W-h-h-hale, today’s Father’s Day.
And while we must give our own Pa a big howdy do, we’ve got to admit as a holiday, it is a bit under the radar when compared to Mother’s Day.
That status is probably justified, but as they say, what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
The history and legacy of Father’s Day in the U.S. dates back to 1908, but it really didn’t become an “official” U.S. holiday until 1966 when President Lyndon Johnson proclaimed the third Sunday of June official Father’s Day. But the holiday wasn’t officially endorsed until 1972 by President Richard Nixon.
Wow. Mother’s Day was made “official” back in 1914 by President Woodrow Wilson.
• • •
A thoughtful reader asked me this week for some additional information about Grantland Rice. Providing those answers would make my story in last week’s edition much more complete.
Emily Noel wrote:
“I very much enjoyed your recent article about Grantland Rice because I have often wondered and never known exactly who he was nor why an athletic field in Murfreesboro was named for him. Your article answered some questions, but I am still curious about some information.
“How long did he live in Murfreesboro?
“Where did he go when he left Murfreesboro?
“Did he marry someone from Murfreesboro?
“Where was he living when he died?”
He was about high school age when he moved to Nashville. He prepped at Wallace School and entered Vanderbilt in the fall of 1897.
Baseball was his best sport at Vandy and he was captain of his collegiate team during his senior year.
After a brief attempt at pro baseball, he accepted a position at the Nashville Daily News in 1901. He left Nashville in 1902 for the Atlanta Journal. While in Atlanta, he met his future wife, Kate Hollis of Americus, Ga. They married in 1906 and had one daughter, Florence.
Rice returned to the Nashville Tennessean in 1907, but accepted a job with the New York Evening Mail in 1910. In 1914 he joined the staff of the New York Tribune.
He was 38-years-old when he enlisted as an army private and spent 14 months covering World War I before returning to NYC.
He was living in New York City when he died in his office on July 13, 1954 after completing his column about Willie Mays and the 1954 All-Star game. He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, in the Bronx, N.Y.
Thank you for your questions, Ms. Noel.
• • •
Once upon a time, it was my job to review and write about local plays and similar productions.
Last Saturday, I was invited to “The Sound of Music,” the latest The Center for the Arts production.
The cast included my young niece, Emily Conley, so I felt obligated. Wow, I was in for a real surprise at the quality of both the cast and the production.
Of course, Emily was amazing, but the rest of the cast was fantastic as well. The principals, in particular Katherine Sandoval Taylor, were amazing.
You should (if you can get tickets) check it out.
• • •
Wow, it isn’t long until Uncle Dave Macon Days.
These days, when I think of him and the big festival built around his name, I can’t help but think of a quote from Dr. Charles Wolfe:
“Uncle Dave Macon was a locally known character even before he ever set foot on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry or made records. If you have to pick out the legends of Rutherford County then he's No. 1; he is like the Elvis of the Rutherford County.”
Don’t forget the annual festival July 10-12.
“T-t-t-t-that’s r-r-r-r-r-ight.” |
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