Y'all Magazine – August 2005 by Yall Magazine

PUTTIN’ ON THE GRITS | BENJAMIN MCKENZIE | VAN ZANT | LARRY THE CABLE GUY

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HAZZARD COUNTY FOREVER

THE M AGA ZINE OF SOUTHERN PEOPLE THE

DUKES OFF HAZZ HAZZARD ARD

THE MOVIE JESSICA SIMPSON AS “ D AIS AISYY DUKE” DUKE ”

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW:

LANCE ARMSTRONG RIDING INTO RETIREMENT

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JULY/AUGUST 2005

PLUS:

WILLIE NELSON “UNCLE JESSE”

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we honor and thank you everyday!

We would like to thank the brave men and women who served and sacrificed for our freedom. See Your Local State Farm Agent For All Your Insurance Needs.

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THE M AGA ZINE OF SOUTHERN PEOPLE Volume 3 | Number 4

this-n-that Y’all? 9 Where Capturing hot Southern stars, from Dollywood to Hollywood.

StephenShugerman/Getty Images

WILLIE NELSON

(BOTTOM) WARNER BROS.(TOP)PHOTO COURTESY OF TEXAS ROADHOUSE

For five decades, Southerners have been “Crazy” over this self-described redneck from Abbott, Texas. With countless albums, miles, friends, IRS worries and more under his belt, the 70-something legend isn’t headed for the rocking chair. In fact, with a new movie (The Dukes of Hazzard) and CD, he’s doing anything but slowing down.

32 Dukes of Hazzard the movie A preview

Coach Max Howell

Cajun Humor

Cranky Yankee

On the Money

Football season’s just around the corner. Are you ready? Max shares his inside track on the South’s collegiate future. Lawd have mercy, dat Tommy Joe Breaux dun brought a nodder humorous look at life down in Breaux Bridge, La. Born to be a redneck, no matter if you are from North of the Mason-Dixon.

Money man Dave Ramsey gets you prepared for a Total Money Makeover.

Down South 71 Wine Doc Lawrence breaks out the good summer wines for Y’all.

Collar 73 Blue Larry the Cable Guy’s “Git-RDone!” is the battlecry for the working American.

What Southern Women Know Ronda Rich’s dose of Dixie wisdom.

Star Gazing

GRITS

In Memoriam

Joe LoCicero reports from Hollywood, with a look at this summer’s new films. “Ms. Grits” Deborah Ford salutes Daddy.

Remembering Southerners who have passed to the Great Beyond.

South 82 Festive The heat is rising in Dixie, and that 4

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Y’ALL • THE MAGAZINE OF SOUTHERN PEOPLE

means festivals galore. Find out the hot summer fests to which you need to journey.

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SOIDUTS LASREVINU/NOSLIW NELG

THE DUKES OF HAZZARD TV Salute MIllions of Americans grew up watching this Southern original. Catch up with your favorite cast member, from “Daisy” to “Crazy Cooter.” COVER: COURTESY OF WARNERS BROS., (LANCE) DOUG PENSINGER-GETTY

features 38

Van Zant

Ruby Wilson

Brothers Donnie and Johnny Van Zant have carried the Southern Rock banner as members of Lynyrd Skynyrd and .38 Special. Now, the Jacksonville duo is tearing up Nashville with their debut country CD.

DOUG PENSINGER-GETTY

Louisville Slugger/New Era Caps

Aflac - A Lot To Quack About

summer books

Neshoba County Fair Each July, thousands flock to the small town of Philadelphia, Mississippi to enjoy a reunion of family, friends, good music, horse racing, and good ol’ politics.

Lance Armstrong

Memphis nightlife is a whole lot bluesier with this dynamic singer. Find out about Ms. Ruby’s rise to being the “Queen of Beale Street.”

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Austin’s native son isn’t quite riding off into the sunset. But he is taking a break from the grueling cycling circuit to focus on his family.

Major League Baseball stars step up to the plate and hit the field with Southern-made goods. The Aflac Duck is a popular figure on T.V. Find out about the success of this Columbus, Ga.-based company’s mascot.

German POWs in Alabama During World War II, thousands of German prisoners of war were interned in the South. Here’s the story of one POW camp.

The South has some hot new reads to get you through the summer. Novelist Patti Callahan Henry, a Coral Springs, Fla. native offers Where The River Runs. Nashvillians have dined at The Loveless Cafe for years, and now the diner has it’s own mouth-watering cookbook.

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Cristie Kerr heats up The LPGA Tournament.

PLUS: KERR:STUART FRANKLIN-GETTY IMAGES, JULIAN:COURTESY OF JULIAN

World-renowned designer

Alexander Julian, and sweetful country newcomer

Miranda Lambert talks about her life. >ALEXANDER JULIAN

>MIRANDA LAMBERT

MCKENZIE:KEVIN WINTER/GETTY

>CRISTIE KERR

Benjamin McKenzie

The O.C. star is just a good ol’ Texan at heart. Discover the rising actor’s favorites, and learn about his new Southern-made movie, Junebug.

Y’all of Fame Helen Keller Intelligent, ambitious and well accomplished, this amazing Southerner dedicated her life to helping others.

My Cushing’s Syndrome Story

Weight gain, sleepless nights, and facial deformities. These symptoms are all part of a mysterious illness that can affect anyone. Read the gut-wrenching battle one South Carolinian had with Cushing’s Syndrome.

Dixie Destination 66 “The Home of Throwed Rolls,” Lambert’s Cafe has filled Southerners with good food and fun from its locations in Missouri and Alabama.

77 Puttin on the Grits Y’all Columnist Deborah Ford pens a new book to help y’all have a good ole time.

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yʼall

KUDZU AND THE DUKES

™

THE M AGA ZINE OF SOUTHERN PEOPLE ™

President & Publisher Jon Rawl jon@yall.com Managing Editor Molly Fergusson molly@yall.com

VP & Associate Publisher Keith Sisson keith@yall.com

Art Director Carroll Moore carroll@yall.com

Circulation Director Rachel Thompson Twiford rachel@yall.com New Media Andy Young andy@yall.com Art Assistant Crace R. Alexander Photographer Chad Mills Asst. Managing Editor Meredith Dabbs Copy Editor Dianne S. Fergusson Illustrators Don Maters Contributing Writers Deborah Ford Ronda Rich Kristin Gravatt Tommy Joe Breaux Larry the Cable Guy Doc Lawrence Dave Ramsey Joe LoCicero Laurie Stieber Jenna Blackwell Max Howell J.E. Pitts Dann Pair Melissa Sindelar Beverly Ford Rhonda Rawl Ben Jones

Account Executive Meredith Dabbs

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(662)236-1928 Alabama Bureau Paula Sullivan Dabbs alabama@yall.com Arkansas Bureau Jason Nall arkansas@yall.com Florida Bureau Mark Cook florida@yall.com Kentucky Bureau Colleen Cassity kentucky@yall.com North Carolina Bureau Jason “Pig” Thompson northcarolina@yall.com Oklahoma Bureau Lee Cartwright oklahoma@yall.com Tennessee Bureau Joshua Wilkins tennessee@yall.com Texas Bureau Matt Heermans texas@yall.com Virginia Bureau Clay Reynolds virginia@yall.com Publishing Consultant Samir Husni

Circulation

Editorial Assistants Matthew Bandermann Andrew Buckley Will Burge Tabatha Gardner Y’all is published bimonthly by General Rawl Media, LLC (July/August 2005), Volume 3, Number 4. Editorial and advertising offices at 1006 Van Buren, Suite 211, Oxford, MS 38655-3900. Mailing address: P.O. Box 1217, Oxford, MS 38655. Telephone: 662-236-1928. Basic subscription rate: 6 issues, U.S. $19.95; Canada $32.69. 12 issues, U.S. $34.95; Canada $45.80. Entire contents copyright 2005, General Rawl Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Products named in these pages are tradenames or trademarks of their respective companies. Opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect that of the publisher. For subscriptions, queries, and customer service, please visit www. yall.com Y’all Magazine Business phone: 662-236-1928. E-mail us at: mail@yall.com Subscriptions: Toll-Free 1-800-935-5185 Application to mail at Periodical Postage Rates is Pending at Oxford, Mississippi and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Y’all, c/o Magazine Processing Center, P.O. Box 0567, Selmer, TN 38375-9908. Printed in the USA.

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Summertime in the South can be very hot …we all know that. And while life seems to slow down under the heat, some things grow way out of control in this most mosquito-infested time of year. Here are a few of them: kudzu, bahiagrass, credit card debt (see Dave Ramsey’s column on page 42 for help), beer guts, and even Britney Spears! The Dukes of Hazzard is growing in popularity some 26 years after its debut. A dream came tr ue in 1980 when Today the Dukes live on my brother Chri met “The Genera s (at left) and I l Lee” in our ho metown of Lexin with re-airings on cable, gton, S.C. and the DVD sales are a high-octane winner. On August 5, The Dukes of Hazzard movie, starring Jessica Simpson as “Daisy Duke,” hits theaters. If you happened to be around a television in the years 1979-1985, Friday nights were the night to watch. You had the South’s own Dukes tearing it up, with Dallas heating it up afterwards. High school football games were postponed so folks could not miss the adventures of Bo and Luke Duke riding in “The General Lee.” Like my fellow Southerners, I watched with my eyes glued to the T.V. as I heard my favorite modern-day cowboys racing through Hazzard County, with streams of “Dixie” blowing in the wind. You see, The Dukes of Hazzard was not just some boring sitcom or insane reality show. It was a comedic joy ride that got millions of American families together to watch a Southern-based success story. This issue of Y’all salutes the original cast with first-hand reflections of the show from Ben Jones, a.k.a. “Crazy Cooter Davenport,” and more. We also have photos and analysis from the new movie, which was filmed in Louisiana, including an exclusive interview with Willie Nelson, who plays “Uncle Jesse” in the film. Yeee Hawww! Southernly yours,

Jon Rawl

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where y’all? NASCAR FLEXES ITS MUSCLE: Boxing great Evander Holyfield and American Idol 3 contestant Diana Degarmo pose at the “NASCAR Night with the Hawks” VIP reception during the “Welcome to Atlanta NASCAR Weekend,” held in March. The weekend was created to raise awareness about NASCAR, infuse the excitement of NASCAR into the urban community and entertain Atlantaarea residents with special events. (Photo by Edelman Public Relations)

Below: (Left to Right) comedian Griff, Bow Wow, and rapper Bone Crusher all of Atlanta, pose at the NASCAR reception. (Photo by Edelman Public Relations) Below right: General Richard A. Cody, Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, salutes during the NASCAR Nextel Cup Chevy American Revolution 400 on May 14, 2005 at the Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Va. Cody is the former Commanding General of the 101st Airborne at Fort Campbell, Ky. (Photo By Darrell Ingham/Getty)

Joanna Mott, Nicole Cook, Amanda Ledbetter and Matthew Bandermann show off their “I Love Y’all” shirts while on vacation in Rome, Italy. Ciao Y’all!

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where y’all?

Houston Creativity: (top) Madeleine Clay of Houston, Texas sits in her father’s car “Mirror Image,” during the Houston Art Parade. The parade, held May 14th, includes around 280 cars and is part of Art Car Weekend along with a street festival, parade, carnival, ball and other events.

Dave Einsel/Getty

(above) Musician, author and Texas gubernatorial hopeful Kinky Friedman served as grand marshal for the event. He is working to get 45,540 signatures to be included on the 2006 ballot as an independent candidate. Why not Kinky?

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where y’all?

Kentucky Derby WE NEVER SAW A HORSE! The 131st Kentucky Derby at Churchhill Downs in Louisville, Ky. brought out celebs and festive Southerners in their finest on May 7th.

Fun-loving Floridians Tad Durrrance and Mark Friga. Country great Travis Tritt and wife Theresa.

Peyton and Eli Manning

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF CBS EXCEPT KASSIE FROM ABC

Derby fan Marilyn Brown of Weatherford, Texas is ready!

What happens in Louisville, stays in Louisville!

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M. BROWN & TOP PHOTO: ANDY LYONS/GETTYTRITT, MANNINGS, LADD & BUDIG: PETER KRAMER/GETTY, BOTTOM CENTER: DAVID TURNLEY/GETTY

Cheryl Ladd

We’d love

to hear from y’all! All My Children star Rebecca Budig returns home to Kentucky.

Letters should include the writer’s full name, address and daytime phone number and may be edited for clarity and space. TO CONTACT THE EDITORIAL STAFF Write to us: Y’all Magazine Editorial Dept. P.O. Box 1217 Oxford, Mississippi 38655

Call us: 662-236-1928 E-mail us: editor@yall.com

JULY/AUGUST 2005 • Y’ALL

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reviews

Southern Country Cooking from The Loveless Café

by Jane & Michael Stern If you’re looking for some authentic, filling Southern cuisine, look no further than The Loveless Café in Nashville, Tennessee. If you can’t make it there, the next best thing is the new cookbook from Jan and Michael Stern, Southern Country Cooking from The Loveless Café. With much more than just recipes, this book offers a look at the history of the popular eatery, its evolution over the years and profiles of the people behind the food. The house started in 1951 as the Harpeth Valley Tea Room, owned by Lon and Annie Loveless. They earned a reputation for good, home-cooked food selling fried chicken out of their front door to travelers. Soon, they expanded from picnic tables in the front yard to an interior dining room, and the people have never stopped coming. Today’s menu still closely resembles the first meals served: country ham, fried chicken, made-from-scratch biscuits and sides. This cookbook brings these and so many more

delicious recipes into your kitchen at home. From iced tea to pecan pie, this book tells more than just how to make the dishes. It has facts like how a plain ham can become a country ham and the changes and additions that have happened to the restaurant. The Loveless Café’s specialty is breakfast, so the cookbook has plenty of tasty selections: grits, hoe cakes, corn fritters, candied bacon, hashbrown casserole, banana bread, and heavenly cornbread are some of the many things to start the day with. Next is a selection of salads and slaws, including

Where the River Runs Patti Callahan Henry

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Easy Banana Muffins chicken salad, pimento cheese, coleslaw, deviled eggs and candied walnuts. A staple on every Southerner’s plate is a thick coating of gravies and sauces. From the signature Loveless Barbecue Sauce and Loveless Dry Rub to red-eye gravy and turkey gravy, it’s sure to please. To fill your bowl and your stomach, there is a collection of soups ranging from tomato basil soup to oyster stew. But the real treat is the mouth-watering main dishes. Country ham, pulled pork, pork chops, fried chicken, country-fried steak, meatloaf, cornbread stuffing and fried catfish all grace these pages, from simple ham frying to the timeconsuming pot roast. These dishes are sure to please, but don’t plan on counting your calories. Southern dishes are made from the heart; they may not necessarily be good for the heart. There are plenty of side dishes to pick from, too. Enjoy heaping helpings of hush puppies, macaroni and cheese, black-eyed pea cakes, squash casserole, fried corn and sweet potato casserole. Then you can top it all off by picking from over 40 desserts, including a generous selection of cakes, pies, puddings and fillings. You are sure to be pleased with the care that was put into the directions and tips on each recipe. Whether you are a Southerner looking to make the foods you are familiar with or you’re a Northerner with good taste, this book is a great look at a landmark Southern restaurant.

The name of this recipe is no lie. Turn on the oven, martial the ingredients, and within minutes, baking muffins will be perfuming the kitchen. 3 large bananas 3/4 cup sugar 1 egg, beaten 1/3 cup butter, melted 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Preheat the oven to 375°F. Mash the bananas in a large bowl. Add the sugar and egg. Add the butter and then the baking soda, baking powder, salt, and flour. Mix well and add the vanilla. Pour the batter into muffin tins and bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Makes 12 Regular Muffins From The Loveless Café Cookbook Courtesy Rutledge Hill Press

Book reviews by Kristin Gravatt

In her second novel, Where the River Runs, Patti Henry tells the story of a woman reflecting on her past and wondering if she is living her life as she had always dreamed – or just numbly going through the motions. Meridy Dresden is living the perfect suburban household life, with a successful lawyer husband and a son just off to play college baseball for Vanderbilt. All seems perfect from the outside, but she worries that the life she lives is a shell she has built to protect herself. Painful memories from her past come back to haunt her and leave her questioning if she is happy with the façade she is living. She must go back to her childhood home and

the past she has avoided for so many years to help her figure out what she must do to make things right. This voyage of reflection and discovery has lessons and valuable advice that can apply to everyone. Through surprising encouragement from her mother and sister, she learns the value of family and comes to realize the love they all share. By facing her past, Meridy learns to come to terms and deal with her future. This wonderfully written story evokes emotion throughout and provides beautiful imagery of the ocean and nature. Henry tells a story of life and love, with the added excitement of a mystery. This is a perfect book to curl up and lose yourself in.

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Discover Gatlinburg again and again. Think you’ve seen everything Gatlinburg,Tennessee has to offer? Look again. With more than 500 restaurants and shops, countless attractions and a vibrant arts & crafts community, it’s impossible to experience all of Gatlinburg in just one trip. Call for your free vacation guide.

1-800-565- 7329 www.gatlinburg.com

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Floridian Cristie Kerr has quite an impressive game of golf. She has done well enough to land her at No. 2 on the LPGA winnings list. In addition to tips on her game, find out what this dynamic duffer does when she’s taking a break from the links. Growing up in his father’s haberdashery in Chapel Hill, N.C., Alexander Julian, 57, knew he had a gift for color which he segued into “Colours,” an impressive line of clothing and home linens. Today, the Tar Heel jets around the world promoting his designs, but he’d just as soon be in Carolina putting down a little ‘cue. Alexander lets us in on his favorite barbecue designs. America first fell in love with Miranda Lambert during the inaugural season of USA Network’s Nashville Star. With a big label contract in hand, the blonde beauty entered Billboard’s Country Album chart at No. 1 with her debut CD, Kerosene, an accomplishment seldom seen by a newcomer. Miranda gives us the InnerView of her career, the new home she has back in the Lone Star State, and her love of hunting. To find out the facts and information you’d like to know but don’t, turn to InnerView. What do you want to know about? What are your pressing questions about your favorite Southern personalities? Email us at innerview@yall.com

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Cristie Kerr

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TOP: WARREN LITTLE/GETTY, BOTTOM/ L TO R: STUART FRANKLIN/GETTY AND COURTESY OF KERR BY JULIE SKARRAT.

LPGA golfer

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Y’ALL: When did you realize that you had a future in the game of golf? KERR: My dad was really impressed at how well I hit the ball straight down the middle. He coached me for a few years before sending me to a local teaching pro to take me to the next level. I started playing in junior tournaments when I was 12 and won my first big tournament when I was 14 [Kerr is 27 now].

into wines and one of my dreams is to open a wine bar in the future. Y’ALL: What are your Southern traits ? KERR: I think I’m not scared to say what’s on my mind, and I am picky about good food and good people.

Y’ALL: As a South Floridian, what kind of fishing do you enjoy? KERR: I enjoy all kinds of fishing, but deep sea fishing is probably my favorite. I like catching tuna, marlin and mackerel.

Y’ALL: What is it like, really, to be a touring professional golfer? KERR: Overall it’s rewarding but also very demanding. With all the travel and media obligations, it’s a challenge to get a good balance between family and getting in good workouts while focusing on competing at the highest level.

YALL: Do you cook? KERR: I love cooking breakfast food— oatmeal, eggs, really good bacon. My favorite type of food is Mexican and Southwest. I just recently started getting

Y’ALL: What are your tips to looking good on the course? KERR: I like to make sure my make-up and clothing look good. Skincare is very important since I’m in the sun all the

time. I make sure I have plenty of sun protection. In terms of clothing, my apparel sponsor Lacoste has great colors and styles, so it’s easy to look sharp. Off the course, I am on a strict fitness regime which helps my appearance, as well as my golf game. Y’ALL: Share with Y’all the goals of Birdies for Breast Cancer, which you founded after your mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003. KERR: After seeing my mother’s painful struggle to recovery, I wanted to do anything I could to help fight the disease. Every time I compete, I know that I am helping to find a cure. I donate $50 for every birdie I make in competition, and everything that is raised for Birdies for Breast Cancer benefits Evelyn Lauder’s Breast Cancer Research Foundation. [You can help by logging on to www.birdiesforbreastcancer.com] JULY/AUGUST 2005 • Y’ALL

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Alexander Julian PHOTOS COURTESY OF A. JULIAN JUL

designer

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The Alexander Julian Family: Claire, Huston, Alystyre, Will, wife Meagan, Alexander and Lucy (in front)

Y’ALL: Did you always enjoy clothing? JULIAN: I literally grew up in my dad’s store [Julian’s in Chapel Hill, N.C.] with cashmere swatch books as building blocks as a kid. My mother claims I knew the difference between 100 ply cotton and two- ply singles when I was five and I used to think that was something that my mother just used to say, but I’ve got five kids and all of them knew the difference when they were five. Y’ALL: Your hometown was a good training ground for you. JULIAN: Chapel Hill was a clothing Mecca back in the 1940’s thru the 1960’s. There used to be 14 important men’s shops on one block. My father’s [shop] was always the top quality shop and the most innovative. I grew up working in the store. After school, I’d join a pickup football or baseball game, take out the trash and wash the windows in the store and go to the tailor shop. Y’ALL: What best describes your clothing line and the home collection? JULIAN: Textiles and color. I have brought many innovations in the world of shape but I’m known for textile design. The first time I went to design school was to teach. Growing up in dad’s store turned out to be an advantage because I didn’t know what not to do. I just assumed that

everyone designed their own fabric because the fabric to me was the most important part of any garment. If you had interesting fabric, then you make the silhouette classic so it becomes charming, you make it flattering, etc. I did not know that I would become the first American fashion designer to design all of my own textiles. I’m known for color because that’s what makes fabric interesting. When it comes to furniture, I use wood as if it were cloth, and I incorporate many of the same design ideas and patterns and iconography that I would use in textiles into furniture. If I were going to describe my look I would call it champagne and country ham biscuits. The best of the South washed down with the best of the world. Y’ALL: Share with Y’all the story of your beloved North Carolina Tar Heels’ basketball uniforms. JULIAN: I design the uniforms and I dress the coach. Coach Roy Williams has been wearing my clothes for the last two years. I have great luck. Roy invited me to the basketball Lenior’s dinner where he wore a suit I designed. He starated out by saying that he owed his sucess to his lucky suit that I sent him and made me stand up and take a bow on the floor of the Dean Dome. [Julian took his 15-year old son to the 2005 Final Four, which UNC won in March]

the stipulation you be paid with monthly shipments of Carolina barbecue to your Connecticut home [which he calls Chapel Hill North]. Right? JULIAN: Eastern North Carolina barbecue is Carolina Caviar. I was quoted on a PBS special about it. ‘It’s just like sex man, you can’t go wrong. It’s good, better and best.’ My wife said that’s definitely a man’s point of view. My favorite Carolina cue spots are Allen & Son in Chapel Hill, Wilbur’s in Goldsboro and Bill’s in Wilson [which he confesses that he has in his freezer right now]. The Alexander Julian clothing line can be found at Parisian’s, Rich’s, Famous Barr’s and Belk’s stores throughout the South.

(at right) Alexander Julian Private Reserve Wine

Y’ALL: You also designed the Charlotte Hornets uniforms, with JULY/AUGUST 2005 • Y’ALL

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Miranda Lambert

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Miranda Lambert is only the sixth artist in the history of Billboard to debut a first album at No.1 on the country chart. Those preceding her with this honor include: Billy Ray Cyrus, Buddy Jewell, Wynona Judd, LeAnn Rimes and Gretchen Wilson. Y’ALL: How did music first come into your life? LAMBERT: I grew up listening to all kinds of music. My dad plays guitar. I grew up listening to him play guitar and I’d fall asleep to Merle Haggard and Emmylou Harris and I think that got in my blood early. When I turned 17 [Lambert is 21 now], I started getting into my own influences. I started listening to a lot of songwriters. I think all that combined has kind of made me who I am now. Y’ALL: You grew up in Lindale, Texas, the daughter of two private investigators. What was that like? LAMBERT: They have had their own company since I was a little girl and it was cool because they got to work out of the house and they would be there when I got out of school. [The Lamberts were part of the Bill Clinton-Whitewater investigation team]. Y’ALL: How’s the new house you have in your hometown? LAMBERT: It’s about 100 feet from my mom and dad, and it’s great. It’s really a paradise for me. I love to be home and that’s what makes it so hard for me to leave. My mom and I decorated it, and there’s really no theme to the house it’s just a lot of the things that I love. And when I got all those things in there, they fit together. So it’s just a bunch of crap. Y’ALL: Tell Y’all about your two “children.” LAMBERT: I have a black lab, “Dixie,” and a white lab, “Molly.” I got “Dixie” as soon as I moved back home from Nashville. We just acquired 7-month-old “Molly.” We’re lab lovers. They’re great hunting dogs [Miranda’s a deer and turkey hunting enthusiast]. Y’ALL: Who takes care of your dogs while you’re away?

LAMBERT: My mom. I miss them a lot, but I’ve got their pictures in the cell phone. When they’re at home, they sleep in the bed between my mom and dad. So when I come home, “Dixie” expects to sleep with me and I try not to let her on the furniture in my new house, but it’s not working out to well. Y’ALL: What was it like to get invited to appear at The White House with President and Mrs. Bush? LAMBERT: It was really fun. I’m a huge fan of Laura Bush and she made a speech and it was just really funny, and Cedric the Entertainer was there too. He’s hilarious. Right behind me was Richard Gere and Elle McPhereson. And my favorite American Idol, Constantine, sat next to me at my table. It’s been weird because I’m just a country girl and I’m doing all this stuff and eating caviar when I don’t even know what it is.

winner, so I really ended up winning in my own mind. Y’ALL: When are you going to start working on a new album? LAMBERT: It may be a year-plus. I’m writing for it now and I’m getting prepared but Kerosene [her first] just came out. Hopefully the fall will bring a tour with somebody famous and we can kind of steal fans.

Y’ALL: You finished third on the debut season of Nashville Star, which your Sony labelmate Buddy Jewell won. How did the show help your career? LAMBERT: I didn’t really want to win that show because I didn’t want to be with that label for the rest of my life. Buddy won, and kind of got thrown out there and has been on the road ever since then. I got to take time to do the record I wanted to make. I got all the exposure of the JULY/AUGUST 2005 • Y’ALL

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S E K U D THEAZZARD H F O V SALUTE T

elar

sa Sind

s by Meli

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COURTESY OF WARNER BROS. TELEVISION

They were just two “Good Ol’ Boys” fighting for what was right as they continuously fell in and out of trouble. While trying not to violate their probation, the Duke cousins, “Luke” and “Bo” took on the bad guys each week, and every week they came out ahead with the help of their fast, Hemi Orange ’69 Dodge Charger, the “General Lee.”

Along with the epitome of Southern beauty, cousin “Daisy Duke,” and reliable “Uncle Jesse,” The Dukes of Hazzard made an impression both in their fictitious county and on television. When this show found its slot on CBS in January 1979, replacing The Incredible Hulk, critics, network execs and the industry in general looked at it with derision…but not the viewing public. The first season, which was fi lmed in Covington, Ga., was an instant hit, constantly making it into Nielsen’s top ratings, especially in the Southern and Midwestern regions, despite a Los Angeles Times reviewer commenting that “After seeing (the show), the South may secede again — and I wouldn’t blame it.” The collaboration of the Dukes, family friend and mechanic “Crazy Cooter,” somewhat villainous Hazzard County “Boss Jefferson Davis Hogg,” “Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane” and the lawful lawman “Deputy Enos Strate” made a winning combination, enabling the show to run for seven seasons, until spring 1985. Gy Waldron’s creation The Dukes of Hazzard called for numerous regular cast members, and with the help of Phil Mandelker, Waldron and Warner Bros. found their Dukes. Tapping theater and musical actor Tom Wopat as the older “Luke,” and having already decided on the 18-year-old New Yorker John Schneider for the fastdrivin’ “Bo.” Mandelker had cast the cousins, although not blonde, Catherine Bach nabbed the role of “Daisy” as well as being the creator of the short shorts her character was famed for. Rounding out the family was Denver Pyle, a Navy veteran and western series regular, playing “Uncle Jesse.” Atlanta actor Ben Jones played the role of “Cooter.” Although normally at odds during the show, “Uncle Jesse” would sometimes have to ask former comrade, “Boss Hogg,” to help get his nephews out of trouble. Although Sorrell Booke played the slightly

crooked county “Boss,” his own background leaned more toward performing classics like Shaw and Shakespeare. However, the repartee of Booke with James Best (“Sheriff Roscoe”), a man holding various artistic positions throughout his life, made this duo one ready to bring the laughs. Rounding out the cast was Valdosta, Ga., native Sonny Shroyer, playing “Deputy Enos.” Of course, it is hard to think of the show without remembering Waylon Jennings, who not only sang the theme song but was also the Balladeer, narrating the episodes. The melding of the characters on-screen and the chemistry of the actors off-screen was part of why the show began in the first place, as well as why it continued, even though there were several disputes among the actors, the writers and the network. “It means so much to everybody in the cast of The Dukes of Hazzard that people appreciated what we were trying to do; that we made some people happy and that it all worked out in such a fine way,” Bach said when the cast reunited at the Country Music Television’s Awards Show. The cable network added the Dukes to its lineup earlier this year, and received its highest ratings as a result of the show’s placement. Both during and post The Dukes, cast members worked on other projects. Wopat toured with his band the North Hollywood Allstars while the show was still on air and has recorded a few country-rock albums. He hosted The Nashville Network’s Prime Time Country show, joined the cast of Cybill and appeared in several Broadway productions and he remains active in the entertainment industry today. Schneider followed a similar path, also releasing several country albums besides establishing the production company Faithworks Family Films and co-founding the charity Children’s Miracle

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THE DUKES OF HAZZARD TV SALUTE Council for the Motion Picture, Television and Recording Industry. Best is also an accomplished fisherman. Shroyer(Enus) had a stint co-hosting a fishing and hunting radio show before taking the role of Alabama football coach Bear Bryant in Forrest Gump. Last year, he joined the cast of the movie A Love Song for Bobby Long. The 1990s saw the passing of two Dukes cast members, Pyle and Booke. The latter became a character actor with recurring roles on Newhart as well as other television shows like Blacke’s Magic and Crazy Like a Fox. He died from cancer in 1994. Pyle took a guest role on L.A. Law. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1997. He died two weeks later on Christmas Day. Despite the different projects of the cast members, they still try to get together for public functions. With the continued ratings success of Dukes reruns, the remaining cast members returned to Hazzard County in April 1997 with The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion! The show once again won its time slot despite the (once again) below average reviews.

2005 Reunion: Ben Jones, Sonny Shroyer, Catherine Bach, Tom Wopat, John Schneider and James Best.

“The world stopped when the Dukes of Hazzard was on,” Schneider says. “And in a day and age when we have 800 channels and have all these different things to watch, it still seems like the world stops when The Dukes of Hazzard comes on. There is something so welcoming about the Dukes.” The new Dukes of Hazzard motion picture, starring Jessica Simpson as “Daisy,” will certainly generate awareness of Hazzard County to many youngsters when they see it. But the old cast has mixed emotions, feeling that the movie is not the same family-friendly product they produced for television. They advise parents to just be cautious, kind of like the way it was traveling through Hazzard and not catching the wrath of “Boss Hogg.” For now, it seems that no matter what else is going on in the lives of these former cast members, the Dukes and their friends will keep “making their way the only way they know how,” as the show continues to find a new generation of fans and reaffirm the ones it has had since the beginning. COURTESY OF WARNER BROS. TELEVISION

Network. He has appeared on Broadway, making his debut in the musical Grand Hotel, as well as various television series. He is currently portraying Clark Kent’s father in the WB series Smallville. Bach(Daisy) raised two daughters, and returned to television when she took a role in the Family Channel’s African Skies, fi lmed on location in South Africa, although she took time off between the two shows to travel. Jones(Cooter) traveled as well, especially when he served two terms in the House of Representatives for a Georgia district (1988-1992). After the state reapportioned the districts, Jones lost the reelection. He moved back to his native Virginia, and has appeared in the fi lms Primary Colors and Meet Joe Black. A musical version of his one-man play Ol’ Diz, based on the legendary pitcher Dizzy Dean, will soon be hitting Nashville. ( Jones’ personal reflections on the show can be found on page 32.) Best(Roscoe) took a break from television and movies and resettled in Florida, starting his own fi lm company (like Schneider) called Best Friend Films, and joined the Advisory

“The world stopped when the Dukes of Hazzard was on.” John Schneider

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cooter’s REFLECTIONS

by Ben Jones, a.k.a. “Cooter”

FADE IN: The Virginia Theater on High Street in Portsmouth, Va., was a fountain of heroic inspiration for “us kids” in those few golden years just after World War II and just before the onslaught of television. For two bits, we could watch the newsreel, a cartoon, the “previews of coming attractions”, a cliffhanging serial, and a two-reel feature Western. “Co-Colas” and popcorn were only a nickel, and every kid got a free Army patch. Occasionally a large rat would scurry across the stage in front of the screen, but other than that, things in the cool dark of the Virginia theatre were, in a word, perfect. Our heroes were there. Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Hopalong Cassidy. And there were lesser gods like the Durango Kid, Sunset Carson, and Lash LaRue. These films were little morality tales, with good prevailing over evil. And our heroes, though just good ol’ cowboys, always made the right moral choice, no matter what the consequences or the sacrifice. Thrown in for good measure was a loyal comic sidekick, some slapstick, an extremely wholesome cowgirl, and a few western tunes around the campfire. Yep, perfect. When we left the theater, out into the blinding light of the town’s sidewalks, we were somehow transformed into slightly better boys, and we couldn’t wait to get home to re-enact the film, to stand for righteousness in our tidewater lowland backyard just as Gene and Roy had stood for all things good out there among the cactuses in the backlots of the San Fernando Valley. And at night, drifting to sleep, I would dream of meeting Gene Autry, who with his easy smile would ask me to ride along with him and he’d help me to take care of everything that stood in the way of my complete joy and vindication. In my book, it was Jesus and Gene Autry – a spiritual photo finish.

FAST FORWARD: It was the fall of 1978, and after years of banging around America as an actor, I felt like I was finally in exactly the right place at precisely the right time. As the cast of a new television series, The Dukes of Hazzard sat around a table by a swimming pool at the Conyers, Georgia Holiday Inn having a “cold read through” of the first episode, I began to get that same mad feeling that Van Gogh must have gotten when he would mix a blue and a yellow and create a luminescent new green. The whole was greater than the sum of the parts, and the parts weren’t half bad to begin with. The chemistry of cast, material, and timing seemed to have created something unique and original. DISSOLVE TO: January 26th, 1979. The day The Dukes of Hazzard premiered on CBS-TV. Mr. Howard Rosenburg, esteemed television critic of the Los Angeles Times writes, “This show will not last past the first commercial break.” FAST FORWARD TO 2005: Ol’ Howard was not only wrong, but wrongheaded, as well. He didn’t get it, and he still doesn’t. You see, in the narrowly provincial mindset of the Hollywood community the vast heartland of America is often referred to as “the flyover country”, i.e., that thing 35,000 feet below the first class cabin as they fly over on the way from LAX to LaGuardia. That 35,000 feet represents the cultural gap between the infallible hotshot geniuses who create our entertainment and all us poor suckers down here who have to suffer through it. But in the “flyover” country, known to “Jesse Duke” as “good ol’ U.S. of A.,” people fell in love with Hazzard County. The show shot to the top of the ratings like a rocket and stayed there for years. It spawned a spin-off series, a cartoon series, several Movies of the Week, two “reunion’ films, 3 videogames, a successful syndication run, a cable run, international viewing in over

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cooter’s REFLECTIONS fifty countries, enormous VHS and DVD sales, and over a thousand items of merchandise ranging from bed sheets to board games, from action figures and die cast model cars to lunchboxes and radios. When The Dukes of Hazzard came back on in syndication on CMT in February of 2005, the cable industry was stunned when 23 million viewers tuned in for a weekend marathon showing. The show plays like new. Its production values and its ethical values give it a timeless feel, and in fact, children who weren’t even born until this new century think that it is a new show. Well, it’s new to them. The shows’ ingredients are deceptively simple. Car chases with good-looking country young guns and slapstick comedy all moving to a country music beat. But those action sequences were the best ever filmed for episodic television. (The Dukes stunt crew routinely set world records jumping the “General Lee.” And John Schneider (Bo Duke) and Tom Wopat (Luke Duke) were handsome, athletic, tough and very talented. (Both have gone on to diverse careers, including Broadway musical stardom.) And Catherine Bach as “Daisy Duke” was a primeval force of nature. (As John Keats once rhapsodized, “A thing of beauty is a joy forever!”) Our “wonder horse” was a 1969 Dodge Charger with a high performance engine, a Rebel flag on the roof, and a heart as big as the Southland. The “General Lee” was part of the family. Then you had Sorrell Booke (Boss Hogg) and James Best (Rosco P. Coltrane) improvising a classic comedy “double act” that rivaled Abbott and Costello or Laurel and Hardy. Funny then. Funny now. Denver Pyle as ‘Uncle Jesse Duke’ was the moral anchor of the county, a paragon of rectitude in his old moon shining overalls. The glue for all this was the music and narrative voice of Waylon Jennings. Ol’ Waymore gave the whole thing the perfect pitch of

good Southern attitude. It was like Mark Twain once remarked, “Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astonish the rest.” Folks were gratified. And they still are. We lasted past that first commercial break because we didn’t take ourselves all that seriously. We had a lot of fun, and the people of the heartland are still having fun watching, because they see something of their own foibles and struggles in the mayhem of Hazzard. Our show was about a family, and America’s families watch it together, knowing they are going to see “good, clean fun where the good guys always win, nobody cusses and nobody really gets hurt.” Too bad the folks making that big budget film about the Dukes don’t understand that part. FLASHBACK: 1983. I was jogging past a row of bungalows on a palmy street in Burbank, Calif. A bunch of kids around the age of ten were playing in their “hotwheels” on a manicured lawn when I heard: “Breaker One, Breaker One, ‘Crazy Cooter’ comin’ at you! ‘Lost Sheep,’ you got your ears on?” “This is ‘Bo’ and ‘Luke.’ ‘Crazy C.,’ have you seen ‘Uncle Jesse’?” And I flashed back to the Virginia Theater and it was just after the war and I was a child again, and we were thrilling to the exploits of Gene and Roy and Hoppy and “Bo” and “Luke” and “Cooter”.

FADE OUT: They ride into the sunset, sharing a long and loud last laugh.

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TRIVIA 01) Gy Waldron, creator of The Dukes of Hazzard, wrote a script for a movie about Uncle Jesse, a bootlegger, and his family and friends. What is the name of this movie that The Dukes of Hazzard series was loosely adapted from? 02) How many episodes were the General Lee in?

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03) Who created the famed “daisydukes”? 04) What were the names of the other Duke cousins who came in when Luke and Bo left to race on the NASCAR circuit? 05) How many episodes were the “new Dukes” in? 06) What was the name of Roscoe P. Coltrane’s dog? 07) What was the spin-off based around Deputy Enos Strate? 08) What was the name of the character who came in while Shroyer (Enos) had to take a leave of absence? 09) What was the license plate number of the General Lee? 10) Boss Hogg had an office in the bar The Boars Nest (where Daisy worked). What type of chair did he have in his office there?

ALL YOUR COOTER’S AND DUKES MEMORABILIA AND COLLECTIBLES TRIVIA ANSWERS: 1) Moonrunners, 2) all but one or 144 out of 145 episodes (Not in episode 3 “Mary Kaye’s Baby), 3) Catherine Bates who played Daisy, 4) Coy and Vance, 5) 19, 6) Flash, 7) Enos, 8) Boss Hogg’s dim cousin Cletus, 9) CNH 320, 10) barber’s chair ym26-31.indd 31

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T-SHIRTS★HATS★ PHOTOS★ POSTERS ★MORE 6/6/05 9:44:43 PM

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF PUBLICATIONS DEPT. WARNER BROS.

Based on the hit television series that ran from 1979-85, The Dukes of Hazzard movie is set in the present day. The story follows the adventures of “good ol’ boy” cousins, Bo (Seann William Scott) and Luke (Johnny Knoxville) Duke, who with the help of their eye-catching cousin Daisy (Jessica Simpson) and moonshine running Uncle Jesse (Willie Nelson), try and save the family farm from being destroyed by Hazzard County’s corrupt commissioner Boss Hogg (Burt Reynolds). Their efforts constantly find the Duke Boys eluding authorities in “The General Lee,” their famed 1969 orange Dodge Charger that keeps them one step ahead of the dimwitted antics of the small Southern town’s Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane (M.C. Gainey). The movie was filmed on-location in Louisiana. Look for up-and-coming Vicksburg, Miss. beauty Nikki Griffin (“Jess” on The O.C.) in the role of “Katie Johnson.” “Superwoman” Lynda Carter plays “Pauline,” who sweetens up to “Uncle Jesse.” Get ready for the big screen, y’all! Jonathan Craig

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Willie ★

by Kristin Gravatt

Willie Nelson has traveled the world and become an American icon. His name is recognized by people young and old across boundaries of class and ethnicity. Through the decades Nelson has made all types of music from country to gospel and now reggae, and has also had his fair share of acting beginning with his role in The Electric Horseman in 1979 and continuing through his latest role as “Uncle Jesse” in The Dukes of Hazzard movie.

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L to r : Courtesy Texas Roadhouse, Warner bros, Lost Highway/Jim Herrington 2004

“The Red Headed Stranger” has become a grey haired star, and at 72 he shows no signs of slowing down. He maintains a demanding recording schedule and continues to host yearly events such as Farm Aid and Fourth of July picnics. Yet with his numerous accomplishments, Willie Nelson has not let fame go to his head and still feels connected to his Southern heritage. “I always felt like we grew up in a great place where there was a lot of respect for individuals, individual rights, and to me that’s where I learned to pattern my way of living,” Nelson shares on-board his tour bus. “I think I got some good lessons growing up in a Southern rural town. I highly recommend it if you’re looking for a place to go: Head South.” Born Willie Hugh Nelson in Abbott, Texas on April 30, 1933, he spent his years after high school bouncing around from a D.J. job to a brief stint in the Air Force to a door-to-door Bible salesman until he moved to Nashville in 1960 and began making his career in music. After penning hits for other musicians, such as “Crazy” for Patsy Cline, Nelson focused on making his own hits.

Nelson moved back to Texas in 1970 and flourished in the relaxed musical atmosphere. By the mid-1970s he had become the country music outlaw still revered today. His trademark style of worn denim, bandana and long hair was established and a star was born when he struck it big with the 1975 album Red Headed Stranger, which included his first No. 1 song, “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain.” Other hits soon followed as Nelson paired with Waylon Jennings on unforgettable classics like “Mama Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys” and “Good Hearted Woman.” With a musical career solidified, Nelson wasted no time delving into acting. He played the lead in 1980’s Honeysuckle Rose (which is the name of his tour bus) and has continued to act and play himself in numerous film roles since, including Songwriter (1984), Red Headed Stranger (1986), Dust to Dust (1994), Wag The Dog (1997), Half Baked (1998) and The Big Bounce (2004). With The Dukes of Hazzard, Nelson is playing the moonshine maker role Denver Pyle made famous in the classic sitcom, and also plans to record a duet with co-star and fellow Texan, Jessica Simpson, on the soundtrack.

“ I think I got some good lessons growing up in a Southern rural town. I highly recommend it if you’re looking for a place to go: Head South.”

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L to r : Lost Highway/Jim Herrington 2004, Archie Carpenter/Getty

“[Playing music] is all that I really know how to do.” Nelson says modestly. “I’d like to do it forever.”

Today, he has over 200 album credits, has been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame (1993), and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (2000). “Mainly I just like playing music a whole lot and I don’t like sitting around and waiting.” Nelson says. “I don’t really like the award shows that much because you’ve got five people up there competing for one award and to me all those people should get the award.” Nelson doesn’t have to like award shows, because he manages to make an award-winning show out of each project he does. In 2002, he aired Willie Nelson & Friends: Stars and Guitars and another in 2003, Willie Nelson & Friends: Live and Kickin.’ From its inception in 1985 to 2003, Farm Aid, co-founded with John Mellencamp and Neil Young, raised over $24 million to benefit family farming. Nelson has had his share of hardships too. He managed to rack up a $16.7 million debt to the Internal Revenue Service by the early 1990s, has been married four times and lost his son, 33 years old, Billy to suicide in 1991. Nelson takes the good with the bad, and always manages to end up on top. “[Playing music] is all that I really know how to do,” Nelson says modestly. “I’d like to do it forever.”

Although the Maui resident could probably get enough votes to become President, he is completely content making music. “I would run, but I’d be afraid I’d win and then I’d have to go to work. I’d rather sit on the side and criticize and play ‘Whiskey River.’” But Nelson doesn’t just sit on the sidelines when it comes to interests close to his heart. He was raised by his paternal grandparents, he spent time in the cotton fields as a kid and has never forgotten the struggles of American farmers, whom he helps through his Farm Aid concerts. He also worked with the Democratic Party doing fundraisers for John Kerry before the 2004 election, but insists that he doesn’t fit in any one political category. “I’m just an ole redneck from Texas who ain’t a Democrat or Republican, but I can look at a guy and tell whether I like him or not. I don’t think I would like to be in a party that would have me in there. I’m a troublemaker.” Even now, long past his wild days, Nelson still manages to stir up controversy. In 2005, a Texas senator sponsored a bill proposing renaming a portion of Highway 130 the “Willie Nelson Turnpike.” Objections arose because of Nelson’s checkered past. Nelson was honored but objected to his name being attached to a toll road. The bill was later withdrawn.

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Nelson’s musical style is anything but set after all these years. He released a gospel album in 1973, has recorded with innumerable stars, like Norah Jones, Sheryl Crow, Toby Keith, Lucinda Williams, Lee Ann Womack, and legends like Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson. His next record is his long-talked-about reggae album, Countryman, due out August 2. He will cover Jimmy Cliff ’s “The Harder They Come,” and also rework his own “Darkness on the Face of the Earth.” Don’t plan on Willie Nelson retiring anytime soon. He is running full-steam with no plans to quit. “I try to take care of myself. For a guy my age, I’m in shape” explains Nelson. “I still have a lot of fun everyday, but I don’t have to get drunk to do it.”

“I’m just an ole redneck from Texas who ain’t a Democrat or Republican, but I can look at a guy and tell whether I like him or not.”

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southern southern bbrothers rothers by Tabatha Gardner

Chances are when you read the name Van Zant, the lyrics of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Freebird” or that of 38 Special’s “Wild Eyed Southern Boys” instantly come to mind, complete with images of Southern Rock’s first family. So when Johnny (Lynyrd Skynyrd) and Donnie Van Zant (38 Special) teamed up to work on their new collaboration, they were not just trying to throw together a project, sell some records and make a quick buck.

L TO R: Frederick M. Brown-Getty, courtesy of Van Zant

The legendary rockers were out to follow a dream, one that was also shared by their late brother Ronnie. The new Sony Nashville album, Get Right with the Man, delves into subjects ranging from the bluecollar work ethic, to family, and coping with a drug problem, to figuring out that thing called love. So what is different? Get Right with the Man is a country music album flavored with a little bit of rock and a little bit of soul, and it’s the first time the brothers have been a duo. The progression from rock into the country music world was a natural one for the Van Zant brothers, as they admit it’s something they have been doing all of their lives. “They tagged us with the saying ‘Southern Rock’ years ago. For us that just meant country rock and that is basically what it is,” Donnie says. The older of the two brothers at

Donnie and Johnny Van Zant

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“

…there’s just something about a woman going ‘Hey y’all.’

53, Donnie Van Zant is keeping Johnny, 46, in line, having taught Johnny the formula for writing songs when they were growing up in Jacksonville, Fla. Both enjoy the simple things in life. Donnie loves to go bass fishing and spend time with his family when he is not performing or writing songs, while Johnny enjoys cutting the grass. “I have four daughters, they keep me busy. They are my hobby, along with my wife. I never thought about that, but that is true,” Johnny explains. When asked about getting older, Donnie simply says, “I think you’re as old as you feel and we’re feeling really good today. About this whole project [the VanZant album], I can tell you a story about flying in from Jacksonville to do the Country Radio Seminar convention. We were getting right to the hotel and the Van Zant debut single [“Help Somebody”] came on the radio and we were just like two kids at a candy store. We were jumping around in the car and almost wrecking the car because we were so excited about hearing the song on the radio. It’s really a high I can not describe but we were just very excited.” Both men are extremely proud of their Southern heritage. “It is a great way to live. And Southern girls are great too, not that Northern girls ain’t okay, but there’s just something about a woman going ‘Hey y’all,’” says Johnny. Donnie best sums up his love for the South with a story about their mother. “In our home, the Van Zant home, the doors were always open to anyone. There was always a big meal there. My mother and father did not care who you were. If you were hungry, you came on in. So I think things like that were our way of living. Our doors were always open to anybody.” Everyone can rest assured that these good ole boys have not forgotten where they came from in the midst of all of their success, and they know their fans come from that same place as well as. Johnny explains: “Our fans are country folks; they

”

like the basics. They’re not afraid of dirt, and they know how to work with their hands. If you’ve got a good car and a good woman, you can be happy. Life has gotten so complicated that a lot of people have lost sight of the fact that the simple things are the best things. We came from a basic family. Our father was a working man. Our mother was a housewife. We didn’t live the high life. Sure, these days we buy our own cars, but we still live a basic life.” One of the many things that keeps the South and even our neighbors to the north coming back to buy another record by the brothers, whether it’s Lynyrd Skynyrd, 38 Special, or now with Van Zant, is the brothers’ love of their profession. “Walking up them steps to that stage and being able to get out there in front of the fans and play, that’s still the best part of it all,” offers Donnie. Being unafraid to step into uncharted territory (country music) broadens both Johnny and Donnie’s fan base. “You are constantly wanting to do something different. Obviously we are doing a country record right now, but we are really going to shock people when we do a gospel record. Music is music to us and we want to do it all. We are all here just a short period of time and we want to do everything we possibly can as long as we are having fun with it. We are having a great time with this and we look forward to doing many, many more together,” Johnny says. The Van Zant brothers will continue to win the hearts of their fans while making new ones with their unmatched passion for the music that they create. This summer, you can find Johnny still touring with Lynyrd Skynyrd, while Donnie tours with 38 Special. But hopefully, we will be able to see the two brothers who have remained best friends throughout it all come to the South both with their respective bands, and as Van Zant, to show us all just what it means to be “country.”

JULY/AUGUST 2005 • Y’ALL

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6/7/05 5:47:54 PM

Ruby Wilson

Queen Beale St

Y’ALL • THE MAGAZINE OF SOUTHERN PEOPLE

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COURTESY OF ROLLIN RIGGS

of Street

One of the most recognizable landmarks in Memphis, Tennessee is Beale Street. This lively cobblestone street is filled to the brim with Southern food, Elvis memorabilia, spirits and great music. One simply cannot visit The King’s home without visiting the street that makes Memphis the town that it is and hearing one of the entertainers helping to turn Beale into the place for nightlife, “The Queen of Beale Street,” Ms. Ruby Wilson. by Tabatha Gardner JULY/AUGUST 2005 • Y’ALL

6/6/05 10:00:01 PM

and sultry. Her favorite actor is Denzel Washington, and she loves performing with B.B., her godfather. If she looks at all familiar, it is because Ruby has played roles in movies like The People vs. Larry Flynt, The Chamber, The Client and Cookie’s Fortune. Whether she is energizing the crowd with a fabulous rendition of “Mustang Sally” or performing the heart wrenching “At Last,” the Beale Street Bluestress is always showing listeners, old and new, young and young at heart, a good time. “I just like to see happy faces,” Ruby confesses. “Being able to do my thing and be appreciated by everybody, not everybody but some of the people. You cannot please everybody at the same time, so you please most of them.” Wilson’s latest album, Show You A Good Time, is now available. Wilson is sure to show anyone who gives the CD a listen or shows up at one of her performances just that.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF RUBY WILSON

For the past two decades, Wilson has had the honor of holding the title of Queen. Holding this “crown” means that she represents Beale Street and Memphis wherever she goes. One of the most soulful stars playing music today, Wilson has recorded more than 10 albums and performs everywhere from small town Mississippi to Switzerland. The singer confides that her favorite place is Paris, as she loves everything about the city of romance, “the [Parisian] people, the things to do and the fact that they appreciate you,” she shares. As much as she loves to travel, she still enjoys coming home to play at B.B. King’s on Beale to a packed crowd. Born in Texas, Wilson is now proud to call Memphis home. She enjoys being in the South. “In the South, you do not have to be in a hurry. In the North, everything is rush, rush, rush,” she says. With hobbies such as poetry, sewing and babysitting her grandchildren, Wilson describes her sound as soulful Y’ALL • THE MAGAZINE OF SOUTHERN PEOPLE

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6/6/05 10:00:16 PM

Can you imagine...

a world without children?

At St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, we can't. That's why we are working every day to find cures for life-threatening diseases that strike children everywhere. Diseases like cancer, pediatric AIDS, and sickle cell. And we won't stop until every child is cured, and every disease is defeated.

Because we can't imagine a world without children...can you? Call 1-800-996-4100 or log onto www.stjude.org to learn how you can help.

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6/6/05 10:00:26 PM

bats & hats

made in t

PHOTOS COURTESY OF LOUISVILLE SLUGGER/ERA CAPS

Louisville Slugger took shape from the splinters of Pete “The Old Gladiator” Browning’s bat. Over a century ago, Browning was a star player with Louisville’s Eclipse team of the old American Association (the forerunner of what is now the National League.) During his career, he achieved a .341 batting average, the 12th highest career average in Major League history. But in 1884, Browning was fighting a slump, one that appeared to deepen when he broke his favorite bat. John Andrew “Bud” Hillerich happened to be watching the game that day. He was actually playing hooky from the woodworking shop of his father, J. Frederich Hillerich, a German immigrant who rose from an apprentice wood turner to a master craftsman. After the game, Bud Hillerich invited the despondent Browning to the shop where he said he’d create a new bat. Browning and Hillerich picked out a piece of white ash. Young Hillerich then began fashioning the new bat according to Browning’s direction. They worked through the night, Hillerich periodically letting Browning take practice swings. Finally, Browning pronounced the bat just right. The next day, Browning used the Hillerich bat to go three-for-three. The bat pulled Browning out of his slump and put the Hillerichs in the bat business. Today, it is the oldest and largest such business in the world. Bud Hillerich’s father opposed this new 44

enterprise. J.F. Hillerich’s business thrived on turning roller skids, bed posts, tenpins, wooden bowling balls and the increasingly popular swinging churn. He saw little value in producing bats, which he regarded as trivial. Despite his father’s protests, Bud Hillerich continued making bats. It soon became a major part of the business. First called the “Falls City Slugger”, it became known as the “Louisville Slugger” by 1894. Thanks to Pete Browning, the wonders of young Hillerich’s bats swept the Eclipse team and the league. The Hillerich bat business took off. Bud Hillerich earned a partnership in his father’s business in 1897, when he was 31. The company name changed to “J.F. Hillerich and Son”, where the young Hillerich directed the expanding bat department. On September 1, 1905, “The Flying Dutchman”, Honus Wagner, signed a contract giving J.F. Hillerich and Son permission to use his autograph on Louisville Slugger bats. Wagner’s signature was the first to be used on a baseball bat, and established the now-widespread practice of endorsement advertising, which Hillerich & Bradsby Co. still employs. Many baseball legends have signed with H&B and used Louisville Slugger bats to advance their careers. These greats include Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle, Hank Aaron, Johnny Bench, George

Y’ALL • THE MAGAZINE OF SOUTHERN PEOPLE

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6/6/05 10:02:34 PM

n the south Brett, and Ken Griffey, Jr. to name just a few. In 1912, the firm hired Frank W. Bradsby, a young buyer of athletic equipment from St. Louis. He took responsibility for Hillerich’s sales policy, and went on to become one of the most dominant figures in the sporting goods industry. In 1916, the firm’s name changed to Hillerich & Bradsby Company. Bradsby remained active in the company’s management until his death in 1937. Bud Hillerich’s tenure and activity with the company continued until his death in 1946 at 80. He was en route to the annual baseball meeting in Los Angeles, California when he died. Hillerich’s elder son, Ward, became chief executive officer, serving until his death in 1949. His younger son, John A. Hillerich, Jr. guided the company as the chief executive

for the next 20 years, a period in which H&B experienced growth and diversification. John A. Hillerich, III, the current Chairman of the Board, took over the company in 1969 after his father’s death. Today, H&B manufactures more than one million wood Louisville Slugger bats a year for professional and amateur use. The company still custom makes bats for professional baseball players (a Major League player uses an average of 90 bats a season). The Louisville Slugger Museum (the first museum ever devoted to hitters) and factory tour continues to be one of the most visited sights in Kentucky and is routinely cited by travel publications. Come see firsthand how this Southern company has crafted the careers of your favorite ballplayers. It’s a hit! by Jonathan Craig

NEW ERA CAPS Demopolis, Alabama is the home of New Era Cap Company, the exclusive provider of onfield caps for Major League Baseball. Workers at the West Alabama plant put a little Southern touch to their work, even if it is for Yankees – the baseball club in the Bronx that is.

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The Dixie Duck ave you heard the call of the duck? “The Aflac Duck,” that is. The loud squawk of the duck has made the Columbus, Georgia-based insurance company a household name. A duck with a Southern accent? For the past five years, Aflac has had tremendous success in creating brand recognition with its hilarious commercials and its pesky spokesduck. In a notably brief period of time, Aflac built a brand awareness campaign that resulted in nine out of ten people recognizing the company’s unusual name. Dan Amos, chairman and CEO of Aflac, doesn’t just want name recognition for his company; he also wants the world to know the service it provides. “We not only want consumers to recognize our name. We want them to identify Aflac as a resource

for maintaining financial control when injuries or illness happen,” says Amos. So what exactly is “Aflaaaac?” The company with the ever-persistent spokesduck is the number one provider of voluntary insurance in the United States and Japan. Aflac’s insurance products are sold primarily at worksites and are intended to protect the policy-holder’s income. The company offers cancer-expense protection as well as nine other voluntary benefits products, such as accident and short-term disability insurance. Founded in 1955 as the American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus (Aflac) by brothers John, Paul and Bill Amos, the company now insures over 40 million people worldwide. It has built its reputation by providing good service and paying cash directly to policy holders.

COURTESY OF AFLAC

by Jenna Blackwell

Y’ALL • THE MAGAZINE OF SOUTHERN PEOPLE

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“Treat people right and the business will take care of itself,” says Amos, the son of Paul. This has been his philosophy, while strategically placing Aflac to compete in the world’s changing insurance market. Dan Amos, chairman and CEO of Aflac Amos’ motto applies to policy holders as well as employees. The company behind the newest American advertising icon is coincidentally not a bad place to work. For seven consecutive years, Aflac has been named to Fortune magazine’s list of the “100 Best Companies to Work For in America.” With a workforce of approximately 4,000 at their worldwide headquarters on the banks of the Chattahoochee River, Amos and crew have a family-friendly company that provides a good work/life balance for employees. “Every day, our employees tell us how great it is to work here. It’s gratifying to have our efforts recognized year after year. Our ongoing daily goal is to provide a positive environment that helps our employees grow professionally, personally, and financially,” explains Aflac Senior Vice President and Director of Human Resources Audrey Boone Tillman. The company with the spokesduck actually has a duck pond at its Corporate Ridge Offices in Columbus. Other amenities for employees are on-site daycare facilities, walking trails, and a fully-equipped gym. Now the duck’s call has been heard far and wide. Beyond Aflac’s own campaign, the duck has had many random high-profile appearances. It appeared in the film Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events; it was spoofed on Saturday Night Live; and it has been the answer to a Jeopardy question. The duck has become a cultural icon, while the company has garnered name recognition. No doubt, this Southern company certainly has a lot to quack about!

“The Duck has had many random high-profile appearances. It appeared in the film Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events; it was spoofed on Saturday Night Live; and it has been the answer to a Jeopardy question.”

JULY/AUGUST 2005 • Y’ALL

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6/6/05 10:05:17 PM

max’d out

BOYS OF S by Max Howell

Many rules have changed since those days. Squad sizes, personnel status, stadium sites and financial support to name a few. Rules on eligibility, number of games played, coaches contracts and media coverage play as big a part in today’s game as the game itself. Not only have we expanded the magnitude of the game, but activities such as the pageantry of tailgating on some campuses, may be bigger than the game. Places such as “The Grove” at Ole Miss, the “Flats” at Auburn, outside “The Swamp” in Gainesville or a boat in the River below Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, are familiar to us all. These are sites where beautiful women and their significant others show up to catch up on their summer travels, prepare gourmet picnics and give vocal support for their teams. Yes, we have come “along way baby” since that first cold November day in New Jersey. The South has the best

Texas QB Vince Young

climate, the best support, the best events, the most beautiful women and the most passion for its football. We live it, we love it and we support it better than any other region of the country. With teams, not only in the Southeastern Conference (Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Miss. State, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt), but in the ACC (Florida State, Miami, Ga. Tech, Clemson, NC State, Virginia and Va. Tech) and Memphis and Southern Miss from Conference USA, and yes, you get the picture.

L to R:Brian Bahr/Getty, Donald Miralle/Getty

Coach Max Howell can be heard on MAX’d OUT, syndicated throughout the Southeast weekdays, 9-12 noon CT. www.maxhowell.com

No, not the baseball boys…the football boys are working, sweating, planning and preparing for Fall ’05. Maybe we wouldn’t want to go back to the Fall of 1869 when preparation was being made between Rutgers and Princeton as they prepared to take the field in New Brunswick N.J. Two universities only twenty miles apart and a natural rivalry as intense as any we know today. The drive to be prepared then was evident, but today it’s the off season program that will make or break seasons.

Y’ALL • THE MAGAZINE OF SOUTHERN PEOPLE

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OFF SUMMER As we head into this season, I’ll share a few thoughts on what is ahead of us. I see in the SEC East Florida and Tennessee’s battle in Gainesville on the third Saturday in September once again setting the stage for the winner to be in Atlanta in December. Georgia should finish third with South Carolina, Kentucky and Vandy Florida State QB Wyatt rounding out that division. Sexton The SEC West, at the beginning, will clearly have LSU as its favorite. A new coach and no established QB could cause a little concern, but the Tigers are loaded with talent. The rest of the order doesn’t look as clear to me. If Alabama can stay healthy, with good experience returning at QB and a “salty” defense, they might move to #2 in that division. However, even with no experience at QB and no established running backs, don’t count Auburn out. A very good and aggressive defense can carry them long enough for the offense to get better. Arkansas, Ole Miss and Miss. State all have their weaknesses. Look for each to win a game they aren’t supposed to, but none have enough depth to unseat the top favorites. It probably will be LSU and Tennessee in Atlanta on December 3rd playing for the championship. In the ACC, we will get to see two of the three favorites play on Labor Day Night…FSU vs. Miami. Both will have new QB’s. Kyle Wright probably will get the start for Miami and Wyatt Sexton should start for the ‘Noles. Virginia Tech looks like the best team, with Virginia lurking not far behind. With the first ever ACC Championship Game in Jacksonville on December 3rd, we will see some different strategies down the stretch. I like Southern Miss and Memphis to battle for the Conference USA title. The University of Memphis plays Ole Miss on Labor Day night on National TV. The outcome could spell much for the winner and loser. My early top Ten National picks are: Southern Cal, Texas, Iowa, Tennessee,

Ohio State, Va. Tech, Miami, Oklahoma, Florida and LSU My early Heisman candidates are: QB Vince Young (Texas), RB Reggie Bush (USC), WR Ted Ginn (Ohio State), RB Leon Washington (FSU), QB Matt Leinjart (USC), RB Adrian Petersen (Oklahoma) As summer heats up and the prognosticators write and speak, we can now put the other off season topics to rest …Knight commission, Title IX complaints, police blotter, hiring and firing of coaches, academic awareness and get down to tailgate planning, season ticket purchasing, magazine buying and of course the mindset of “We’re #1” because college football season is coming up!

JULY/AUGUST 2005 • Y’ALL

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6/6/05 10:06:35 PM

cajun humor

A WOMAN’S MINE

by Tommy Joe Breaux

le Annizette Landry woke up one morninʼ an de first tang out his mouth was to wish his wife a big happy birtday. Annizette said, “Cher, wat would you like for your birthday?” His wife said, “Iʼd like to be six again.” Well, he took her to the Audubon Zoo, de kiddie show, de amusement parks to ride all de rides, and to top it all off, Annizette brought her to de Old Timey Ice Cream Parlor for a big ice cream Sundae. Well, dat night, all proud of hisself, Annizette axed his wife, “Now Cher, how was DAT for a birthday?” His wife look at him an say, “I felt like a fool, datʼs how my day was!” Annizette look up an say, “Hole averytang rite dare!! I done knock myself out today makinʼ you feel six again and now you tole me dat is wasnʼt a good day?” His wife look at him an say,” Annizette, I was talkinʼ bout my DRESS SIZE!!”

Humorist Tommy Joe Breaux has been delighting the South with his cajun stories for years. Breaux has numerous tapes, videos and books available at www. tommyjoebreaux.com.

Y’ALL • THE MAGAZINE OF SOUTHERN PEOPLE

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6/6/05 10:07:50 PM

cranky yankee

Brednecks continued… by Laurie Stieber

Laurie Stieber is an Atlanta-based entertainment attorney and freelance columnist. The New York City native can be reached at yankee@yall.com

I am in no position to cast stones at my friend, Caroline, who swears she had no idea that her philandering, now ex-husband, had been philandering again. “I simply did not see the writing on the wall,” Caroline lamented. Evidently, she didn’t see the writing on the American Express bill either: two round trip tickets to Las Vegas. Caroline was not invited. Unfortunately, whatever went on there did not stay there. She came home with Caroline’s husband. The reason why I had best keep every last pebble to myself is because my husband, “Doc,” also pulled the wool - raccoon skin that is - over my denying eyes. Nah, the good doctor ain’t a cheatin’ kinda guy - this betrayal did not involve another woman - but it did involve another identity. My sophisticated, dependable, Romanian surgeon of a mate, morphed seemingly overnight into a well-bred redneck. A.k.a. “bredneck.” Unlike Caroline, I cannot in good or even phony conscience, place my hand on a bible and swear I did not see the writing on the wall. There most defi nitely were subtle hints that a transformation was taking place in the soul of the medicine man I married. Once upon a more normal time, for example, a sexy, silver BMW resided in our garage. Then, one fateful bredneck day, a forest green, Avalanche monster of a truck, came to live in our garage and ate the sexy, silver BMW all up. It ate up part of the driveway, too, ‘cause the big green monster that Doc loves more than life itself, could not fit into an airplane hanger, much less our humble garage. “Why do you need that truck,” I asked, which is perhaps as dumb a question as asking men at a Super Bowl party why they need those kegs of beer. Reflectively, I’ve come to realize that size really does matter to the guys. Doc’s answer, at the time, was a bit more custom made to fit the idiot I was. “I need that truck for my stuff.” Made sense to Miss Yankee Denial Me. A stethoscope can be

mighty bulky “stuff” to lug around. Subtle hints breed like rabbits. Just when you think you’ve nailed them all, another one crops up. “Honey, pack your bags. We’re going to Dublin!” an exuberant Doc proclaimed that Friday, after a hard day’s work at Emory University Hospital - work that does not involve skinnin’ wild hawgs and shovlin’ shi…well, shovlin’ any ole thang. “I love you!’ I squealed, ‘We’re going to Ireland! You’re the best husband in the whole wide world.” The speed with which sledgehammers drop is sadistic to innocent city women

“ ” No, sweetheart. We’re not going to Ireland. We’re going to East Dublin, Georgia.

with dreams of seeing Ireland. “No, sweetheart. We’re not going to Ireland. We’re going to East Dublin, Georgia. Glen invited us to his cabin.” “How wonderful,” I said, through crushed ribs, “How very generous of Cabin Glen. By the way, where will I be staying?” “You’ll have a great time. Trust me.” I don’t trust brednecks. They put imported Israeli feta cheese into their grits. Doc and I are on the road to Cabin Glen’s in the Avalanche monster that ate the poor sexy, silver BMW. Doc suggests that I call ahead for dinner reservations. It’s Friday night, after all. Oh, and I thought East Dublin, Ga., had ten fabulous pubs on every street, like the REAL Dublin. Silly me. Doc calls out the mystery restaurant phone number and I dial it on the cell phone. It’s ringing. Still ringing. Ah, the hostess answers. “Hooter’s,” she says, “May I help you?” “Ma’am, when a cranky Yankee is making dinner reservations at Hooter’s, not even God can help her.” Shalom, Y’all! We’re pulling up to Cabin Glen’s. Uh, oh …

JULY/AUGUST 2005 • Y’ALL

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There are places where the conversation always comes easy.

B B a n dT. c o m © 2 0 0 3 B B &T M e m b e r F D I C

We think your bank should be one of them.

Our one-on-one approach to banking hasn’t changed much since we star ted back in 1872. Perhaps that’s because we’ve maintained the belief that you are an individual, not an account number. And that when it comes to your banking, you should be able to feel as comfor table talking to us as you would any of your other neighbors.

You can tell we want your business.

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on the money

DEBT IS D

NOT

A TOOL

by Dave Ramsey

Dave Ramsey is a financial counselor, host of the popular syndicated radio show “The Dave Ramsey Show,” and author of the New York Times best-seller The Total Money Makeover. His columns appear regularly in Y’all.

I have heard it said that if you tell a lie often enough, loudly enough, and long enough, the myth will become accepted as a fact. Repetition, volume, and longevity will twist and turn a myth, or a lie, into a commonly accepted way of doing things. Entire populations have been lulled into the approval of ghastly deeds and even participation in them by gradually moving from the truth to a lie. Throughout history, twisted logic, rationalization, and incremental changes have allowed normally intelligent people to be party to ridiculous things. Propaganda, in particular, played a big part in allowing these things to happen. We have propaganda in our culture today. I’m not speaking in a political sense, but rather recognizing that there are people who want us to think their way and will go to great lengths to accomplish that. The financial and banking industries in particular are very good at teaching us their way of handling money, which of course leads us to buy their products. And what is their biggest and best-selling product? Debt. Debt has been sold to us so aggressively, so loudly, and so often that to imagine living without debt requires mythbusting. We have to systematically destroy the inner workings of the myths. Debt is so ingrained into our culture that most Americans can’t even envision a car without a payment, a house without a mortgage, a student without a loan, and credit without a card. We have been sold debt with such repetition and with such fervor that most folks cannot conceive what it would be like to have no payments. I remember a finance professor telling me that debt was a two-edged sword, which could cut for you like a tool but could also cut into you and bring harm. We are told with sufficient snobbery and noses in the air that sophisticated and disciplined financiers use debt to their advantage. My contention is that debt brings on enough risk to offset any advantage that could be gained through leverage of debt. Given time, a lifetime, risk will destroy the perceived returns purported by the mythsayers. The Forbes 400 is a list of the richest 400 people in America as rated by Forbes magazine. When surveyed, 75 percent of Forbes 400 (rich people, not your broke brother-in-law with an opinion) said that the best way to build wealth is to become and stay debt-free. I have met with thousands of millionaires in my years as a financial counselor, and I have never met one who said he made it all with Discover Card bonus points. They all lived on less than they made and spent only when they had cash. No Payments.

The occasional economics teacher feels the need to pose the ridiculous scenario of “If no one used debt, our economy would collapse.” This is one of those myths that must be debunked. However, let’s pretend for the fun of it. What if every single American stopped using debt of any kind in one year? The economy would collapse. What if every single American stopped using debt of any kind over the next fifty years? The economy would prosper, although banks and other lenders would suffer. Do I see tears anywhere? What would people do if they didn’t have any payments? They would save and they would spend, not support banks. Spending by debt-free people would support and prosper the economy. The economy would be much more stable without the tidal waves caused by “consumer confidence” or lack thereof. Saving and investing would cause wealth to be built at an unprecedented level, which would create more stability and spending. Giving would increase, and many social problems would be privatized; thus the government could get out of the welfare business. Then taxes could come down, and we would have even more wealth. As that great philosopher Austin Powers said, “Capitalism, yeah, baby!” Ahhh, capitalism is cool.

“

Debt is so ingrained into our culture that most Americans can’t even envision a car without payment…

”

Are you beginning to understand that debt is NOT a tool? This myth and all its little sub-myths have been spread far and wide. Always keep in mind the idea that if you tell a lie often enough, loud enough, and long enough, the myth becomes accepted as a fact. Repetition, volume, and longevity will twist and turn a myth, a lie, into a commonly accepted way of doing things. No more. Debt is not a tool; it is a method to make banks wealthy, not you. The borrower truly is slave to the lender. Your largest wealth-building asset is your income. When you tie up your income, you lose. When you invest your income, you become wealthy and can do anything you want. How much could you give every month, save every month, and spend every month if you had no payments? Your income is your greatest wealth-building tool, not debt. JULY/AUGUST 2005 • Y’ALL

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Neshoba County Fair A MISSISSIPPI SUMMER TRADITION No event in the South is a testament to family, friends, and a sense of place and belonging quite like the world-famous Neshoba County Fair, where for a week each summer simple conversation and Southern hospitality prove to be the most important aspects of life. Take a little bit of Mardi Gras, mix it with an old-fashioned family reunion, and what you have is Mississippi’s Giant House Party, spread over more than 145 acres, and as important to some folks as Christmas or Thanksgiving. The Neshoba County Fair has been portrayed through words and photos countless times, trying to give those not fortunate enough to have walked its paths an accurate view of the place, but without seeing it for yourself, it is almost impossible to imagine just how unique this event is. The desolate echoes of a ghost town dissolve in the sights and sounds of a vibrant community that comes to life overnight in the red clay hills of Central Mississippi. Fairgoers wait patiently for a year to again experience the most celebrated campground fair of its kind in the nation. Thousands will cram onto the property July 22July 29 as families and extended families pack up and move to this rural plot of countryside near Philadelphia, Miss., to call this place home once again, if only for a week. The multitude will hang out in and around the 600 or so rustic fair houses, called cabins, for this legendary Southern ritual--a little like camping out with some modern conveniences. Cabins are modest two-or three-story dwellings festively decorated with colorful strings of lights, various flags and patriot and political banners of all kinds. Forget your everyday cares at this place where talking, eating and drinking are the only real requirements while lounging on the porch during those lazy, hazy summer days. Cabins, some air conditioned, others not, are always full of enough food and libations to satisfy the needs of any 54

by Dann Pair

number of old friends or cousins who may wander by. You don’t have to be an overnight guest to enjoy the fair’s events, but spending a night or two can make you temporarily forget the problems of the outside world, and quite possibly create memories you may never forget. “The first time I went to the fair as a teenager I didn’t visit any of the cabins and I just did not understand what the big deal was,’’ says Terri Neely, who grew up 35 miles away in Kosciusko, Miss. “Now I see that it’s important to just sit and chat or have dinner with friends who have cabins where you can participate in the real fair experience.” Founders Square, Beverly Hills, Happy Hollow and Sunset Strip are some of the neighborhoods where folks passing through are liable to hear almost any genre of music from country to pop while being engulfed with succulent scents of Southern cuisine coming from everywhere. Some neighborhoods hold large theme parties like the luau, every year where strings of lights are hung from cabin to cabin forming a canopy for partygoers as they dance and drink the night away. Trailer-dwellers entertain and enjoy their own version of the fair in a section of the fairgrounds set aside for 300 RVs. But there is little doubt that the main action takes place at the cabins, where beds are arranged side by side even on balconies, and family members and friends sleep piled in like they have for decades. Most of these prized, privatelyowned modest structures are passed down in families through the generations, but when the occasional cabin comes up for sale, don’t be surprised if the asking price is over $100,000. “The notion of moving into a Fair cabin with as many as 30 people stacked every which way in bunks to the ceiling in open sleeping arrangements is insane to many observers,’’ laughs Jim Prince, local newspaper editor and life-long fairgoer. “Over a two-day period last year it seemed like 10 carloads

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of people, most of them college-age, pulled up to one cabin and unloaded for the weekend.’’ Prince and his staff at the weeklypublished Neshoba Democrat produce a daily newspaper, The Fair Times, on at least four days of the fair, in which weather, event updates and other comings and goings are described in detail to a very attentive public of fairgoers. “So much has been said and written about The Neshoba County Fair in its 115-year-run that another commentary seems almost pointless; yet we never tire of affirming a good thing.” The first fair was no more than a large picnic held in 1889 called the Coldwater Fair, and in later years referred to as the Stock and Agricultural Fair before evolving into an event whose grounds are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This Southern celebration offers much to those seeking the pleasures of simplicity in an age of incredible technology. There are a variety of attractions and activities for those willing to get up off the porch and do a little or sometimes a lot of walking. A 35-mile triathlon, a late-night gospel sing, a series of cake walks, a rodeo, a flea market, a youth talent show, an antique car show, and an impressive beauty pageant where Miss Neshoba County is crowned, are some of the many ways to pass the time. A memorial service to honor fallen local veterans is always held and many performances by high school bands and church choirs can be enjoyed throughout the week. There is a midway with rides for people of all ages and a variety of games where stuffed animals, goldfish or even live rabbits are the prizes. In the exhibit hall

award-winning produce, jams, jellies, quilts and an array of crafts are on display and not far away in the livestock barns are the blue-ribbon winners in the show animal competitions. The main event each Sunday through Friday afternoon is the horse racing, which began in 1894 and is the highlight of the week for countless fairgoers. The grandstand and every porch and deck around the racetrack are filled with yelling, jumping racing enthusiasts. Politics have always been a big part of the fair, and candidates come from near and far to stump for votes as many of their predecessors have. Fiery speeches ring out from under the legendary tin-roofed pavilion, where potential voters wave paper hand fans in search of any relief from the heat. Every Mississippi governor elected since the massive oaks on Founders Square were planted in 1898 has kicked up this red dust in search of votes. Local and state candidates have long since realized that choosing not to speak at the Neshoba County Fair could be political suicide. National figures such as John Glenn, Jack Kemp and Michael Dukakis have found themselves here in the Mississippi countryside trying to take advantage of this unique platform. Many who were around when Ronald Reagan gave a rousing speech at the 1980 Neshoba County Fair during his first successful campaign for President will remember the mannerisms and gestures made by the late president and wife, Nancy, as they peered at this one of a kind place from the stage. The Mississippi heat can be oppressive during the daylight hours, but about the time the moon makes its appearance, the fair really comes to life. Countless

parties will be held and no fewer than 13 nationally known country or rock music acts performed in 2004. In addition to the official schedule of events, performances on porches and decks by bands hired by cabin owners, perform to what often become large crowds that linger into the early morning hours. Couples walk handin-hand along the racetrack under the same twinkling stars that shown on their parents and grandparents when they first did the same in a different time. This is a place where traditions are respected, like late-night card games with cousins you rarely see, watching the children play in the piles of sawdust put out for that purpose, and falling asleep on the upstairs porch as talking, laughing and the occasional Rebel yell still rule the night. “There is no place like this in the world, evidenced by the fact that even 25 or 30 years later friends of friends of friends are still coming back, having become part of a kind of adopted, extended Fair family,’’ Prince says. “The Fair is a retreat to the simple life and the refreshing art of conversation. There are times when there is no requirement to do anything but sit and talk or walk and visit. Our modern culture rebels against such notions of simplicity, but conversation is alive and well at the Fair, we are happy to report.’’ The 2005 Neshoba County Fair will be held July 22-July 29. The fairgrounds are located on Hwy 21 South approximately 7 miles from Philadelphia, Miss. Daily admission to the fair is $15 and a season pass is $30. Accommodations in the area are hard to come by, so book early. Official website: www.neshobacountyfair.org. Email address: ncfa@bellsouth.net

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yʼall

of fame

Helen Keller (1880-1968)

by Jonathan Craig

The name of Helen Adams Keller is known around the world as a symbol of courage in the face of overwhelming odds, yet she was much more than a symbol. She was a woman of luminous intelligence, high ambition and great accomplishment. She devoted her life to helping others.

COURTESY OF HELEN KELLER INTERMATIONAL

eller was born in Tuscumbia, Alabama, in 1880. When she was only 19 months old, she contracted a fever that left her blind and deaf. When she was almost seven years old her parents engaged Anne Mansfield Sullivan to be her tutor. With dedication, patience, courage and love, Miss Sullivan was able to evoke and help develop the child’s enormous intelligence. She quickly learned to read and write, and began to speak by the age of 10. When she was 20, she entered Radcliffe College, with Miss Sullivan at her side to spell textbooks – letter by letter – into her hand. Here, Keller began her writing career, which was to continue for 50 years. In addition to penning the American classic The Story of My Life, she wrote 11 other books and numerous articles on blindness, deafness, social issues and women’s rights. Radcliffe awarded her a Bachelor’s degree magna cum laude in 1904. Keller began her life’s work of helping blind and deaf-blind people after college. She appeared before state and national legislatures and international forums,

traveled around the world to lecture and to visit areas with a high incidence of blindness, and wrote numerous books and articles. She met every U.S. president from Grover Cleveland to Lyndon Johnson, and played a major role in focusing the world’s attention on the problems of the blind and the need for preventive measures. Keller won numerous honors, including honorary university degrees, the Lions Humanitarian Award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and election to the Women’s Hall of Fame. During her lifetime, she was consistently ranked near the top of “most admired” lists. She died in 1968. Today, this great Southerner’s legacy lives on with the Helen Keller International, a 90-year-old organization that is saving the sight and lives of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged. HKI combats the causes and consequences of blindness and malnutrition by establishing programs based on evidence and research in vision, health and nutrition. Read more about her online at www.hki.org.

The world is full of trouble, but as long as we have people undoing trouble, we have a pretty good world.

—Helen Keller

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L TO R: BENOIT DOPPAGNE-AFP-GETTY, JEAN-PIERRE MULLER-AFP-GETTY, DOUG PENSINGER-GETTY

sports

LANCE

ARMSTRONG By J. E. Pitts By the time you read this, Lance Armstrong, a young and skinny man in his mid-thirties from Austin, Texas, will be racing to win his seventh Tour De France in a row. It has become almost like clockwork now, summer after summer, to watch Armstrong and his Discovery Channel racing team tackle the plains and the mountains and the streets of Paris in the famous extended tour of JULY/AUGUST 2005 • Y’ALL

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France by bicycle.

Cycling Team came calling, and when his high school in Plano,

Experts

the

Texas, wouldn’t grant him an absence to join the team during

race the hardest

his senior year, he went anyway, and graduated later on from

competition in all

a high school in Dallas. So began his long run of doing things

of sports, and the

that others didn’t think he could. He turned professional in

logistics are mind-

1992, and was ranked as the number one cyclist in the world

numbing

the

by 1996. But in October of that year he was diagnosed with

casual bike rider.

testicular cancer that had spread to his lungs and brain. Rather

Imagine riding 2,241 miles on a bicycle across the entire width

than opt for a safer form of therapy that would have reduced

and breadth of France through all types of weather, while

his lung capacity and function, he underwent a combination

having to dodge riders and drivers and cows and a hungry

of brain surgery and severe chemotherapy and shocked his

pack of other cyclists nipping at your backside. And to do all

doctors by making a full recovery.

1988

call

of this during three weeks in July. It doesn’t seem possible. But he does it.

After his return, he was signed by the U.S. Postal Service

Armstrong, 33, was raised in Texas, perhaps a clue to his

France competitions in 1999. Competitive cycling is not like

superhuman will and endurance. He started riding in his

baseball, basketball, or football. Those are sports that anyone

intense way in high school, so much so that the Junior National

with a minimum degree of coordination and skill can play.

Armstong turned professional in 1992, and was ranked as the number one cyclist in the world by 1996. Armstrong and Sheryl Crow

CLOCKWISE:TEPHEN DUNN-GETTY,STEPHEN CHERNIN-GETTY, FRANCK FIFE-AFP-GETTY, DOUG PENSINGER-GETTY, MICHAEL BUCKNER-GETTY

Racing team in 1998. He then won his first of six Tour de

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Many people have heard of Armstrong through his yellow rubber wristbands.

The competitive cycling circuit showcases a rarefied breed of athlete, and in return the Tour de France highlights only those who exist up in the stratosphere. The human body was not made to go and go and go in this way. Each year, cyclists in the Tour de France break down with tears and curses and sit on the curb as the rest of the field whizzes by. A bicycle breaks down. The legs cramp and get heavy like iron bands. Dehydration saps the muscles and the mind. The will to continue turns soft. But not – seemingly – for Lance Armstrong. He continues, each summer, to quietly dominate an entire field of world-class cyclists. Win the Tour de France not once, or twice, but six times in a row? It’s safe to say that Armstrong is in the midst of completing an accomplishment in the world of sports that will never be repeated. Many people have heard of Armstrong through his yellow rubber wristbands. Over the last year, the ubiquitous ‘LIVESTRONG’ bands have appeared on the wrists of everyone from Kobe Bryant to John Kerry, and at $1 each, sales have raised $47 million dollars for cancer research. Armstrong and his former wife Kristin (they divorced in 2003) have three children, a son and twin girls. Armstrong has been in a relationship with singer Sheryl Crow for the past year, and announced in April 2005 that the 2005 Tour de France would be his last

professional race and that he would retire from racing afterwards. In his retirement speech he said that his children were reaching an age where they were changing every day, and he felt as though he needed to be there for them, and for himself. It’s easy to want something badly. It takes a superhuman force of will to want something so badly that nothing and no one can stop you. The body, when pushed to extreme limits, will revolt, or shut down altogether. What then, do we say of a man who knows that he is the best in the world at riding a racing bicycle, but hungers to prove it again and again and again? What do we say of a man who faced cancer in his lungs and brain and said I will not be moved? What do we say of a man who took a deadly health battle and flipped it upside down to turn the results into a major force in the world of medical research? We say that he is us. He is the best of what America and the South can be, and if he feels an extra weight on his back this year, during his last professional race, it will only be because millions are riding along with him, urging him on, cheering for him, giving thanks that there are men like Lance Armstrong who do not concede, who would never think of giving up, no matter what the odds. JULY/AUGUST 2005 • Y’ALL

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The South’s South’s Web Address!

www.yall.com

y·all ™

Log on today.

THE M AGA ZINE OF SOUTHERN PEOPLE www.yall.com

A documentary of General Nathan Bedford Forrest featuring commentary by Shelby Foote. Presenting the first documentary to look exclusively at the life of the Confederacyʼs “Wizard of the Saddle.” This film on Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest features expert analysis from Civil War writer Shelby Foote, Gen. Parker Hills, Nelson Winbush and others. Portrayed by Stan Dalton, Gen. Forrest comes to life in this objective work by director Jon Rawl. Ride with Forrest and discover for yourself the extraordinary life, controversy and myth that surrounds this Southern legend. Also available is the full 49 min. audio interview CD with Shelby Foote, featuring commentary not heard in the documentary VHS.

by Rick Hynum

$1995 $1495 60 min. VHS

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49 min. Audio CD

log on to:

www.RebelForrest.com

or call toll-free:

1-866-815-0872

$3 per item shipping charge. Mail check payable to Jon Rawl/ P.O. Box 1217, Oxford, Miss., 38655

6/6/05 10:23:03 PM

Our

German Unsere Deutsche Soldaten Aliceville, Alabama is nestled between the Tennessee– Tombigbee Waterway and the Sipsey River, surrounded by lush forests and fertile land. Sixty years ago during World War II, this community of 3,400 residents was home to one of America’s largest prisoner of war camps, Camp Aliceville.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ALICEVILLE MUSEUM

While the world was at war in theaters across Europe and the Pacific, here at home, camps were being prepared to intern the over 425,000 POWs who were captured in Allied victories. The location of a prisoner of war camp was well planned. The camps had to be located away from urban areas, military installations, and defense plants and had to be easily secured. Ease of transport was a necessity, and Camp Aliceville was located on the Frisco Railroad line. The location was perfect – the open area was flat, it had a temperate climate that would save on heating costs, and there was plenty of work to keep the prisoners busy. Camp Aliceville was home to 6,000 German soldiers, with 90 percent of them from Field Marshall Erwin Rommel’s (“The Desert Fox”) Afrika Korps. Camp Aliceville was situated on 826 acres of land with 329 buildings including living quarters, chapels, bakeries, theaters, and a greenhouse. The 6,000

Soldiers by Beverly Ford

prisoners were interned in six compounds of 1,000 men each, then further divided into four companies of 250 men, with those broken down to fifty to a barrack. The prisoners were assigned to barracks alphabetically with “A” in the northeast corner going clockwise to “F” in the northwest corner. A former dairy farm that was outfitted with barbed wire fencing and armed guard towers, Camp Aliceville was a self-sufficient compound with its own water and sewer works, a fire department, and hospital all built for $2.2 million by the U.S. Government. The first 500 prisoners arrived on June 2, 1943, and within a week, more than 3,000 had flooded into Camp Aliceville. “The residents were wary at first – they did not know what to expect when the first train arrived. Most were expecting the ‘super human’ soldier so prominently presented in Nazi propaganda,” explains Ann Kirksey, director of the Aliceville Museum and Cultural Arts Center, home of the world’s largest collection of JULY/AUGUST 2005 • Y’ALL

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The POW’s in the camp worked on digging ditches, building sidewalks, gardens, a running track, a soccer field, and even an amphitheater. Prisoners also had the opportunity to obtain a formal classroom education, take part in theater productions, orchestral and choral performances, organized sports, woodworking, painting, and sculpting. Many were excellent artists. They made woodcarvings and meticulously designed gardens; a lot of their artwork is on display in the museum. German prisoner of war memorabilia, “In reality, they were young and old, dirty looking and worn out from the long trip from Tunisia to Aliceville.” Horst Uhse was an ex-POW at Camp Aliceville. “When we arrived, we were so tired and sick. All most of us wanted was a bed. I had malaria and was transported to the camp hospital immediately and had to stay there almost a year before I was well enough to join the other prisoners in the barracks,” Uhse recalls. After the war, Uhse and his fellow POWs were sent back to Germany. He ultimately emigrated to the U.S., settling in Florida. How do you keep 6,000 men busy? “Some of the enlisted POW’s worked on farms, at sawmills and for families who needed help due to the labor shortage,” says Kirksey. Many prisoners would be taken to smaller camps in the state to cut timber and for other manual labor jobs. They would eventually be returned to Aliceville after the projects were completed.

According to Kirksey, contact between locals and the POW’s was prohibited. The closest any of the local people got to seeing the prisoners was seeing them on their way to work projects or serving food and drinks in the American Officers Club. The contact the prisoners had with their guards and other people they met left a lasting impression on many of them. Dozens have returned to Aliceville to the camp reunions that are held every few years. “Even former guards and their families come to the reunions. Many of the former POWs we got to know are aging and unable to make the trip. Usually their children come with them or by themselves,” Kirksey says. The POWs were treated well while at Camp Aliceville. “The War Department followed the Geneva Convention regulations to the ‘T’. Everything from food to healthcare was up to the standards established for U.S. soldiers,” says Kirksey. The

German POW Camps in the South (1942-1945) Camp Aliceville, Alabama Fort Knox, Kentucky Fort Benning, Georgia Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri Camp Blanding, Florida Camp McCain, Mississippi Fort Bliss, Texas Fort McClellan, Alabama Fort Bragg, North Carolina Fort Meade, Maryland Camp Clinton, Mississippi Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia Fort Crockett, Texas Fort Patrick Henry, Virginia Fort Curtis, Virginia Fort Reno, Oklahoma Fort Eustis, Virginia Camp Shelby, Mississippi Camp Forrest, Tennessee Camp Rucker, Alabama Fort Gordon, Georgia Fort D. A. Russell, Texas Fort Sam Houston, Texas Camp Gruber, Oklahoma Fort Jackson, South Carolina Fort Sill, Oklahoma

(Left) Horst Uhse in 1943. (Right) Uhse at Aliceville Museum. 62

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former POWs actually have fond memories of their time in Camp Aliceville, as conditions for German prisoners of war were considerably better than that of Allied soldiers being held in other parts of the world. Internment was often a relief from the horrors and exhaustive conditions of war. “Colonel Prince, the commanding officer, was very good to us. Whatever we asked for, he made sure we got it. Of course, we did things for him, too. We had a lot of artists and craftsmen in our group and we made things for him,” says Uhse. Most of the prisoners were glad to be removed from the battlefield as they were doing a job they did not want to do. The majority of these men were not Nazis. German men before and during World War II needed jobs and Hitler’s war machine needed warriors. If they wanted to support their families, fighting for The Reich was just about the only guarantee of employment during Adolf Hitler’s crusade. The museum opened its doors in April of 1995, almost 50 years to the date of the end of World War II. Funded by membership dues, admission fees, and donations, the museum has expanded with grants and volunteer help. The main building of the Cultural Arts Center houses the Camp Aliceville Collection, and outside in a courtyard, there are two monuments made by the POWs while interned at Camp Aliceville. On display you will find letters, publications, manuscripts, camp newspapers printed in German, uniforms, an extensive collection of artwork done by the German POW’s, numerous photos, and military artifacts donated by local veterans and German prisoners. “People come from all over the country to see the collection.

Most of these people are well-versed travelers or World War II enthusiasts,” recalls Kirksey. It’s been 60 years since the end of World War II, and all that is left of the physical structure of Camp Aliceville is the remains of a chimney built by the prisoners, which is now part of the Sue Stabler City Park. While some prisoners were repatriated immediately to Germany, others were turned over to the British and French to use as laborers for a few years after the war before being returned home. Though none of the former POWs moved back to Aliceville, 20 of the former residents of Camp Aliceville moved back to the United States with the help of sponsors to build a new life for themselves. Horst Uhse is one of those prisoners, “I loved the people in Aliceville! They were so nice to us and treated us well. I was later assigned to another camp and became good friends with an American co-worker, and that was when I decided that I wanted to come back and make America my home.” Uhse was sponsored by an Episcopal group in Minnesota, moved to America in 1956, and made his first trip back to Aliceville in 2004. The Aliceville Museum and Cultural Arts Center is open Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Admission is $4 for adults and $3 for seniors and students. Guided group tours are available by appointment. For more information call 205-373-2363 or visit them on the web at alicevillemuseum.pickens.net

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Benjamin McKenzie by Tabatha Gardner

You may know Benjamin McKenzie as “Ryan” from the popular television show, The O.C., but what you may not have known is that Benjamin was born and raised right here in the South, in Austin, Texas.

L TO R: PHOTO BY ROBERT KIRK, CARLO ALLEGRI-GETTY

McKenzie, 26, did not always want to be an actor. In fact, just a few years ago he was studying economics and foreign affairs in college. “I grew up in Texas, went to the University of Virginia and got a degree in foreign affairs and economics. I was kind of going through the normal, I guess, college route. I started doing theatre in college and just fell in love with it. Later on I started [acting]…well, actually I started waiting tables and then I started [acting]. It came to me actually a little bit later in life. I was not born with the bug.” One could say that the arts run in Benjamin’s genes. His mother writes short stories and his grandfather helped to begin a public radio station in Austin. His family has always stood behind him in his decision to pursue the silver screen and McKenzie cites that as one of the reasons he was able to take the risk and launch his career. “They have always been a very supportive family. And have been very supportive of whatever it was I wanted to do,” he says. “Thank God, because I do not think I could ever consider doing this if I did not have their support. It’s just too brutal a business.” The actor returns to his home in Austin every Thanksgiving and Christmas to visit family. “It’s great. You come back and it’s like it never changed. Austin is growing like crazy, but it’s just the same old town. Great music and food,” he laughs. Lately, the actor has been very busy filming both The O.C. and Junebug, a movie slated to come out in August. “Junebug is sort of a comedic drama, set in the South [filmed in Winston-Salem, N.C.]. It sort of revolves around a son who is returning home to his family with his new fiancé and the culture clash the fiancé experiences. She is a sophisticated worldly woman and she is coming to a small town to a family. They are a traditional Southern family.” Playing the brother who has stayed at home and is raising a family of his own, Benjamin was able to use his Southern accent. He was relieved at how fast it came back to him and happy to eat all of the barbecue he wanted as the movie was being filmed. Everyone can breathe a sigh of relief because the film “…actually treats [Southerners] with the respect they deserve. It examines the sort of subtler side and the positive attributes, the sense of community that really only exists in the South. I know because I live in L.A., a place that does not have much of one. I think that is important to show.” McKenzie attributes his growing up in the South as the reason he has been able to stay grounded amidst the hustle and bustle of California life. “There is a sort of kindness [in the South] that hopefully has rubbed off on me.” A lover of Texas style barbecue and

Mexican food, McKenzie also loves grits, but only if they have butter and cheese in them, he shares. Filled to the brim with ambition and trying to balance an already successful small screen career with a soon to be successful silver screen career, McKenzie hopes to return to the theatre soon. “I’ve been seeing a lot of plays, because I have been in New York and London. I just saw Henry IV. I’m glad things have worked out the way they have and hopefully [acting] will lead me well enough financially where I do not have to do something just to make money at it if I can just do stuff I love. Theatre is absolutely one of my goals, to be on Broadway someday and look up at those lights and say ‘Hey, I did it…I was not that bad. I was okay. They were wrong about me.’ That is absolutely something I want to do.” The O.C.’s sweetheart remains single, and shows that he is every bit the kind and caring person he plays on screen. “I work so hard on the show and I am trying to work on other things at the same time, so honestly I am too busy to date someone,” he explains. “It’s just that it’s got to be pretty special. It’s actually a good place to be because it’s like I am not desperate for it but if it comes along … and it always comes along when you are not looking for it. I am sure I will be happy and totally and completely at the mercy of whoever it is.”

McKenzie as “Johnny” in the film Junebug. 64

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dixie destination The only Home of Throwed Rolls

Lambert’s Cafe by Matthew Bandermann

Back in 1942, Earl and Agnes Lambert borrowed $1500 from friends to launch their restaurant in the Missouri Bootheel town of Sikeston.

PHOTOS BY MADELYN BANDERMANN

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s e Now with three locations throughout Dixie, Lambert’s Café (Home Of The Throwed Rolls), follows a very simple motto: “We hope you come hungry, leave full, and hopefully have a laugh or two.” The restaurant was recently featured on the Travel Channel as the number one place in the country to “Pig Out.” According to Jerry Johnson, general manager of Lambert’s I in Sikeston, service and Southern hospitality are what keeps the restaurant going. “We try to go that extra mile on everything,” Johnson explains. It was in 1976 that a regular customer became impatient at Norman Lambert’s (the son of Earnest and Agnes) speed of passing out the dinner rolls in the busy café. He finally blared out, “Just throw the damn thing!” The rest is history. Besides the rolls flying around the restaurant, you can expect to receive

several “pass arounds” during a trip to Lambert’s original location in Sikeston, and at the Foley, Ala. and Ozark, Mo. diners. Southern delicacies such as fried potatoes, fried okra, sorghum and molasses, and black-eyed peas are passed out to each person who decides they want them. In fact, Lambert’s will keep feeding you their “pass arounds” until you can’t eat anymore. Lambert’s is still a family run business, with grandsons Ben and Scott Lambert now taking the reigns of the business. Lambert’s has grown from 5 original employees to well over 600 employees between the three locations. With over 60 billboards dotting Southern roadsides, Lambert’s has quickly become the staple of the Southern smorgasbord, with a lot of Deep South hospitality, even if Sikeston is located on the fringe

of Dixie. According to Johnson, the café’s Southern hospitality is one of – if not the top reason – his restaurant is a success. “This day and time, everything is so rush, rush, and restaurants are popping up everywhere. They generally care about what’s on their walls, and their service doesn’t back it up,” Johnson says. With all of the good food and fun at Lambert’s, it’s easy to see why the business continues its popularity. So the next time you are driving through the South and see a billboard with a cartoon caricature of Norman Lambert slinging a hot roll go ahead, stop on in, and catch a throwed roll for yourself, and “Pig Out!” www.throwedrolls.com

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A South Carolina woman shares her fight with Cushing’s Syndrome

STRANGER Staring Back at ME

by Rhonda Rawl do not remember the first time my reflection in the mirror showed a stranger staring back at me. I don’t remember the first time I noticed my hands trembling uncontrollably. Nor do I remember the first time I noticed I had put on a few pounds. My memory does not compute the first time a few blemishes appeared on my face, nor does it compute the first time I thought I was Superwoman and could stay awake all night. My memory is full, however, of the numerous times an old with me? Why is everyone staring at me? Ignoring me? friend in the mall, a relative at the grocery store, or a former After a few minutes, my doctor stepped into the room and co-worker walked right past me and stared at me funny when I proceeded to talk to me about why I was there. “I don’t know. attempted to speak and say hello. I can also remember the time I just haven’t felt well lately. And, I’ve put on weight – weight my former boyfriend told me I had a beard on my face and I I can’t seem to take off.” I told him how I had been waking remember the time I stared at the floor in disbelief at bundles up at 4 a.m. and working out. He then asked me what else of my hair lying on the floor. was wrong with me. Being hesitant at first and The most memorable day, March 8, 2002, not wanting to belabor him with a laundry list was the day I walked into my doctor’s office for of symptoms, I proceeded cautiously as I told him everything that was wrong with me. “I’ve what I had surmised to be a thyroid problem. been gaining weight and I can’t seem to lose While sitting in the waiting room, one of my it. My face has been breaking out. I have a best friends walked by. She looked at me, beard. I swear no one recognizes me anymore smiled, and kept walking. I said, “Hey.” She and my hands tremble uncontrollably. I never suddenly stopped in her tracks upon hearing sleep – I swear I can stay up all night these my voice and turned around with her mouth days. And, I’m confused – a lot. I swear I dropped open. How in the world could one think I’m going crazy – certifiably crazy. I’m of my best friends not recognize me? I had only 30-years-old!” just seen her one month before. April 15th: Day of surgery. As I finally gave in and regurgitated the list, During this brief exchange, the nurse he stared in disbelief. He sent me to the lab called my name and I walked through the for blood work, which came back abnormal. I halls heading towards my patient room. As I passed my doctor, he stared in disbelief at me. asked the big question – “Do you know what’s wrong with me?” His voice sounded weird as My mind raced, I was furious. What’s wrong 68

Y’ALL • THE MAGAZINE OF SOUTHERN PEOPLE

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he said, “Just go and have a good That day he called his friend who weekend and call me on Monday was on vacation with his family, Dr. morning.” Michael Roe, a specialist in adrenal First thing Monday morning I surgery, and pleaded for him to called. “Do you know what could help “his little sister.” be causing my problems?” I asked. We went home for a few days He replied, “I’ve never seen this and then four days later my family disease, so I’m not positive, but drove me to Chattanooga for I swear I think you have a rare surgery. On Monday, April 15, disease called Cushing’s Disease.” 2002, a benign tumor was removed Cushing’s Disease? How do you (Left) One week after surgery. (Right) 10 weeks after surgery. and I was officially cured from spell that? I went on the Internet, Cushing’s Disease. started reading and could not believe Disease, but he suspected it was from an For two years following the surgery, I what I found out. I had a disease that adrenal tumor, not a brain tumor. By had adrenal insufficiency due to my left is common in dogs (of all things) but this time, by blood pressure was 134/78 adrenal gland having shutdown during rare in humans. It was a life-threatening (normal 100/60) and I weighed 150 lbs. Cushing’s. I went to Emory University’s illness, yet was curable. However, I was (normal 113 lbs.). My urine cortisol level clinic in Atlanta to get cured from this informed by other Cushing’s patients was 794 (14 times above the upper limit condition. I took steroids daily and that it would take several years to get of normal). We ended up staying in suffered severe pain throughout my entire cured. According to the website, I was Nashville for three additional days so I body. I had heard from other Cushing’s a textbook case. The most common case could undergo numerous tests. patients that the cure was worse than the The CAT Scan of my right adrenal disease, and they could not be further is by a pituitary tumor (in the brain), gland showed a 4.5 cm tumor, twice from the truth. I spent several months followed second by an adrenal tumor. I went for a brain scan. The results came the size of most adrenal tumors, which in bed and I learned quickly how to back showing a mass. By this time, I was Dr. Blevins suspected to be cancer. In prioritize what’s really important and starting to lose my vision and I could not addition, since my urine cortisol was what can wait. longer walk very well. My hands started extremely high and at life-threatening Almost a year ago, my left adrenal to ache and purple marks appeared on levels, Dr. Blevins said he wanted my gland started to work and today I no my legs. I stayed in the bathroom with tumor out in one week. One week? It longer take steroids, plus I no longer have took me a month to find a brain surgeon to go to the Emory Clinic. I am a huge stomach aches constantly. and now I had one week to find an success story, as I have been in contact After deliberating whether I should adrenal surgeon and to have him remove with several other Cushing’s patients have brain surgery close to my hometown the tumor! of Lexington, S.C., I decided that I who have been sick for much longer than It’s funny how life is sometimes, because I have. In addition, I also hear about the wanted an expert to perform my surgery. Early in March on a Sunday morning, my ride home proved to be my life-saver. patients who do not survive this disease. my family loaded me up in a van a friend At the time, my brother, Kirk, was a Today, I am a few weeks away from let us borrow, and we took the nine-hour surgeon resident at Erlanger Hospital in getting married and my life is essentially drive to the Vanderbilt Pituitary Clinic in Chattanooga, Tenn. On the way home, back to normal. I know I would not be I felt terrible and just wanted to get back here today without God, my family and Nashville, Tenn. At 8 a.m. I met with my endocrinologist, to my bed. However, my mother insisted my friends, who showed unending love Dr. Lewis Blevins, and showed him the that since we would be driving directly and support when I needed it most. My MRI scans of my brain. He took one through Chattanooga, we should at least goal in life is to tell as many people as look and said, “You don’t have a brain say “hello.” We met up with him and his I can about this disease so that someone tumor.” I said, “Well, I came here with family at a gas station along the interstate. with the disease can catch it in time and a brain tumor, what have you done with Considering they had not seen me since live to tell their story, just like me. it?” (I definitely inherited from my father Christmas 2001 (it was now April 2002), For more information regarding this disease, the ability to make a joke when you really the look on my brother’s face was that visit the Cushing’s Support and Research of astonishment when he saw me. He Foundation website at www.csrf.net. want to cry). Dr. Blevins confirmed I had Cushing’s could not believe how different I looked.

NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHER JON RAWL: Rhonda Rawl is my first cousin. On behalf of Y’all Magazine and the Rawl family and friends, we hope y’all appreciated this emotional and inspirational story. I’m glad you’re back at full speed, “Runky.” JULY/AUGUST 2005 • Y’ALL

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wine down south

WINES FOR HOT WEATHER by Doc Lawrence

When I uncork a bottle of wine this time of year, I remember with a chuckle something Florida State’s legendary football coach, the affable Bobby Bowden, once said before a late summer game with a defending national champion team about to play on Bowden’s turf in Tallahassee. “If we don’t beat ‘em,” he said prophetically, “the heat will.” Hot weather is serious business here and whether playing football or choosing wines, you ignore wisdom and common sense at your peril. Lighter clothing, uncomplicated food and chilled wine go better with soaring temperatures. As the days get muggier, we know that Dog Days are looming but we endure while still enjoying outdoor living. Grilling and outdoor feasts remain wildly popular. The Georgia Shakespeare Festival headquartered on the beautiful Gothic campus of Atlanta’s Oglethorpe University has patrons dining outside, uncorking bottles of wine and enjoying a picnic, a romantic prelude to the summer productions of The Comedy of Errors and Tennessee Williams’ Southern classic, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Barbara Werley, the Sommelier at West Virginia’s Greenbrier, learned all about searing heat during her stints at Las Vegas’ Caesars Palace and the Arizona Biltmore and has plenty of advice for hot weather wine choices. “Those bold Cabernets, while forever delicious, might not be quite as comfortable now as they were in February. Because meals likely are now lighter, you should first determine what you are going to eat and you’ll find that selecting appropriate wines is much easier.” And throw out the rules, she advises. “Wine is like art: you like Georgia O’Keefe and I love Picasso. So, we both love art and share common ground. White wines from Spain like Albarino and New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc are delicious with Southern-style food and Pinot Noir is great wine for

any time of year.” Recently, I went horseback riding at North Georgia’s Zion Farms, a bucolic retreat and equestrian center. Before saddling up, I had a memorable lunch with one of my favorite Southern belles, Lynda Allison, the renowned Atlanta-based wine importer. We ate, drank and shared stories with owner Robert Cooper and daughter Rena and sampled a few of Ms. Allison’s recent acquisitions from Europe while enjoying one glass after another of her 100 percent Chardonnay white Burgundy. Between bites of fresh rolls, arugula, turkey and veal with a soft sauce, we tasted an array of Ms. Allison’s summer selections she designed for Southern dining. Her newly arrived Albert Bichot Tavel 2003, the famous rose of the Rhone, is elegant with seafood salads and Mediterranean fare. The Beaujolais-Villages, always a value priced superior red wine that truly begs to quench a thirst, which, according to Ms. Allison, “…is perhaps the best wine for a Southern-style dinner party because it is so adaptable.” I am an oyster addict and love them raw and briny, with a taste of the ocean. While enjoying Ms. Allison’s Domaine Long-Depaquit Chablis, a 2003 vintage, another non-oaked Chardonnay with balanced fruit and minerals that work magic with oysters, I remembered how divine Champagne and sparkling wine is with a dozen on the half shell, particularly Argyle from Oregon and Domaine Carneros from Napa, which are both popular in this region. I wonder if “Big Daddy” and “Maggie the Cat,” two of Mississippiborn Williams’ finest characters, in order to beat the heat, sipped glasses of Champagne or sparkling wine before dinner in their Plantation house? These are the ultimate coolers which stimulate the appetite and tell your guests you care, something Southerner’s do with ease and grace.

Doc Lawrence writes about wine and Southern cuisine from his homes in Atlanta and Fort Lauderdale. Doc is 2005 Chairman, Food and Beverage Section, Public Relations Society of America and welcomes comments: doc@yall.com. JULY/AUGUST 2005 • Y’ALL

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My South

talks about lunch at breakfast and dinner at lunch. In My South, we eat to live, and eat and live better than anyone. My South is on Turner South.

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blue collar

The Origin of Git-R-Done! by Larry the Cable Guy

Bill Engvall, Jeff Foxworthy and Larry the Cable Guy star in Blue Collar TV, airing Thursdays at 8:00/7:00 Central on The WB.

I came up with “Git-R-Done!” when I was a little kid. It was just something that I had made up, and when I called a radio station in 1990, that’s how I signed off. They said, “Alright, we’ll talk to you tomorrow,” and I said, “Alright y’all, Git-R-Done! Whatever you do, Git-R-Done!” It just caught on. I would have never dreamed in a million years that it would catch on like it has. It’s just one of those phrases that won’t wear out. The Arizona Diamondbacks called me and asked me if they could use it for their drive to the 2001 World Series, “Git-R-Done Diamondbacks!” They wore my t-shirts under their jerseys. When they won the World Series, you see pictures of them jumping in the air and in the background on the matrix board, it says “Git-R-Done!” It’s really cool. The Los Angeles Dodgers called me and asked me if I would send them some swag and they wanted to use “Git-R-Done!” for their drive, and I said yeah, why not. So I sent them some “Git-R-Done!” shirts and they sent me a jersey that said “Git-R-Done!” All the NASCAR boys are using it now because Michael Waltrip came to the show one time and he went back and started saying it, and then Kyle Bush and Kurt Bush started saying it, so it’s like a frickin’ disease. The phrase basically just stands for the good ole American work ethic. Git-R-Done! – whatever you do. Don’t bitch about it. Give it 110 percent. It’s just like “Cowboy Up” or “Just Do It.” Some people think it’s a sexual phrase, but it’s not. I’m not that sexual anyway. I was living with a girl for about 8 months, until she found out I was there and that

“

ended that. I was going to get married one time and I called it off because she wasn’t going to take my name, and I’m a traditionalist so I think the girl should take the guy’s name. Not only that, I thought it would be cool with both of us named Larry. I got me a fiance in Las Vegas now, and she’s really a cool girl. We’re both farm kids. She helps me out, but not on my wardrobe. That’s all me. I do that myself. I know it’s pretty flashy but I don’t want to act to uppity. I never wear sleeves because the Constitution gives me the right to bear arms. I’m the only guy that can go from yard work to the stage in the same outfit. I tell you what, in my early days of standup, I used to try to dress up because I’d watch other comedians on stage. I used to wear a button down shirt because a lot of the other comedians did. I gotta tell you, the more I got on stage, the more I started to come into myself and the more I started to be myself. In the early days of standup I see how people dressed and I wanted to be like them and I wanted to kind of use their angle. When I started doing Larry the Cable Guy, I liked it because it wasn’t very far from me at all, and I could go on stage wearing what I wear in regular everyday life. I just said I’m going to go on stage like this because that’s what I wear normally. You see me in the mall, and I’m wearing a sleeveless shirt, my jeans and a pair of lace up ropers. I’m a big rodeo fan so I’ve always worn ropers or some sort of cowboy boot or something, and I’ve always worn Wranglers because that’s what the cowboys wear. Git-R-Done!

I’m a traditionalist so I think the girl should take the guy’s name. Not only that, I thought it would be cool with both of us named Larry.

”

JULY/AUGUST 2005 • Y’ALL

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what southern women know

FLIRTING WITH SUCCESS by Ronda Rich

Ronda Rich is the author of What Southern Women Know About Flirting and the novel, The Town That Came A-Courtin’. www.whatsouthernwomenknow.com

It’s a funny thing about us Southerners. If a Yankee criticizes us, we haughtily disregard it, muttering over their ignorance. But on the occasion that a Yankee compliments us, we happily embrace it and declare that we have found an enlightened Yankee. Such was the case with me when a reporter from a Yankee newspaper called to interview me on the fi ne art of fl irtation. “Why did you call me?” I asked. “Because everyone knows that Southern women are the best fl irts,” she replied simply. I loved enlightened Yankees. They are a joy to my soul. That conversation led to an article that led me to writing a book about fl irtation as practiced and patented by Southerners, especially our women. Here I want to discuss what is the foundation to fl irtation for our people. To many of our own fellow Southerners, it has been a revelation but once they think about it, they agree that no truer words have ever been spoken or written. It is simply this: You can be a good storyteller without being a good fl irt. But you cannot be a great fl irt without being a terrific storyteller. Storytelling is important to Southern people. It is deep in the marrow of our bones, passed down from generations of Scots, Irish and Scotch-Irish. At the start of the Civil War, around 75% of the South was Celtic. This is critical to understanding how a passionate penchant for storytelling was passed down through generations over the years. When the poor Celts arrived in this country – many of the Scotch-Irish were indentured slaves brought across the Atlantic and dumped unceremoniously around the Appalachian Trail in Maine – they brought nothing. Nothing, that is, except three skills from their native land: Whiskeymaking, fiddle-playing and storytelling. My people, pure Scotch-Irish that they were, have participated in all three. It is the last, however, that is still practiced vigorously by my family. My greatest admiration belongs to storytellers who can hold a dinner table spellbound. Barbara Dooley, my lovely friend and wife of former University of Georgia Athletic Director Vince Dooley, is unmatched in her skills as a storyteller. One day over lunch, I was in stitches as she told a simple story of going to the grocery store the previous evening to buy a watermelon. See, that’s a major key to Southern storytelling: fi nding the story. Georgia-born writer Flannery O’Connor

was once asked why Southerners wrote so much about freaks in their stories. “Because,” she replied in her typical no-nonsense way, “We are still able to recognize them.” It’s the same with storytelling. To tell a good story, you must fi rst be able to recognize a good story. The best storytellers fi nd entertaining drama in ordinary events and common occurrences such as misplaced keys, misbehaving kids and misunderstood mothers-in-law. To say the least, Southern women are dramatic. Our hair isn’t the only thing we like big. We like our stories to be grand, infusing them with overwrought drama that includes lots of expressions and embellishments. My friend, Miss Virgie, a former Mississippi belle, was telling the story of being evacuated from her hillside home in Carson City, Nevada, during a raging wild fi re that took out many homes in her neighborhood. “The smoke was so thick that I couldn’t see to drive out of my driveway. I was just feeling my way along. It was terrible,” she moaned. “Then, when I got out of the driveway, the flames were so close that they licked my cheek and burned the tiny facial hairs away! I was charred!”

“

Southern women are dramatic. Our hair isn’t the only thing we like big.

”

Her husband, Bill, who had been in the car in front of her, started chuckling. “Oh, it was not. You were not that close to the fi re.” With a strong sense of urgency, she sat up straight, her blue eyes wide as platters. “Bill! I was, too! I am quite certain that I had at least second degree burns!” Of course, Miss Virgie was doing what she does best when she tells a story – she was embellishing. But it sure made for a dog-gone good story, much better than if she had not been “charred” and suffered “at least second degree burns.” That’s the way a Southern woman fl irts best. She tells stories and holds her audience captive in the palm of her sweet little hand. Who cares if we embellish to make the story bigger? No one seems to care if we tease our hair to make it bigger. And, as far as we Southern women are concerned, embellishing is just as important as teasing.

Y’ALL • THE MAGAZINE OF SOUTHERN PEOPLE

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star gazing GO RETRO!

PRACTICAL WHIMSY southern hospitality hollywood style by Joe LoCicero

Stone Mountain, Ga.-raised Joe LoCicero is a Hollywood writer-publicist and entertaining guru whose eclectic, collective credits include Entertainment Tonight, The All-New Captain Kangaroo and Frasier. He began the “Practical Whimsy” movement in 2003. For groovy goods and hip tips, check out www.practicalwhimsy.com.

One of the tenets of PRACTICAL WHIMSY is to embrace retro, to give in to that irresistible allure of ideals, ideas and memories of your own specific past… and then to use them to spice up your present. That practice seems to be consistent with a current Hollywood trend that never goes out of style: make something old new again. And as those reveling in The Dukes of Hazzard’s new life on film can attest, a lot of “old” is very cool again. In fact, a slew of past pop culture cool will light up screens this summer in addition to Hazzard leads Johnny Knoxville, Seann William Scott and Jessica Simpson enlivening a new spin on General Lee and friends. Besides The Dukes, a witch, a chocolate factory, a VW, a bumbling detective and an inept ball team dash out of the ‘60s and ‘70s to get spiffed up for cinematic takes in the new millennium. (Not all of them have the Southern charm of Dukes, but they still sound promising). Based on the beloved sitcom that cast a spell on audiences from 1964 - 1972, a big-screen Bewitched stars Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell. This version promises a somewhat twisted retelling that features the pair as actors who play “Samantha” and “Darrin” in a remake of the series. In fact, it’s perhaps best described as a remake about a remake. Buzz on the movie has been building, propelled by a witty trailer and the added charms of Shirley MacLaine and Michael Caine in the cast... which puts three Oscar winners – plus, curiously, Jessica’s hubby Nick Lachey -- in the picture. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory promises to be a more faithful adaptation of Roald Dahl’s novel than 1971’s Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. In this Warner Bros. version -- with a production team that includes Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston’s Plan B Productions (their company stayed together even after their marriage didn’t) -- Johnny Depp steps into the one-time Gene Wilder role. Tim Burton (The Nightmare Before Christmas) directs the film, which comes off as simultaneously darker than its predecessor. Another car gets a start out of the gate when Herbie: Fully Loaded — an ode to Disney’s 1968 The Love Bug — races onto screens. Lindsay Lohan joins the hapless Volkswagen with a mind of its own who’s headed for the NASCAR circuit. After MGM announced plans to revive The Pink Panther, interest climbed further when Steve Martin signed on to be clumsy, clueless “Inspector Clouseau.” Although it’s been 40 years since the original, this one’s a prequel to the Peter Sellers version that found the detective chasing the Pink Panther jewel thief, and also boasts Beyonce and Kevin Kline. Then there’s the Bad News Bears, with Billy Bob Thornton in the role that was Walter Matthau’s in the 1976 film about a former minor league

player who must coach a bungling little league team to an against-all-odds championship. This update also features Greg Kinnear and Oscar winner Marcia Gay Harden. While all these films bring ‘70s styles and stories to your local Cineplex this summer, there’s no reason you can’t find your retro groove even closer to home. Recently, designer homes in L.A. that would once have shunned the decade and deemed it radically distasteful have brought the disco era inside again. Million dollar homes have become an homage to that time, and been outfitted (or retro-fitted) in mod updates of the (in)famous colors, shapes and textures of the ‘70s. So you say that — despite the resurgence — you’re still not into lime green shag carpeting, egg chairs and Lucite tables? Well, even so, in the sparkly spirit of a shimmering disco ball, tap into the retro mindset, and consider a couple of cool retro parties to stave off the swelter of hot summer nights. A Dukes of Hazzard Indoor Tailgate Party

Host a gathering that would make “Bo,” “Luke” and “Daisy” proud. While I’d opt to make your own fried chicken for a truly country night, here’s an instance where take-out could be appropriate. Hazzard County was rumored to be in Kentucky, so Kentucky Fried Chicken could provide your main course. Then, how about some Jell-O molds, a three-bean salad, and black-bottom pie? (Recipes can be found on practicalwhimsy.com). Don’t have a General Lee to park out front to welcome guests inside? Get a stash of die-cast, miniature ones (available on multiple sites online), and give them away as parting gifts. Looking for the perfect playlist to accompany the festivities? Try The Dukes of Hazzard TV soundtrack (available on amazon.com) with Waylon Jennings’ theme song, Johnny Cash’s “General Lee,” and other tunes from original stars John Schneider, Tom Wopat and Catherine Bach. A Bewitching Evening Turn up your air conditioning and light a fire under a fondue “cauldron” to serve up a quintessential ‘70s menu staple. The ‘70s re-visited has brought a resurgence in the availability of fondue pots: Rival has a version selling hot at Lowe’s, and a Michael Gravesdesigned one can be found at Target. With the heat on, make sure you have plenty of cold beverages on hand. Multiple brews (or beers) would be a given. Accompany the fondue with a seven-layer salad and make Magic Bars, a butterscotch and chocolate chip confection for a sweet ending. (All recipes are available at practicalwhimsy.com). This summer, become one with your inner retro and celebrate the years of yore. If planning a party seems too overwhelming, then just make a date for a movie, and retroreminisce afterward. After all, this summer, more than ever, you won’t have to look too far to see — and enjoy — the past. JULY/AUGUST 2005 • Y’ALL

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ms. grits

Daddy… A Southern Girl’s Heart by Deborah Ford

Deborah Ford is the founder of Grits® Inc. (Girls Raised in the South), a multimillion dollar merchandising company. Ford is the author of the best-selling GRITS, Guide To Life, and Puttin’ On The GRITS, a Southern Guide to Entertaining. Contact “Ms. Grits” via email at msgrits@yall.com 76

As close as Southern mothers and daughters are, no matter how much a mother teaches or how devoted she is to her children, there’s always someone who comes first in a Southern daughter’s heart…Daddy. Southern fathers dote on their little girls, and those little girls know it. For a mother who mends her little girl’s cuts and bumps, who holds her hand on the way to school, who cuts the crusts off her bread just the way she likes, who combs the tangles out of her hair, it can be a little hard to watch that sweet little girl run off at the first sight of Daddy. Your Daddy is the first man to look into your eyes. He cares for, protects, and loves you unconditionally. Those of us blessed with growing up with a Daddy had a foundation of love, acceptance, pride, and safety, the things that are the basis of any relationship. If you treat your Daddy with love and respect, and he treats you with the same, you’ll find that all friendships, whether with men or women, are easier. Daddies have a special responsibility. He shapes a girl’s expectations of all men. I often wonder if my own relationships would have been more successful if my Daddy had lived longer than ten years of my life. My own father became ill with cancer when I was about seven years old, and he was in and out of the hospital for the next three years. My sisters and I would take turns rubbing his feet, and say, “If God’s willing, we’ll do so and so,” (anything from cutting the grass to fishing). Daddy knew that he was dying, but he wanted to give us hope. He taught us that, even if we knew pain was ahead, we should always try to have hope. From the time he holds his baby girl to the time he walks her down the aisle (and later, of course), Daddy’s little girl is his special child. We Southern mothers can only shake our heads and remember that he wouldn’t be Daddy if he weren’t special. Even if he’s our ex-, he’ll always be a father to our little girls, and ever if he isn’t in our lives anymore, we have to thank him for that. Besides, you can

always commiserate with your daughter when she discovers that Daddy has a new favorite…his little baby granddaughter. Sometimes marriages fail. Even if you don’t get along with your ex-husband, he’s your daughter’s father, and you should do your best to get along with him. • Even if his new wife has the personality of a Teamster, try to smile when you meet her. Your daughter is going to have to get along with the woman, and she’ll take her cue on how to act from you. • Even a man who thinks his recliner is a fashion statement and a burping contest is the highest form of entertainment, is a wonderful Daddy in his daughter’s eyes. • Remember why you fell in love with the man, bless his heart, and share those stories with your daughter. She’ll love to hear about her Daddy in the days before the bald spot and expanding waistline, and you’ll feel better about him, too. Every Daddy’s little girl needs a pet name. If your husband needs a little creative inspiration, try “Sugarpie,” “Honeybun,” “Peanut,” “Puddin,’” “Snickerdoodle,” “Munchkin,” “Pumpkin,” “Squeezy,” “Monkey,” “Jelly bean,” or “Bunny.” Just make sure he doesn’t say these when the boys are around, or he’ll never live it down.

Tips for Daddies • Listen to what your daughter thinks, feels, believes and dreams. Don’t just tell her she’s pretty. • Teach her to be strong by working to overcome obstacles; don’t always try to remove them for her. • Accept her for who she is. • Play a sport – any sport – with her. • Tell her you love her, and remember to show her as well. • Treat her mother with love and respect. The best present a Daddy can give is being kind to Mommy.

Southern Girls…please remember to always call your “Daddy!”

Y’ALL • THE MAGAZINE OF SOUTHERN PEOPLE

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Puttin’ on the Grits A Guide to Southern Entertaining by Paula Dabbs

uttin’ on the Grits, A Guide to Southern Entertaining, is just what the name implies. Best-selling author and GRITS™ (Girls Raised In The South) apparel founder Deborah Ford has given us a handbook for entertaining the Southern way. “It’s all about making everyone feel welcome and want to be around you, whether you’re a host or a guest,” Deborah explains. Southern parties and Southern hostesses are different from those in the rest of the country. Five elements that make Southern parties what they are include: 1. The front porch (friends and neighbors) 2. Sweet tea (tradition) 3. Grandma’s silver (family) 4. Christmas oranges (going out of your way) 5. Champagne (bringing a new sparkle). We may not have a front porch like Mama on our homes any more, but we do have a front porch in our hearts. When gathering together, we share ourselves and our love and mostly have a good old time. Sweet tea is a famous Southern tradition. For Southerners, it is what brought us together and always means a taste of home. It’s not something you can whip up in an instant. “Southern sweet tea was like Southern life—it was all the richer and sweeter because we took the time to do it right,” Ford states in the book. Doing it right also means sharing with others our family heirlooms. It’s not how much they are worth in dollars, but what they’re worth in our hearts. Southern girls love having a good time and making sure that everyone else does, too, even if it means going out of our way to please each of our guests. Being able to incorporate fresh ideas into our entertaining and still keep our past traditions is a secret all Southern women yearn to learn. “A little touch of glitz livens up the grits, but we Pearl Girls know the grits are always there in our hearts,” Ford writes. Ford released her debut book, The GRITS (Girls Raised in The South) Guide to Life, in 2003. The book now boasts more than 170,000 copies in print and won the Southeast Booksellers Association’s “Nonfiction Book of the Year” award in 2004. Before she started penning books, Ford was a high school volleyball coach in Birmingham, Ala. She began printing t-shirts emblazoned with “Girls Raised in The South” to inspire her

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players. The response was so overwhelming that she quit her teaching job, took her products to an apparel trade show in Atlanta, and did over a million dollars worth of business in her first year. The daughter of an Athens, Ala. cotton farmer, this savvy Southern girl has led GRITS, Inc. to two operating warehouses and a multi-million dollar business. These days, book tours and forthcoming books keep the mother of two grown daughters occupied. By doing book tours and speaking engagements, Ford devotes much of her time to making sure that the treasured Southern way of life that has been in her family for generations will never fade away. She is a featured columnist in Y’all, giving her genteel Southern thoughts on Southern living at its best. Scattered throughout the pages of Puttin On the Grits are bits of advice in little thoughts entitled “A Pearl Girl Knows,” as well as letters from Southern women with wonderful recollections of people and family events that recall our heritage. No book on being Southern would be complete without a collection of favorite recipes, so get out your pans and practice up for your next big whing-ding. Ford gives us pointers on how to be a good hostess as well as a good guest and even includes all sorts of to-do lists to get it all done and still have time to whip up the perfect outfit. “No matter what color hair she has, a real Southern hostess is always a blonde in her heart. She’s gorgeous and she’s the center of attention, meaning she’s never going to be outblonded. Pearl Girls know that it’s what’s inside that counts, but that doesn’t mean we let the outside fall apart,” Ford states. From High-Falutin’ to Falutin’ and on down to Just Falutin’ Around parties, Deborah’s party hints are indispensable for whatever excuse you can dream up to throw a party. She even gives etiquette rules for invitations, seating, serving, disasters that may happen and how to be prepared, and finally on how to send them away happy and sober if they’re driving. “Pearl Girls get invited back again and again, and it isn’t just because of our fabulous hair.” Remember your upbringing and always RSVP and always, always write a thank-you note, Sugah. “Whatever our religion, we Southern girls know that there’s wisdom in this Bible verse: Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares….We Southern girls open our homes and our hearts to everyone, and we’re all the richer for it.” So, whatever you’ve always wanted to know about Southern entertaining and didn’t listen to when your Mama was telling you, Puttin’ on the Grits will verse you in the rich Southern tradition of hospitality that made the South famous. It would make your Mama proud, bless her heart!

Y’ALL • THE MAGAZINE OF SOUTHERN PEOPLE

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Savannah’s by Jonathan Craig

Paula Wallace

For over 300 years, Savannah, Georgia has been an historic, commercial and social center for the South. Thanks to the upstart Savannah College of Art and Design, this Spanish moss-soaked city can now add “Art Capital of the South” to its canvas.

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF SCAD

Founded in 1978, the college that’s more commonly known by its initials, SCAD, has produced over 10,000 eager artisans in a pastel of programs, ranging from fashion design, filmmaking, historic preservation and graphic design. Paula Wallace, the school’s president, was an original founder. The 56-year-old mother of three was a daring twenty-something when she opened the school’s doors at the old Savannah armory 27 years ago. “The Lord’s been good to us. We’ve really been blessed,” the Atlanta native admits. Today, over 7,000 students are enrolled in the college, producing a $250 million economic boon for Downtown Savannah each year. Students come from all 50 states, and 83 countries. SCAD has been such a hit it has branched out to Lacoste, France with a satellite campus, and recently opened SCAD-Atlanta. Online courses are also available at www.scad.edu. “I want to maintain our standards. We offer 69 degree programs at both the undergraduate and graduate level,” Wallace explains. “I want to continue to expand the offerings based on the marketplace. We don’t prepare starving artists here. Our graduates can go out and make a very good living and a contribution to society.” No doubt SCAD is making a major contribution to Savannah through its financial 79

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Director Norman Jewison and actor Kathleen Turner at the 2004 SCAD Film Festival. Below: Peter O’Toole

PHOTOS COURTESY OF SCAD

impact and preservation efforts. Like most Southern cities, the port city has a wealth of beautiful unoccupied historic homes and old business buildings. Unfortunately, the costs to keep these sites preserved are enormous. Enter SCAD. The school has purchased dozens of them, and had students work on the preservation. After the work is done, the school turns them into beautiful academic buildings. “Some of the homes were pretty daunting when I first went in them. I shot off more pigeons than you can shake a stick at,” Wallace laughs. “It’s been a learning experience. I certainly was not an expert at historic preservation when the college started, but now I probably know enough to fill up a thimble.” One preservation highlight is the college’s main Jen Library, where SCAD turned a dilapidated downtown department store into an 85.000 square foot modern marvel. Trustees Theater is a 1,100 seat beautifully restored auditorium which hosts the annual Savannah Film Festival, attracting filmmakers and film stars from around the world to SCAD each fall. Wallace recognizes that the warmth and beauty of Savannah are important brush strokes in SCAD’s success. But her own Southern warmth has made President Wallace a popular figure through the years, and a key to SCAD’s growth. You see, she’s not just some college president sitting in an ivory tower. She’s SCAD’s unofficial “Mama” to the scores of students – and even alumni – of the relatively young, but enormously successful school; “Just this week, an alum in Massachusetts wrote and asked me for advice about a situation in her life. I was so honored and pleased that she would do that.”

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in memoriam

MILLS: MANDATORY CREDIT: CRAIG JONES /ALLSPORT, LUCAS: CREDIT: TOM HAUCK /ALLSPORT, GRANT: RONALD MARTINEZ/GETTY, LOPEZ: SUSAN GAETZ/AFP/GETTY

SAM MILLS

An undersized linebacker who became an NFL Pro Bowl player with New Orleans and Carolina and was later an assistant coach for the Panthers, Sam Mills died after fighting cancer for nearly two years on April 18 . He was 45. Mills inspired the 2004 Super Bowl-bound Panthers as he continued to coach despite battling cancer. A five-time Pro Bowl selection, the 5-foot-9, 225-pound Mills spent the final three seasons of his 12-year NFL career with the Panthers, beginning with their inaugural season in 1995. There is a statue of him outside Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, and he is the only player in the team’s Hall of Honor.

FRANK PERDUE

VERNON GRANT

Oklahoma State Cowboys defensive star Vernon Grant was killed in an automobile accident in Dallas on May 23. The 21-yearold was a rising senior and was an Academic All-Big 12 honoree who was on course to receive a mechanical engineering degree. He also was the president of OSU’s chapter of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity. He was a star player at Duncanville (Texas) High School.

Chicken magnate Frank Perdue, who became famous for his Perdue Farms television pitch “It takes a tough man to make a tender chicken,” died at 84 in his hometown of Salisbury, Md. Perdue was one of the first CEOs to pitch his own product on television. In 2003, Perdue’s company garnered $2.8 billion in sales.

AL LUCAS

The Macon, Ga., native died on the field after being hit in an Arena Football league game on April 10. He was 26. Lucas spent two seasons with the NFL’s Carolina Panthers (20002001) before moving indoors to arena ball. He won the 1999 Buck Buchanan Award as the most outstanding defensive player in Division I-AA college football while playing at Troy State.

EVELYN ROBERTS

Evelyn Roberts, the wife of evangelist Oral Roberts, died May 4th after suffering a head injury during a fall. She was 88. Oral and Evelyn Roberts married more than 66 years ago, and she worked with her husband to build his television ministry and university. She was also an author.

“The King of Bluegrasss,” Martin died of cancer in Nashville on May 18. He was 77. The Sneedville, Tenn., native was a regular on the Louisiana Hayride, and toured with Bill Monroe in the 1950’s. Martin’s greatest legacy was his punchy, syncopated rhythm guitar style, that influenced many musicians.

MASTER SGT. JOSE M. LOPEZ (RET.)

HOPE RIDINGS MILLER

Miller observed life in the capital for more than 70 years as society editor of The Washington Post. She died April 29 at age 99 of congestive heart failure. Friends through the years included Eleanor Roosevelt, and Sam Rayburn. She was a Sherman, Texas, native.

JIMMMY MARTIN

1999

Lopez received the Medal of Honor for engaging in combat during the Battle of the Bulge, single-handedly killing more than 100 German soldiers. He died in San Antonio, Texas at the age of 94 on May 17th. A native of Mexico, Lopez emigrated to Texas, enlisting in the Army in 1942. After World War II, Lopez fought in Korea, and served as a recruiter for the Army, before retiring in 1973. His wife of 62 years died in 2004. JULY/AUGUST 2005 • Y’ALL

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festive south July 1 - 2

July 15 - 30

Aug. 4 - 7

Blue Angels Air Show Pensacola Beach, Fla. The U.S. Navy Precision Flight Team, based in Pensacola, offers two free air shows a year on Pensacola Beach. Soak up the rays and watch the best aviators in the world do their stuff. 800-6354803; Sandy Johnston; www.visitpensacolabeach. com

Florida International Festival Daytona Beach, Fla. This multi-day event features the London Symphony Orchestra, who calls the area its “official American summer home.” This event offers a variety of worldclass performances and entertainment ranging from music and dance to comedy and in both free and ticketed venues. 386-257-7790; www.fif-lso.org

July 2 - 6

July 16 - 17

Satchmo SummerFest New Orleans, La. “What a wonderful world” you’ll discover at the French Quarter celebration honoring New Orleans native Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong. The program includes music, discussions, exhibits, a jazz mass, a club crawl, “red beans and ricely yours” foods, and a line-up of performances that would have made Louis smile. 504-522-5730/800-673-5725; Beth Vicari Fisher; www.fqfi.org; feedback@fqfi.org

Summer Motion Ashland, Ky. Three nights of top entertainment on the riverfront and on July 4, the largest fireworks show in the tristate area. Plus two additional days of family fun, including a carnival, kids games and continuous local entertainment. 606-327-4424; Chuck Charles; www. summermotion.com; chuck.charles@kdmc.net

18th Annual Cajun Music and Food Festival Lake Charles, La. A true celebration of Cajun heritage, highlighting all aspects of Cajun life, including food, dance, live music, amateur accordion contest, and a Sunday morning French Catholic mass with a Cajun choir. 800-456-7952; Lesa Cormier; lcormier1@msn.com

July 22 - 23

July 4 WSB TV’s Salute 2 America Parade Atlanta, Ga. A star-spangled tribute to our country and summertime in a parade through downtown Atlanta. Nearly 100 colorful units including sparkling floats, award winning marching bands, representatives of our armed forces, giant heliumfilled balloons and special guests travel the 1.2 mile parade route through downtown Atlanta. 404-897-7385/404897-7855; J. Barkley Russell; www.wsbtv.com; salute2america@wsbtv.com

July 7 - 10 Grandfather Mountain Highland Games & Gathering of Scottish Clans Linville, N.C. The world’s largest annual gathering of Scottish clans is not in the highlands of Scotland, but rather in the highlands of North Carolina. See tartan banners unfurl, hear bagpipes echo through the glen and witness thousands of kilt-clad Scots make their way to Grandfather Mountain. 800-468-7325; Frank Vance; www.gmhg.org; highlandgames@vol.com

July 14 - 16 The Virginia Lake Festival Clarksville, Va. The skies over Clarksville fill with hot air balloons and boats skip across the water as clowns, line dancers and musicians perform and children ride in tethered hot-air balloons. Plus all the mouth-watering Southern and ethnic food you can eat! 800-5575582/434-374-2436; Linda Williams; www.clarksvilleva.org; clarksville@kerrlake.com

July 14 - 17 South Carolina Peach Festival Gaffney, S.C. Just follow I-85 until you see the giant peach and you’re almost where the fun is. There’s the Peach Dessert Contest, Peach Jam, Peach Fair, a giant parade and concerts by national recording artists. 864-489-5716; Dennis Fowler; www.scpeachfestival. org; dfowler@scpeachfestival.org

The Montgomery Ballet’s Thirtieth Annual “Performance on the Green” Montgomery, Ala. These annual free performances are the Montgomery Ballet’s “gift” to the city. Enjoy worldclass dance performances on the grounds of the Alabama Shakespeare Festival and the Museum of Fine Arts. Families bring picnics and enjoy an evening of culture under the stars. 334-409-0522; Priscilla CrommelinBall; www.montgomeryballet.com; montgomeryballet@knology.net

July 24 - 30

Mt. Mitchell Crafts Fair Burnsville, N.C. Escape the August heat by journeying to Burnsville (elevation 2,185 feet above sea level) and enjoy the oldest and largest outdoor crafts fair in the mountains. Includes 225 crafters plus live gospel, bluegrass and country music. 828-682-7413; Miki Pontornu; www.mtmitchellcraftsfair.com; cocdirector@yarneychamber.com

Aug. 13 - 20 6th Annual Celebrate Freedom Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Pigeon Forge salutes America’s patriots, heroes and veterans with special guests, street dances and musical performances of “Celebrate Freedom: The Musical,” a production that takes audiences on a journey through America’s military history. 800251-9100; Lila Wilson; www.mypigeonforge.com; events@cityofpigeonforge.com

Aug. 18 - 28

W. C. Handy Music Festival The Shoals, Ala. A week-long celebration honoring the musical heritage of Florence native W.C. Handy, “the Father of the Blues.” More than 200 events are scheduled, including concerts, exhibits, jam sessions, a “Street Strut,” and educational events. 256-766-7642; Nancy Gonce; www.wchandymusicfestival.org; handyfst@bellsouth.net

Kentucky State Fair Louisville, Ky. Experience the heart of the Bluegrass at this year’s state fair. Whether it’s the wild excitement of the Thrillway, the relaxing comfort of the air-conditioned exhibit halls, the beauty and sophistication of the World’s Championship Horse Show, or a top concert lineup, the Kentucky State Fair is an adventure for the entire family. 502-367-5000/502-367-5002; Harold Workman; www.kystatefair.org

July 30 - Aug. 14

Aug. 19 - 20

Virginia Highlands Festival Abingdon, Va. Experience the culture of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Highlands through arts and crafts, antiques, creative writing, literature workshops, fine foods, drama, concerts, nature walks and historical tours. 276-6762282/ 800-435-3440; Steve Galyean; www. vahighlandsfestival.org; acvb@abingdon.com

Franklin County Watermelon Festival Russellville, Ala. A festival that will make a Southerner love watermelon even more, featuring a concert in the park, golf and tennis tournaments, a beauty pageant for all ages, 5K and one mile runs, and great southern food. 256-332-1760; Lisa Stockton; www.franklincountychamber.org; franklincounty@charter.net

Aug. 3 - 6 North Carolina Watermelon Festival Murfreesboro, N.C. This four-day event features a variety of entertainment, amusement rides, a large craft and food fair, fireworks, watermelon contests and the state’s largest agricultural parade - plus the charm and hospitality of this Southern town. 252-3985922; Kay Mitchell; www.murfreesboronc.com; ncheritage@earthlink.net

July 15 - 24 Fun Fest Kingsport, Tenn. Whether you are 8 or 80, FunFest has activities for you. Join Splash Dance with hundreds playing in the sprinklers, 8K race, and also the Dog Show to compete in categories like “owner-dog lookalike.” Plus music from hip-hop to zydeco and lots of great food. 423-392-8800; Lucy Fleming; www.funfest.net; lucy@funfest.net

Aug. 5 - 6

Aug. 19 - 21 “Le Cajun” Music Awards Festival Lafayette, La. What the Grammy is to pop music, the Le Cajun is to Cajun music. The CFMA is dedicated to Cajun French music, language and heritage. The event features the best in music, Louisiana crafts, Cajun dancing and Cajun cuisine. 800-346-1958; Kelly Strenge; www. LafayetteTravel.com; info@lafayettetravel.com

Aug. 24 - Sept. 3 Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration Shelbyville, Tenn. This premier event draws nearly a quarter-million fans from more than 40 states to the Walking Horse counterpart to thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown, where twenty World Champions will be named. 931-684-5915; Chip Walters; www. twhnc.com; twhnc@twhnc.com

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