MID-SOUTH MEMORIES
25 years ago — 1997 WASHINGTON – The nation’s premier cheapskate has had enough. Amy Dacyczyn, editor of the Tightwad Gazette and a woman once dubbed the Cheapest Person Alive, says she has done all she can to push thriftiness as an alternative lifestyle. She is retiring from the business to be a stay-athome mom in her farmhouse in Maine. From here on, she’ll be rinsing out her zip-top plastic bags in private. Dacyczyn rose to national prominence in the recession of the early 1990s. She has just released her last penny-pinching book. Spendthrifts won’t be privy to her secrets of saving, whether it’s recycling coffee grounds or replacing missing pot-lid handles with wine corks. One of the most frugal families in America — Amy; her husband, Jim; and their six kids ages 5 through 13 — will tighten their secondhand belts yet again. She says she finds “fun” in the challenge of cutting back. Her ultimate goal, she says, always has been to spend more time at home with the kids. 50 years ago — 1972
Fred Pancoast, officially confirmed Saturday as the new Memphis State football coach, wasted no time in beginning his search for a staff and spent most of yesterday on that particular phase of his program. Lindy Infante, now on the staff at the University of Florida, spent most of the day on the campus and has been offered the position of head offensive coach. “However, he wants to go back to Gainesville and study the situation before making any decision,” Pancoast said.
75 years ago — 1947
National Safety Council engineers in Chicago have taken a look at some of Memphis’ traffic problems as pictured by The Commercial Appeal during the past month. The pictures showed several types of traffic problems. For instance, there were pictures showing viaducts which have been outgrown by streets and do not have walkways; there were scenes of choked traffic; complex intersections; double parking; Memphis Street Railway vehicles blocking traffic while stopping to take on passengers, and intersections needing rush-hour lights.
100 years ago — 1922
“The standardization of the hospitals of the United States and Canada will, I believe, cut the mortality rate in surgical operations between 2 and 3 percent.” This statement of far-reaching results, that may be obtained by standardization, was made yesterday afternoon by Dr. George W. Crilo of Cleveland, Ohio, addressing the Tennessee, Kentucky and Arkansas sections of the American College of Surgeons, which are holding their first group meeting in Memphis. The afternoon session of the meeting was held in the convention hall of Hotel Chisca.
125 years ago — 1897
Justice of the Peace W. O. Davis of Memphis has moved his office to the Equitable Building, corner of Jefferson and North Main.