make an entirely different list – and quite impressive at that – if we included former football greats who later made Montgomery home (people like Liston Eddins, Bobby Skelton, “Scooter Dyess, yann Cowart, Tom Somerville, Parke Hinman, III) and Bubba Trotman.

Even restricting ourselves to those who played at the higher college levels, we know that we still left off many players. For this effort, we relied mostly on our own memories and recollections while also searching various Internet databases listing all-time great players at area high schools. As time allowed, we also shared our preliminary list with several “football people” in our community so that they might fill in some missing names.

As it turns out, we gave ourselves a fairly formidable task, especially when one considers that football has been played in Montgomery for at least 10 decades, with at least a dozen schools fielding high school teams.

It’s our hope that readers will email us with any omissions or errors. We will update our list in future editions of The Alabama Gazette or future “Reflections” issues. Please know that any omissions are not intentional and can, in part, be blamed on time constraints in the publishing process.

All of this said, we do think such a project is worth tackling. We’ve seen few publications attempt such a comprehensive “All-Time” list and team. As is the case with any list, we hope this effort will be taken in the spirit of fun, will perhaps stir friendly debates and rekindle memories of a few “greats” readers might not have thought of in a while.

The All-Time Team featured at the top was strictly the opinion of the authors. Like other “all-time roster lists” we’ve seen, we didn’t See LIST, Page 13B

Bart Starr

Johnny Davis

Terry Beasley

OFFENSE

DEFENSE

QUARTERBACK Bart Starr – Lanier, ‘50s. UA, NFL Hall of Famer

DEFENSIVE LINE Herb “Bummie” Roton – Lanier, ‘30s, AU, NFL Byron Braggs – Carver, ‘70s, UA, NFL Mike Raines – Lanier, ‘70s, UA, CFL (All-Star) George Thornton – Jeff Davis, ‘80s, UA, NFL Davern Williams – Jeff Davis, ‘90s, AU/Troy, NFL

RUNNING BACK Johnny Davis – Lanier, ‘70s, UA, NFL Fred Beasley – Lee, ‘80s, AU, NFL Larry Ware – Lee, ‘80s , UGA, NFL Carl Hopson – Lee, ‘50s, UA Earl Mills – Lanier/Lee, ‘50s, Lanier, ECJC WIDE RECEIVER Terry Beasley – Lee, ‘60s, AU (A-A, College HoF), NFL Reggie Barlow – Lanier, ‘80s, ASU, NFL Mark White – Trinity, 2000s, AU TIGHT END Robert Johnson – Jeff Davis, ‘90s Auburn, NFL Preston Gothard – Lowndes Academy, ‘70s UA, NFL Tommy Trott – Trinity, 2000s, Auburn Nick Germanos - Lanier, ‘50s, UA OFFENSIVE LINE Antoine Caldwell – Lee, 2000’s, UA, NFL Mike Brock – Jeff Davis, ‘70s, UA Tommy Neville – Lanier, ‘50s, Miss. State, NFL Fred Weary – Lee, ‘90s, Tenn., NFL Jeno James – Lanier, ‘90s, AU, NFL Leroy Monsky – Lanier, ‘30s, UA (All American) Lee Gross – Lee, ‘70s, AU, NFL Jimmy Sharpe – Lanier, ‘50s/60s - UA

LINEBACKER Aundray Bruce – Carver, ‘80s, AU, NFL (All American, first pick in NFL draft) Quinton Riggins – Lee, ‘80s, AU, CFL Bob Farrish - Lanier, ‘40s, Army Bob Childs – Lanier, ‘60s, UA DEFENSIVE BACK Mike Washington – Lee, ‘70s, UA, NFL (A-A) George Teague – Jeff Davis, ‘80s, UA, NFL Richmond Flowers – Lanier, ‘60s, Tenn., NFL Buddy McClinton – Lee, ‘60s, AU Joe Kilgrow - Lanier, UA All American Freddie Thomas - Lee, ‘80s, Troy Div. II Def. ‘PoY’

PUNTER Malcom Simmons – Jeff Davis, ‘70s, UA Matt Allen – Calvary Christian, Troy, ‘2000s (A-A) DEEP SNAPPER Fred Marshall – Lanier, ‘70s, UA Gilbert Sellers – SMCA, AU

PLACE KICKER Hamp Greene – MA, ‘80s, UNC/UA Bucky Berrey – Lanier, ‘70s, UA

Other Montgomery Greats ...

OFFENSE Quarterbacks – Mike Turk (Jeff Davis,

Troy – All American), Sim Byrd (Lee, Troy – All American), Tavaris Jackson (Lanier, ASU, NFL), Charlie Trotman (Jeff Davis, Auburn), Butch Avinger (Lanier, UA, NFL), Jeremy Johnson (Carver, AU), Ashbey Cook (Lanier, Miss. State), Richard Moncrief (Jeff Davis, Clemson), Michael Henig (Jeff Davis, Miss. State), Christopher Relf (Carver, MSU), Rick McBride (MA, Princeton), Josh Thomas (or “athlete”, MA, App. State), Cliff Little (Lee, Wake Forest), Tommy Traylor (Lee, AU), Jack Mathews (Catholic, Kentucky), Mike Kelly (Lanier, AU), Don Shannon (Lanier, Troy), Don Camp (Lanier, Va. Tech), Bart Kennedy (Lee, Samford), Dewey Renfroe (Lanier, Troy), Buddy Hardwick (Lanier, Miss. State), Bobby Spann (Lanier, Troy), Jerry Hall (Lanier, Kentucky), John Glascock (Lanier, Troy), Ben Blackmon (Lee, Troy).

Running backs – Paul Spivey (Lee, UA), Raymond Boykin (Lanier, AU), Bill Moseley (Lanier, Kentucky), Davis Hooper (Trinity, AU), Perry Hooper III (Trinity, AU), Thomas Brown (Jeff Davis, Arkansas), Marlon Mooneyham (Lanier, UA), Keldrick Williams (Lanier, Tennessee), Richard Fulmer (Lanier, ECJC), Jackie Spencer (Lee, Auburn), Rodney Bell (Lee, Samford), Ben Wood (Lee, Auburn), John Moore (Lee, UA), Jerry Allie (Lanier, ECJC), Charles Crysel (Lee, UA), Johnny Beasley (Lee, Miss. State), Jim Scott (Lanier, UA), Johnny Tatum (Lee, Troy), “Bull” Cochran (Lanier, AU), Wendell Conner (Lanier, Troy), Bobby Brock (Lanier, Va. Tech), Cedrick McIntyre (Lee, AU), Joe Fields (Catholic, Troy), Donald Calvin (Lanier, ASU), Curtis Brown (Jeff Davis, AU), Sullivan Walker (Jeff Davis, AU), Woody Buchanan (Jeff Davis, UA), Morris Holley (Lee, Troy), Kenny Simon (Lee, UA), Brad Sims (Troy), Sullivan Walker (Jeff Davis, Troy), Tommy Green (Lanier, Troy).

Receivers – George Pugh (Lee, UA), C.J. Duncan (Saint James, Vandy), Jalen Harris (Saint James, AU), Wilson Van Hooser (Trinity, Tulane/Troy), Ricky Cotton (Lee,

ASU), Anthony McCall (MA, La.-Monroe), Fred Brock (Jeff Davis, USM, NFL), Orlando Parker (Jeff Davis, Troy, NFL), Wayne Cook (Lanier, UA), Terry Hardy (Carver, USM, NFL), Steve Holloway (Jeff Davis, Tenn. State, NFL), Jack Bell (Lee, Baylor), Bobby Enslen (Lee, Troy), Joel Stephenson (Lee, Ga. Tech), Denny Jackson (Catholic, Vandy), Ray Scott (Starke, Samford), Randy Moore (Lanier, UA), Bob Ritter (Lee, Missouri), Mike Livings (Jeff Davis, USM), Fred Turner (Troy), Trey Holley (Troy).

Offensive linemen - Bret Eddins (Trinity, Auburn), Spence McCracken (Lee, AU), Milford Brown (Carver, FSU, NFL), James Coley III (Lee, Troy), Monreko Crittenden (St. Jude, Auburn, AFL), Tyler Mitchell (MA, Kansas State), Marvin Trott (Jeff Davis, Auburn), Dan Rhyne (Lanier, Kentucky), Danny Speigner (Lanier, AU), Pat Raines (Lanier, UA), Steve Wilson (Jeff Davis, AU), Harold Mesaris (Lanier, MSU), Earl James (Lanier, Troy), Bill Joiner (Lanier, Troy), “Foots” Bauer (Lanier, AU), Al Brame (Lanier, AU), Frank Myers (Lanier, Auburn), Jim Brock (Jeff Davis, UA), Billy Livings (Lanier, Kentucky), “Snoozy” Jones (Lanier, Va. Tech), Cliff Russell (Lanier, UA), Jim Wilson (Lanier, Tulane), Davis Brock (Lanier, AU), , Jimmy Bradford (Lanier, UA), John Snodderly (Lanier, UA), Johnny Pummer (Jeff Davis, AU), Jamie Watson (Jeff Davis, USM), Bill Evans (Jeff Davis, AU), Jay Jefcoat (Lee, Livingston), Xavier Fields (Troy), David Gross (Trinity, Troy), Tony Donaldson (Lee, Troy), Henry Tellis (Lanier, Troy, CFL), Tim Sherman (Lee, Troy), Mike Sherman (Lee, Troy), Charlie Anderson (Catholic, Furman).

DEFENSE Defensive linemen – Bart Eddins (Trinity, AU), Mitchell Waters (Trinity, Samford), Kyle Shaw (Trinity, Air Force Academy), Brandon Moore (Carver, UA/Texas), Sam Gellerstedt (Lanier, UA/U of Tampa), Freddie Russell (Lanier, Miss. State), Earl Brophy (Lee, USM), Charlie Bradshaw (Lanier, Kentucky), Larry Cline (Jeff Davis, Florida), Alex Johnson (Lee, Samford), See GREATS, Page 13B

MonTGoMERy, ALABAMA - PoRTRAiT of A HisToRiC CiTy 2B

Editor/Writer: Bill Rice

August 1, 2015

Published by: The Alabama Gazette Publishing LLC

A School known for its many innovations

Saint James has grown to be city’s largest independent school

G. Stanley Frazer

By BILL RICE, JR. SAINT JAMES SCHOOL FIRST OPENED ITS DOORS to the children of the Montgomery area in 1955.

Classes were originally held in the basement of St. James UMC. It remained at this location for many years prior to beginning the staggered move to the North Country Club Drive property, as more classes were added. The school graduated its first senior class in 1974.

From its humble origins, Saint James School has grown to be the largest independent school in Montgomery with a current enrollment of nearly 950 students. . Students (from K3 to 12th grade) also attend classes on the largest school campus in the city (68 acres).

Today the head of school is Saint James alumnus Dr. Larry McLemore. In 1984, the school graduated 27 seniors. Just 16 years later in 2000, the school graduated 88 seniors (McLemore was part of this class).

What follows is a summary of some of the “blue-and-gold” moments in Trojan history, as well as remarks about some of the individuals who were responsible for the school’s amazing growth and its sterling academic reputation.

DR. RAyMOND B. FURLONG Dr. Raymond B. Furlong, a retired air force lieutenant general who had previously served as Commander of Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base, served as Headmaster at Saint James from 1983 - 1998. During his 15-year tenure he initiated and oversaw a building and renovation campaign that resulted in the expansion of the school to its current Vaughn Road location.

Dr. Furlong was also instrumental in the development of Saint James' strong middle school program, endorsing changes that prompted the school to receive national attention as one of the four most outstanding middle school programs in the country.

Dr. Furlong was also vital to the school's debate program and the curriculum, which were both initiated during his tenure as Headmaster. The integrated arts curriculum serves as a model for Alabama schools.

According to Cathy Pearson, dean

Dr. Raymond B. Furlong

Melba B. Richardson

of admissions, “Dr. Furlong was an exceptional leader. He was connected to his faculty and to the students. He was a man with a vision and he knew what it took to carry out his visions.

He believed in empowering his faculty with the knowledge to be forward- thinking and innovators in their individual fields.

“One of my favorite memories of Dr. Furlong (from the Country Club Campus days) was watching him walk out of his office in-between classes in order to get hugs from the young students and also visit with the older students.

“After he retired, he would return on a weekly basis to read to the younger grades. Saint James School was not just a job to him—he truly loved the school and the students.”

“In my opinion, the first and most important “red letter” date was the fall of 1955 when Dr. G. Stanley Frazer established the school at Saint James United Methodist Church on Court Street,” wrote Mrs. Richardson in an email Q& A. She also listed “the accreditation of the school in the 1970s with efforts from the board affirmed the academic standing of the school within the Southeastern United States. That process paved the way for continued excellence.”

MELBA BOLTON RICHARDSON Melba Richardson’s tenure at Saint James School began in 1983 and spans 32 years. Mrs. Richardson became Middle School principal after previously serving as an 8th and 10th grade English teacher.

“Loving the children was Mrs. Richardson’s top priority,” said Pearson, “but she also strived to give our students more opportunities. She wanted our school to be recognized as the best school in the city and in the nation and we certainly accomplished all of that under her leadership.

“Mrs. Richardson had a special gift for working with adolescents and embraced her role as middle school principal. She instituted eight periods a day to offer students a chance to discover interests in drama, forensics, arts or other electives. She also created an advisory program that paired pupils with teachers who would act as their first point of contact if the child were having problems.

After serving as Middle School Principal, Mrs. Richardson was appointed as the first Academic Dean of STJ. As Head of School, Mrs. Richardson helped to shape STJ into the highly respected school it is today. “Mrs. Richardson instilled unity and school spirit within the Saint James family.”

Richardson discusses key events in school’s history Mrs. Richardson mentioned several key dates or memorable events in school history.

Tornado of ‘96 The tornado on Wednesday, March 6, 1996 totally destroyed the elementary school on the Collier campus and required a real test of strength from the STJ community, said Mrs. Richardson.

“We hardly skipped a beat to have half-day classes for the remainder of the year on the Frazer campus and then held classes for those students at Ridgecrest Baptist Church until the new campus (currently the Leu Elementary School) was built. We were already in the process of expanding the new campus on Vaughn Road, so this was an additional challenge. Because the tornado happened early one morning before children and personnel were there, no lives were lost. Our school made ‘The Today Show!’ “

Several leaders who served Saint James School …

According to Mrs. Richardson, a sample of the many “great leaders’ for the school were: Elementary principals such as Joyce Weldon and Bobbie McBride “who directed the merger of the two elementary campuses, which was no small feat.”

She also cited “board members who supported the vision to move the campus as well as the first female board chair, Mary Miles, who made a dramatic impact on the overall improvement of the school in the 1980s.”

Of course, the “unsung heroes are our many truly talented teachers.”

Principal Cliff Trexler (1970s-80s) “set the foundation for a superior school at the old campus. Ida Coon “was the first middle school principal ‘who got it started in 1987.’ “

Dr. Larry McLemore ‘Points of Pride’ for STJ (As mentioned by Mrs. Richardson) • High School elective courses that are “pre-major electives.” To help prepare for college, students may choose from (courses such as) Pre-Engineering and Robotics, Sports Medicine, Introduction to Business, Marketing, and Finance to name just a few. “We are the only school in Alabama with these courses.”

• Our Equestrian team. We were the first in Alabama to begin a team and are still only one of two schools in the state have one.

• We are the only school in our area to have a three-year old program as part of our K-12 grades. We were also the first independent school in our area to begin all-day kindergarten.

Parents, donors, or board members who made great contributions: • Maggie Leu Means has been a great contributor and serves on the advisory board. It was through her generosity that we were able to rebuild the elementary in its entirety after the tornado. She has been a faithful friend.

• Harrell McKinney has been a parent and grandparent who has always supported the school, as a —volunteer, board member, spectator - just a great supporter and friend.

• Mary and Paul Miles are former board members who sent four children through the school. They were powerful players in the early decisions of the school 30 years ago and more.

• Mayor Todd Strange, grandfather to five Saint James students, has supported Saint James for many, many years. His energy and participation at school-wide events create a unique enthusiasm within the Saint James community.

• Fred Clark, former board chair (2008-2010) navigated a change of leadership and did an exceptional job!

• Billy Livings, former board chair (2012-2014), brought continued professionalism to the board and created a very active, hard-working group of board committees.

See STJ, Page 15B

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MonTGoMERy, ALABAMA - PoRTRAiT of A HisToRiC CiTy Published by: The Alabama Gazette Publishing LLC

August 1, 2015

Editor/Writer: Bill Rice

3B

MonTGoMERy, ALABAMA - PoRTRAiT of A HisToRiC CiTy 4B

Editor/Writer: Bill Rice

August 1, 2015

Published by: The Alabama Gazette Publishing LLC

The Reflections’ Roundtable!

Talking days past with Oak Grove Inn residents

‘Great teachers’ made Lanier High School one of the finest in the nation.

Image of school is from a 1920s postcard. Photo/MHS

OUR “ROUND TABLE” WAS SQUARE: Taking part in our conversation about Montgomery’s past were (left to right clockwise) Betty Bridgman, Elizabeth (Betty) Rast, Betty Hudson, Sophie Xides, Dale Scott, Mildred Cook, Dorothy Golab, Not pictured: Jerry Edwards.

Photo by Bill Rice, Jr.

By BILL RICE, JR. When thinking about stories for our first Montgomery “Reflections” publication, it occurred to me that “a round table interview” with a group of longtime residents might provide some fun perspective on how our community (and life in general) has changed through the decades.

My friends at Oak Grove Inn (a local independent living community) said they would be happy to recruit some participants.

As there were seven participants and three(!) of them are named “Betty,” I didn’t always match a quote to a name.

We’ll take this one by topic

What made Lanier so great?

Betty Rast (Class of ’43) – “The teachers were so great! Its reputation was so strong that its graduates often

didn’t need to take college entrance exams.” “…. You knew everybody in town because it was the only public high school in town.”

Dale Scott (who settled in Montgomery after retiring from Air Force in 1967) - “I did not attend Lanier ... I did have a good friend who taught there. He once related that a former student of his told him that he ‘didn’t have to open a book’ his first two years in college because of the education he received in biology and anatomy at Lanier. He said he used his high school notes (to prepare for exams).”

Portis Cunningham was a name that was offered when I asked for “legendary instructors” at Lanier.

Cunningham taught Latin … which is of course “Greek” to most of my generation.

Also: “… Most of the teachers were single. They were people who dedicated their lives to teaching.”

Mildred Cook (who grew up in Sweetwater): “I know that many principals (of that era) wouldn’t even hire a married teacher.”

Pop Myer’s Pop Corn Stands There were two locations, one on East Fairview in Cloverdale and one across from Oak Park. My round-table participants told me that each stand was run by a different brother, and both were known as “Pop.” Both were famous for their semifrozen Coca Colas.

“You had to jigger the ice.” Customers were given cut-off coat-hanger wires to perform this task.”

“I’m sure that was real sanitary,” joked one participant. “The health department would kill them today.”

Everything at Pop’s – and for that matter just about everything everywhere – “cost a nickel.” Cokes, popcorn, frozen candy bars, ice cream, etc.

Everyone also remembers going to the many drug stores in town, including Cloverdale Pharmacy and taking advantage of the soda fountains.

The Elite Café I was thrilled when I learned that Sophie Xides, the widow of the Elite’s former owner, Ed Xides, was among our panel members.The restaurant opened in 1911. It was started by Pete Xides, Sophie’s father-in-law.

She credits the great service and friendly staff for a lot of its success.

The restaurant was known for its trout almandine. I’d recently been told by someone that this was not even trout. Is this true, I asked?

Yes, sometimes, she said. At different times, the owners couldn’t source the quality trout they demanded. At these times they did use another highquality fish, she said.

And, yes, it served customers alcoholic drinks on Sundays “in coffee cups.”

According to Sophie, one time someone with the State called her husband about this. Ed promptly visited with then governor John Patterson.

“You know, Governor, you’re one of (these customers who like a drink on Sunday).”

“Ed, don’t you worry about this,” Patterson told her husband, according to Sophie.

The Elite also served breakfast, something I’d never known. There’s no telling how many “big political deals” “or what bills were passed (or not passed)” because of conversations at the Elite, all agreed.

It was located on a street behind Lanier. From the outside it looked “like a an old run-down house. But when you walked in it was beautifully decorated with antiques, fresh flowers and beautiful paintings.”

Jerry Edwards remembered that the “best chicken” in Montgomery was served at The Red Bird Inn. We also talked about The Green Lantern, Tony ‘s Pizza, The Parkmore Diner and Dale’s Penthouse and the tragic fire of February 1967.

“I was supposed to eat there that night for my anniversary,” said one respondent. Instead she ended up going to The Sahara. Another one of my panelists happened to be eating at The Elite that night. Everyone could see the flames and smoke from the front door of the Elite, they said.

No video games?

No problem!

Have you ever heard a teen or pre-teen complain, “There’s nothing to do!?”

I don’t think this group ever uttered such complaints. They remember rollerskating at Looney’s Skating Rink (originally located on Madison), swimming at parks, “bowling was big” and of course dancing.

“The Swing,” “The Jitterbug” and “Big Bands” were all popular in the ‘30s and ‘40s.

How did young ladies learn such elaborate dances?

“I don’t know. It just came naturally!” said Betty Rast.

“My cousin taught me,” said another “Girls would practice together.”

“I grew up Baptist and you know Baptists did not dance,” said Betty Bridgeman with a big smile.

Changes in work place Betty Hudson worked at First National Bank for 40 years. Were you a teller, I asked?

“No. Men were tellers. Women were peons,” she said.

Of course, not nearly as many women worked in those days.

“That all started to change with World War II,” I was told. Apparently “a lot of things” started to change during the war and then in its aftermath.

Mildred Cook noted that when her grandson was at Auburn in veterinary school, “there were more women than men in his class.”The same is true with pharmacy today, I was told.

Betty Rast attended law school at Jones in mid-‘60s. She remembers See OGI, Page 6B

MONTGOMERy WAS FULL OF OUTSTANDING RESTAURANTS. One restaurant I’d never heard of until recently was the Point Rouge. It was located on the top floor of one of the Jackson Hospital buildings with a bridge connecting it to another building. “It was owned by a group of Jackson doctors. It was real, real upscale.”

“The Blue Moon Inn was the place to have parties such as when you graduated from high school or for bridesmaids’ luncheons.”

‘Pop’ Myers’ Popcorn Stand on Fairview, one of 2 in

town. ‘Everything was a nickel.’

MonTGoMERy, ALABAMA - PoRTRAiT of A HisToRiC CiTy Published by: The Alabama Gazette Publishing LLC

August 1, 2015

Editor/Writer: Bill Rice

5B

A towering figure in history of Montgomery education

For 53 years, Professor Starke demanded only excellence from his cadets

By BILL RICE, JR.

The fact Starke University School no longer exists (it closed in the mid ‘60s) should not diminish the fact that for approximately 78 years the education it provided its cadets was perhaps unmatched in the state.

The “story” of Starke School is about one man’s towering influence on one school – and, more importantly, on it’s many former students.

Professor John Metcalf Starke opened “The University School” in 1887 and went on to serve as its superintendent until 1940, a tenure of 53 years! He was 27 when he arrived in Montgomery and 80 when he formally retired.

By its 50th anniversary in 1937, the school had already produced three Rhodes’ scholars - James T. Kirkpatrick, Clifford J. Durr and John A. Rice.

Former students or graduates included Sen. Lister Hill, arguably the most influential Alabama U.S. senator in history,

“I have been teaching young men for 18 years, and can truly say he may have an equal, but cannot have a superior.”

-

Letter from principal at school where Professor Starke had previously taught Governor John Patterson, former Alabama Power CEO Tom Martin and Wall Street legend Jack Dreyfus.

Well-known local residents who attended Starke include Gen. Will Hill Tankersley and Ray Scott, B.A.S.S. founder, among many others.

Before writing this story, I visited with Professor Starke’s grandson, Boling (Bo) Starke II and Professor Starke’s great grandson, Trey, the second and third generations of the insurance company started

by Professor Starke’s son in the 1920s.

According to the elder Mr. Starke, a common theme emerges when talking to former Starke students. They might not have always enjoyed their years at the school when they were cadets, but they soon came to value it as among the most important experiences of their lives.

Professor Starke meant business and his business was improving minds, instilling discipline and preaching character-development.

Later in his life, he expressed to some that he regretted that his methods might have, at times, been “too severe,” according to a paper written by Gen. Tankersley.

“I’m not sure he was correct,” wrote Tankersley (who attended Starke from 1938-42). “When excellence is pursued, you must force those who are in pursuit to stretch.”

18 parents ‘band together’ to form private school The University School of Montgomery (as it was first known) was established when “18 of the leading citizens of Montgomery, not being entirely satisfied with the educational facilities and training then afforded the young men of Montgomery by its public schools, banded together to get a competent instructor for their sons and wards.”

These men found Professor Starke, a University of Virginia graduate, who was then a 27-year old teacher at A.P. Bolling High School in Peterson, Va. Starke was a graduate of the University of Virginia (where one of his clasmates was Woodrow Wilson).

To say he was highly recommended is an understatement.

“I have been teaching young men for 18 years, and can truly say he may have an equal, but cannot have a superior,” wrote the principal of the school in a letter of recommendation.

He added in the same letter: “I consider it an education in itself for a boy to be under the care of such an honorable and gifted man.”

Starke agreed to come to Montgomery.

The first school was an old wood building with 20 students – all sons or wards of the men who were paying Starke’s salary.

In its second year, however, the school began accepting other students. The school’s location moved three times until finding a home on the south side of Dexter Avenue “in the shadow” of the Capitol.

It remained here from 1896-1924 before moving yet again to its Houston Street campus.

Starke University School Cadet Corps THE SCHOOL WA S A “MILITARy ACADEMy FOR BOyS” Students came from throughout the state, and beyond. The school also offered a program for “day students” from Montgomery.

Professor Starke (“Fesser” as he was known) taught Latin and mathematics the entire time he was running the school, which he also owned.

The school’s motto was “Omnia Vincit labor” --- “Work Wins.”

Starke believed in the motto.

He also believed in corporal punishment. It was not uncommon for students to get “25 switches” for any number of discipline infractions.

In 1966, former Starke faculty member John M. Ward published a paper for “The Thirteen” study group on Dr. Starke (who received an honorary doctorate of law degree from the University of Alabama). “… Not that he was cruel and inconsiderate, but he was confident that in some cases and at certain times there was nothing more effective and more conducive to study and effort when properly administered.”

“I have often seen him have a bad recitation from his Caesar class and few, if any would know their lesson. I have seen him close the book, tell them it was a shameful lesson and announce that this lesson would be taken over tomorrow and it would be a “special,” which meant in plain language that he would thrash those who missed the next day. I have seen the same class come back the next day and read the same chapter in Caesar without a mistake. He would then close the book, compliment them and take his text on the justification of his methods and procedures, and it was rather an unanswerable argument.”

It’s hard to imagine a school devoting more individual attention to students.

After the school day was over, cadets attended mandatory study halls. Those students who were not meeting expectations had private study sessions with a Starke instructor.

According to Bo Starke, the only “free time” cadets had to themselves was Sunday.

But the highest of academic expectations paid off in exceptional students. Bo Starke believes the education Starke students received was equivalent or superior to what many college students receive today.

It was unheard of for a Starke graduate to fail the more demanding college entrance exams of the day. In fact, Professor Starke loved for his students to take any competitive exam, as the results invariably showed how much more advanced Starke students were than peers attending traditional schools.

Many Starke students actually never graduated.

They didn’t need to. By the time they were 16 or so they had already qualified for college.

By 1937 – the school’s 50th Anniversary – 1,436 students had attended Starke.

The school continued to serve the city and state until approximately 1966.

Professor John Metcalf Starke DR. STARKE DIED MARCH 23RD, 1941.

Wrote John Ward in his tribute to Dr. Starke, presented in March of 1967 to “The Thirteen” group.

“Professor Starke and his school – as it was directed by him – are history now and soon will be legend, but I believe the stories, the character and the virtues of this man will be passed on from sire to son and that “he being dead yet speaketh,” and his influence will live on.”

Will Hill Tankersley echoed the same thoughts in a paper he also wrote about one of his greatest mentors.

“Fessor was what was called a ‘school man:’ absolutely dedicated to teaching boys and taking great pleasure in their achievements in later life. He never even approached being rich, but I believe he would not have traded his profession for any in the world.

“When I think about it, I realize Fessor’s influence on us and all of those he taught for over half a century has cascaded down to our children, grandchildren and beyond. How can anyone have more immortality on this earth?”

Joseph Lister Hil of Montgomery achieved the top rank among student cadets while at Starke.

In 1922 he became the youngest member of the U.S. Congress and was later elected to the U.S. Senate where he served with distinction for many years.

The day he was swarn in as a Congressman he wrote a 2-page letter to Proffessor Starke expressing his deep gratitude for giving him the skills to achieve his ambitions. The Starke family still has the letter.

BELOW: Father and son Bo and Trey Starke look through collection of Starke University School documents, directories, programs, papers and photos from School. Bolin Starke II said that having the “Starke name” certainly helped “get him in the door” in the insurance business. Bo Starke is the grandson of “Fesser” and Trey is the great grandson.Trey Starke succeed his father and grandfather as CEO of The Starke Agency, one of the state’s oldest insurance firms.

Photo by Bill Rice, Jr.

MonTGoMERy, ALABAMA - PoRTRAiT of A HisToRiC CiTy 6B

Editor/Writer: Bill Rice

August 1, 2015

Published by: The Alabama Gazette Publishing LLC

John Rogers evokes memories of our past with prose Note: John Rogers retired as a station manager of Montgomery’s ABC affiliate. He now works part-time at Frazer UMC TV. Recently he’s started writing poems about personal memories. He usually posts them on Facebook on “Saddy.” We thought our readers would enjoy a few samples.

THE DAys of LoCAL DAiRy DELiVERyMEn What a magical time in our lives!

A new home, a new neighborhood; a great time for husbands and wives.

You didn't dare sleep late...... on Tuesdays or Saturdays.

Those were Barber's Milk Delivery Days; and usually a day of surprises!!

Surprises, especially if you slept late, and forgot the day, or maybe the date: It was the day the Barber's Delivery Truck came by, and our Jane, 6, and Nancy, 3, were authorized to buy.

We'd wake up to popsicles, and "drumsticks" and products like cottage cheese.

Other items would appear, but who needed these?

Half gallons of milk in big glass containers; Other ice cream items that were "no-brainers"!

Wow, what a shopping experience that must have been.

Days like these come only once.

Don't look for them again!!

- By John Rogers

DRiVE-in THEATERs

If there’s a photograph that evokes the “Norman Rockwell” era of America, it might be this staple of earlier decades.

All photos on page: www.HistoryMontgomery.com * From John Englehardt Scott collection

Until the late ‘70’s, Drive-In Theaters were a part of our town.

They all provided nightly entertainment…. ’til daylight saving time came around.

Where the theaters could previously show two features at night, now one of the two had to be shown in half daylight.

Add a little of that with color T.V., and mix in well with central A. C., and the Drive-In theaters were just not the place to be!

No longer were carload nights a big feature; no longer could X-rated features upset the preacher; and no longer could the Drive-In be used as an excuse to the teacher!

Times do change, and they do it all the time.

If the Drive-In’s hadn’t closed, I couldn’t have written this little rhyme!!

- By John Rogers

Everyone of a certain age remembers the Montgomery County Book Mobile when books were brought straight to your neighborhood. So we can add books to the list of items that were delivered to your home. The list included laundry, dry cleaning, milk, morning and afternoon newspapers and, once upon a time, ice. But not - as far as we know - pizza!

OGI residents worry that nation’s moral character is declining Continued from Page 4B only two or three other female law students. “I was the only female to take the bar exam” in 1966-67, she said.

The invention that changed their lives the most?

Maybe, the microwave, one person volunteered. “My husband wanted one so he could melt his ice cream.”

Mr. Kershaw, probably serving as Chamber president, gives foreign officers at Maxwell AFB the “nickel tour” of Montgomery. In the background is Fairview Drive Inn.

Morality fading?

We talked about overall changes that having nothing to do with innovations or inventions.

“We all think things are going down hill,” they told me.

“Morals are gone.”

“It really breaks my heart.”

One respondent was a retired teacher.

“I would not teach now,” she said. “I think respect for authority figures is gone (among today’s younger generations.)”

“It all goes back to children’s parents. The parents don’t care (how their own kids act.)”

Which led to this conversation: “(Our parents and even us as parents) did not allow children to go to parties unless you knew the child’s parents.”

“Same thing with dates,” someone else piped in.

A change we all can endorse Not all developments have been bad, though. After gathering everyone together for our group photo, someone asked me if I wanted their ages. I wasn’t planning on asking, but I got them anyway. Here they are - 84, 82, 95, 82, 87, 94, 87.

Wow. The 95-year-old said she’d “never been been (seriously) sick in my life.”

Well, the theme of this issue is “change.” What’s changed and why? Are things, better, worse or both?

Well, 50 years ago I probably would not have been enjoying such a wonderful conversation with a group of six lively and engaging individuals who happened to have an average age of 88!

“Nope, you wouldn’t. We probably wouldn’t be around.”

So that’s some progress – change we can all vote for.

These days “Memory Lanes” extend a lot farthr than they used to.

MonTGoMERy, ALABAMA - PoRTRAiT of A HisToRiC CiTy Published by: The Alabama Gazette Publishing LLC

August 1, 2015

Editor/Writer: Bill Rice

7B

City’s oldest school

Montgomery Catholic founded in 1873 FOUNDED IN 1873 AT THE REQUEST OF BISHOP JOHN QUINLAN,

St. Mary of Lorretto Gerald Mansion. The school served only females until becoming co-ed in 1929.

the Sisters of Loretto arrived in Montgomery in the spring of 1873 and founded the St. Mary of Loretto School for Girls at the Gerald Mansion in downtown Montgomery. However, a yellow fever epidemic in the city pulled the sisters away from their academic mission to care for the sick, thus earning them the admiration and respect of local citizens.

Memories of a Governor with a warm heart According to former Montgomery resident, Debra Hudson, one of the most unforgettable “historic” events of her lifetime was “Lurleen B. Wallace’s funeral procession. How sad! Mom said she remembers Gov. George looking out the window of the family car and waving at bystanders with such a sad look.”

After tending to the sick, the sisters refocused and opened the school in October.

In 1929, at the request of St. Peter Parish, St. Mary of Loretto became a coeducational institution. In 1952, grades 9-12 moved into a new building behind St. Peter Parish. This building was funded by St. Peter, St. Andrew and St. Bede parishes and was renamed Catholic High School of Montgomery.

In 1952, grades 9-12 moved into a new building behind St. Peter Parish. This building was funded by St. Peter, St. Andrew and St. Bede parishes and was renamed Catholic High School of Montgomery.

The aptly-named “Baby Boom” years saw the new St. Bede Elementary open its doors in 1958 to expand the elementary program.

By 1962, Our Lady Queen of Mercy School also opened to accommodate the still-growing community, as the Gerald Mansion no longer suited the needs of the school.

Meanwhile, a committee began searching for a larger home for the high school.

During Thanksgiving of 1965, the remaining Sisters of Loretto once again rolled up their sleeves and led a move to the new Montgomery Catholic High School site on Vaughn Road, which was little more than a cow pasture beyond Montgomery’s eastern limits.

Over the next 35 years the school remained a strong foundation of Catholic education, and eventually the need for expanded facilities was realized. In 1999, a science/library building was built and dedicated to Sr. Martha Belke, the last of the 117 Loretto Sisters to have served here.

The millennium ushered in more growth with the addition of the new athletic complex in 2003 and the opening of the Middle School for grades 7-8, in the fall of 2004.

Final merger occurred in 2006 In 2006, Archbishop Oscar H. Lipscomb approved the final merger of St. Bede, Montgomery Catholic Middle School and Montgomery Catholic High School to form one school: Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School. In 2012, Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School in conjunction with Holy Spirit Catholic Church opened a second elementary campus to accommodate the increasing need for Catholic education in east Montgomery.

In 2014, the construction of a gym began at the Holy Spirit campus designed to enhance Montgomery Catholic athletic and community events, as well as serve the needs of Holy Spirit Parish.

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School has inherited a lasting legacy from the Sisters, one of hard work and commitment to Catholic education and the faith of our children.

May their faith continue to lead us.

- History provided by MCPS

Additional copies of this publication can be picked up at The Alabama Gazette, 12 E. Jefferson Street, Montgomery.

Call 334-356-6700

*** Per Ms. Hudson, the best feature of Montgomery’s history is … “The Archives and History Building….

I could spend all day in that place!”

Sisters of Loretto in undated photo

- Debra Hudson, now of Andalusia but lived in Montgomery from 1960-74 Photo: www.HistoryMontgomery.com

MonTGoMERy, ALABAMA - PoRTRAiT of A HisToRiC CiTy 8B

Editor/Writer: Bill Rice

August 1, 2015

Published by: The Alabama Gazette Publishing LLC

Lister Hill was ‘most prominent political figure in Montgomery history’ The following is excerpted from political columnist Steve Flower’s new book "Of Goats and Governors, Six Decades of Alabama Political Stories." (for more info visit: steveflowers.us

As a political historian any reflection on Montgomery political history would be remiss without an inclusion of U.S. Senator Lister Hill. Senator Hill is the most prominent political figure in Montgomery history. Many consider him Alabama's greatest U.S. Senator.

Senator Lister Hill looked like a U.S. Senator. His chiseled features depicted his strong character. Hill had been born to privilege into one of the most prominent families in Montgomery.

He was the son of one of the most distinguished surgeons, Dr. Luther Hill. Young Dr. Hill was the first American surgeon to successfully suture the human heart.

Hoping that their son would follow his father into medicine,the parents named him Joseph Lister after the famous English physician who was

By STEVE FLOWERS Special for Reflections the first person to advocate and practice widespread use of antiseptics.

After graduating from Starke University School, young Hill entered the University of Alabama at age 16 and became the student government president.

He received his law degree from Alabama and came home to Montgomery to practice law in 1916 at age 22 and was elected to the U.S. Congress at the ripe old age of 28. He served in the U.S. House for 16 years (1923038) and rose to chair the House Military Affairs Committee.

HE BECAME A STALWART SUPPORTER OF PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT'S NEW DEAL. When the president nominated Alabama's Senator Hugo Black to the U.S. Supreme Court, Hill left his House seat and ran for the Senate.

He won that 1938 race decisively and began his 30-year tenure in the Senate. When he retired in 1968, he had served 46 years in the House and Senate, the longest tenure of any Alabamian.

His accomplishments were memorable. Senator Hill had his prints on most major legislation throughout his 30 years. He was instrumental in establishing the TVA, the Rural Telephone Act, the Vocational Education Act, the GI Bill, and the National Defense Act. As chairman of the Labor and Public Welfare Committee, he headed and passed legislation on veterans' education and labor relations and was an impassioned advocate for libraries.

He was a larger-than-life figure in Washington, but Senator Hill's greatest legacy was his landmark legislation in the field of public health.

He was a larger-than-life figure in Washington, but Senator Hill's greatest legacy was his landmark legislation in the field of public health.

Senator Hill is recognized as the most instrumental man inCongress in gaining increased support for medical research at the nation's medical schools.

The great medical center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham exists because of Lister Hill.

Probably the best known legislation which bears his name is the Hospital and Health Care Construction Act of 1946, better known as the HillBurton Act. Through this legislation, most of the rural hospitals in America and Alabama were built.

Reflections memories ...

Best BBQ in town was at Sullies

Coldest Water Around!

Harragate Springs was located on the way to Wetumpka. As this John Scott photo from 1953 reveals, it rarely lacked for customers. The water was fed by a creek (see pipe) and lights stretched over the springs lit it up at night. It was a private operation so there was a small charge. www.HistoryMontgomery.com The best business advice I’ve ever received … “Everyone is looking for a silver bullet - there are no silver bullets.”

– Mark Shaw, Allstate Insurance Agency Owner. Has lived in Montgomery/River Region for 51 years.

(Milk in bottles- the best - milk today doesn't even taste the same since it is now in plastic jugs.)

The best concert I ever attended in Montgomery was …

All of the WBAM shows at the coliseum. I remember going out there as the coliseum was going up and seeing it become a reality.

See, I'm really ancient!

I really miss this business …

Sullies BBQ -The old place on Decatur. We’d park under the trees and get curb service. They had the best soft serve ice cream I ever tasted. Came in a coneshaped paper cup in an aluminum holder with a wooden spoon. They had the best BBQ in Montgomery.

The prettiest or most scenic place/location in Montgomery or central Alabama is …

Jasmine Hill Gardens near Wetumpka with its impressive replicas the Greek temple and statuary. The Willow and Harrigate Springs swimming areas. Looking down at the Alabama River from above.

-George H (former resident born at Maxwell AFB in WWII. Lived in Montgomery until going off to college in 1962.)

One (or more) of my favorite “hangouts” from yesteryear that I miss ….

Oak Park before it closed. I remember having watermelon suppers there after church in the summer. The watermelons had been iced down with crushed ice and rock salt. They were so cold and so good.

After Oak Park closed, some of the rides moved out on Fairview next to the Barber's milk plant. Had miniature golf and rides.

My favorite Montgomery “landmark” business is … Chris' Hot Dogs.

The best hot dogs in the world. I used to eat eight and drink two pints of chocolate milk in bottles (when I was in high school). Probably my best food memory of growing up. . . I was in the Lanier band with (its owner) Theo.

Someone in our community who probably doesn’t get enough credit for his or her contributions to our city …

All the junior high and senior high band directors. They never receive any thanks but they teach kids discipline and hard work in addition to teaching them to play an instrument (and hopefully some appreciation of music other than popular music.)

Something that has happened in our community (positive or negative) that you never thought you would live to see …

All the turmoil over the situation with the buses, trouble at the Greyhound terminal, the Selma to Montgomery Civil Rights March … Just never imagined it would happen in sleepy Montgomery.

My parents’ car was stolen the night after the Selma to Montgomery March ended.

A black man that worked with Daddy told him "some tired feet got your car."

The development(s) that probably changed my life more than any other is … Going to Lanier in the College Prep program. My ninth grade algebra teacher and advanced math teacher, Ms. Gore …

My time at college was much easier than some of my contemporaries since I had such a great foundation.

Children today probably have e no conception of this aspect of my own childhood …We played outside without fear of being kidnapped-even after dark.

No air conditioning until about 1955. No TV until 1955 or ‘56 and then only one station WCOV Channel 20. I rode my bicycle to school until the 9th gradenever had to lock it.… Riding the city bus to town to go to the movies. Eating Krystal hamburgers after the movie or sometimes before. …. Parties with no drugs and no alcohol.

Drugs were around but "good" kids had nothing to do with them.

Hall Brother's milkman with a key to the house. He came in and put milk in the refrigerator when we were not home.

Continued at left

MonTGoMERy, ALABAMA - PoRTRAiT of A HisToRiC CiTy Published by: The Alabama Gazette Publishing LLC

August 1, 2015

Editor/Writer: Bill Rice

9B

Court Square, the heart of downtown Montgomery1953 www.HistoryMontgomery.com

The best business advice I ever received was ... “ “Never stomp on enthusiasm’ from Gen. Colin Powell’s memoir.

My little brother also gave me one that has always stayed with me - “Happiness is a decision.”

- Bill Rice, Jr., Reflections editor.

MonTGoMERy, ALABAMA - PoRTRAiT of A HisToRiC CiTy 10B

Editor/Writer: Bill Rice

August 1, 2015

Published by: The Alabama Gazette Publishing LLC

Should be ‘definitive’ account of years 1955-65

New history book chronicles ‘Golden Decade’ of Robert E. Lee High School

By BILL RICE, JR. AS COINCIDENCE WOULD HAVE IT, the publication of the first “Reflections” history newspaper is occurring at the same time as a far more ambitious history project – the publication of the “definitive” history of the first 10 years of Robert E. Lee High School.

Montgomery’s New South Books is publishing Echoes of Robert E. Lee High School – The First Decade, 1955-1965.

The 200-page book, featuring scores of vintage photos, is scheduled to be released this week and should be available at numerous locations throughout the city as well as through New South Books.

The years 1955-1965 have been dubbed the “Golden Decade,” at Lee High School, according to Kerry Palmer, one of four members of the “editorial committee” that helped write different chapters.

Others also helped, including The Alabama Gazette’s Ed Jones, who helped compile and write the chapter on Lee’s sports history.

Other editors/writers were Clinton Carter (who served as assistant principal and then principal at Lee from 1962 – 1980 and later became superintendent of Montgomery Public Schools), Roger Stifflemire, a 1960 Lee graduate who later served as principal at Prattville High School), Jim Vickrey (a 1960 grad) and Palmer (a 1990 graduate who now serves as head of school at Trinity Presbyterian School).

The book’s foreword was written by Lee grad Rheta Grimsley Johnson, an author of numerous books and a popular syndicated columnist.

Palmer, the youngest of the contributors, says he was probably asked to contribute do to his close relationship with Dr. Johnny Long, the first director of the school’s acclaimed band. Dr. Long was later hired by Dr. Ralph Adams at Troy University to head its “Sound of the South” marching band.

Palmer was a drum major for one of those Troy bands.

Giant splash from ‘day one’ According to Palmer, the creation of Lee High School was probably long overdue.

For much of the 20th century, the city’s only public high school (for white residents) was Sidney Lanier High School, one of the most highly regarded schools in the country.

But by 1954, Lanier was “busting out of its seams,” said Palmer. So too was one of its feeder junior high schools, Capitol Heights.

Plus, the population of the city was moving east.

New neighborhoods such as Forrest Hills, Dalraida and Morning View were growing rapidly. Lanier was a good distance from such neighborhoods.

Also, noted Palmer, Gunter Air Force Base was growing and children of these Air Force families were also located far from Lanier.

The obvious solution was to build a new high school (Goodwyn Junior High was also built at roughly the same time).

The school board purchased a parcel of land off Ann Street near the Atlanta Highway and built a state-of-the-art campus.

T.C. Carlton, previously the principal at Capitol Heights, was hired as the first principal.

Carlton – a member of First Baptist Church and former Lions Club president - was “well known and respected” in the community, said Palmer.

The board and Carlton “hired a stellar faculty and staff,” several key members coming from Lanier.

Long, who had led outstanding bands at Ft. Payne High School, was among this group. So too was

The 1958 “Pride of Dixie” Lee band under direction of Johnny Long was one of the premier marching bands in the nation.

Ellen Dudley, who would go on to mentor as many as 250 students in the choral music program.

Tom Jones was the first football coach and Jim Chaffin the first athletic director.

The school opened its doors in September of 1955 with 800 students in grades 10-12 (ninth grade wasn’t added until many years later).

SENIORS HAD THE OPTION to transfer or stay at Lee. Leaving a high school (and many of your friends) prior to your final year(s) was quite a big decision, Palmer points out.

Palmer spent two years working on the book project. He poured over old newspaper stories, old yearbooks, student newspapers, and performed his own interviews.

“One thing that stood out to me was the enthusiasm of those students,” he said. It was their positive attitude and excitement that no doubt “propelled” the school and its student body to greater heights.

Lee High made its mark almost immediately.

In one decade it produced 11 to 13 National Merit Scholars. Its band program – in numerous national competitions – proved it was one of the finest in the nation. Its sports teams were soon competing for and winning state championships.

In its first year, the school’s yearbook (“The Scabbard”) was named the best in the state by judges at the University of Alabama.

Graduates, many of whom were the first in their families to attend college, went on to excel in “every field imaginable,” says Palmer.

A rivalry is born

Today, many Montgomerians of a certain age remember how “huge” the rivalry was between Lanier and Lee. The two schools actually did not play each other in football the first few years of Lee’s existence.

Apparently the thought was that it would be better to let all Lee students who had transferred from Lanier to graduate before playing the big game.

But, boy, when they did play for the first time (on Nov. 13, 1959) it was the community event of the year.

The games were played in Cramton Bowl, which had a seating capacity of approximately 25,000.

“Tickets went on sale in August and immediately sold out,” said Perry.

The rivalry, probably as big as any high school rivalry in the nation, remained huge into the early ‘70s.

But things change.

By THE TIME PERRy ATTENDED LEE IN THE LATE ‘80S, Lee’s mega rivalry was with Jeff Davis High School, which opened in 1968.

When it opened, Lee had just 800 students in three grades. At its peak it would grow to 2,600 students.

At one time, Lee was the largest three-grade high school in the state.

Perry graduated in 1990 with 663 students in his class. “But in the ‘70s, Lee had even bigger graduating classes than this,” he said.

The full story of the high school is told in Echoes.

It’s hard to imagine a more “definitive” history of one decade of a high school’s history.

The project took years to complete. One of its main authors (Mr. Carter) happened to be its former principal, assistant principal and later served as MPS superintendent. Because of this he had access to old files, board minutes, etc.

The history of the school’s first decade even reaches into the first years of integration.

According to Palmer, three African-American students enrolled at Lee in the 1964-65-school term.

“We were able to track down all three of these students and tell their stories,” said Palmer.

The photos alone might be worth the cost of the book.

Many of the yearbook photos were taken by Paul Robertson, Sr. (the unofficial “city photographer” for many years).

“The photos are great. The composition, the lighting and the clarity are outstanding,” said Palmer.

Since it opened in 1955, approximately 25,000 local students have graduated from Robert E. Lee High School.

The impact the faculty, administrators and coaches the school had on these individuals - and that many of these graduates have had on our community - is almost impossible to calculate.

That a “definitive” history has now been written about the school’s crucial first decade is an event to be celebrated!

For much of the 20th century, the city’s only public high school (for white residents) was Sidney Lanier High School, one of the most highly regarded schools in the country. But by 1954, Lanier was “busting out of its seams.”

Plus, the population of the city was moving east. New neighborhoods such as Forrest Hills, Dalraida and Morning View were growing rapidly.

Lee did not play Lanier in its first few years.

When the two schools did finally play, no game (except Bama-Auburn) was bigger in the state.

Tickets went on sale in August and quickly sold out 25,000-seat Cramton Bowl.

MonTGoMERy, ALABAMA - PoRTRAiT of A HisToRiC CiTy Published by: The Alabama Gazette Publishing LLC

August 1, 2015

Editor/Writer: Bill Rice

11B

Thank you for supporting our advertisers!

Early location of The Standard Club

37 years in practice!

What do you think you would be doing if you were not a veterinarian?

Garrett Coliseum - Architectural Marvel of its day!

"It is my dream job to be a veterinarian. There's nothing more in this world that I could imagine myself doing."

What are some of the biggest changes in your field?

Technology is the biggest change in my field.

From the time I graduated veterinary school until now seems like a completely different world with the wonderfully advanced ways technology can help my patients."

What is a a brief history of your veterinary hospital?

"My wife and I started Goodwin Animal Hospital in November of 1978 with only a dream of having a practice that excelled in the highest level of veterinary care, compassion and professionalism.

After that my mother was my only employee for a year and a half. We have since grown into 2 locations with 5 doctors and 25 employees.

We have been blessed to meet so many wonderful people along the way. I'm a lucky man to be able to practice such a rewarding profession!"

Garrett Coliseum’s unique architectural design is one of many features that make the structure a local landmark. Note the openings to allow air to flow in days before air conditioning. The Cattlemen’s Rodeo is one of the facility’s many events. www.HistoryMontgomery.com

- Dr. Donny Goodwin, pictured with wife Lil.

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MonTGoMERy, ALABAMA - PoRTRAiT of A HisToRiC CiTy 12B

Editor/Writer: Bill Rice

August 1, 2015

Published by: The Alabama Gazette Publishing LLC

Reflection Q&A ...

Make your profession a ‘ministry’ A significant court case our firm was involved in was …

The Johnny Reynolds race discrimination class action suit filed in 1985, and still ongoing, opened up the Highway Department (now the Transportation Department) and spilled over to other state agencies and departments opening up more jobs for African- Americans.

One change in my profession (law)?

We’ve gone from trying more cases to mediating more cases. Also coerced arbitration has greatly frustrated consumer and employment rights The best advice I ever received about practicing law: Make it a ministry, with your client’s interest first, and the business end will take care of itself.

Some of the most significant changes in our community in my lifetime: The growth of (a) downtown, (b) the tourism industry, including the Fitzgerald Museum, and (c) the growth of private education.

- Julian McPhillips, local attorney

“The Flood of 1929”

Helen Keller visited Montgomery often Helen Keller visited her sister Mildred Keller Tyson, her only fullblooded sibling, at the current home of Mr. and Mrs. Julian McPhillips from 1923-1960, when her sister owned and was living at the same 831 Felder Avenue home. She visited multiple times a year, according to great nephews. Mildred Tyson was her closest kin.

Photo contributed by Julian McPhillips

“The Flood of 1886”

Note the electric street car on Lower Commerce at the edge of the water.

Photos: www.HistoryMontgomery.com

Hope you are enjoying reading Reflections!

Please feel free to call us for story suggestions for next year’s publication. if your business would like to participate in the next issue, please call us at 334-356-6700.

Pan-AM Service station downtown. The building was recently razed.

The Fitzgerald Museum 919 Felder Avenue Montgomery, AL 36106 Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Sunday 12 p.m. until 5 p.m. • Monday Closed

Ranked #6 on Trip Advisor!

Ever wonder how Sinclair’s Restaurant got its name?

Now you know!

MonTGoMERy, ALABAMA - PoRTRAiT of A HisToRiC CiTy Published by: The Alabama Gazette Publishing LLC

August 1, 2015

Editor/Writer: Bill Rice

13B

The famous monkeys at Oak Park ... which was a beloved gathering spot for many years.

The Park was the closest thing the city had to a zoo.

www.HistoryMontgomery.com

Shaun Dion Hamilton was a standout at Carver and could start at Alabama this year.

MA grad Anthony McCall went on to a fine career as a wide receiver at Sunbelt School Louisiana - Monroe.

More Montgomery Football Greats ...

Continued from Page 1B Kenny Craik (Lanier, Troy), Cliff Russell (UA/Troy), Fred Weary (Troy), Anthony Lewis (Troy).

Linebackers – Clarence Sanders (Carver, Cincinnati, NFL), Shaun Dion Hamilton (Carver, UA), Trevis Smith (Lee, UA, CFL), Marvin Humphries (Jeff Davis, UA), Frank Hayes (Lanier, AU), Hoke Sullivan (Catholic, UA), Carl Tatum (Catholic, Tulane), Jimmy Speigner (Lanier, AU), Ken Wood (Lee, Kentucky), Billy Pappanastos (Lanier, AU), John Humphries (St. Jude, UAB), Tommy Hicks (Jeff Davis, AU), Gabriel Thomas (Troy), Cory Sears (Troy), David Brewer (Lee, Troy),

Linebackers – Clarence Sanders (Carver, Cincinnati, NFL), Shaun Dion Hamilton (Carver, UA), Trevis Smith (Lee, UA, CFL), Marvin Humphries (Jeff Davis, UA), Frank Hayes (Lanier, AU), Hoke Sullivan (Catholic, UA), Carl Tatum (Catholic, Tulane), Jimmy Speigner (Lanier, AU), Ken Wood (Lee, Kentucky), Billy Pappanastos (Lanier, AU), John Humphries (St. Jude, UAB), Tommy Hicks (Jeff Davis, AU), Gabriel Thomas (Troy), Cory Sears (Troy), David Brewer (Lee, Troy), Karl Armstrong (Lee, Troy), Ken Faircloth (SMCA, Troy), Jerry Leachman (Lanier, UA).

Defensive backs – Walker Van Hooser (Trinity, Tulane), Ferandus Vinson (Carver, NC State, NFL), Willie Alexander (Carver, Alcorn State, NFL), Steve Phelan (Trinity, Va.), Ceasar Belser (Carver, Arkansas Pine Bluff, NFL), Frank Oliver (St. Jude, Ky. State, NFL), Carlos Hendricks (Lanier, UAB, NFL), Jeff Blitz (Lanier, UA), Ware Tatum (Lee, Missouri), Jerry Beasley (Hooper, AU), Dean Peavey (Arkansas), Jason Bruce (St. Jude, ASU), Javar Bruce (St. Jude, ASU), Alex Perseval (St. Jude, Moorehouse, NFL), Scott Gholston (Troy), Tyrone Ferguson (Lee, Troy).

Kickers – Andy Pappanastos (Trinity, Ole Miss), Thomas Hoooper (Trinity, S. Carolina), James Sherman (Catholic, Texas State), Ray Vollenwider (Catholic, Jax State), John Caine (Lanier, UA), Bill Freeman (Jeff Davis, Furman), Connie Frederick (Lee, AU).

Going to a picture show at The Paramount.

List of greats focuses on players who also played at college (and pro) levels Continued from Page 1B deserves to stand-alone here!

We also think our town’s all-time team (with each athlete playing in his prime) could take on just about any similar-sized city in the nation and come out on top. Certainly we would make a four-team playoff!

Our team features one NFL Hall of Famer (Starr) and one college football Hall of Famer (Terry Beasley). Plus, numerous All-Americans, All SEC players, one past No. 1 selection in the NFL draft (Aundray Bruce), as well as many players who enjoyed long and distinguished NFL careers.

Finally, the position where each player is listed is not necessarily definitive. Many of these athletes played in the days of two-platoon football. That is, players we placed on the offensive line could have been on the defensive line, or vice versa. Similarly, running backs typically also played defensive back. Some players also made their mark in high school at one position only to play another position in college or the pros We believe we are correct in stating that no other city in Alabama has produced as many state championship football teams as Montgomery. Counting “official” AHSAA playoff titles (1966 and after) and “mythical titles” named by sports writer polls, Montgomery can claim at least 21 state championships (Lanier 9, Lee 8, Jeff Davis 2, MA 1, Trinity 1).

That is, there’s been some mighty fine football played in Montgomery through the years.

Our hope is that this list - although far from comprehensive – reinforces this point.

Note: Readers can email omitted names (meeting above criteria), or corrections of errors, to Bill Rice, Jr. at: bricealgazette@gmail.com

Since 1970

MonTGoMERy, ALABAMA - PoRTRAiT of A HisToRiC CiTy 14B

Editor/Writer: Bill Rice

August 1, 2015

Published by: The Alabama Gazette Publishing LLC

Troy University projects have changed the face of downtown Editor’s note: When considering the evolution of the historic downtown business district in Montgomery, it’s easy to identify the prime “players” in the transformation of the area’s “cityscape.” Several owners of CPA, insurance and legal practices purchased and beautifully-restored historic buildings on Lower Commerce Street (see Mary Ann Neeley’s story on Jackson Thornton renovation).

These efforts no doubt “saved” these architectural gems.

All of the impressive projects that have occurred in the last 15 years - including the Alley Way development and the arrival of The Montgomery Biscuits very well may not have occured if this stretch of buildings had become unoccupied “eye sores” instead of the stately landmarks they remain.

In recent decades, The RSA, under the direction of Dr. David Bronner, has built many distinctive buildings in downtown.

These properties are leased by a variety of government agencies and private businesses.

One property owner that might get overlooked in any discussion of “downtown revitalization” is Troy University.

The following articled, written by Troy University Vice Chancellor Ray White (a long-time leader of the school’s Troy campus) chronicles just how significant the University’s involvement has been in preserving and beautifying a major corridor of downtown.

In pursuing its “long-term vision” to improve its downtown “footprint,” Troy University leaders might have generated some cdegree of ontroversy with decisions to raze many older and dilapidated building (some of historical significance).

However, we believe the transformation that emerged has clearly enhanced the aesthetics of downtown.

Troy University’s Montgomery campus also has served thousands of “adult learners” as well as traditional college students while at the same time providing hundreds of quality jobs for faculty members and staffers. Mr. White’s history (excerpted below) focusses on the key acquisitions and renovations that have allowed Montgomery’s “downtown college” to prosper, while also adding much to the city’s cultural and social mileu.

– Bill Rice, Jr.

The Davis Theatre - Then

Whitley Hall - Then

Empire Theatre - Then

The Davis Theatre - Now

Whitley Hall - Now

Rosa Parks Museum Children’s Wing - Now

By RAy WHITE TROy UNIVERSITy (TROy) FIRST OFFERED CLASSES IN MONTGOMERy IN 1957 at the old St. Margaret’s Hospital. This initiative developed over the years into what is now known as the Troy University School of Nursing Program, now located in the old Social Security Building on the Montgomery Campus.

Upon request from the United States Air Force, Troy State College (now Troy University) first began offering classes on Maxwell Air Force Base in 1965 and at Gunter Air Force Base in 1966 (Editor’s note: This initiative, which ultimately provided immense benefit to the city of Montgomery, was pursued by longtime Troy Chancellor Dr. Ralph Adams, the father of Sam Adams, coowner of The Alabama Gazette).

This was a time when there was still low acceptance of integrated classrooms at universities in Alabama.

The Air Force wanted diversity in educational opportunities for their airmen. Troy University was more than willing to offer fully integrated opportunities for the military, as it had done for a while. Therefore, Troy began its

“Some of these famous guests of the Whitley Hotel included: Eleanor Roosevelt, Kathryn Hepburn, Andy Devine, Duke Ellington, Gene Autry, Lauren Bacall, Tina Turner, Hank Williams, Billy Graham, Spiro Agnew and Clark Gable. Hank Williams used to sell newspapers in front of the building.” journey as a “military friendly” university.

The tuition at that time was $10 per quarter hour … Today, Troy no longer offers classes on Maxwell and Gunter due to the fact that most military men and women are now taking their courses from Troy University online. Troy moved off of Gunter in 2012 and Maxwell in 2013.

Whitley Hotel – Hotel to the stars!

In 1972, Troy purchased Whitley Hotel for $400,000. The Whitley Hotel was constructed from 1923 to 1925 by Mr. N.J. Bell, Jr. of the Bell Building family … The original hotel had 130 rooms, but was later expanded to 256 rooms and another extension to the building was added.

There were five elevator operators when the Whitley was in its prime years.

Many famous people stayed in the Whitley when they were in Montgomery. Some of these famous hotel guests included: Eleanor Roosevelt, Kathryn Hepburn, Andy Devine, Duke Ellington, Gene Autry, Lauren Bacall, Tina Turner, Hank Williams, Billy Graham and Spiro Agnew. Clark Gable was a leading Hollywood actor. In late 1939, Gable starred as Rhett Butler in the major Hollywood movie, Gone With the Wind, and he and his third wife, Carole Lombard, stayed overnight at the Whitley Hotel.

When word of his arrival reached the newspapers, reporters converged on the hotel. They were not successful in getting the desk clerk to tell them what room he was in at the hotel. The couple quietly slipped away the next morning. A few weeks later, in January 1940, Gone with the Wind had its Alabama premier next door in the Paramount Theatre, now the Davis Theatre for the Performing Arts.

Another celebrity at the Whitley was Hank Williams who used to sell See TROy, Page 16B

MonTGoMERy, ALABAMA - PoRTRAiT of A HisToRiC CiTy Published by: The Alabama Gazette Publishing LLC

August 1, 2015

When stars Came to Town!

Editor/Writer: Bill Rice

15B

Q&A: Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald Replies by Willie Thompson Fitzgerald Museum Director

LIBERACE IS IN THE HOUSE! Believe it or not, for a while few performers were as in demand as Liberace, who attracted lines of autograph seekers with this visit to Montgomery.

www.HistoryMontgomer.com

Something that many people might not know about Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald?

Zelda was the daughter of Alabama Supreme Court Justice, Anthony Dickinson Sayre. During his time on the bench, he was considered one of the most powerful and respected men in Alabama.

My favorite Zelda tale: Zelda once returned home at a very late hour, accompanied by a young officer from Camp Sheridan. Her father, Judge Sayre, was waiting on the porch. As the giggling couple approached the front steps, her father scowled down and said, "Only hussies come home at this hour."

Zelda replied, frankly, "Well, then I guess I'm right on time."

Of course, many stories of Zelda are legendary, and the details are often exaggerated. But she was known as being one of the most free-spirited young women of her time.

Why, in your opinion, are so many people still so interested in lives of Zelda and her husband?

Interest in Scott and Zelda is buoyed, largely, because people know that Daisy Buchanan and Jay Gatsby are caricatures of the famous couple. Recent interest in Zelda, however, has been buoyed by a century long struggle for equality for women in all aspects of our society.

Where would you rank Zelda in a list of "most famous or wellknown" people to come from Montgomery? Zelda is certainly at the top of the list. I'd put her just behind Rosa Parks.

Anything else our readers might be interested in learning? The Fitzgerald Museum operates out of one of only four surviving homes that Scott and Zelda inhabited. They were perpetual renters, incapable of "settling down," and thus the very existence of the Museum today is nothing short of a miracle.

But what's most striking to me is that these two married in 1920 when Zelda was 19 and Scott was 23, and that very year they became one of the most famous couples in America. We still have that sort of "young celebrity couple" obsession today.

An unforgettable Montgomery character I was fortunate to know ... “ I’ll never forget “Cap’n Pat” at Montgomery Marina. I enjoyed

his social commentary, which went well with his cold beer.

Fixed in my memory is a “poetry” reading he delivered one evening to a handful of us on that (original) deck. I can still see him reciting from behind a makeshift podium, made of an upside-down plastic trash container situated on top of a (soon-to-be-empty) Igloo cooler.”

“Good day.”

Paul Harvey also visited Montgomery and, we believe, did his popular radio show from one of our local stations.

- “Slats” Slaton, former Montgomery resident and Montgomery native in the advertising business.

STJ’s Brewer taught advance math and science classes for 19 years Continued from Page 2B When asked to give us the name of a faculty member who influenced countless students and left a life-long impression on his former students, current Head of School Dr. Larry McLemore immediately mentioned Donald Brewer, Jr., a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel.

Col. Brewer, now retired, was generous enough to reply to several questions we submitted by e-mail.

Excerpts: “I retired from USAF on 1 Aug 73.

I was hired to teach at Saint James School in August 1974 by Mary Gilbert, the principal. This was the same year Saint James School graduated its first senior class. I taught in a classroom over the lobby in the gym building, I taught through the ‘92-‘93

year. The first two years was math only. Then, 11 years as Science Dept Chairman, teaching math courses Algebra I through Calculus, and Physical Science, Physics and Chemistry, at various times. One year I agreed to teach five different courses, but would not agree to that again. After all, I was ‘retired.’

“I developed and taught the first Algebra I course in the city to selected eight graders; and, the next year taught the 17 survivors Algebra II with Trigonometry in Grade 9. Sixteen of the 17 scored off the chart in mid-year, on the California Achievement Test – equivalent to sophomore college math proficiency level. The following year I taught them plane and solid geometry without having them memorize one single theorem,

postulate or corollary. In Grade 11 I taught them Analytic Geometry out of my old USNA text, and their senior year they had Calculus, again from my old USNA text.

“I had to retire from St. James after the 1994-95 school year for physical reasons. My son taught and coached baseball for a few years. My daughter began teaching “During most of my tenure as a about nine years ago, and is still factulty member the school was lo- there. So there has been a Brewer cated on North Country Club on the Saint James faculty almost Drive. I also taught a few years at constantly for about 40 years. the new location on Vaughn Road.

“Many courses have been taught One of my favorites was Cliff at St. James for the first time in Trexler who served as the principal high school, in Montgomery. From for several years. We both had my knowledge, the school has probeen faculty members at Maxwell gressed constantly over the years AFB, Air University. Roger to become the best school in MontKilton and I also worked well to- gomery, by many criteria. I was gether. Roger had taught at the US blessed to have the opportunity to Air Force Academy, as well as work at Saint James.”

Maxwell. He was a Life Science expert.

Daughter’s life was changed forever by events of February 7, 1967 Continued from Page 3A

Her father, she believes, was at a loss on how to care for a daughter without his wife, who was 49 when she died.

“I remember I wanted my sister to go to college in Montgomery so I wouldn’t be alone with my father,” she said.

HER FATHER REMARRIED NOT LONG AFTER, a development Carol welcomed as she simply wanted her father to be happy.

As she saw it, her father’s new wife “could become the center of his life.”

Her sister could commit herself to her dance career.

Later in life, Carol finally began to work through her feelings and shock in therapy.

“My whole sense of normalcy ended that night,” she says today.

“There’s a hole there. I don’t dwell on it all the time, but it’s always there.”

“Nothing in my life was ever the same.

A mother of three children and a special education teacher, she can’t help but wonder what her mother would have thought about her own life decisions.

Because of the words she did not express to her mother that evening, every single time she talks to one of her three children the last words she utters are “I love you.”

Despite having three loving children, on Mother’s Days she always experiences feelings of profound sadness, she said. February 7th is always “the hardest day of the year.”

“There’s a hole there. I don’t dwell on it all the time, but it’s always there,” she said.

Her older sister has dealt with similar emotions.

“My sister and my lives were changed forever and certainly not all for the good,” Katharine Hurd wrote in an email. “One wonders how our lives might have been different if we had had our mother for many more years.”

Katharine also admits that she’s never come to grips with “how (her father) did get out and she didn’t.”

THEIR MOTHER WAS A LOVING WOMAN who might not have not have been prominent in local society or had the most-outgoing of personalities. She loved art and painting, but most of all she loved and supported her two girls.

It was not long before their father passed away when he was living in an assisted living facility that Carol finally asked her father about that

night. Katharine never did.

Just a couple of years before her father passed away, he gave his youngest daughter Carol his wife’s wedding ring. The ring she was wearing that night and that at some point he had retrieved.

Sadly, Carol doesn’t even have many photos of her mother as most were removed from display when her father remarried.

Carol said she bears a notable resemblance to her mother – something that actually troubled her growing up as she once thought the simple act of her father looking at her would make him remember his wife and cause him great sadness.

What she does possess of her mother are 12-plus years of happy and safe memories, memories of a time before her world turned upside down. And she has the ring. And wears it to this day.

MonTGoMERy, ALABAMA - PoRTRAiT of A HisToRiC CiTy 16B

Editor/Writer: Bill Rice

Continued from Page 13B

Troy University has been major player in revitalization of downtown newspapers in front of the hotel and would come into the coffee shop for hours at a time.

Troy renovated the old hotel from 1989-2000 into what is now the University’s main building on the Montgomery campus. Troy began referring to the hotel as Whitley Hall after the University moved into the building in 1972. Former Governor George Wallace had his final office in the Whitley prior to moving home just before his death. John Kennedy, Jr. flew to Montgomery and interviewed Governor Wallace (at his modest home in the Hillwood neighborhood) for Kennedy’s first edition of George magazine.

On January 22, 1976, The Paramount Theatre (now Troy University’s Davis Theatre for the Performing Arts) was purchased by Troy University Foundation from Birmont (Birmingham/Montgomery) Theatres, Inc. After the renovations were completed on the theatre, it was reopened by Troy on May 21, 1983 with James Whitmore starring in the Broadway production, “Will Rogers, USA.” The Paramount Theatre was constructed in 1929 and opened on January 25, 1930.

It was originally designed for the “talkies” and Vaudeville productions.

There have been several stages of renovations to restore the theatre and to replicate its historical look of the 1930s. The major renovations were done in 198283, 1989, 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2005.

The Paramount Theatre was renamed the Davis Theatre for the Performing Arts in 1983 after Mr. Tine Davis made a gift to the Troy Foundation to help complete an interior renovation of the theatre.

For many years, Troy University’s Davis Theatre for the Performing Arts was the home for theatre for The Ala-

August 1, 2015

“The Commons area is the central focal point of the Montgomery campus with a clock tower anchoring the center of the plaza.

Curry Commons was dedicated and named for Dr. Glenda Curry, former President of the Troy University, Montgomery Campus.

The Montgomery campus design and development was accomplished primarily under Dr. Curry’s leadership.” bama Dance Theatre, the Montgomery Ballet and the Montgomery Symphony. It is also used by Troy for commencements and other special events.

On November 28, 1983, Mrs. Elmore B. Bartlett (widow of the late Dr. Haywood S. Bartlett) and her family gifted the Bartlett Building on Church Street to Troy University for an educational building. …The Bartlett was demolished by GSA to construct the new federal courthouse. With the proceeds from the sale of the Bartlett, Troy University purchased a number of other properties which would eventually become the Troy University’s Montgomery Campus.

In April 1994, Troy University purchased the old South Central Bell Building on Church Street, directly in front of the old federal court house.

Renovations were accomplished on all three floors of the building and in fall semester 1995, Troy University relocated its campus library and classrooms into this building..

The Capilouto-Berns Building was purchased in 1995 from Catoma Street Partners. It is a 3-story office building and is one of the main Troy University campus buildings in Montgomery.

On September 18, 1999, Troy University had a dedication ceremony for the Curry Commons. The Commons area is the central focal point of the Montgomery campus with a clock tower anchoring the center of the plaza. Curry Commons was dedicated and named for Dr. Glenda Curry, former President of the Troy University, Montgomery Cam-

Published by: The Alabama Gazette Publishing LLC

pus. The Montgomery campus design and development was accomplished primarily under Dr. Curry’s leadership.

Empire Theatre property becomes Parks Museum From 1995 to 1998, Troy University demolished over a dozen old buildings to prepare for the development of a more defined campus in Montgomery. In 1997, the Empire Theatre was demolished to clear a site for the Rosa Parks Library and Museum. In 1998, a groundbreaking ceremony was held on the site for construction of the library and museum. Mrs. Rosa Parks dug the first shovel of dirt at this ceremony.

On December 1, 2000, Troy University held a grand opening of the Rosa Parks Library and Museum (the first new building constructed on the Montgomery campus). Rosa Parks and her family were present for the grand opening, as was Mrs. Martin Luther King, Jr. and her family, Mrs. Ralph Abernathy and her family, Mrs. Medgar Evers, Ms. Cicely Tyson, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, the Governor of Alabama, and the Mayor of Montgomery.

The dedication ceremony received national and international coverage and was in over 400 magazines, newspapers, TV and radio shows, and Internet outlets.

In early 2000, Troy acquired the old Social Security Building on Montgomery Street and renovated this 2-story structure into classrooms, labs and offices.

In 2001, Troy was gifted several old buildings on Lee Street (Arts Music Shop, Price Drug Store and another old structure). These vacant buildings were demolished and a new 2-level parking deck was constructed to help alleviate some of the parking shortages on the Montgomery campus. There are approximately 100 parking spaces in and on this parking structure.

In December 2002, the 8-story Executive Building on the corner of Molton and Montgomery Streets was

gifted to Troy University by Kyser Builders, Inc.. In 1922 and 1923, this building was designed by the prominent designer, Frederick Ausfield. In 2011, the Executive Building was demolished because it was not cost effective to renovate the building to suit the educational needs of Troy University. The site is now used for parking and “green” space.

In December 2002, an old 2-story building was partially purchased by Troy University and the City of Montgomery, and partially gifted to the University by the owners. Troy acquired this building to construct an extension to the Rosa Parks Museum. This new extension was needed to provide an exhibit that is specifically designed for children.

Troy does not own the Bell Building, located next door to Whitley Hall; however, the University has leased space for offices, classrooms, Radio and TV stations, and storage since 1994.

1966: Parade for ball society

No, it is not a “casket” Atop the Rushton-Stakely law building at 184 Commerce Street. But that’s long been the rumor. It is actually a piece of Victorian artwork or ornament that covers a prosaic water tower, an essential requrement for a building that used to be wholesale dry goods concern.

Source: Mary Ann Neeley.