LIFESTYLE
A Southern Gentleman is...
The Gentleman Host: A Timeless Tradition ADVICE FROM WILLIAMSON COUNTY’S MOST REFINED GENTLEMAN, MR. RONALD LIGON WITH JOHNNY BIRDSONG, YOUR SOUTHERN GENTLEMAN
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Soon there will be a lot of gatherings and celebrating with friends and family; opportunities and occasions to host in our home or workplace. This time of year, and these events, are one area where being a southern gentleman, I always try to take great care. I had the distinct honor of being invited to a dinner party hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Ligon a while back. I left there thinking what a wonderful evening and was in awe of Mr. Ligon being what I would describe as the perfect southern gentleman host. Ronald and Marty are known far and wide in our community as the consummate hosts. Being invited to their home for a dinner party or any event is not just a pleasure but a privilege. A privilege because, in all cases, the Ligon’s know a little something about hosting. As community volunteers and notable individuals in our community and being known for the most decorated home – every holiday and season - you will not find two more qualified to speak on hospitality. But my real desire was to pick Mr. Ligon’s brain this time and find out just what makes this southern gentleman tick when it comes to hosting and, well… being a southern gentleman in general. So, we sat down to discuss, and it’s a conversation I will never forget.
SG: What is your definition of a gentleman? RL: I have lived a long time, and I have seen
a lot of changes — some for better, some for worse. When I was younger and planning to take a trip, no gentleman would even think about boarding an airplane without wearing a coat and tie. Today you wonder if they are even going to wear clothes at all. We live in a different age. So, what is a gentleman? Today corporations are teaching etiquette classes to people who have master’s degrees. I find it fascinating that they never learned what fork or spoon to use while sitting at the dinner table. I guess because they didn’t sit at many dinners! This is a situation of how you were brought up. I think a gentleman knows how to act and what to do in any situation. The major thing is learning how to be polite and nice and appreciate other people. After that, other things will fall in place. It’s such an amazing world we live in today. I look back and see how different things are. Entertaining has changed. One is how people come dressed to a party. You can even stipulate a dress code, but it’s as though they paid no attention. One night Roy Acuff, dressed in 54 NOVEMBER 2021
Celebrating 10 Years
a very nice sport coat and tie, was going on stage. I knew him and told him, “Roy, you always dress nice, and I want to compliment you on it.” He said, “My momma always told me if I was going to appear before people, I should wear the best clothes I had.” That has stuck with me. Today, everybody sends out these email (e-vite)
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” - Proverbs 22:6 invitations. They are simple and cheap. I don’t like them. I like the old way. I am a letter writer. I think a lot of being a gentleman is observing traditions of what was expected of a gentleman years ago. I still think opening a door, car or house, for a lady is a nice thing to do. There are a lot of older traditions that I grew up with that still stand today. I think being a gentleman is doing what tradition has asked of them, and you can never go wrong with being
polite and courteous. Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6 quote box
SG: What are some of the things a gentleman
should do when hosting at the holidays? RL: I love the holidays. It’s an occasion to be together with family and friends. But the whole thing is predicated on one thing… LOVE. You love your family, your friends; you want to be together. You want to do for them. There is nothing like it.
SG: What are the first rules of hosting you follow when planning an event? RL: When hosting, it is a team effort with my wife and me. We get together and decide exactly what we want to do. Is this a sit-down dinner, an open-house party, or a small, more intimate occasion with four to six guests? If you are going to entertain, you must keep records – you find out familiarities about people and make notes. What did we serve? What did we like? What did our guests like…or not like? You can’t invite a certain number of people
