Holland Shares with Historical Society

HUNTINGDON (July 16) — Guest speaker Jack Holland shared stories from McKenzie’s history, from the city’s creation to moments from more recent memory, at the Huntingdon Historical Society (HSS) meeting on Wednesday.

Holland, known for his special interest in McKenzie’s history, told the abridged versions of McKenzie tales he uncovered with the help of Brad Camp, Brent Cox and Nola Hobbs.

He told stories about celebrities, including the day President Grover Cleveland almost spent the night in McKenzie after his train took off without him, and when Elvis Presley stopped for a bite to eat at the Dixie Coffee Cup diner.

He told funnier crime tales, like when McKenzie residents chased bank robbers into Routon after the robbers beat up the head bank teller.

He talked about McKenzie residents’ athletic success stories, from the late Detroit Lion turned Miami Dolphin coach Lester Bingaman to more recent athletes including triathlete Kirsten Sass; Middle Tennessee State University basketball star Savannah Davis and Tennessee Mr. Football winners Drew Hayes, Jackson Cassidy and Tate Surber.

Holland spoke about the Snead picnics, which drew the attention of Grand Ole Opry greats and at one point amassed as many as 18,000 attendees. He talked about the largest couch in the world, which he said was so orange and so large that it could probably be seen from space, built by McKenzie’s Gaines Manufacturing Company. He also mentioned the time when car salesman Gary Simmons was recognized for being the number one Yugo salesman in the world for selling 72 Yugo cars in 72 hours.

He spoke highly of the Gordon Browning Museum, which he said is “probably the only place in America that’s got three Nazi flags hanging from the wall, but not as a tribute to the Nazis.”

Holland sped through all of McKenzie’s history he could fit into the one-hour program, but he took his time to share one last quote from Martha McKenzie, the great-granddaughter of James Monroe McKenzie: “McKenzie has always been a good place to live...I hope those who choose to leave McKenzie will always have a longing to return someday. I honestly believe the happiest people in the world are those who were born and raised here and never left.”

At the conclusion of Holland’s presentation, several HHS members agreed they would love for him to return and tell the unabridged stories from his speech. They shared their memories from Elvis’s visit, including when McKenzie police had to pry two teenage girls away from the celebrity’s car.

Johnny McClure, HHS president, thanked Holland for his time. He said, “The wonderful thing about these gatherings is, we are reminded of…things that are very curious to us. I have not heard the car brand Yugo mentioned in 50 years.”

HHS meets the third Wednesday of each month, typically in the meeting room attached to Huntingdon’s City Hall. Next month’s speaker is Major General Tommy H. Baker, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Veterans Services.