In the heart of the Cumberland Plateau in Pall Mall, Tennessee, on December 13, 1887, Alvin Cullum York was born. Raised in a modest log cabin, Alvin grew up in a large family where he was one of eleven children. Like most in the area, the Yorks faced the harsh realities of poverty and a hardscrabble existence. more

One of the things I appreciated as a kid growing up in a small town in the 1950s was, I could understand the rules. Don’t lie, cheat, or steal, respect your elders, close the gate, and be home by supper. more

Dale Kelley said, “Some men like to hunt or fish. I chose officiating basketball as my personal pursuit.” more

I know this title sounds like something from a Kubrick movie but it serves a purpose. Have you ever noticed how things come full circle? Since the start of these articles a few years back, I get phone calls or do additional research that brings the series full circle as so many parts intertwine with each other.  more

The lifestyle of a Southern gentleman did not suit Andrew Jackson. His journey from a military hero during the War of 1812 to the highest office in the land is a testament to his resilience, charisma, and outright stubbornness. more

With all the local celebration of Patrick Willis being selected to the NFL Hall of Fame, I wanted take a little print space to rerun a feature on Carroll County’s other NFL Hall of Famer, Gene Hickerson. more

Our high school auditorium was old even before I got there. It actually creaked at times. It was “big and wide” with a smell and a feel that was unique, yet comfortable. And it was oh, so versatile. more

This week’s installment is a quick visual glance at the 1970 archive book. more

I spent most all of this past Fourth of July weekend humming the same tune over and over. more

The trouble with going back to school each August was….well, going back to school! It didn’t cause heart failure. It wasn’t a matter of life and death. And even Buddy and Robert Earl understood the necessity of the situation. But, still, it sure interrupted summer…. more

The very best thing about December is it comes around every year. Like clockwork! And you don’t have to “Deck the halls with boughs of holly” to enjoy it. You don’t have to find a pony under the tree every year; or, as you get older, wake up to a brand new red Mercedes Benz sitting in your driveway. more

In the heart of the American South, a wrestling revolution was brewing that would forever etch its mark on sports entertainment history. The city of Memphis became a battleground for larger-than-life personalities, intense rivalries, and a wrestling legacy that would capture the hearts of generations. At the center of it all were two titans of the ring: Jerry “The King” Lawler and Jerry Jarrett. Their story, intertwined with the iconic Mid-South Coliseum and the Continental Wrestling Association (CWA), stands as a testament to the power of passion, showmanship, and the enduring spirit of professional wrestling. more

Mountain Dew, the citrus-flavored soda that has become a staple in the world of soft drinks, has a rich and intriguing history. From its humble beginnings in the 1940s to its global popularity today, Mountain Dew has undergone numerous transformations, both in terms of its flavor profile and marketing strategies. more

A fairly plain factory green 1960 Chevrolet was not a chick magnet by any stretch of the imagination. Now, if I’d a’had Nicky Joe Stafford’s brand new, shiny, fire engine red Corvette convertible that would have been a whole different story! more

I have always wanted to meet the girl that broke Don Gibson’s heart. She musta been extra special for sure! Beautiful, of course, maybe even striking! Thoughtful, kind, loving, smart, a good dancer and probably didn’t have to make her own clothes…I assume she was from Shelby, North Carolina, like Don. And I’m guessing it was one of those “first love” deals. more

The K-25 Plant in Oak Ridge housed the gaseous diffusion apparatus used to partially enrich uranium before it was sent to the nearby Y-12 Plant. K-25 comes from Kellex Corporation, the contractor that designed and built the plant, and uranium-235, often shortened to 25. The plant was a mile-long, U-shaped building making it the world’s largest roofed building at the time. more

Dad’s “formal” education ended with the third grade. He didn’t quit at that tender age by choice. His father decided he was needed at home more than he was down at the one-room schoolhouse beside Sugar Creek. more

During the bicentennial celebration in Huntingdon, the story of a Korean War-era military plane crash came to my attention. The Colonial Tea Room displayed a piece of the wreckage that had landed on its roof from the 1954 incident. This week, I am sharing what I have put together of the story, and I’d like to thank Sam McGowan for his compilation of research on the crash. more

At times I hold the self-proclaimed title of The King of Useless Information. One such example comes with Mother’s Day. The individual who was the ramrod for the creation of the holiday was Anna Jarvis. The interesting part of the story is that not long after her holiday created momentum, she turned against the holiday requesting it be rescinded because of its commercialism. While this story has very little to do directly with Tennessee history, I can’t help but share some of my useless knowledge. more

We were a motley looking crew. Our foreman, Louis, was built like a fire hydrant dressed in overalls with an ever-present plug of home-grown chewing tobacco in his cheek. He was in charge of the tar wagon, mainly because he was the only one living who knew how to operate the ancient machine. more