Memphis Magazine‘s April issue is on the stands now. You can read all about cover girl Sara Hall, the former city attorney and now the new “Airport Authority.”
Also in this issue: A riveting story on immigrant Memphians by Preston Lauterbach, the “Mississippi Sissy,” memories of Pappy & Jimmie’s, and John Daly versus Loren Roberts in a duel to the death. Sort of.
Call 901-575-9470 to subscribe, or check Memphismagazine.com.
The family of Martin Luther King Jr. is trying to stop an upcoming auction of the slain civil rights leader’s papers.
The green folder with notes, letters, and speeches believed to be written by King is set to be auctioned off in two weeks. The King Center in Atlanta had no idea the materials existed until Monday; apparently, they’ve been in the basement of a King friend for decades.
The documents have not been authenticated, but if real, could fetch as much as $300,000. But the King Center says that unless the woman in possession of the papers has documentation they belong to her, they are the property of the center.
Janie Joplin passed away in Ellendale last week at the age of 85. Her name may not be familiar to Memphians today, but in the 1950s, Janie Joplin was a household word. She and a dozen or so other young women were the disk jockeys on WHER, the nation’s first all-female radio station.
WHER, recently featured on National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered,” was the brainchild of Sun Studio owner Sam Phillips. The station first went on the air on October 29, 1955, and survived until the novelty wore off several years later. During that time, the entire staff — djs, sales staff, secretaries, even the record librarians — was female.
Joplin worked as an on-air broadcaster and copywriter, and later moved to WHBQ radio, where she worked as an advertising writer until her retirement in the mid-1980s. In her Commercial Appeal obituary, her family observed, “For many years it would have been hard to listen to radio in Memphis without hearing her distinctively pleasant voice.” During her career at WHER, her popular sign-off for the AM-1430 — advertised as “the station with 1,000 beautiful watts — was “Be good, and you’ll be happy.”
You’ve got to be kidding me. With African American
luminaries like Lou Brock, Dave Winfield, Joe Morgan, and Frank Robinson
watching this exchange, a lump in the throat was all but assured. The civil
rights movement has, indeed, brought us to a better place. And if Martin Luther
King, Jackie Robinson, and Roberto Clemente couldn’t be in attendance Saturday,
having the names Hooks and Kennedy carrying the torch more than sufficed.
The details — as coordinated by Major League Baseball
and the host Memphis Redbirds — meant everything to this glorified exhibition
game. The bunting had an off-white, aged look that gave historical weight to the
added color. The video tributes to black ballplayers who have “paved the way” —
men like the Robinsons, Bob Gibson, Bill White, and Curt Flood — were on point
and touching in their brevity. And the uniforms worn by the world champion St.
Louis Cardinals and Cleveland Indians — classically simple to reflect the style
of the Negro Leagues — allowed a fan to daydream, and consider a time when the
beauty of a ballplayer was underneath the jersey, and had nothing to do with
marketing taste.
My favorite moment on the field, though, was the diving
catch in centerfield made by So Taguchi — another former Redbird — to end the
fifth inning. Think about it. An exhibition game the day before Opening Day. A
soggy field. His team up by four runs. And Taguchi lays out to make a catch that
brings the crowd to its feet. On a day to honor various minorities who have
helped shape the national pastime, a backup outfielder from Japan reminded all
in attendance what puts the big-league in a big-leaguer.
Perhaps the best development of all was the word from
baseball commissioner Bud Selig that the Civil Rights Game is all but sure to be
back in Memphis next year, and beyond. A shining tribute to American heroes, the
game of baseball, and not least, the city of Memphis
What a game Saturday — Cardinals 5, Indians 1 in MLB’s first annual Civil Rights Game!: Perhaps the best development of all was the word from
baseball commissioner Bud Selig that game is all but sure to be
back in Memphis next year, and beyond. A shining tribute to American heroes, the
game of baseball, and not least, the city of Memphis.
For complete details, go to “Sports Beat”.
Okay, all you Ingram Hill fans, head for the roof — The Peabody’s Rooftop, that is, as the 2007 Rooftop Party season kicks off on April 5th.
A tradition going back to the 1930s, the party rocks every Thursday evening during the summer, from 6 to 10 p.m.
Admission for the Ingram Hill event is $10 per person from 6-7 p.m. and $15 per person after 7 p.m. For all other Rooftop Parties, admission is $5.
The schedule: April 5: Ingram Hill;
April 12: Dr. Zarr’s Amazing Funk Monster; April 19: Gabby Johnson;
April 26: Hip Kitty; May 3: Rusty Lemon; May 10: The Plaintiffs; May 17: The Venus Mission; May 24: The Ugli Stick; May 31: Tom Dick & Harry; June-August: to be announced.
An article by WVLT-TV Knoxville outlines Tennessee First Lady Andrea Conte’s plan to rally public support for a state-wide ban of smoking in the workplace.
Governor Phil Bredesen put forth the bill, which would ban smoking, with some exceptions, in all enclosed public spaces. This includes restaurants and bars.
It may be somewhat surprising that the Rendezvous, arguably the most famous barbecue joint in Memphis, is endorsing the bill. But the restaurant is ahead of the curve: They’ve already banned smoking.
We were curious: since the ban, how’s business been?
In a short phone interview, a representative of the Rendezvous said, “There’s not been a change in our business whatsoever as far as I can tell. People who smoke don’t mind just stepping outside.”
Conte and other advocates of the bill will be kicking off their state-wide tour at the now smoke-free Rendezvous on Thursday.
—Cherie Heiberg
Yes, Virginia, there’s another special election coming in Shelby County. This one, at Governor Bredesen’s direction on Monday, is for the seat in state House District 89 (centered on Midtown). The seat became vacant with the election last month of then Rep. Beverly Marrero to fill a vacancy in state Senate Distrtict 30.
Democratic and Republican primaries will be held on Thursday, May 31, with the general election following on Tuesday, July 17. Kevin Gallagher and Jeannie Richardson are known Democratic candidates; so far so Republican candidate has announced.
City Council member Brent Taylor has formally announced a decision that has been privately known for some time: Taylor, who was first elected in 1995 to represent District 2 (Cordova) and was the council’s best-known and most consistent conservative, will not seek a fourth term.
A ready man with a hard-edged quip, Taylor was the subject of headlines back in 2004 when an irate Mayor Willie Herenton, in the course of a heated meeting, asked him outside.
That argument, over personnel matters, blew over. But until Taylor began preparing his exit over the last year, he could be depended on as a headline-maker and as an exponent of minimalist government.
Taylor made a serious run for Congress in 2002, but, after his defeat by Marsha Blackburn in a multi-candidate field, he began to concentrate on his business interests in the funeral-home business. Most recently he purchased two out-of-county funeral homes – one in Mississippi, the other in Tipton County.
–jb
Following is a press release, bearing Tuesday’s date, from political consultant Layne Provine:
Brent Taylor announces plans to leave Council at end of term
Councilman Brent Taylor today announced plans to retire from the City Council at the end of his term. Taylor, elected in 1995, will complete his third term at the end of this year.
“It has been a privilege to serve Memphians on the City Council. I will always be grateful for this honor,” remarked Taylor.
Taylor, a funeral home owner, purchased Hernando Funeral Home in 2004 and Munford Funeral Home late last year. He said one of the primary reasons for his retirement from the council is to devote more time to his business.
“I have a new business and a young family. I also feel that after 12 years on the Council, it’s time to give someone else the opportunity to bring new ideas to our city,” said Taylor. “I hope my successor enjoys representing Memphians on the Council as much as I have. It has been a real pleasure,” he stated.
Taylor, a Republican, has been known as a strong conservative voice on the Council. He opposed increased government regulation of businesses, and he voted against every tax increase during his three terms.
Taylor is married to Kimberly and they have a 10 year old son, Gage, and a six year old daughter, Molly. He represents District 2 on the Council which includes Cordova, East Memphis, Hickory Hill, and Trafalgar Village.
# #
From the Arkansas Morning News:
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas athletic director Frank Broyles offered the Razorbacks men’s basketball job to Memphis coach John Calipari on Friday in Atlanta, sources close to both basketball programs said Saturday.
The sources said Calipari can now be considered Arkansas’ top target for the position that opened when Stan Heath was fired Monday. The source in Arkansas said Calipari was interested in the position and would mull over the offer.
The source in Tennessee, who works inside the Tigers program and is close with Calipari, told The Memphis Commercial Appeal that Calipari wasn’t very interested in the job.
Broyles returned from Atlanta just before 5 p.m. Saturday on a jet registered to The Razorback Foundation, after meeting with several candidates on Friday. Arkansas sports information director Kevin Trainor and ESPN college basketball analyst Jimmy Dykes joined Broyles on the flight back to Fayetteville.
Through Trainor, Broyles released a brief statement about his two-day trip to Georgia.
“We had a productive trip to Atlanta,” Broyles said. “It is clear that many talented and proven head coaches are intrigued by our coaching vacancy. We are continuing along in the process, and we are hopeful to fill the position soon.”
Read more at the Morning News Website, and be sure to check out the reader comments.