MID-SOUTH MEMORIES

25 years ago — 1995

An executive committee of the Regional Medical Center at Memphis Saturday recommended additional service cuts and the layoff of another 320 employees. The committee announced it would recommend to the board of directors that The Med close its 124-bed newborn center, discontinue obstetric services, as well as immediately lay off 320 employees and eliminate 60 beds. The Med’s board could consider the recommended cuts at its meeting June 1 and layoffs could begin the following day, said Burt Waller, The Med’s chief executive officer and president.

50 years ago — 1970

Dr. Sam H. Sanders, head of the department of otolaryngology at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine, has been named to receive this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award from Texas A&M University. Dr. Sanders, who has headed the otolaryngology department since 1954, will receive the award Saturday at the college’s commencement exercises. The former Texas A&M athlete and football player for the University of Tennessee Doctors won the Honor of Merit in 1968 from the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology. The eye, ear, nose and throat clinic at the UT Medical Units is named for Dr. Sanders. 75 years ago — 1945

Southwestern’s participation in the government’s program to educate returning veterans was outlined by Dr. A.T. Johnson, dean, yesterday. Dr. Johnson stressed the program must “be consistent with our solid educational standards. Southwestern cannot lower its educational standards and accept for admission men and women who are not qualified to do work of high college grade.” 100 years ago — 1920

We drove out into the country last week and saw some startling sights. There were few people working in the fields. Some homes were deserted. In five towns the only building going on was the erection of movie houses and garages. We were impressed by the underproduction of everything — human, animal and vegetable. A check revealed that the population is not as large now as it was 10 years ago. The sin of underproduction carries over to all activities of life.

125 years ago — 1895

Last year the United States had 9,500 criminal homicides, compared with 5,000 in Great Britain. There can be no reasonable excuse. We should remodel our penal codes to make justice more certain and speedy in our courts.

THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL Author Alex Haley confers with Sen. Jim Sasser, left, on the reviewing stand at Second and Gayoso as the last of the marching bands and drill teams pass by during a parade in Haley’s honor on May 21, 1977. Gov. Ned Mcwherter and Sen. Howard Baker (not shown) were also among the dignitaries on hand to pay tribute to the celebrated author of “Roots.”