A girl from the past; Thankful column; Dr. William Thompson
Amber Braddy Baker, A girl out of the past
How often have we called attention to the fact our students and our athletes pass through high school so quickly and pretty soon are not remembered so vividly? That failure to remember is no reflection on the participant; the fact is others are the characters on the stage now (athletic field, floor, cheerleading, debate team, majorette and band member, track, etc.).
There is one who made an impression in a very positive way. For the precision with which she handled a most important job is to be commended and to be remembered. You see, Amber is Coach Diane Smith’s daughter Jaime Garrett’s age. Amber was not the most talented athlete around but she was nearly always a member of the team of the season.
It wasn’t as only an athlete we should remember her. Amber was the clock operator for Coach Smith’s Middle School basketball teams. Does that sound like a so-so matter to you? Well lately in several athletic settings on TV and in reality the clock operators and scorekeepers have performed in ways less than admirable. Ball and strikes, time on the clock, score and other important matters are mishandled and often completely ignored for long periods of time.
The live Streaming of Calhoun’s playoff football games on TV, while not alone, called for a cry to bring Amber Braddy Baker back on the scene. The young lady was proficient at getting the score on the board quickly and with accuracy that amazed me. Anytime I could see a basket shot and the score was on the board by the time I turned my head and looked is indication of a master at work. sional.
There are many good scoreboard people around. This is simply a commendation of one who made her impact in a wonderful way during her sojourn through her school years.
Alex Farrer’s “I am Thankful” Column
In a wonderful way last week, our Sports Editor treated local readers to a warm and touching expression of his feelings toward this community and athletes and teams about which he writes.
A word from someone who has seen the sports coverage of newspapers in towns and cities of various sizes over a great portion of the United States: The service Alex renders to the sports scene of the young people in our schools and on the college level is far and away greater than anything you can normally find in other towns.
It is true that this writer is not as diversified in mentioning youngsters, teams and accomplishments as I would like to be. It isn’t because of lack of admiration or respect for accomplishments. If it were not for Alex and his writings I would really be in the dark. I try to tell him often how I appreciate learning about kids at Sonoraville or Gordon Central because of his stories.
The majority of youngsters participating in high school athletics will not go to college and play. Alex renders all of us a great service with that feature he presents every week with the news about our (county and city) athletes in college. It warms my heart to read about any of them and my best wishes go out to them for success. I come to know them by reading that very valuable section.
I did not write an “I am thankful” with my one-liners column this year; there are so many, both spiritual and physical, blessings for which I am thankful and that we all enjoy. If I were listing them, high on that list would be “I am thankful” for Alex Farrer and the great job he does in promoting local athletics and reporting it to interested readers.
Dr. William Thompson, A Remarkable Man
What do you think you will be doing on your 94th Birthday? Well, a front-page story on the Thanksgiving Day edition of the Rome NewsTribune did not take long to capture my attention.
A picture of Fairmount and Calhoun’s own Dr. William Thompson told of his outstanding accomplishment on his 94th Birthday. Dr. Thompson shot an 80 on the par72 Coosa Country Club course.
Dr. Thompson has kept at his game before and now long after his retirement from practicing medicine. This old man ( me) who doesn’t (can’t) play golf has nothing but admiration for the man who entered my life when he began his medical practice in Calhoun with offices downtown with Dr. Purcell and Dr. Richards back in the 1950s. Dr. Thompson has come a long ways since his days at Fairmount High. Gordon County is a better place by reason of Dr. Thompson’s being here.
The family has been close to me in many ways over the years. Dr. Thompson doctored me on a regular basis beginning in my young adult years. Doctor Thompson and his wife Ouida gave our community three outstanding sons. Bill, John and David all played football for me at various levels of their careers. I both admire and love his family.
I close by saying I wish I could hit the golf ball.