Band members and their support

Contrary to the sentiments expressed by a mother from down in Plainville in a letter to the editor over a comment I made in 1989 about the number and makeup of the Calhoun High School band, there is and has always been the utmost admiration of our bands and their performances.

It has always been a mystery to me how people who read think they can see into the mind and read the thoughts and intents of someone who writes. There have been many idiotic reactions to columns written over the years (most dealing with what they were sure Coach Smith meant or intended). That mother’s reaction is the one topping the stupidity list from over the years. It might be a good exercise for me to list and give treatment to many sayings on that list. Right now, I would place the comment “I bet he uses spell check” when he writes high on the list. How stupid can one get?

With all that said, let me give attention (complimentary) to a com- schools across the country devote huge amounts of time to their craft and often are some of their team’s most ardent supporters”

This gives me an opportunity to express my admiration and appreciation to Calhoun High’s retiring band director, Michael Clark. The “once-young-man” (he graduated from CHS in 1974 in the class with my daughter Summer Mills. That means that young man has reached the 60 year-old mark. Mr. Harold Summerville before him and Michael put a product on the field to the enjoyment of fans all over Georgia. In keeping with my admiration of bands and their directors let me share with you a sentiment often expressed after seeing some 200 kids perform to precision at halftime. I often said, “I suspect band directors have to do more coaching than any of us.”

One last comment for the benefit of those who read but can’t understand: This old football coach has bragged all over the country concerning the number and quality of band members in all of our bands.

Here is wishing Larry Brown the best in his new role as the Jacket band director.

Fredi Gonzalez

It was disappointing for me to hear that Freddie Gonzalez had been fired as the Atlanta Braves manager. At the same time, our Alex Farrer’s fine comments in his column last Saturday probably explored the situation best. I will let my sentiments rest with his explanation. I say that knowing they were not my sentiments at all before reading. After “listening” to his careful insight my feelings changed and I suspected the Sports Editor was pretty much accurate in his assessment.

I just hated to see the fine man released. But in my 66 years (since 1950) of being a Braves fan I have seen managers come and go. While this season is disappointing,I might not be around but the Braves will be back. Remember “Worst to first” in 1991.

Kenneth Moore and The Hall of Fame

One more time (and it will take many more for a less than perceptive pop- ulace. Last Tuesday the Board of Directors and members from last year’s inauguration class met and elected seven new members to be inducted into the Calhoun-Gordon County Hall of Fame at this year’s banquet in August.

It is a matter of a boring and mind-numbing experience to have to listen to people as they corner board members and chant their opinions of those who should be in the Hall of Fame. This doesn’t mean the chanters are wrong. The necessity of people having to be nominated has been stated so many times and in different venues that everyone should be informed. It is with both regret and pleasure that I can look the less-informed in the eye and say “that person has not been nominated.

The tedious part of the conversation then begins as the speaker begins to tell their opinion of the qualities of the one they have suggested. It is with confidence I readily boast that I probably know more about the credentials than the person speaking.

This can be said about most who offer suggestions: They don’t or won’t take the time to get a nomination form and do the work involved in listing the accomplishments, and then verifying the information. Nominating someone involves much more than speaking a name and then rattling on about what one remembers about them.

I will not name in this column those elected. I will leave that for the news’ report. I do want to mention one of those elected. Kenneth Moore was nominated but not elected in last year’s selection process. It wasn’t that he wasn’t qualified. In my verbal comments I said if there is a Hall of Fame, Kenneth Moore belongs in it.

Coach Frank Hall and I are the two oldest members of the Board of Directors. We are the ones who lived back in the late 1940s during the time Kenneth performed in his high school and Clemson college days. He was a great athlete and will be inducted at the banquet this year.

The Saga of Lily Hayes continues: This topic will be discussed next week.