SEPTEMBER 2018
OXFO R D
FOOTBALL
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ON THE COVER
It’s September, so it’s time to get fired up for football. This season the Rebels are sporting a new helmet to go with an all-white uniform, and they have a new mascot, the landshark. More on page 118. PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM
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DEPA RTMENT S
EVENTS
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Letter From the Publisher
126
Genius Trivia
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Calendar
128
Iron Bartender
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Shoutouts
130
Meet the Rebels
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InstaLove: Lone Star Words
132
Meet the Commodores
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Restaurant News
134
Manchester Orchestra
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Restaurant Guide
136
Food Truck Fight
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In Season: Sunflowers
138
Watermelon Carnival
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What’s In
156
Out & About
159
Recipe: Tasty Tailgates
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SEPTEMBER 2018
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Boosters and Blues
142
OSA Summerfest
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Ace Atkins Book Signing
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Documentary Launch
148
21 United All Camp
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Tennis Tournament
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Music and Movies
154
Groovin’ at Move In
118 SEPTEMBER 2018 | INVITATION OXFORD
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F E AT U R E S
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ON CAMPUS
ON THE TOWN
ON THE FIELD
52 Storied Structures
78 Magical Fifemastor
110 Football FANatics
War, literature, academia and innovation are richly intertwined in the University of Mississippi’s historic buildings.
58 Sideline Spouses
Ashley Luke, Tanya Longo and Kysha Jones share the trials and triumphs of being wives of Ole Miss football coaches.
64 A Season to Remember
From 1956 to 1960, the Rebels led by legendary coach Johnny Vaught had some of the most memorable seasons in the history of Ole Miss football.
70 Home Improvement: Greek Edition
Take a peek inside these new or newly renovated sorority houses.
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Shardé Thomas is making new music with roots as old as the blues.
84 Painting the Town
Saturdays in the Grove are a mainstay for Ole Miss fans, but for some, the game day experience doesn’t stop when the Rebels are on the road.
90 No Place Like Home
Pontotoc High School senior Taylor Hughes has made a name for herself on and off the football field.
Laurel artist Adam Trest’s maps of familiar locales lend a touch of hometown to stationery and home goods.
For more than a century, Palmer Home has offered help, healing and hope to children who need it most.
96 The River City
Little Rock offers options for food and fun that will please the whole family.
104 In Good Spirits
Teams from 14 restaurants and one solo bartender vie for the title of Iron Bartender in the third annual competition.
INVITATION OXFORD | SEPTEMBER 2018
114 Kicking It
118 Fins Up! Meet Tony
The new fierce but friendly Rebels mascot hits the field and the court.
122 Calling the Shots
Rebels play-by-play announcer David Kellum talks about the highs and lows of a 40-plus-year career calling games for all three major SEC sports.
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114 SEPTEMBER 2018 | INVITATION OXFORD
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Come browse our exceptional designer collection of everything you need for your kitchen or bath, from names including Kohler, Delta, Jason & more. OX F O R D S H O W RO O M
2616 W Oxford Loop Oxford, MS 38655 ( 662) 236- 1692 S O UT HE R N B AT H A N D K ITC H E N.C O M
Available at these Mississippi Designer Showrooms
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OX F O R D (662) 236-1692 INVITATION OXFORD | SEPTEMBER 2018
COLUMBUS (662) 328-8608
N AT C H E Z (601) 446-8388
MERIDIAN (601) 483-8171
S TA R K V I L L E (662) 323-2251
SEPTEMBER 2018 | INVITATION OXFORD
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L E T T E R from the P U B L I S H E R It’s no secret that the University of Mississippi is fantastic for college football fans. And the whole world knows that the Grove is paramount for college tailgates. But there’s something extra special about Ole Miss fans: how they enjoy football and friendships at games when they travel. I experienced this at age 12 when I traveled with my grandparents, who were devout Razorbacks fans, to Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jackson to watch the Rebels take on the Arkansas Razorbacks. Our distant cousins were the proprietors of the Fairview Inn, just a stone’s toss from the stadium. They were also Rebels fans. Up until then, I knew only one cheer. It started with a “woo” and ended in a “sooie.” They introduced me to the “hotty toddy” cheer which had more words, and two of them I wasn’t allowed to say. That weekend, I saw and respected the beauty of venturing outside of something familiar into a place of something unique and different. My Ole Miss-loving cousins were so kind, and their friends who joined the group that weekend were so funny and welcoming. Even though I was the only youngster in the group (and outnumbered
by the Rebels fans), I felt right at home. It’s fans like those cousins of mine, and like Tupelo resident Chuck Hankins, whom you will meet on page 110, that make Ole Miss football something amazing. Hankins has attended every Ole Miss football game since 1991. That’s 37 years of traveling to games and 323 consecutive games. It’s a tradition that dates back to his childhood, and he says he wouldn't change it for the world. A few years after I graduated from Ole Miss, my dearest friend, Jennifer Guckert Griffin, and I decided we’d attend a Rebels away game. We boarded a plane from Jackson to Denver, rented a car and enjoyed the Rockies for a long weekend. On Saturday morning we arrived in Laramie, Wyoming, to see Ole Miss play the Wyoming Cowboys. That day, the few hundred Ole Miss fans almost outnumbered the Cowboys fans. It was not one of the finest games for Ole Miss — the Rebels lost 37-32 — but we met some of the finest and funniest folks. What I and other SEC fans had not expected to see was Cowboys fans dancing the Hokey Pokey in the stands. It’s a tale we tell often as we hoot and cry with laughter.
FOLLOW US
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INVITATION OXFORD | SEPTEMBER 2018
@INVITATIONOXFORD
|
But by far the most memorable out-oftown game I’ve ever attended was in 2001 at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Arkansas, where my love of college football began, where as I child I yelled “wooooo, pig” and as an adult and graduate of Ole Miss in that same stadium, I screamed “hotty toddy” for hours. That November night, history was made, and ultimately the rules of college football changed. Ole Miss and Arkansas went into seven overtimes before the Razorbacks prevailed 58-56. While that loss was a hard one, the story of that game will live in me forever. If you haven’t ever seen the Rebels on the road, give it a try. It’s something fun to do and can provide some life lessons. For the first time since that cold night in 2001, the Rebels will travel back to Little Rock to play at War Memorial Stadium on Oct. 13. I’ll be there again, hoping for an Ole Miss win, and you can be sure the only cheer I’ll be yelling is “hotty toddy.”
RACHEL M. WEST, PUBLISHER
@INVOXFORD
PUBLISHERS Phil and Rachel West
EDITORIAL
EDITOR IN CHIEF Allison Estes EXECUTIVE MANAGING EDITOR Mary Moreton CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Emily Welly CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Caitlin Adams Andi Sherrill Bedsworth Melanie Crownover John Davis Allison Estes Rachel A. Ishee Ginny McCarley Sarah McCullen Michael Newsom Anthony M. Pate SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR Sarah McCullen COPY EDITOR Kate Johnson
OFFICE
BUSINESS MANAGER Hollie Hilliard DISTRIBUTION Donald Courtney Brian Hilliard MAIN OFFICE 662-234-4008
ART
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Holly Vollor STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Joe Worthem CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Laurey Glenn Timothy Ivy Sarah McCullen Leeann Meadows Holly Vollor Megan Wolfe CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATORS Zach Fields Sarah McCullen H.C. Porter Jake Thrasher Adam Trest
ADVERTISING
ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Alise M. Emerson Leigh Lowery Lynn McElreath Stacey Raper Moni Simpson Whitney Worsham ADVERTISING DESIGNERS Zach Fields Becca Pepper ADVERTISING INFORMATION ads@invitationoxford.com
To subscribe to one year (10 issues) of Invitation Oxford or to buy an announcement, visit invitationoxford.com. To request a photographer at your event, email Mary at mary.invitation@gmail.com. Invitation Oxford respects the many diverse individuals and organizations that make up north Mississippi and strives to be inclusive and representative of all members of our community.
PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE
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C OM M U N I T Y
C A L E N DA R SEPTEMBER 2018
Labor Day
National Stepfamily Day
SEPTEMBER 3
SEP TEMBER 16
Crosstown Classic SEPTEMBER 7
OLE MISS
FOOTBALL
Oxford and Lafayette high schools kick off their annual hometown rivalry. 7 p.m., Bobby Holcomb Field.
Over 30 percent of children in America live in stepfamily households. Share photos on social media with the hashtag #NationalStepfamilyDay to celebrate the steps in your clan.
SEPTEMBER 1
Ole Miss at Texas Tech 11 a.m. SEPTEMBER 8
PHOTO BY GODLIS
Ole Miss vs. Southern Illinois 3 p.m. SEPTEMBER 15
Ole Miss vs. Alabama 6 p.m. SEPTEMBER 22
Hummingbird Migration and Nature Celebration
Ole Miss vs. Kent State TBA
S E P T E M B E R 7- 9
SEPTEMBER 29
The 19th annual hummingbird festival in Holly Springs includes nature walks, animal shows, wagon rides, arts and crafts vendors, a kids activity zone, and up-close views of hummingbirds being banded and released. Concessions available. Tickets $5-$15, free for children age 4 and under. Begins at 9 a.m.
Ole Miss at LSU TBA
strawberry.audubon.org
An Evening with Yo La Tengo SEP TEMBER 18
The indie-rock trio from Hoboken, New Jersey, travel south to play from their 15th full-length album, “There’s a Riot Going On.” Tickets $20-$25. Doors open at 7 p.m., show starts at 8 p.m. All minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian over 21. The Lyric Oxford. thelyricoxford.com
John Crist
2nd Chance MS Fall Gala
SEPTEMBER 9
SEP TEMBER 13
S EP TE MB ER 20
A Comedy Central and Comedy Works finalist and one of ChurchLeaders.com’s Top Five Comedians to Watch, John Crist brings his Good Medicine Comedy Tour to Oxford. Tickets $17-$35. 7 p.m., the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts.
Proceeds benefit Mississippi’s education programs and work-skills training for adult learners. The evening includes music by The Mississippians Jazz Ensemble, food, wine, a silent auction and a raffle for a trip to California. Tickets $100. 6:30-9:30 p.m., the Chancellor’s House. 601-265-1895
fordcenter.org
one.bidpal.net/2ndchancems/welcome
Teens and fans of YA novels by Ibi Zoboi, Katherine McGee and Kendare Blake have the opportunity for individual interaction and discussion, like a speeddating session with your favorite author. Purchase at least one frontlist book to participate. 5 p.m., Tallahatchie Gourmet, 1221 Van Buren Ave.
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Epic Reads Meetup
Clear Creek Music & Arts Festival SEPTEMBER 21
Celebrate Satterfield Pottery’s grand opening with food trucks, local art vendors and live music. Bring your own chairs and blankets. Free, starts at 11 a.m. Satterfield Pottery, 31 County Road 338. visitoxfordms.com/event/clear-creek -music-and-arts-festival
Autumnal Equinox SEPTEMBER 22
Occurs in Oxford at 8:54 p.m., when the sun crosses the celestial equator. Summer is officially over, but baseball’s still going and football has just begun.
Oxford WeeCycle S E P T E M B E R 2 8-2 9
Seasonal kids consignment sale with quality pre-owned clothing, toys, furniture and gear. Preview sale 6-8 p.m. Friday; tickets $10. Public sale 8 a.m.-3 p.m. and 4-7 p.m. Saturday; free admission. North Oxford Baptist Church oxfordweecycle.com SEPTEMBER 2018 | INVITATION OXFORD
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MY FAVORITE SHOES
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S H O U T O U T S O le M i s s Bi ke S h a re
TO RIDE: Download the app, available at app.socialbicycles.com. Reserve a bike through the app. Locate your bike and enter the 4-digit code to unlock it.
Travel from campus to the Square quickly and easily with the University of Mississippi’s bike-share program, started last fall. Bike hubs are stationed around campus, with an additional hub on the Square next to City Hall. Members of the community get one free hour of ride time a day, and UM students get two. If you need to stop along the way, you can pause your time by pressing the “hold” button and locking the bike to a rack. When you’re ready to hop back on, enter your 4-digit code and you’re ready to ride. Drop your bike off at any hub when you finish your ride, and always remember to obey all traffic laws, wear a helmet, and signal when turning. For more information and a map of hubs and available bikes, visit gotchabike.com/ole-miss.
The National Pan-Hellenic Council, also known as The Divine Nine, governs nine historically AfricanAmerican, international Greek-letter fraternities and sororities founded upon varying principles rooted in the core tenets of brotherhood, sisterhood, scholarship and community service. Traditionally, these organizations have held social events such as conferences and gatherings for members and have now popularized step-dancing competitions and shows. Stepping is a form of percussive dance that uses footsteps, handclaps, voice and other sounds to create complex rhythms. Step dancing has its roots in military drills and traditional dance, but routines may also incorporate tap, break dancing and gymnastics. The performances are a fun way for members to share pride in their heritage while showcasing a unique cultural legacy. To learn more, stop by the Office of Fraternal Leadership and Learning in Minor Hall, or call 662-915-7609. The NPHC Annual Homecoming Step Show will be held on Oct. 5; tickets are available at the Ole Miss Box Office, 662-915-7411.
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PHOTO PROVIDED BY NPHC
S t e p S how s
SHOUTOUTS
continued
I f Yo u Re a l l y K n e w M e Move m e nt
At Oxford High School, students are breaking down some social norms and understanding each other on new levels by participating in the If You Really Knew Me Movement. Nathanial Rios, an OHS volunteer baseball coach and pastor of Wellspring Church, brought the idea to Oxford, having launched the movement in Columbia after a double suicide rocked West Marion High School in 2011. Students who sign up for an IYRKMM class learn to advocate against bullying and peer abuse in school. Sessions start with fun, ice-breaking activities then move into small groups for discussion and end with pizza. The program fosters empathy, respect and unity among students by offering ways to see others in a new light. “Relationships are built when kids understand each other’s lives and see that they may be more similar than they expect,” assistant school superintendent Bradley Robertson said. “When those foremost psychological needs are met, then we can focus on their education.” For more information or to get involved with the If You Really Knew Me Movement, visit blueribbandlifefoundation.org. #DoSomethingNice #SaySomethingNice #ShareSomethingCalledLove SEPTEMBER 2018 | INVITATION OXFORD
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instaL O V E L o ne S t a r Wo rd s WRITTEN BY SARAH McCULLEN
Deb Coco may be a Bostonian living in Texas, but her love for Southern literature has roots that sink deep into the heart of Oxford. For her senior seminar as an English major at the University of Michigan, she plunged into the world of William Faulkner, sealing her future as a Southernliterature guru. Coco uses her Instagram account, @lonestarwords, as a literary guide for her followers, reviewing books, making reading recommendations and answering questions from her followers about complicated or confusing material. “People can be intimidated by classic literature, so it’s important to have a resource to help you through it,” Coco said. “If I can help people tackle authors like Faulkner, I’m happy to.” Her account features photos of her book choices in serene settings, inviting followers to nestle under a cozy blanket with a copy of
FOLLOW ON INSTAGR A M @l o n e s t a r wo r d s
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“Absalom, Absalom!” or soak up sunshine by a pool while reading “The Sound and the Fury.” If you don’t know what to read, need a little literary inspiration or could use some help unraveling one of Faulkner’s notoriously long sentences, @lonestarwords may be a good place to start.
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R E S T A U R A N T news First Watch NEW | 104 S . L A M AR COURT
Boasting fresh choices and an awardwinning menu, this California-style cafe is open daily 7 a.m.-2:30 p.m. in its new space on South Lamar.
First Watch
662-701-3061 | firstwatch.com
Southern Table Bar & Grill
The Lab
The Rainey Restaurant
C O M I N G S O O N | 9 2 2 J A C K S O N AV E .
N E W A L B A N Y | 1 0 4 N . R A I L R O A D AV E .
COMING SO ON | 1301 MERCH A NT S DR .
Saint Leo’s owner Emily Blount is opening an event space in the former Oxford Eagle building and serving the restaurant’s signature snacks and drinks there as an overflow bar on busy weekends.
Located in the heart of one of Oxford’s neighboring small towns, this New Albany restaurant uses local ingredients in its creole-inspired southern dishes and craft cocktails.
Founder Jeff Martin has made several appearances on Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars.” The cupcake chain will serve more than 18 signature flavors in one of Oxford Galleria II’s new spaces.
eatsaintleo.com
662-539-7732 | raineyna.com
662-801-8316 | smallcakesoxfordms.com
The Luv Shak
Rebel Barn
R E O P E N I N G | 2 62 5 F W. O X F O R D L O O P
M O V E D | 1 4 S . M A I N S T. , WAT E R VA L L E Y
Southern Table Bar & Grill
This bakery/eatery owned by a native New Yorker was closed for several months but has officially reopened, with casual retro decor and a menu that includes New Yorkstyle bagels and Italian dishes.
Formerly located on West Jackson Avenue in Oxford, Rebel Barn has a new home in Water Valley. Known for wood-smoked meats and Delta-style tamales, it is one of MSN’s 50 Best Barbecue Joints in America.
This Texas-style steakhouse serves three meals a day and has a menu that includes variations on regional favorites, like crackling chicharrons and pulled-pork poutine.
662-832-3929
662-469-6227
662-380-5124 | southerntableoxford.com
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Smallcakes
NEW | 10 THACKER DR .
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R E S T A U R A N T guide
I TA L I A N D I N I N G | U R B A N S E T T I N G
SOUTHERN FINE DINING
FERGNDANS
t r a c ks i xt y o n e . c o m
greenroofl oun ge .com
fe rgn dan s pizza.co m
my mic helles ox fo rd . c o m
703 N . L A M A R B LV D.
305 E. JACKSON AVE.
176 HI G HWAY 30 E
13 0 8 N . L A M A R B LV D., S U I T E 4
6 6 2 -3 8 0 -5 2 8 2
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662-638-6017
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6 6 2 -2 3 4 -3 9 1 2
WEEKDAY LU N CH & C ATER IN G
$$
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6 6 2 -2 3 6 -1 51 2
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MEXICAN GRILL
DINNER & DRINKS
AMERICAN CAFE
e l a g a v e oxf o rd . c o m
t hew i nebaroxford.co m
oxfo rdcante e n.com
c hic kens alad c hic k . c o m
2305 W. J ACK S O N AV E ., S U I T E 2 11
4 0 1 S . L A M A R B LV D.
76 6 N . L A M A R B LV D.
1305 MERCHANTS DRIVE
662-715-1740
LUNCH
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DINNER
$$
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6 6 2 -6 3 8 -3 3 9 3
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FROM-SCR ATCH BAGEL S
MODERN AMERICAN
t hebeagl ebage lcafe .com
s outhe r n cr afts tov e andtap.com
3 0 0 0 O L D TAY L O R R O A D , S U I T E C
1801 W. JACKSON AV E.
705 SISK AVE., SUITE 111
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BRUNCH
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12 T YPES OF CHICKEN SAL AD
6 6 2 -3 8 0 -5 5 8 2
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FOOD IS OUR STORY
newk s . c o m | $ $ 1309 UNIVERSIT Y AVE. | 662-513-5303 2305 W. JACKSON AVE. | 662-238-2727
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S U N F L OW E R S WRITTEN BY SARAH McCULLEN
With the arrival of September, cooler, crisper air drifts into town and summer dwindles to an end. While some summer blooms have played out, sunflowers are still abundant. Decorating with these sturdy and versatile flowers is easy and the perfect way to celebrate the change of seasons or enhance your game day table. The cheery, golden blooms come in different sizes and shades and are readily available at the grocery store if not in your garden. For locally grown sunflowers, check the self-serve flower booth on the Square. If you want your display to last more than a week, visit a craft or home decor store to find realistic-looking artificial blooms. If you’re hosting a dinner party, coordinate dishes and cloth napkins with your floral decorations, and use a ribbon to tie a place card and sunflower to each napkin. You can also give your guests a warm greeting by creating a wreath for your front door. Premade wreath frames are available to help you customize your sunny welcome. Arrangements of sunflowers can take on a multitude of styles. For a minimalist look, use only sunflowers to create a simple arrangement in a tall, sturdy vase or jar. If using real flowers, make sure the stems are long enough to sit in water several inches deep. Smaller blooms can be gathered in low containers or in colored glass jars.
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PH OTO G R A PH E D BY H O L LY VO L LO R
SUNFLOWERS
continued
For your tailgating table, tie sunflowers and red and blue blooms together with a bow to show your Ole Miss pride. Or tackle the landshark theme by adding silvery plants like lamb’s ears or dusty miller. (Turn to page 159 for three simple, crowd-pleasing recipes by Ole Miss coaches’ wives to add to your game day spread.) Create a charming bouquet for your kitchen counter by combining sunflowers with dainty baby’s breath, sage or goldenrod. Add sprigs of greenery, or welcome autumn by mixing in bright, boldly colored asters or chrysanthemums. Put stems of cotton in your arrangement or wrap burlap around the container for a rustic feel. Make sure to change the water every day to make your flowers last longer.
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I N
M A D LY YO U R S G A M E DAY B AG $ 6 9 RED POUCH $60 HINTON & HINTON
PILLOW BY DESIGNERS ART $150 AFTER FIVE DESIGNS
L A SH & B ROW SERUM $ 74 AMY HEAD
WATERCOLOR “GROVE” TE A TOWEL BY C ATHERINE SMITH $18 OLIVE JUICE
PERSOL $290 A LOOK AHEAD
L A N D S H A R K V N E C K T- S H I R T $ 2 4 . 9 5 CATDADDY ’S
SLEE VE OF GROVE CUP S $ 1 2
THE ALIDA BY M ARC FISHER LTD $160 AUSTIN'S SHOES
P E T ER M I L L A R E XCLU S I V E H EL M E T V E S T $9 9. 5 0 & OLE MISS PERFORMANCE SHIRT $145 HINTON & HINTON
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RECIPE
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OLIVE JUICE
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ON
C A MPUS
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Storied Structures
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Sideline Spouses
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A Season to Remember
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Home Improvement: Greek Edition
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S T O R I E D
ST RUC T U R ES
WA R, L I T E R AT U R E , AC A D E M I A A N D I N N OVAT I O N A R E R I C H LY I N T E R T W I N E D IN THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI’S HISTORIC BUILDINGS. WRIT TEN BY ANTHONY M . PATE
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ILLUSTRATED BY Z ACH FIELDS
The University of Mississippi, chartered in 1844, is as beautiful as it is storied, and you can see it writ large on the faces of its many splendid buildings. Over the years, many of the buildings have been rebuilt or renovated, but history lingers in the architecture. The Lyceum and Ventress Hall may be the most photographed. Barnard, housing the Center for the Study of Southern Culture, is equally well known. But plenty of other buildings on campus have just as much appeal, historically as well as architecturally.
FA R LE Y H A LL Farley, overlooking the Grove, was built on the site of the “Dead House,” a lead-lined structure built as a magnetic observatory that served as a morgue during the Civil War. It is believed that upwards of 430 people were carried from that location to the cemetery across campus. Farley has been through many incarnations since it was built in 1929. Originally the School of Law, it was renovated in 1959 to house the University Archives blues collection and music library, and it became the general base of operations for The Daily Mississippian and the department of journalism, now called the Meek School of Journalism and New Media.
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K E N N O N O B S E R VATO R Y & ARTHUR B. LEWIS HALL The vision of Professor William Lee Kennon, who served as chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy for 40 years, both of these structures were built in 1939. The observatory is notable for its two copper domes, the larger of which contains a 15-inch Grubb refractor equatorial telescope purchased in 1893, with three coaligned photographic and visual telescopes. The smaller dome originally housed a five-inch telescope acquired in the 1850s; the building was refurbished in 1997. Both buildings now contain various newer telescopes, both portable and mounted. Another interesting tidbit: The observatory is precisely aligned east to west, and a small opening on the south face admits a beam of sunlight precisely at noon on the vernal and autumnal equinoxes.
B R YA N T H A L L Named for Vice Chancellor Emeritus W. Alton Bryant and located just west of the Student Union, this 1911 building was originally constructed to house libraries for both the university and the medical school. Oddly enough, it also contained workout equipment for a “women’s gym.” These days Bryant Hall is home to the philosophy and religious studies departments. The building’s exterior is distinguished by a steep staircase leading up to a large door flanked by four titanic pillars. Inside, a gigantic globe situated in the middle of the main foyer rotates at the same rate as Earth. Measuring six feet in diameter and designed by Worldfx Inc., the globe was installed during a renovation in 2007 and was the largest in the world employing satellite technology; it’s worth a visit to observe the massive orb quietly spinning under the even more gargantuan dome of the rotunda. SEPTEMBER 2018 | INVITATION OXFORD
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CROFT HALL Originally identified as the Old Chapel, Croft, built in 1853, backs the Grove and served as a place of worship on campus for almost 75 years. Built in the Georgian style, it is one of three surviving pre-Civil War structures on campus. During the war, it was used as a hospital, and soldiers from both sides were treated there. In 1997, through a gift from the Joseph C. Bancroft Educational and Charitable Fund, the building was repurposed to house classes for the international studies major.
THE OLD POWER PL ANT The central power plant for the university, known for years as the power house, was erected in 1908. Throughout the winter of 1929, William Faulkner was a night supervisor there. Working the slow hours of the graveyard shift, when little power was needed, afforded him long stretches of time to write. He completed “As I Lay Dying� there, using a wheelbarrow in the coal bunker for a table. The book earned him enough money to purchase Rowan Oak, and that was his last non-writing job. The building and its smokestack have been demolished to make way for the new STEM science building and a public green space joining the Grove to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium via the Walk of Champions, but the university plans to dedicate the area to Faulkner.
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THE DEPOT Behind the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts, next to the rail trail where the tracks once ran, stands the Italianate-style depot, built in 1872. Besides travelers and their stories, the trains carried the mail, goods and sometimes bottles of bootleg liquor. Businessmen congregated at the depot to hear the news, and children came to ogle the trains and the bustle. The depot was integral to town and campus life until passenger service to Oxford ended in 1941. The university purchased the building in 1983, and in 1992 it gained Mississippi Landmark status. In 2003, after extensive repairs and remodeling, it reopened as a venue for small gatherings, seminars and lectures. SEPTEMBER 2018 | INVITATION OXFORD
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Sideline Spouses
Back row, left to right: Allison Nix, Kristina Jackson, Dana Engelbert and Lisa Rippon. Middle row, left to right: Helen Bicknell, Allison Michel, Erin Siskey, Ashley Luke, Ginny Sumrall, Angie Luke, Krisden Jernigan and Ashley Roach. Front row, left to right: Tori Peeler, Kysha Jones, Tanya Longo and Quesha Harris. WRITTEN BY GINNY McCARLEY
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A S H L E Y L U K E , TA N YA L O N G O A N D K Y S H A J O N E S S H A R E T H E T R I A L S A N D T R I U M P H S OF BEING THE WIVES OF OLE MISS FOOTBALL COACHES.
For Ashley Luke, being in Oxford is a dream come true. Luke met her husband, Ole Miss head football coach Matt Luke, when he was tight end coach for the Rebels in 2003. The two instantly connected. They began dating shortly after they met and were engaged within the year. Like most college football coaches and their families, the Lukes relocated often as Matt rose through the ranks. They moved from Oxford to Knoxville, where Matt coached at the University of Tennessee under Phillip Fulmer and where their first child, Harrison, was born. From there they moved to Durham, North Carolina, where Matt coached at Duke University under David Cutcliffe and where their second son, Cooper, was born. When former Ole Miss Head Coach Hugh Freeze called and asked if Matt was interested in coming on
as the Rebels’ co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, the couple jumped at a chance to move back to Oxford, where they have extended family. “It was like an answered prayer,” Ashley said. “It was always our dream to be able to come back.” When Matt was named interim head coach in July 2017 and then was offered the permanent position a few months later, it was a culmination of the couple’s hopes. “It was always a dream for him to be a head coach,” Ashley said. “For it to be where he played and where I grew up and went to school, it was so special. It’s pretty unique for your husband to be in that position in your hometown.” Both family and friends serve as an invaluable support system for Ashley as she tackles the demanding job of managing
a family and home as the wife of a head coach. Matt’s and Ashley’s parents all live in Oxford, and Matt works alongside his brother Tom, who is assistant athletics director for player development at Ole Miss. Because their husbands are away much of the time coaching current players and recruiting new athletes, Ashley and the other coaches’ wives try to get together once a month for dinner or a movie, and they have an ongoing group text where they sometimes schedule last-minute meetups. Once a year, the women take a “wives’ trip” to one of the away games. The head coach’s wife chooses the game before the season begins, and the wives all fly out for the game, a nice dinner and activities in the city. This year they’ll be attending the Texas Tech game. “[It’s a] nice, fun getaway for wives to get time with their husbands and the other
wives while their husbands are preparing for the big game,” Ashley said. Tanya Longo, the wife of offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Phil Longo, knows firsthand the demands that coaching a college sport can place on a family: She coached Division I and II women’s basketball for 15 years before stepping away from her career to homeschool their two children, 5-year-old Macariah and 7-yearold Gianna. Having the support of the other wives on the team has been a wonderful perk of living in Oxford. “We have a really, really fun and wonderful group of women here,” Tanya said. “We have similar schedules, so we’re kind of on the same page. If our husbands are out of town, it’s nice to have someone to spend time with. I’m used to being part of a team, and it’s great to be around like-minded
people who share a passion for college athletics and supporting our spouses.” Kysha Jones, wife of co-defensive coordinator Jason Jones, appreciates not only this close-knit group of women but also the welcoming atmosphere of the sports environment at Ole Miss. Though Kysha stays busy juggling the schedules of three school-age children with her career as an air-quality consultant for the engineering firm AECOM, she says it can be lonesome having a partner who’s on the road so much of the time. “[Being the wife of a coach] is very enjoyable and exciting, but to be honest there are times when, because they work so many hours, it can get lonely,” she said. “One of the good things is that we’ve always been on staff at family-oriented places, with head coaches that are fine with our kids dropping in to see our husbands for a little while.”
Kysha knows how much the game and coaching mean to Jason. Watching him at work helps make up for the time away. “For me, it is so gratifying to see my husband interact with his players and for him to use his job as a way to mentor and encourage [players] outside of football,” she said. “To see past players still keep in touch with him, call him, that shows me that it’s more than just a job for him.” Ashley, Tanya and Kysha all agree that being the wife of a coach makes for lonely nights and stressful games, but getting to know the football players and be part of an incredible community make the long hours away worthwhile. “Early on [in my own career] my mentor sat me down and told me that [coaching] is not a job, it is a lifestyle,” Tanya said. “If you just embrace it and truly enjoy every part of it, it is really an amazing life.”
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A SEASON TO REMEMBER F R O M 1 9 5 6 TO 1 9 6 0 , T H E R E B E L S , L E D B Y L E G E N DA R Y C OAC H J O H N N Y VAU G H T, H A D SOME OF THE MOST MEMORABLE SEASONS IN THE HISTORY OF OLE MISS FOOTBALL. INTERVIEWED BY JOHN DAVIS
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PHOTOGRAPHS PROVIDED BY OLE MISS ATHLE TICS
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PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM
In the long history of Ole Miss football, the 1956 signing class is one of the most noteworthy. The group served as the foundation for some of the best Rebels teams in history. From 1958 to 1960, the Rebels won three major bowl games and 29 games overall. Ole Miss had three top 15 finishes, and two of those years they finished in the top 5. Former UM athletics director Warner Alford and former chancellor Robert Khayat talk about their time on those teams, the fabulous winning seasons and what made the ’58-’59 Rebels so outstanding.
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Q: The two of you arrived in Oxford and became teammates and roommates at Ole Miss in 1956. What was that like? Khayat: We didn’t know this at the time, but all the faculty members and the coaches and their wives all said that ’56 signing class was really extraordinary. Alford: When we came here as freshmen in 1956, freshmen couldn’t play at the time. In ’57, we were red-shirted, a lot of us. In 1958, I was a sophomore but actually a junior in school. I was ready to go by then, excited to get on the field. Q: Talk about that first year, that 1958 team 60 years ago. Y’all were 9-2 and beat Florida in the Gator Bowl. Khayat: That was a good team. I had played the year before because I was asked to kick in the 1957 opener, but for a lot of them, that was their first time to play, and it was a good team that really went on to have a lot of great players on it. Alford: I was finally ready to play, excited to play. I remember we flew to Jacksonville for the game and played Florida. It was right after Christmas so we didn’t get time with our family, really.
Top left: Bobby Ray Franklin, George Blair, Charlie Flowers and Bobby Crespino. Top right: Robert Khayat. Above: Bobby Ray Franklin, 1960 Sugar Bowl MVP, with coach John Vaught. Left: Warner Alford. Opposite: Ole Miss Rebels 1959 team photo.
Q: The 1958 season set you up to have an even better team in 1959. The only loss, you made up for in that Sugar Bowl. I’m sure there wasn’t much need to talk about motivation in that LSU rematch? Khayat: I think we thought that we were better, except for [Billy] Cannon [who played for LSU]. Bobby Franklin, Charlie Flowers and Cannon may have been the best players on those teams. I think we thought we were better coached and had more talent. [LSU] had a really good first team, and they had a pretty good second team. [Their third unit] were guys that couldn’t play anywhere but they just hustled.
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Q: I guess you were always prepared because you had coach Vaught leading the way. What made him such a great coach? Khayat: He was like General Eisenhower or General MacArthur. He was the boss, and everybody knew it. He knew it, the coaches knew it and we all knew it. He commanded respect. He dressed appropriately, and he held his shoulders high. He could get an offense, a defense and kicking game in place. Our practices were set up that every 15 minutes you would hear that whistle blow and the drill would change. Our practices were never more than an hour and a half in the fall. In the spring, we would knockdown-drag-out. Q: And what else would you say made all those teams so good? Alford: It was how in shape we were. When the spring was over, that’s where we went to our track team and we learned that we’d better be fast. Doc Knight, our trainer, was a track coach. We would go out there three days a week, and we ran and ran. Speed and quickness over lifting weights was something they really stressed. Q: You seemed to be a pretty tight bunch, a close team, and you’ve stayed close throughout the years. Khayat: We believed in each other and our coaches and our mission. We really thought we could be a positive force for Mississippi. We thought Mississippi was better than the way we appeared in the press and to other people. We got criticized for race, for poverty, for illiteracy and all of that. This football team served as a beacon, a flagship football team for the flagship university. Charlie Flowers said it was like Camelot, and it was. We weren’t at war. Our economy was going through the roof. People were coming to college that never would have been able to come before. And we were winning football games.
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Robert Khayat (above left) was chancellor of the University of Mississippi from 1995 to 2009. He played football for Ole Miss from 1957 to 1959 before moving on to play for the Washington Redskins in the National Football League. Warner Alford (above right) played football alongside Khayat at Ole Miss, earning varsity letters in 1958, ’59 and ’60. Alford went into coaching after graduation but came back to his alma mater to serve as athletics director from 1978 to 1994.
Top, left to right: Billy Brewer, Bobby Ray Franklin and John Vaught. Above: Rebels quarterback Jake Gibbs (12) at the 1960 Sugar Bowl vs. LSU.
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612 Bickerstaff
Go Rebels !! Tina Montgomery Anchored in Oxford
662-801-1784 tina@kessingerrealestate.com
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603 Stonebridge
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HOME IMPROVEMENT:
Greek Edition
TAKE A PEEK INSIDE THE GRAND ENVIRONS OF T H E S E N E W O R N E W LY R E N OVAT E D S O R O R I T Y H O U S E S . WRITTEN BY RACHEL A. ISHEE PHOTOGRAPHED BY L AUREY GLENN AND JOE WORTHEM
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Imagine living in a multimillion-dollar home at the age of 20. Now imagine sharing that home with a dozen of your closest friends. This fall, three University of Mississippi sorority houses welcome members to newly constructed or renovated homes.
DELTA GAMMA
Built in the 1930s, the Delta Gamma house is the oldest house on campus. The Ole Miss DG chapter is the largest in the nation. According to Lisa Darnell, chairman of the building committee, expanding membership over the last couple of years led to the need for renovations to the house. “Sorority membership had increased rapidly from about 300 members five years earlier to over 400 members in 2013,” Darnell said. “We had a need for increased space for providing study, dining, living and meeting spaces for our growing membership.” During the yearlong expansion process, which nearly doubled the structure in size, it was important to preserve and incorporate
historical elements into the new design. The original door of the house was moved and is now the door in the new library. A rug that had been in the living room for more than 50 years was retired and made into an ottoman in the library. As for the exterior, it was important for the new house to maintain the aesthetic appearance of the old one. The designers decided to keep the elements that most distinguished the house from other buildings on campus: the colonnaded front porch, the white painted brick and the dark green louvered shutters. “The new design echoes the spirit and charm of the original house, both inside and out,” Darnell said.
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ALPHA PHI
The six pristine white columns of the Alpha Phi house front the newest addition to construction on Rebel Drive. The 27,000-square-foot mansion was completed in July 2017. It’s one of the oldest sororities in the nation, but the UM chapter is the first Alpha Phi chapter in the state. The sisterhood wanted a structure befitting the history of the organization and a design incorporating the beauty that many Southern homes boast. The interior of the antebellum-style home is both elegant and functional, with comfortable living spaces and more formal elements like the “1872 room.” Alpha Phi president Camille Griffin said that the rotunda area, an extension
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of the formal living room, is her favorite feature in the house. “In the afternoons I study at the cafe tables, and at night my friends and I snuggle and share stories on the couch,” Griffin said. “It’s our favorite quaint little corner of the house.” Whenever the weather is good, Griffin and her friends enjoy the outdoor television and fireplace. The interior of the house is adorned solely with artwork from north Mississippi artists. “Our architects worked extremely hard and succeeded in not only building a beautiful new home but also making sure that our house looked like it had been there forever,” Griffin said.
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DELTA DELTA DELTA
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The tri-Delta house has also undergone extensive renovations. Construction began in March 2016 and was completed in August 2018, in time for recruitment week. Martha Collins, house mother, said that with the tri-Delta family constantly growing, the house was in need of an expansion. Renovation plans included a new chapter room that accommodates the sorority’s 460 members as well as adding a third floor with bedrooms, new bathrooms, laundry rooms and study areas. In addition to more space, when the members returned in August they were greeted by new furnishings, kitchen updates and an expanded dining area. With the updates, the residential capacity of the house increased from 69 to 109.
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ON
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Magical Fifemastor
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In Good Spirits
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Magical
FIFEMASTOR SHARDÉ THOMAS IS MAKING NEW MUSIC WITH ROOTS AS OLD AS THE BLUES. WRITTEN BY MICHAEL NEWSOM PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM ART BY H.C. PORTER
Shardé Thomas experiences a powerful kind of haunting when she’s onstage and holding her late grandfather’s fife in her hand. “I like to play with that one at all of the shows,” Thomas said. “I call it ‘Magical.’ It’s at least 60 years old. The older the fife is, the better the sound.” The instrument belonged to Thomas’ grandfather, Othar Turner, who lived in Gravel Springs near Senatobia. Turner was the patriarch of the north Mississippi African-American tradition of fife and drum music. Ever since she was little, Thomas knew she wanted to follow in her grandfather’s footsteps. “Granddaddy made me my very own fife when I was 8 years old,” Thomas said. “I played it every day.” By the time she was 9 years old, Thomas was good enough to start going on the road with Turner. She was just 10 or 11 when she led the band onstage for the first time. To get her to go on for him, Turner pretended to be sick, setting up Thomas to take over. “We were in Ohio, and I was so nervous, but Granddaddy was preparing me for the real thing,” Thomas said. “It was amazing, fun and scary all at the same time.” When Turner died in 2003, it was Thomas’ turn to take up her grandfather’s fife and lead the band for good. The 28-year-old Thomas, self-styled “Fifemastor,” said she never feels alone when she’s holding that fife. It’s as though Turner is still right there with her. “When I get onstage, everything blocks out, and it’s just me and him doing our thing,” Thomas said. “I have been in the studio with the band, and they say, ‘All right. We’re going to do this song.’ I’ve never heard the song before, so I go, ‘All right, Granddaddy. I need you.’ And I just whip that fife out and magic happens. It’s my magic wand.” Opposite: "Shardé Thomas," mixed media photograph by H.C. Porter, courtesy of H.C. Porter Gallery, hcporter.com/intro.asp.
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Thomas and the Rising Star Fife and Drum Band are featured in the documentary "Shardé Thomas: Legacy of the Fife," directed by Jeff Dennis and produced by Lifelong Productions. The film celebrates the history and future of north Mississippi hill country blues and has been submitted for release at several upcoming film festivals. View the trailer at facebook.com/invitationoxford.
Her story of feeling like the fife conjures up her grandfather’s presence isn’t surprising if you’ve ever heard the music. It’s a distinctly military-sounding drum cadence but played in a funkier, African-style polyrhythm. It seems to be alive with the spirits of the black musicians who have played it since the years after the Civil War. Even from the stage, Thomas says, she can see a certain look come across the faces of people experiencing the fife and drum sound for the first time. They seem to fall into a trance. “It’s a haunting sound,” Thomas said. “When you’re playing it, you’re in control. You have a chance to cast a spell on the crowd.” Apparently, she has even hypnotized famous people with her music. At the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Thomas was approached by someone she recognized. It was 1980s pop star Cyndi Lauper, who
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had been trying desperately to contact her. “When I finally saw her, she was like, ‘Girl, I’ve been trying to catch up with you,” Thomas said with a wide grin. “I’m like, ‘Me? Are you sure it’s the same person?’” Lauper proceeded to ask Thomas and her band to do an entire set with her at the festival. The pressure of appearing onstage with a seasoned performer like Lauper might seem intimidating to most people, but Thomas said she isn’t fazed; she’s got Magical and her grandfather both up there with her. It’s not just Thomas’ fife skills that are special. Rising Star Fife and Drum Band has recorded an album, “Interlude,” and is working on another one. Thomas’ soulful, smooth vocals cut through the drumming on numbers like “What Do I Do?” She covers traditional blues numbers like “Sittin’ on Top of the World,” but they’ve also done some more-offbeat covers like “Wild Thing”
INVITATION OXFORD | SEPTEMBER 2018
and even some Adele songs. And their song “Shimmy She Wobble” is featured on the soundtrack from the movie “Gangs of New York.” Thomas has built a name for herself on the festival circuit and keeps a busy tour schedule that includes recent destinations as far away as Switzerland and the Chicago Blues Festival, and closer to home, like the Foxfire Ranch in Waterford. Thomas has the potential to carve out a significant niche for herself and the band in the music world. It’s clear she’s aware of her unique talent, but she doesn’t come across as egotistical, just focused on keeping the fife and drum tradition alive. “At the moment, my focus is just on becoming a better fife player and getting the [band] to the next level and then to higher and higher places,” Thomas said. “I want the whole world to know about the Rising Star Fife and Drum Band. That’s my goal.”
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PAINTING THE TOWN L AUREL ARTIST ADAM TREST’S CHARMING RENDERINGS OF FAMILIAR LOCALES LEND A TOUCH OF HOMETOWN TO STATIONERY AND HOME GOODS. WRITTEN BY ANDI SHERRILL BEDSWORTH
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ART BY ADAM TREST
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PHOTOGRAPHED BY LEEANN MEADOWS
Maps are not a new form of home decor, but Adam Trest’s watercolor versions turn town squares, campus sections and other points of interest into little works of art. His use of watercolor to render the maps gives them an artistic flair that is sometimes missing in other maps. And Trest’s drafting skills and attention to detail ensure that the maps are not only beautiful but also accurate. “In my world, it’s important to me because I want it to be true to the place,” Trest said. His series includes maps of Natchez, Madison, Starkville and Oxford as well as Franklin, Tennessee. Each map includes little embellishments that hint at the location, such as rivers, boats and other symbols that characterize the town. In the Bay St. Louis map, the title is surrounded by a border of waves and fish. The map of Jackson Square in New Orleans features the Mississippi River, complete with a steamboat and horses and carriages lined up near the gate of the square. Trest studied architecture at Mississippi State before changing his degree track to earn a B.A. in art. Both interests coalesced when he illustrated a children’s book about his hometown. The book, “I Live in Laurel,” by Cyndi Trest and Karen Rasberry, included a map of the town. Trest’s interest in maps may go along with an innate desire to explore. In 2011, despite having no experience in sailing, he took a year off to live on a sailboat. “I knew that I wanted to go on an adventure, and that seemed like the best way to go about it,” Trest said. “I had family that lived in Fairhope, Alabama, so I docked the boat there, and I worked in their retail store. The sailboat was fun, but it was the opportunities that I got working with my aunt that gave me the retail bug. Managing her store was definitely a foreshadowing of me one day opening my own place.” SEPTEMBER 2018 | INVITATION OXFORD
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Trest’s store is Adam Trest Home, which he opened with his wife, Lily, in 2015. At the time, the store was one of only five shops on Magnolia Street in downtown Laurel. Now there are 15, and the area is thriving. The Trests are active in Laurel Main Street, a program that has been instrumental in the preservation and revitalization of the city’s business district for more than a decade. “My store is one of the many that have opened in the last two to three years that have taken a chance on a once dying downtown,” Trest said. “It is definitely a culmination of a lot of people putting in a lot of work and a lot of volunteer hours in the form of committees, festivals, economic restructuring, and the determination to make a community that we can be really proud of.” The designs for the collections Trest sells in his shop are inspired by his own life and are filled with a whimsicality, a sense of fun and his passion for his hometown of Laurel. Water and red boats are a popular theme, a nod to his nautical adventures. A nursery and children’s collection includes blankets printed with horses for his daughter Fincher and poppies for his daughter Poppy. Other themes include sheep, mermaids and, of course, maps. “Our life is a circus, so why not take advantage of it?” Trest said. Artist, adventurer, shopkeeper, community activist and family man, Trest is making the most of an inspired life. For more information, visit adamtrest.com. This page: Stationery, toile pillow and animal prints from the Adam Trest Home collection. Opposite: One of Trest’s city maps.
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no place like home F O R M O R E T H A N A C E N T U R Y, PA L M E R H O M E H A S O F F E R E D H E L P, HEALING AND HOPE TO CHILDREN WHO NEED IT MOST. WRITTEN BY CAITLIN ADAMS
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PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM
For the past 120 years, families across the Midsouth have been given a second chance thanks to Palmer Home for Children. Palmer Home is a nonprofit residential care program that provides a stable home for children who for various reasons can no longer live with their families. Palmer Home, which originally opened as an orphanage in 1898, offers shelter, food, clothing, education and emotional support to children of all ages, and financial support all the way through college. Today the home has two locations, Hernando and Columbus, housing more than 100 children at any given time. “Our goal is to give children a sense of normalcy, a place where they belong,” said Sarah Hollis, vice president of engagement at Palmer Home. That sense of normalcy starts inside a home’s four walls. The children live in individual residences run by caregiver couples who are responsible for everything from bedtimes to soccer practice hauls. “It’s like a little community,” Hollis said. “We are the answer a lot of children need.” The privately funded home differs from the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services, which can intervene without familial consent if the situation warrants. Palmer Home works with families of children affected by abuse, neglect or other trauma, with strict policies that keep siblings together and offer visitation opportunities to parents, with the ultimate goal of reunification. The program includes
home-cooked meals and shelter at no cost to the families and provides an individual experience for every child. “Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, we meet and formally discuss each child’s physical, emotional, educational and spiritual needs,” said Drake Bassett, president and CEO of Palmer Home. Each child is tested to gauge their education levels, and a curriculum is tailored to fit their specific needs. “They may be on a sixth-grade reading level but second-grade in math,” Hollis said. “We meet them where they are so they can succeed.” Educational opportunities vary. The Columbus campus has its own accredited
school that is led by retired schoolteachers, while children at the Hernando campus have the option of public or private school. For residents at Palmer Home, the day doesn’t end in the classroom. Licensed counselors provide on-site emotional support, and children participate in plenty of afterhours extracurricular activities. The options run the gamut, from summer camp and church events to dance lessons, horseback riding and other sports. “Everything I would do for my child is done for these children,” Hollis said. Children at Palmer Home live in residences with caregiver couples and attend services at Hope Chapel (pictured on previous page).
To support Palmer Home’s mission, mark your calendar for the third annual “Tailgate for Palmer,” a “watch party” experience that includes the best of Ole Miss tailgating: food, football and friends. All proceeds go directly to the operation of Palmer Home. Palmer Home does not receive state or federal funding. Each year, private donors raise $6.5 million to fund daily operations, mainly through individual, corporate and foundational donations. “It might be a $25 check or a $25,000 check — every dollar counts,” Hollis said.
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The Olivia and Archie Manning Athletics Performance Center October 27 7-11 p.m. Silent auction featuring sports experience packages Tailgating with food from local vendors and caterers View the weekend’s SEC football games on the Manning Center Jumbotron For more information, visit palmerhome.org/tailgate.
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Lifestyle Deserve
ETTA RIDGE, LLC ETTA RIDGE, LLC OX F O R D
YO U
E T TA R I D G E . C O M T OW N H O M E S F O R R E N T
662-202-8890 P RO P E R T I E S @ E T TA R I D G E . C O M
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L I T T L E R O C K O F F E R S O P T I O N S F O R F O O D A N D F U N T H AT W I L L P L E A S E T H E W H O L E FA M I LY.
Little Rock is both the capital city of Arkansas and its largest metropolitan area. Situated on the south bank of the Arkansas River, this bustling and historic town offers visitors plenty of choices in nightlife, culture, cuisine, festivals and family fun. Here are a few places to check out if you find yourself in “the River City.”
WRIT TEN BY ANTHONY M . PATE
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PHOTOS PROVIDED BY ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND TOURISM
Pinnacle Mountain State Park
PI N N AC L E MO U N TA I N S TAT E PA R K
PHOTO PROVIDED BY LITTLE ROCK CVB
If you love to experience the outdoors, Pinnacle Mountain State Park, just west of the city, has several walking paths and biking trails crossing through its 2,000-plus acres. Pinnacle Mountain itself rises more than 1,000 feet above the Arkansas River valley, and the view from the summit is breathtaking. While some trails are quite strenuous, others are fine for all ages, and some are wheelchair compatible. Check with park associates before you set out.
William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum
WILLIAM J. CLINTON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
This national archive is a behemoth in terms of both physical size and the historical value of the documents and items housed there. Regardless of where you are on the political spectrum, the multimedia museum has something for anyone interested in a closer look at the executive branch of our government, or in the ways that history, pop culture and politics intersect. The permanent collection includes documents and footage from historically significant occurrences, such as the signing of NAFTA, the Oklahoma City bombing, the Chemical Weapons Convention and Clinton’s impeachment proceedings. Recent temporary exhibits have ranged from one titled “Spies, Traitors and Saboteurs” to others focused on The Beatles, Nelson Mandela, fashion and animals in the White House. SEPTEMBER 2018 | INVITATION OXFORD
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PHOTOS PROVIDED BY JORDAN HOOD
Cajun’s Wharf
FO O D, D R INK S A ND E NTE R TA INME NT
The Root Cafe
For those who prefer something a bit lighter, The Root Cafe specializes in locally sourced breakfast, lunch and dinner dishes you can enjoy on its open patio. Southwest Little Rock, essentially the food court of Little Rock, has the most casual options for lunch or dinner. For Tex-Mex, check out Riviera Maya. At South on Main, music, literary readings and other live performances related to content in Oxford American magazine complement chef Matthew Bell’s creative menu. The restaurant serves traditional brunch, lunch and dinner dishes with nontraditional twists in an atmosphere of Southern culture and cuisine.
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PHOTOS PROVIDED BY DERO SANFORD AND RETT PEEK
Little Rock has its share of talented chefs and fare for foodies. With a 10,000-square-foot bar and a deck overlooking the Arkansas River, Cajun’s Wharf offers up creole and Cajun-inspired dishes and a regular roster of live music. Wash down that steak or plate of creole pasta with a perfect wine pairing or a Play De Do, the signature house rum drink.
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY IAN BEARD
Stone’s Throw
For open-mic comedy, The Looney Bin is a good place to relax with a drink and laugh at amateur comedians. The Discovery Nightclub is open every Saturday night if you find yourself in the mood for drinks and dancing. Beer lovers can check out a few of the city’s many breweries, like Stone’s Throw, Rebel Kettle and Lost Forty Brewing. The Flying Saucer Draft Emporium downtown is a great place to sample a variety of the craft beers Arkansas has to offer.
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY LITTLE ROCK CVB
Rock Town Distillery was Arkansas’ first legal distillery after Prohibition. The facility crafts its artisanal spirits using only locally sourced grains, such as corn, wheat and rye. Visitors can witness the grain-to-glass process by touring the facility, voted one of the 10 Best Southern Distillery Tours by USA Today.
The River Market District
THE RIVER MARKET DISTRICT
The River Market District, also downtown, is a great place to experience a variety of restaurants and bars, shopping, galleries and other attractions in one area. The Barn Mercantile is a general store that sells locally made goods and crafts. A farmers market takes place on Saturdays from May to September. You can also take a trolley ride on the city’s two historic streetcar lines running right through the area. SEPTEMBER 2018 | INVITATION OXFORD
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PHOTOS PROVIDED BY CHRISTEN BYRD
Loblolly’s
FOR KIDS
The Museum of Discovery
The Museum of Discovery in downtown Little Rock has activities for children of all ages, like the Tesla Theater, the Tornado Alley Theater and the Amazing You exhibit that demonstrates various faculties of the human body. The museum was recently reopened, with a renewed focus on getting kids interested in the STEM fields. The Little Rock Zoo houses more than 700 animals across 200 species on 33 acres of land. It has several events specifically for children, like the Twilight Hikes, which highlight the creatures of the night, and the “ARrrr Birding” class, where children learn about various Arkansas bird species, with a pirate twist.
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PHOTOS PROVIDED BY LITTLE ROCK CVB
South of the River Market District is Loblolly Creamery on Main Street. Loblolly’s small-batch ice cream is handcrafted with fresh, local ingredients to create signature and seasonal flavors like Rock Town Bourbon Pecan and Dunbar Garden Fresh Lavender. House-made cookies, brownies and buttercream macarons are baked fresh every day.
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TEAMS FROM 14 RESTAURANTS AND ONE SOLO BARTENDER VIE FOR THE TITLE OF IRON BARTENDER IN THE THIRD ANNUAL COMPETITION. INTERVIEWED BY ALLISON ESTES
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T H E V E LV E T DITCH
When Mason Payne entered the Iron Bartender competition, part of the ART-er Limits Fringe Festival in August, he knew it was a long shot. The rest of the bartenders had restaurants backing them. Payne had to go it alone. Undaunted, he took on the other 14 teams and came in second with his signature cocktail, recently rechristened The Velvet Ditch. Here, he talks about the competition and his craft. Q: How did you end up entering without a sponsor? I had left [my previous bartending job] and didn’t at all think I’d be in the competition. But some of the teams dropped out, and a friend told me about it. [He] contacted Wayne [Andrews] and said I’d be interested in filling the void, and I guess Wayne was on board with it. My friend Griffin gave me a couple of supplies and said, “Good luck.” All these other guys got a restaurant kitchen. I kind of had to do it out of my kitchen. Q: How does the competition work? Every team gets randomly assigned alcohol about a week ahead so you can kind of play around with flavors. I ended up getting Macallan 12-year Scotch, which I thought would be difficult. Q: I don’t even like Scotch, but that was a delicious drink. How did you develop the recipe? I decided to make something that would have a broad range and reach the most people in terms of palatability. When I was coming up with the recipe, I played around with a bunch of different flavors. I had an idea that cherry and orange would go together with Scotch — it was doublecask, which is different from regular 12-year, a bit more smoky. I didn’t want to hide the
1 ounce Macallan 12-year double-cask Scotch ¼ ounce Grand Marnier ¼ ounce fresh lime juice, plus zest for garnish ½ ounce hibiscus syrup (recipe below) Small pinch salt Shake vigorously with a scoop of ice for about 10 seconds, and double strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with lime zest.
Scotch; I wanted to incorporate the flavors into the Scotch. I played around and couldn’t get anything quite right — I can be a perfectionist sometimes. I had a plumber and a maintenance man come over one morning, and I was cooking breakfast and making cocktails. Honestly how it fell together … I think I stopped working on it the night before about 2 o’clock in the morning. Q: What were the final ingredients? I used Grand Marnier, then lime juice to help balance some of the sweetness. For the syrup, I took hibiscus flowers and made a syrup using dark brown sugar. I added some spiced cherry bitters, chocolate bitters and Angostura bitters. I started to use champagne on the top but didn’t want to lose the flavors of the Scotch and end up with a Frankenstein drink. Q: You were judged on the taste of the cocktail but also on your bartending skills. You had to serve 250 people — the teams went through 3,000 tasting cups in three hours. Were you prepared for that kind of crowd? If you’re serving a lot of people quickly, you want to make big-batch mixes for speed’s sake. I want to only touch three bottles before I start shaking. I mixed
HIBISCUS SYRUP 1 cup water ½ cup dried hibiscus flowers 1 cup dark brown sugar Zest from 1 lime ½ teaspoon spiced cherry bitters ½ teaspoon chocolate bitters ½ teaspoon aromatic bitters (such as Angostura) Heat water on medium, and add hibiscus flowers. Taste after 2-5 minutes. After the water takes on a strong hibiscus flavor, add sugar and lime zest, and cook for 10-15 minutes. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes; then add bitters and remove from heat. Allow to cool. Strain and bottle, discarding solids. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Add 1 ounce of vodka to store for up to 1 month.
The Yoknapatawpha Arts Council is the official charity of Cathead Vodka. Proceeds from the Iron Bartender competition fund arts and cultural events that are part of the Fringe Festival.
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MAKIN’ LEMONS OUT TA LEMONADE 1½ ounces gin ¾ ounce fresh lemon juice ¾ ounce oleo saccharum (recipe at right) Shake with ice, and strain into a rocks glass. Garnish with candied lemon peel (recipe below).
the Grand Marnier and the syrup [in one bottle]. A pinch of salt helps everything mix together better. Q: You had some formidable opponents: Jake Loyer, who won the competition, and Joe Stinchcomb, who was voted People’s Choice for best bartender. What did you expect, going in? I went in just to have fun. I asked my friend Wesley to help me. This year’s competition was fierce, and I knew that going into it, but I was still surprised by how awesome all the drinks were. I set up my station early and immediately went to Jake’s table to see what he was mixing, and of course it was delicious. Next I went to Ivy [McLellan] and tasted his cocktail and, again, delicious. Then I went to Joe, and this guy hands me a carrot and sweet potato bourbon cocktail that was so creative and very, very tasty. I went back to my table and told my partner to shake like he has never before because these guys have brought their A game.
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Q: What did you think when they announced the finalists? When they called my name as runnerup, I said, “Oh my gosh!” and I started jumping up and down. I couldn’t believe it. Q: After all that hard work, how do you feel about sharing your recipe? I share all my recipes now. I figure, if people make them, at least when I go over to their house I’m going to get a good drink! I honestly think that by posting them, it helps the cocktail community as a whole. If someone is new to mixing or is just looking for inspiration to build their own cocktail and they use my recipe that I worked hard to create, then I’m sure to get a great cocktail from someone else down the road. Plus, imitation is the highest form of flattery, so I’d actually be delighted for someone to love my recipe and want to use it. It also helps me push myself to know the competition is on my heels. For more recipes by Mason Payne, find him on Instagram @rooftopbarkeep.
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OLEO SACCHARUM
(SWEET OIL SYRUP) This is the basic recipe for the syrup, but it is very versatile, and all kinds of other flavors can be added. Try it with different fruits or herbs like thyme, mint, sage or lavender. Peels from 15 lemons* (avoid the pith) 8 ounces sugar Combine peels and sugar in a ziplock bag. Press all the air out, and seal. Refrigerate overnight. Strain and bottle the syrup. *Use juice from the peeled lemons for the gin lemonade drink at left.
CANDIED LEMON PEEL 3 lemons 4 cups water, divided 2 cups sugar, plus more for coating the peels Cut each lemon into 8 wedges. Remove the fruit pulp, leaving the pith intact on the peel. In a large saucepan, combine 2 cups water and the lemon peels, and bring to a boil. When the water boils, strain out the peels, and discard the water. This step helps to reduce the bitterness. Combine 2 cups fresh water with 2 cups sugar. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Reduce heat to low, and stir in lemon peels. Simmer until the white pith is translucent, about 15-20 minutes and up to 40 minutes, depending on the thickness of the peels. Remove peels, and toss in a bowl of granulated sugar to fully coat the peels. Lay them on a rack to dry for a few hours. Seal in an airtight container, and store at room temperature.
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Fins Up! Meet Tony
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FAN ATICS S AT U R D AY S I N T H E G R O V E A R E A M A I N S TAY F O R O L E M I S S FA N S , B U T F O R S O M E , T H E G A M E D AY E X P E R I E N C E D O E S N ’ T S T O P W H E N T H E R E B E L S A R E O N T H E R O A D.
WRITTEN BY CAITLIN ADAMS
Every fall, thousands of Ole Miss fans spend Saturdays rooting for the Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. But a few think nothing of hitting the road to wherever the schedule beckons. These “superfans” have spent countless nights in Fayetteville as rowdy Razorbacks belt the hog call, and many sweaty afternoons sandwiched among the Crimson Tide. They’ve caravanned to every SEC football campus and traveled cross-country, in some instances more than 4,000 miles in a weekend, to cheer on the red and blue. Come rain, shine, sickness or snow, these fans are a fixture in the stands, no matter the game day location.
Tupelo resident Chuck Hankins has attended every Ole Miss football game since 1991. That’s 323 consecutive games,
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ILLUSTRATED BY SAR AH McCULLEN AND JAKE THR A SHER
to be exact. It’s a tradition that dates back to his childhood. “It’s my dad’s fault for dragging me to home games when I was little,” Hankins said, laughing. Today Hankins’ parents are in their 80s but never miss a home game. Their son takes his devotion a step further. Hankins travels the country with his wife, Donna, using the football schedule as their travel itinerary for the fall. “They only play 12 or 13 games a year,” Hankins said. “Why would I miss one?” Hankins did not realize the magnitude of his Rebel devotion until 2010, when friends jokingly questioned why he was traveling to The Golden State for a game of pigskin. It was then that he realized he had not missed a game since the early ’90s. Now that he’s calculated the number of
consecutive games he’s attended, Hankins plans to keep on trekking. “I don’t know what the magic number is when I’ll stop,” he said. “But it’s not anytime soon.” This season, Hankins lists the Houston season opener as the trip he’s most looking forward to, due to the new destination and the excitement of seeing the Rebels play at NRG Stadium. Despite the thousands of travel miles he’s logged and the roller coaster of elation and heartbreak at all those games, Hankins keeps the four quarters each Saturday in perspective. “When it’s all said and done, it’s kids playing a game, and that’s all it will ever be,” Hankins said. “It’s meant to be fun. There are a lot of other things to get upset about.”
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Oxford couple Doug Alexander and Kristina Carlson attend every Ole Miss football game, rain or shine. It’s a tradition they’ve continued since the late ’90s, except for a few absences on Carlson’s part. The couple list fan favorites like beating Alabama back-to-back and Eli’s final season as some of their most memorable games, but they say the Texas A&M campus is their favorite game day destination to date. “It just has a beautiful tradition, the people there are so friendly, and they tailgate in the same way we do,” Carlson said. “It’s not easy to get to, by any means, but well worth going to.” Alexander is a pilot in his spare time, so the couple are able to fly to some games. And they make the trips about more than just football. When the Rebels head southeast to play LSU, they travel with a group of friends and spend the weekend in New Orleans. While in College Station in 2016, the duo rented a home near campus, ate like locals, and made a stop at the George H.W. Bush Library Center. “We try to do other things beyond [just going to] the games,” Carlson said.
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But every college campus is not created equal. While Alexander and Carlson plan extended trips when visiting some campuses — UC Berkeley, Florida and LSU, to name a few — they make a quick entrance and exit in other SEC towns. “Pretty much everybody knows that [Mississippi] State and Arkansas aren’t the places we are getting fired up to go to,” Alexander said. “But that doesn’t mean we don’t go.” The couple always travel to these games, but the visits are often purely football business. “A lot of times we’ve gone to a game in Arkansas and finished the night with dinner on the Square,” Alexander said.
Sept. 1 will be Carolyn “Cack” Norquist and Terry Krutz’s 229th consecutive Ole Miss football game. “The last game we missed was Oct. 2, 1999,” Norquist said. “We just want to be at all the games to cheer on the Rebels through the good and bad times.” Krutz and Norquist, who live in Leland,
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drive to most away games (they fly to Colorado and California). Like Alexander and Carlson, they count College Station as one of their favorite SEC towns to venture to every other season. “We’ve never had a cross word with anyone there,” Krutz said. “All you’ve got to do is remember to say ‘howdy.’” But sometimes, there’s no place like home (field). Krutz and Norquist say no SEC campus compares to the one here in Oxford. It’s where they met their “tailgating crew,” a group of fellow fans with whom they look forward to spending seven weekends in the fall. “All of our friends are from all over the state,” Krutz said. “We just happened to meet because of where we parked one time.” Some of the tailgate group hit the road together, but Oxford is their guaranteed time to cheer on the Rebels together under stadium lights. It’s this camaraderie that keeps them purchasing season tickets year after year. “The people are really what make us go back,” Norquist said. “We love the football, but the people are truly what make it.”
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KICKER HAS MADE A NAME FOR HERSELF ON AND OFF THE FIELD.
WRITTEN BY MEL ANIE CROWNOVER PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM
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The reception Pontotoc High School senior Taylor Hughes gets on the football field isn’t always heartwarming, but she never thought being the only female on the gridiron would be easy. Other players, coaches and fans had varying opinions on whether the 6-foot-3 kicker should play when Pontotoc High School revealed their team roster last year. At her first football camp off campus, one of the hosting coaches shouted, “Hey! The softball field is over there!” before he realized she was in the right place. During her first game, the opposing team targeted her with a heavy tackle that silenced people in the bleachers until she jumped to her feet to kick the rest of a winning game. “That’s just part of it,” she said. “My team doesn’t care that I’m a girl, but some of the others guys have definitely let me know that they don’t think I should be out there. That’s okay, though. We have an amazing offensive line that protects me like family.” Taylor has worked overtime to prove she belongs on the football field since coach Jeff Carter invited her to try out for the spot that was left open when his son, the former kicker, graduated. “She was worth the risk,” he said. “I know there aren’t a lot of females on the football teams around here. I had to pull a couple of guys to the side at first and say, ‘When she puts on those pads, you support her like any other teammate,’ but it was a nonissue when they saw what she can do. “I’ve never babied her or pulled any punches. The courage meter she has to play — in a man’s world on that field competitively in that position under all that pressure — is off the charts.” Taylor’s confidence in stepping into a new sport as a high school junior comes
partly from having competed in sports most of her life. She has played soccer since she was 3, including with championship-winning travel teams in the area, such as the Brilla Juniors out of Jackson and the Mississippi Flood Futbol Club out of Oxford, until her football schedule pulled her off the circuit last year. She began playing volleyball in eighth grade and has been on the high school varsity team since 10th grade.
Last football season Taylor scored three out of four field goals, made 33 of 36 attempted extra points, had 15 kickoffs and made two tackles with the Warriors. Her longest kick at practice reached 50 yards; her longest in a game was 37 yards. Taylor sat out three games due to injury, but the team finished the year 10-2. Thanks to those numbers, she was invited to multiple high-profile camps this summer: Manning Camp for Girls in New Orleans; Brian Jackson Pro Kicking Camp in Pensacola, Florida; Chris Sailer Kicking Camps in South Carolina and Los Angeles; and the Southern Elite Top 150 in Brookhaven. Taylor opted to attend only one camp — the Ole Miss Specialist Camp — because her off-field talents were also demanding her attention. In addition to her impressive athletic resume, Taylor maintains a 3.56 grade point average. She’s also a talented vocalist.
In June, she attended invitational tryouts for NBC’s hit show “The Voice” after recruiters found video of her singing on Instagram. She didn’t make it to the televised rounds, but she was asked to return to audition again in the future. “She’s made it into choir at school; there’s just been no time for it because of all her sports activities,” her mother, Alisha Hughes, said. “If it’s something she wants to pursue, I have no doubt she can because she has a real dedication for what she loves. The way she’s adapted to football is proof.” This summer Taylor became part of the Kick It Campaign, created by Alex’s Lemonade Stand, a nationwide philanthropy that funds children’s cancer research. The campaign lets an athlete’s fans pledge a specific monetary donation for each point the athlete scores during a season. Taylor is participating in honor of her mother, who is a breast cancer survivor, and became the first Mississippi athlete to join. She set her fundraising goal for the 2018-19 season at $2,000. She plans to play both football and volleyball in high school again this fall, as well as participate in travel soccer in the spring. Taylor says she would like to major in education when she graduates and has already committed to Itawamba Community College to play soccer. Her football career beyond high school is still unknown. “I honestly would like to play in college now because I feel like it’s one of my main sports. That’s why I was willing to pass on travel soccer last year for it,” Taylor said. “I have all these little girls come up to take pictures with me after the games, and it makes me want to keep going — maybe go on to be the first girl kicker in the SEC. I want them to see that you can do anything you want if you work for it.”
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MEET TONY T H E N E W F I E R C E B U T F R I E N D LY R E B E L S M A S C OT HITS THE FIELD AND THE COURT THIS MONTH.
WRIT TEN BY JOHN DAVIS PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM LOGOS PROVIDED BY OLE MISS ATHLE TICS
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Interactive. Playful and agile. Athletic ability. These were just some of the many traits used to design the new landshark mascot for the University of Mississippi. “Tony the Landshark” is named for the late Tony Fein, a former linebacker for Ole Miss and originator of the now-familiar “fins up” sign. The team that brought together the implementation of the mascot first met in November 2017. It included representatives from the UM student body, former mascot performers, the spirit squad leadership, marketing and other areas. The former black bear mascot was voted out, and the Landshark Launch Committee was formed to bring the new mascot to life. Micah Ginn, the associate athletics director for sports productions and creative services, served on the committee and was heavily involved in the process. One of the main goals was to produce a suit, and a look, that would allow the mascot to be able to dunk a basketball, run up a flight of stairs or even surf the crowd during a game. “We wanted him to bring energy,” Ginn said. “That initial committee met,
and it wasn’t [about] what this landshark mascot was going to look like but rather who is this landshark mascot? What is the personality? That’s where it had to start. Once we determined the different kinds of things he was going to do, then we knew the suit needed to be x, y and z. We did not want to limit him on the physical aspect.” Once the physical aspect had been determined, the focus was on appearance, and from the neck up, Tony is all shark. Ginn said the committee wanted to balance a certain fierceness with a friendliness that would appeal to children. “We didn’t want him to be a cartoon, but we didn’t want him to look so real that everyone would run away from him,” Ginn said. “I think he’s got a lot of life in his face. A lot of detail. And warmth, approachability.” The committee didn’t want an “off-therack” shark; they wanted something brand new, that nobody else had. Rare Design, the same branding company that developed the current look for the Memphis Grizzlies, helped with the early look of the mascot. Jessee Clarkson of Nascent Perspective
Studios finalized the rubber face of Tony the Landshark. Clarkson, who helped design the Iron Man costume, has worked in the art department for a number of other feature films, including “Terminator Salvation” and “Sharknado 3.” “This guy has been created from absolute scratch,” Ginn said. “We just got the second round of costume in [early August], and we were very pleased. He had just been sketches on paper for half of a year, and suddenly here is the landshark in the room, doing barrel rolls. It was really exciting to have that meeting and then to start rehearsing and all that is involved with that. We were so excited for the landshark to make land and give the fans the ‘fins up.’” Ryan O’Connor, the spirit squad coordinator who works directly with the cheer team, said the suit was different than any other mascot she had worked with. O’Connor wasn’t sure what a shark actually felt like, but she thinks Tony comes close. “Mascots typically have that fake fur or foam,” O’Connor said. “This is like a high-quality rubber and feels like what I guess a shark feels like. It moves around.
It’s flexible. We’re always looking out for our performers’ safety, and this is probably the best suit for that. It is much lighter and slimmer than Rebel was or at my last school [UAB], where we were a dragon. We can just move around so much better now.” Once the suit finally arrived, O’Connor started the tryout process. The goal was to find candidates that were similar in height and build. O’Connor expects to have between five and eight students wear the
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landshark suit at various events throughout the year. “All of my students are excited,” O’Connor said. “They have all put on the costume and all thought it was so much more breathable and that they could see so much more.” The mascot typically performs at more than 300 events during the year. Usually, tryouts for the mascot are held in the spring to allow plenty of time to prepare.
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“We had to do everything in like four days instead of all summer because we didn’t have the suit to train in,” O’Connor said. Tony made his first appearance to fans at Meet the Rebels August 11. Later in the month, he visited St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital along with other SEC mascots to interact with kids and promote the Mascot Games. Tony’s first football game is the 2018 season opener against Texas Tech in Houston.
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CALLING THE SHOTS R E B E L S P L AY-B Y-P L AY A N N O U N C E R D AV I D K E L LU M TA L K S A B O U T T H E H I G H S A N D L O W S OF A 40-PLUS-YEAR CAREER CALLING GAMES FOR ALL THREE MA JOR SEC SPORTS. WRITTEN BY ALLISON ESTES
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You most likely know him as the “Voice of the Rebels.” You may also know that Ole Miss sportscaster David Kellum has no shortage of laurels — among them having been named Mississippi Sportscaster of the Year no less than eight times by the National Sports Media Association. Director of broadcasting for Ole Miss IMG Radio Network since 2014, Kellum was a DJ in high school, owned his own radio station by age 26, and is one of just a few play-by-play announcers in the SEC who handles all three major sports. Who is the guy behind all the accolades and the mic? Kellum describes himself as just a “normal dude.” On the job, though, he’s all about his audience. “I’m pretty much an extension of the fans,” Kellum said. “I’m an Ole Miss person, so I’m trying to make Ole Miss people happy.” Kellum is known for bringing an infectious enthusiasm to his announcing, which he attributes to having started so young. He played sports in high school, but knew he wasn’t really good enough to take it to the next level. Broadcasting seemed like the next best bet. “It was my way to stay connected with sports without having to be a coach or something like that,” Kellum said. His big break in broadcasting was a case of being in the right place at the right time. In 1977 Ole Miss was hosting the first SEC baseball tournament ever. It was May, and most of the students and were gone. WCBH campus radio station manager James Bailey came into the rotunda of Bryant Hall, where Kellum was hanging around waiting for his mom, and blurted out, “I got to find somebody to do these games!”
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PHOTOGRAPHED BY TIMOTHY IV Y
Kellum happened to overhear Bailey’s remark and volunteered. “He wheeled and looked at me, and he said, ‘Who are you?’ I said, ‘I’m David Kellum.’ He said, ‘Do you think you can do ’em?’ I said, ‘Sure!’ “I’d never done a game in my life,” Kellum said, with a chuckle. “I went over and I did the SEC tournament for the campus radio station as a high school senior. I don’t think he knew it. And I sure wasn’t going to tell him.” That led to a job at the local Oxford radio station, WSUH, and the opportunity to do play-by-play for the high school football team. The following year, Kellum “inherited” Ole Miss baseball. At 26, he started a radio station, J-107, which later became FM 98, where he worked for years, until he made the difficult decision to sell his share of the station and devote himself entirely to sports announcing. “It was tough on me,” Kellum said. “I had been in music and programming and been a disc jockey for all those years and just really, really loved the music side of radio. But the sports thing was getting to be too demanding, and it was probably the right time for me to do it.” Since making the switch, Kellum hasn’t looked back. His favorite thing about what he does for a living, besides meeting coaches and players, is just doing it. “When you actually broadcast the game, you’re much more into the game itself,” Kellum said. “It keeps me young. I mean, gosh, I’m around 18-, 19-, 20-yearolds all the time that are just phenomenally gifted athletes. That part of it’s neat. I always had a desire to be one of them to some degree, and so this is a way to
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stay close to it without, you know, actually being a player. And the cool thing is I get to keep doing it over and over and over and over again.” Baseball is still Kellum’s favorite sport, followed by basketball. Football is the most difficult of the three. “I love the game, but with two spotters and a statistician, and a producer in your ear, I’m almost like a puppet on a string in trying to watch what’s going on with as few mistakes as possible,” Kellum said. “Some people claim basketball’s the hardest. It’s actually easy for me because I already talk so fast. But baseball I started so far back. And I’ve just continued to do so many games, and I just enjoy it.” Life in broadcasting isn’t always as easy
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or glamorous as it may seem, though. “They think you just show up and oh, there’s David on the radio,” Kellum said. “But there’s, you know, hours and hours of prep before every game. It’s 10 months of go, go, go, go, go, and it gets pretty difficult. It’s not just the 9-to-5 part of it; it’s the traveling, being gone. I get tickled at a coach who complains, ‘Boy, this is a grind.’ Oh, really? I’m in my third sport. I don’t want to hear about your grind.” The intense schedule can be tough on your personal life. Kellum gives himself a B on “family stuff,” though he’s promised to make it up to his wife, Mary. He doesn’t know when, exactly, but sometime in the not-too-distant future, he’ll pass the baton. “I’m going to walk away when I think
INVITATION OXFORD | SEPTEMBER 2018
it’s the right time,” Kellum said. “I still have a passion for it. I love what I do. Sometimes by the end of the year it’s like too much ice cream. I’ve done it and done it and done it. But I still want our teams to win and go as far as they can go. And I love being part of it. If that passion should wane, I’d probably walk away. But I’m still burning pretty hard. “It’s really funny,” he adds. “I’ve had parents come up to me and say, ‘He’s going to be you someday!’ And I put the years to it and I say, ‘No, he’s not going to be me, not unless they fire me, he’s not going to be me.’ But I had a kid at Meet the Rebels, like an 8-year-old, and his daddy said, ‘He wants to be the Voice of the Rebels some day.’ And it kind of hit me, and I said, ‘You know what? You might be the one.’”
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TRIVIA
PHOTOGRAPHED BY SARAH McCULLEN
Lafayette County Literacy Council hosted Genius Trivia July 10 at The Blind Pig. All proceeds will benefit the Dolly Parton Imagination Library book program, which provides monthly books to more than 700 children in Lafayette County. View more photos at invitationoxford.com.
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1. Stephan Roberts and Sandra Spiroff 2. Kerry Hollowell and Kristy Bishop 3. Bill Ritter, Kim Byler, Brian Mullins, Christina Cafiero and Doug Odom 4. Sam Howle and Harley Cook 5. Norah, Natalie and Andrew Baeshen with Susan and Jimmy Brown 6. Martha Hitch and Kay Meadors 7. Adam Flaherty and Kendall Hardy 8. Shea and Katherine Stewart
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Nails & Hair 380-5056 • 2625 W Oxford Loop Suite C Oxford, MS
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BARTENDER PHOTOGRAPHED BY SARAH McCULLEN
The 2018 Iron Bartender competition was held Aug. 9 at the Powerhouse. The contest kicked off the ART-er Limits Fringe Festival with teams from north Mississippi restaurants. Bartenders were judged on their bartending skills and their signature cocktail. View more photos at invitationoxford.com.
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1. Jake Loyer and Maddie Manansala 2. Plicca Watt, Andrew Wade and Lennon Caldwell 3. Jesse Thomas and Brian Fisher 4. Hanna Teevan and Louisa Ely 5. Amanda Williams and Will Little 6. Jon Michael Wimberly and Joey Johnson
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IRON
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7. Laura Milam, Mary Margaret Andrews, Paulina Afentakis and Daniel Perea 8. Simsie Shaw and George Schaff 9. Matt Dellinger and Miranda Siebert 10. Andrew George, Paige Barnum and Tony Halcin 11. Shellie and Patrick Carr 12. Jody Frierson, Heather Cray and Josh Bodie
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REBEL S
PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM
Meet the Rebels was held Aug. 11 at the Manning Center. The event was a chance for fans to interact with the Ole Miss athletic teams, staff, spirit squad and cheerleaders. The event debuted the new on-field mascot, Tony the Landshark. View more photos at invitationoxford.com.
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1. Tyler Wiley with Max and Jason Elliott 2. Caroline Adams, Nayo Warnell, Emily Stroup and Nicole Purcell 3. Malaysia Buford with Zharia, Daylin, Zoe and Tonya Metcalf 4. Ryan Cole with Calyn, Carsyn and Lynn Cole 5. Johnny and Tammy Comeaux with Jordyn Prattini and Angela and Mossy Mueller 6. Bailey Swearingen and Whitney Converse
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MEE T
THE
REBEL S
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7. Deashia, Juanita, Dekeshia and Markael Jones 8. Zakhia Taylor and Hannah Asmus 9. Kelsey Cameron and Tori Peeler 10. James Northern, Chase Hall and Erica Northern 11. Landon Harper, Blake Beadles and Luke Harper 12. Kendrick and Lakeshia Jones with Nellie Jones Harris and Kaelyn and Shomond Harris
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COMMODORES
PHOTOGRAPHED BY SARAH McCULLEN
Meet the Commodores was held Aug. 9 at the Lafayette High School football field. Players and coaches from the middle and high school football teams held a meet-andgreet with fans. 1
View more photos at invitationoxford.com.
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1. Cheryl Hughes, Kim Phillips, Cindy Ross and Tonya Woods 2. Reece Carwile, Ally Bryan and Ella Shelton 3. Tyrus Williams, Drew Dabney and Randy Anderson 4. Ally Withrow, Sydney Pace and Emily Smith 5. Jamie Shaw, Michael Fair and Brandon Turnage 6. Keyanna Buford and Takiah Booker 7. Talia and Saniyah Herod with Mallory Dunn 8. Mary-Hamilton Bennett, Jordan Heuser and Ava Courser 9. Brenden Toles, Tylen Kinds and Rian Stokes
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M ANCHESTER
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ORCHESTR A
PHOTOGRAPHED BY MEGAN WOLFE
American indie rock band Manchester Orchestra performed Aug. 9 at The Lyric Oxford. The event featured opening acts Kevin Devine and (Sandy) Alex G.
View more photos at invitationoxford.com.
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1. Kyle Owens, Jaden Money and Ellen Owens 2. Ben Wilson, Alaina Grace, Bailey Lane and Bobby Cook 3. Ken and Kim Adcock 4. John Paul Dove and Leslie Lee 5. Evan Walters and Jill McVan 6. Elizabeth Black with Aaron Carnahan 7. Carter Eakin and Josh Hatcher 8. Cindy Cantrell and Donna Buckley 9. Meg Gardner and Jess Burns 10. Frank and Connie Betts
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INVITATION OXFORD | SEPTEMBER 2018
Get Game Day ready with KENDRA SCOTT 662.578.0290 • 377 Hwy 51 N Batesville, MS 38606 f SEPTEMBER 2018 | INVITATION OXFORD
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TRUCK
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FIGHT
PHOTOGRAPHED BY MEGAN WOLFE
Local food trucks and charities teamed up for the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council’s third annual Food Truck Fight Aug. 12 at the Armory Pavilion. The family-friendly event featured music, outdoor games and a raffle. 1
View more photos at invitationoxford.com.
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1. Marcus Lee, Lisa Buford Thompson, Ryan Buford and Michael Thompson 2. Lamar Munn and Jarrett Bingham with Debbie and Barrett Munn and Ali and Journey Bingham 3. Meghan and Declan Ray 4. Kyra Kendrick with Albert and Charlie Ball 5. LeAnne and Sam Kendricks 6. Anna Williams Cochran, Mary Holt Mack and Sara Grace Davis 7. Harper, Derek and Chloe Johnson with Tess Johnson and Alex Sanchez 8. Danny and Lauren Klimetz 9. Caelyn Ditz and Miles Armaly 10. Bryant and Shelli Poole
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WATERMELON CARNIVAL PHOTOGRAPHED BY SARAH McCULLEN
The 49th annual Water Valley Watermelon Carnival was held Aug 2-4. The event included music, food vendors, arts and crafts booths, street dance, a parade, an antique car show, a 3K run and fireworks. View more photos at invitationmag.com.
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1. Beth Brady Teubert, Kathy Pullen and Edith Aguayo 2. Carlton Howard, Roger Harmon Jr. and Dale Hall 3. Brent, Dalton and Debbie Rogers with Kizer Yount 4. Guinevere, Eric and Melissa Hess 5. Tiara Walker, Kenneth Johnson and Shawna Foster 6. Della, Andrew and Cali-Grace Rupp
Lets Go Rebs! MONDAY - SATURDAY 10:00-6:00 SUNDAY 12:00-4:00 662.234.8383 OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI
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WATERMELON CARNIVAL
continued
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7. Scott Watkins and Waylon Irby 8. Colby Massey with Callie Jordan and Robert Pierce 9. Sa’rye Phillips with Shauntika and Mason Harris 10. Valerie, Colly and Stacy Ewing 11. Chandler Windham and Jake Willingham 12. Sheila and Alkens Campbell
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AND
BLUES
PHOTOGRAPHED BY MEGAN WOLFE
The Oxford Charger Booster Club hosted the fourth annual Boosters and Blues fundraiser, “Charging Back to the ’80s,”Aug. 4 at the Powerhouse. Proceeds from the ’80s musicthemed event benefit Oxford Middle and High School athletics. 1
View more photos at invitationoxford.com.
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1. Sarah and Michael McLellan 2. Brian and Elizabeth Harvey with MerriBeth and Jim Catalano 3. Joe and Karen Swingle with Matt and Donna Strum 4. Chris and Rhonda Rousseau 5. Keri and Patrick Meagher with Stephanie Roy 6. Lindsey and Brett Estes 7. Jessica Dennis, Julie Yoste, Beverly Thompson, Mary Beth Mobley and Monica Johnson 8. Heidi and Warren Smith 9. Jason and Lori Solinger 10. Ginny Abraham and Mary Margaret Case 11. Sarah Liddy and Rebecca Hutchins 12. Lynnette and Tal Johnson 13. Patrick McDonnell and Geoffrey Yoste
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BOOSTERS AND BLUES
continued
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SUMMERFEST PHOTOGRAPHED BY SARAH McCULLEN
Oxford Square Alliance held its annual Summerfest July 28. The family-friendly event featured sidewalk sales, sno-cones, face painting and children’s activities.
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1. Jessie, Gene, David and John Wang 2. Brandon Flowers with Tomisina and Carlie Tallie and Kingston Flowers 3. Houston, Sarabeth and Amy Shackelford 4. Daniel and Caroline Norris 5. LaToya and Charlotte Faulk 6. Kenji and Christopher Shurmann with Sarah Nguyen 7. Campbell and Fletcher Atkinson 8. Esmeralda Neumann, Vijaya Pandya and Liliana Neumann 9. LeeLee Seicshnaydre and Ella Thompson 10. Jacob and Dan Stearns
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Let us get your home ready for
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NEW MERCHANDISE ARRIVING DAILY Monday - Friday 10am - 5:30pm • Saturday 9am - 4pm 764 North Lamar Blvd. Oxford, MS • 662- 638-3828 www.oilshedoxford.com SEPTEMBER 2018 | INVITATION OXFORD
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ACE ATKINS BOOK SIGNING PHOTOGRAPHED BY MEGAN WOLFE
Square Books hosted an event July 17 with New York Times best-selling author Ace Atkins, author of 23 books. “The Sinners” is the eighth installment in Atkins’ Quinn Colson series. 1
View more photos at invitationmag.com.
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1. Nan Gaudet, Ace Atkins and Gary Summers 2. Shelby, Greg and Toni Parker 3. Chris Offutt, Joey Lauren Adams and Brian Vilim 4. Rebecca Lauck Cleary, Angela Atkins and Rosie McDavid 5. Cecilia and Sam Marshall 6. Katherine Howell and Kathleen Downs 7. Cynthia Newsome and Meghan Anderson
OXFORD FAMILY CLINIC
Providing Primary and Urgent Health Care Across The Lifespan
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Michelle Cullen, FNP/Owner
662-238-7860
Mon-Thur 8:00am-5:00pm • Friday 8:00am-12:00pm Most insurances accepted
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DOCUMENTARY
RECIPE
L AUNCH
PHOTOGRAPHED BY MEGAN WOLFE
Southside Gallery held a launch party Aug. 8 to announce the first authorized documentary about William Faulkner, “The Past is Never Dead,” produced by Hudson Hickman, Lee Caplin and Anita Modak-Truran. 1
View more photos at invitationoxford.com.
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1. Maggie and Robyn Tannehill with Jim Bulian 2. Ana Lampton Triplett and Michael Modak-Truran 3. Bill Luckett and Conroy Canter with Kari and Bart Sutherland 4. Jacqueline Modak, Anita Modak-Truran, Jane McLarty and Ann Abadie 5. Dale Abadie and Sparky Reardon 6. Michael Varner and Cathy McClinton 7. Shannon Cohn and Susan Hickman
September 11 – October 6 New works by Ansley Givhan Artist’s Reception: Thursday, September 13th, 5 – 8 PM 662.234.9090 www.southsideartgallery.com 150 Courthouse Square • Oxford, Mississippi
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SEPTEMBER 2018 | INVITATION OXFORD
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UNITED
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ALL
C A MP
PHOTOGRAPHED BY SARAH McCULLEN
The third annual 21 United of Mississippi All Camp was held July 6-7 at Hopewell Camp & Conference Center. The family event included children’s activities, fellowship and educational workshops. 1
View more photos at invitationmag.com.
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1. Lucy and Mary Thompson with Lila, Jenny and James Rayner 2. Brynn and Gracyn Ashmore with Katelyn Johns 3. Jermaine Wilson and Brooklyn Whitehead 4. Caleb and Samuel Warren 5. Allyson Ashmore and Elizabeth Owen 6. Abby Rose King and Ali Walker 7. Scott Thompson with Betty and Kermit Davis
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TOURNA MENT PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM
The second annual Memory Makers Tennis Tournament was held Aug. 11 at John Leslie Tennis Courts. The event was hosted by Students for Alzheimer’s at OHS and raised more than $12,000 for Memory Makers Respite Day Services of Oxford. 1
View more photos at invitationoxford.com.
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1. Preston Hooker, Olivia Rychlak, Jack Ligon, Elias Addy and Walker Bailey 2. Hassell Williams, Taylor Wilkinson and Christine Rayburn 3. Tonya Flesher, Mike Dennis, Debbie Swindoll and Tracy Morgan 4. Ben Ueltschey, Elizabeth Gaines, Addie Grafton and Carter Young 5. Heath and Emmie Stevens with Nathan Hyche and Alex Johnson 6. Steve and Sawyer Jones 7. Vicki Stevens and Lori Elliott 8. Kelly and Clay Jones 9. Kyle Koestler and Alan Grafton
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AND
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MOVIES
PHOTOGRAPHED BY MEGAN WOLFE
Music and Movies in the Park, sponsored by the Oxford Park Commission, was held July 13 at Avent Park. Guests enjoyed live music by Tony Maynard and a screening of “Finding Dory.” 1
View more photos at invitationmag.com.
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1. Amaree Carothers, Sha’ Simpson and Ca’Shara Perry 2. Haley Irvine, Robin Griffen and Charlotte Irvine 3. Katherine, Emma, Joe and Herschel York 4. Jamiracle Kuykendall, Kyron Robinson, Tamara and Zamayiah Kuykendall and Channing Holmes 5. Jason, Anton and Ashley Schmartman with Anna Delgadillo 6. Katie and Jones Skipper 7. Shannon Howe with Levi McCafferty 8. Aiden, Jessica and Caleb Franks 9. Jordan Jr. and Jordan Hirsch
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AT
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MOVE
IN
PHOTOGRAPHED BY SARAH McCULLEN
Ole Miss Student Housing hosted student residential move-in day Aug. 15 on campus. Volunteers were assigned to parking areas around the residential buildings to assist residents in unloading vehicles and helping carry belongings to their rooms. 1
View more photos at invitationoxford.com.
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1. Jakora Eskridge and LaMarcus Seawood 2. Jake Vaughn, Sarah Peterson, Trace Bush and Abby Flickinger 3. Worth Eskrigge and Clark McCollum 4. Vince and Jana Vena 5. Paul and Kellie Smith with Madelyn Robbins 6. Kakia Shelly and Canaan Lockridge 7. Clayton Walsh, Carlmeisha Hunt and Allie Hendry 8. Emily and Paul Pulse 9. John Summers and David Corley 10. Emily Pickich, Lily Sweetking and Kelsey Bentley
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G R O OV I N ’ AT M OV E I N
continued
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Tuesday - Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. l 373 Hwy. 51 North • Batesville, MS 38606 • 662.563.4684 SEPTEMBER 2018 | INVITATION OXFORD
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&
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ABOUT
VIEW MORE PHOTOS AT INVITATIONOXFORD.COM
C R E AT I V E F E L L OWS H I P A RT I S T R EC E P T ION
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S IG M A C H I A LU M N I S T E A K DI N N E R
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3
OX FOR D F I L M F E S T I VA L C OM M U N I T Y F I L M
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1. Ralph and Tis Dean with Nancy Carole and Mickey King and Beth Kennedy 2. Susan Pedigo, Constance Pierce and Kirstie Manning 3. Haley Myatt, Christine Jungblom, Sydney Green and Karlie England 4. Tonquin Stovall, Richard Barrett, Pat Brown, Ford Dye, Tim Porter and Frank Yerger 5. Ron Taylor and J.T. Davis 6. Antonio Tarrell, Damon Burks and Melanie Addington 7. Reid Haynie and Connor King
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OUT
&
ABOUT
VIEW MORE PHOTOS AT INVITATIONOXFORD.COM
G L E N N R AY T U TOR BO OK S IG N I NG
1
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3
S P EC I A LT Y ORT HOP E DIC G ROU P OP E N HOU S E
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1. Deborah Freeland and Glennray Tutor 2. Larry Wells, Patricia Brody, Maureen O’Hern and Timothy Wickham 3. Kimani and Yaisa Schardt 4. Emily Addison and Ashley Frazier 5. Alex Sanders, Will Fountain and Miles Engle 6. Mamie Kosko and Robin McDonald 7. Sparky Luster, Rowland Roberson and Phillip Sandifer
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MISSISSIPPI’S BEST
CAVITY FREE CLUB DIPLOMATE, AMERICAN BOARD OF PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY
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Tel: 662-513-4188 2408 South Lamar Blvd Suite 1 • Oxford, Ms 38655
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INVITATION OXFORD | SEPTEMBER 2018
www.dawkinsfamilydental.com
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Tasty T A I L G A T E S O L E M I S S C OAC H E S ’ W I V E S S H A R E T H E I R FAVO R I T E T R I E D-A N D-T R U E TA I LG AT E R E C I P E S . PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM
MINI SLIDERS
CAPRESE SALAD
RECIPE BY ASHLEY LUKE
RECIPE BY TA N YA LO N G O
4-6 medium tomatoes 1 log mozzarella cheese 1 package fresh basil leaves Balsamic vinegar Olive oil Black pepper
1 pound ground beef 1 packet Knorr onion dip mix 8 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese ½ cup mayonnaise Mustard 12 pickle slices 12 Hawaiian bread slider buns In a skillet over medium heat, brown the meat and onion dip mix. Drain; add cheese and mayonnaise, and stir to combine and melt cheese. Spread mustard on buns, and add 1 pickle to each bun. Scoop meat mixture onto buns. Bake 10-15 minutes at 350°F until warmed. Makes 12.
Slice tomatoes and cheese into ¼-inch rounds. Arrange on a serving platter, alternating tomato slices, basil leaves and mozzarella slices until the platter is covered. Immediately before serving, drizzle with balsamic vinegar and olive oil, and sprinkle with freshly ground black pepper.
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CALENDAR
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NOTEWORTHY
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IN SEASON
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FE ATURES
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EVENTS
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RECIPE
Tasty T A I L G A T E S continued
LEMON PEPPER WINGS RECIPE BY KYSHA JONES
4 pounds chicken wings ¼ cup vegetable or canola oil ¼ cup melted butter 2 tablespoons lemon pepper seasoning Heat the oven to 400°F. Toss chicken wings in oil. Place wings on a wire rack set on a baking sheet, taking care not to crowd wings. Bake 50-60 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. Combine melted butter and lemon pepper seasoning, and brush liberally onto wings, stirring mixture frequently to get plenty of seasoning on each wing. Transfer seasoned wings to a platter, and serve immediately. Place mats, linens and tableware provided by Provision Oxford.
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INVITATION OXFORD | SEPTEMBER 2018