candidates running for
office in the November 3 election, the four available alderman
seats were filled by: incumbent - Keith Radford; and newcomers -
Danny Browning (Vice Mayor), Wade Cook and Tommy Hodges. Mayor Anderson
expressed his appreciation to the people of Gleason for
supporting him and giving him their vote of confidence. He
promised to be a good steward of the people’s money and strive
to improve the city’s financial standing.
Danny Browning, who is the town’s
first black alderman, said, “I am honored to be voted in as
vice-mayor. I’m looking forward to the next four years. It’s an
honor I don’t take lightly. I feel blessed.”
of Highway 22 North .
Since
1991, the Masonic Lodge has been located at its current site at 202 Main
Street in Gleason, although several changes to the basic structure of
the building have been necessary over time. Most recently, in 2015,
Phelps
Memorial Way" as part of the 2015 Tater Town Special program. This
dedication was to honor the memory of Private Bobbie Dee Phelps, who
was attached to the 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry
Division, of the US Army, who was killed in action in Korea on April
29th, 1951.
Gordon Stoker,
tenor singer for vocal group
The Jordanaires,
passed away March 27 at his home in
Brentwood, Tennessee, reports the
Photo courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum.
All trains were met by local citizenry for the fellowship and to see who was arriving and departing. Even church services were dismissed for the noon trains. At this time W. V. Overall was the Depot agent.
In the 1913 and 1914 papers, N.C. and St. L. railroad advertised a round trip to Nashville for $2.00, so when planning your summer vacation, don't overlook any of the following low fares:
Another advertisement in the May 23rd, 1913 Herald advertised:
"Let's Everybody Get Ready to Give the Nashville Boosters a Big Blow-out When They Arrive Here." This will not only boost our little town, but will be quite a treat for all to see them and their fancy train.
Some of the early agents were Tom Cooper, Tom Butler, W. V. Overall, and Mr. McDonald. A familiar sight in the twenties and thirties was Marion Gibbs, a much loved black man, pushing the small mail cart from the trains to the Post Office. Also Leonard Brawner picked up packages at the Depot and delivered them around town for $0.25 per delivery.
Section hands working on railroad in front of the Whitworth Hotel in the early 1920's
The Depot was torn down in 1970 or 1971, much to the displeasure of many of us who had fond memories of the time spent there. A metal building was moved onto the site to do railroad business, with L. L. Bennett as Agent. Following Mr. Bennett's retirement, other agents who took over were Mr. Rogers, Mr. Sylvis, and Frank Cequin.
The metal building was removed in 1984, since Gleason no longer had a through train to Dresden. The few freights which run through the town each week only go to the Clay companies and to Krueger-Ringler where they turn around.
Note. The material presented above was originally published in the book Oakwood - Gleason: A Look Back, by the "Homecoming '86" committee with Joyce Wray serving as Chair of this Committee.
Sweet Potatoes Shipped by Railroad
The above picture was made by Marie and Calvin Wheat, developed by Harles Woodard (Gleason, TN), received from Laurie Beach Pine, and provided to GleasonOnline.com by Jimmie Glenn. (Young boy in white shirt (right) - Jimmie Glenn; Man standing on platform - Gale W. Ray; Lady with suitcase - Rachael Kennon, Man on left side of Truck - Harry Mac Edwards.)
Tater Town Special Ends With Spectacular Parade The Dresden Enterprise
The 45th Annual Tater Town Special ended Saturday, September 1, after an amazing parade was held in downtown Gleason. The Tater Town Parade included many emergency vehicles from Gleason and other towns around the area. Scores of children and teens were in the parade, from church floats to students from Gleason Junior and High School supporting their graduating classes. A large crowd came out to witness the event. One of the highlights of the parade was the marching band and color guard from McKenzie High School. The marching band provided wonderful music that adults and children loved, and the color guard amazed the crowd with their bright-pink flags that mesmerized everyone that watched. The weather was very hot, but that did not stop local citizens from coming out to watch their hometown parade. Participants on one of the floats distributed cold water to those that needed it. The parade ended with horses and horse and buggy entries. Some of the horses were decorated for the occasion with flowers and paint. After the parade, the crowd moved to the Gazelle Grounds, where the festivities continued. Live music was provided by the band Avonlea, which preformed a free concert for all to enjoy. Many Weakley County businesses operated vendor booths to display their products offering food and drinks for the large number of people that came out to enjoy the festivities. The events of the 45th Annual Tater Town Special kicked off with the Tater Town Block Party held in downtown Gleason with a DJ, Cornhole games, live music, vendors and food for all. On Wednesday, August 29, local youngsters enjoyed playing Children’s Bingo on the Gazelle Grounds, winning small prizes, provided by area churches. Before the bingo started a short devotional was shared lead by Chris Snider. The Adult Bingo game was held on Thursday, August 30. Anyone 18 years old or older could play Adult Bingo. During an intermission, a cake auction allowed top bidders to enjoy baked goods cooked by local residents. The Gleason Gazelles invited local citizens to come out and enjoy an all-you-can-eat BBQ and participate in the Sweet Potato Bake Off on Friday, August 31. The event also featured music, games for the kids, and other activities. The BBQ was cooked by various businesses and families in the Gleason community and anyone that paid the small seven-dollar fee to get into the Gazelles grounds could eat as much BBQ as they could hold. The band Flashback, out of McKenzie, preformed during the BBQ party. Children enjoyed playing corn hole, which became very popular as the afternoon went by. When the night came to an end, the crowd enjoyed a spectacular firework show and grand finale. On Saturday morning, participants took part in the JC Carey Memorial 5K Run. The Tater Town Special ended Saturday, September 1, with the Jr. Parade then Grand Parade and festivities. The parade was held in downtown Gleason and featured the McKenzie High School band. A community church service was held on Sunday morning. Source: Dresden Enterprise).
(Photos by Jim Johnson, GleasonOnlnine.com)
Gleason High School - Class of 1968 - 50th Class Reunion Held Labor Day Weekend Sitting from left to Right Martha Presson Spain, Janice Floyd Steele, Diane Moore Hale, Gloria Gibbs Nolan, &Marilyn Hicks Wynne Standing from left to Right Edgar Floyd, Jerry Sawyers, Mike Hagler, Pam Poyner McElhiney, Dale Stephens, Lynn Edminston, Sue Summers Hinson, Danny Danner, and Glen Arnold - Photo by Gary Owens
Gleason's Long Awaited CSX Caboose Has Finally Arrived Jim Johnson GleasonOnline.com With Mayor Diane Pool there to welcome its arrival, the CSX Caboose that we have been hoping to get for some time completed its trip from New York and arrived in Gleason at approximately 9:15 AM today (08/20/2018), thanks to the efforts of Charles Anderson and the Gleason Downtown Revitalization Committee.
The caboose was donated as an in-kind gift to the Gleason Downtown Revitalization Committee and was made possible due to to the generosity of CSX railroad and the assistance of Mr. Robert Rahauer, also of CSX.
Plans are to fully renovate the caboose, paint it, make it handicapped accessible and have it serve as a local Museum that highlights the role that the Railroad has played in the history of Gleason as well as the major contributions the Sweet Potato and Clay Mining industries have made to the City of Gleason over the years.
Enjoy Some Down Home Gleason Humor by Gleason's Best Known Storyteller And Help The Gleason Community Jim Johnson GleasonOnline.com On Tuesday, March 6, 2018 copies of the four outstanding books authored by Gleason’s own Pat Dewberry, were presented to the Gleason Library at a meeting of the Gleason Library Board. These fine books will be made available in the Library so that all of Gleason can enjoy reading about what life was like back-in-the-day !
The writing and publication of these books has spanned a period of more than two decades. The First of these books “Teacher’s Pets Ougta be on a Leash Too”, was published in 1996, followed by “Life is too short to wear Cheap Underwear” (2008), and, uh, as I was saying: More Memories of Yesteryear in Gleason “Tater Town Tennessee” (2013) and “Tater Town: Back Home to Count the Memories”, published in 2017. It should be noted that Pat’s generosity does not end with his gift of copies of these four wonderful books to the Gleason Library and Community ! As one who grew up in Gleason, who comes back to visit Gleason every chance he gets and who has always cherished the hometown of his youth, Pat has chosen to donate 50 copies of his most recent book “Tater Town” Back Home to Count the Memories, which was published just this past year, to the Gleason Downtown Revitalization Committee to be used for a fundraising project to support projects designed to enhance the Gleason Community. This fundraising effort, which will involve members of the Downtown Revitalization Committee and the Gleason Gazelles, will be spearheaded by Charles and Rose Anderson, with Charles and Rose having already bought the first two books. Copies of this book are currently available at several locations in the Gleason community and can be purchased at a price of $15 per book. Books can presently be purchased at Gleason City Hall, the Gleason Library and Bank of Gleason. Gleason to Celebrate Minerals Day October 6
The City of Gleason is set to celebrate Minerals Day on Friday, October 6. This marks the third consecutive year the Gleason community has celebrated the event. With over 800 people attending last year’s festivities, this year promises an even greater turnout. The Gleason Downtown Revitalization Committee (GDRC) is taking the reins for this year’s extravaganza with the support and sponsorship of Old Hickory Clay, Gleason Clay Company and Imerys Ceramics / Kentucky-Tennessee Clay Company. Numerous local service industries are scheduled to help make the day fun and educational. Minerals Day will be on the grounds of Mike Snider Park, 506 North Cedar Street, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Many pieces of equipment used in the excavation and processing of West Tennessee Ball Clay will be on hand including excavators, dozers, articulated trucks and the world famous “Gleason Shredder.” Mine tours will be available. Small capacity busses will transport the public to the mines. The GDRC and local businesses are providing hotdogs, chips, snow cones, popcorn, cotton candy and cold drinks for refreshments. There will be mining presentations along with drawings, door prizes and giveaways throughout the day. Gleason’s ball clay industry began in 1926 on the farm of W.R. Crawford. Some of the richest veins of clay in the area were discovered within the 20-acre plot. The Bell Clay Company started the arduous task of removing dirt and debris. The 25 man crew worked with pond scoops and horses each day to dig the mines. Holes were dug with hand augers and dynamite placed within to expose the Gleason Ball Clay. Now, over 90 years later, multiple clay companies call Gleason home. The expansion of the usage of ball clay drives the ever growing industry. The sign on the edge of Gleason’s city limits reads “Welcome to Gleason: Ball Clay Mining Center of the Nation.” Weakley County’s deposit of the finest quality ball clay is used for china, porcelain, pottery and many other purposes. The event is free to the general public with the hopes of educating those in the surrounding area about the ball clay industry. For more information or to RSVP, please contact the Gleason Downtown Revitalization Committee at P.O. Box 125, Gleason, TN 38229, email gleasondrc@gmail.com, or call Charles Anderson at 731- 695-5753. Source: McKenzie Banner.
First Clay Dug in Gleason in 1926 - Crawford Farm; Two Miles West of Gleason Gleason Dedicates Memorial Wall at Mike Snider Park Jim Johnson GleasonOnline.com The long awaited Memorial Wall at Mike Snider Park was dedicated on Saturday, September 2nd as part of the 2017 Tater Town Special festivities. The wall, sponsored by the Gleason Downtown Revitalization Program under the leadership of President, Charles Anderson received initial approval by the Gleason Board of Mayor and Alderman on April 14th, 2016. As initially conceived, this wall was seen as a way of remembering the rich history of Gleason as it relates to the people who have lived here since its founding. It was seen as a way of allowing cherished family members, civic, business and educational leaders, along with other outstanding citizens of Gleason to receive the recognition they deserve for their contributions to the Gleason community over the years. Representatives of the Gleason Downtown Revitalization Committee and the Gleason Rotary Club participated in a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, May 27th, 2016.
The location of the wall is near the main walkway to the park, in the vicinity of the children's play area. The wall is some 80 feet in length, with landscaped brick flower boxes on each end and in the center of the wall. The center flower box features a 40-foot tall flagpole proudly flying a large 8' by 12' American flag. Special sections above the flower boxes at each end of the wall each contain 108 Black Granite Memorial Stones (approximately 4 x 7 inches in size) that serve to remember family members and others who have made significant contributions to the Gleason community over the years or who have, in one way or the other, provided significant support for the wall. A smaller section in the middle of the wall is reserved for Memorial stones for those who have served in the military. As President Charles Anderson has frequently noted here and on other occasions, the success of this project was, in large part, due to the support of both the Gleason business community and the support of Gleason citizens. He has noted that the Boral Brick Company of Gleason provided some 8,000 bricks for the construction of the wall and that concrete for the foundation of the wall was provided by Gleason Clay Company. In addition to this important support from Gleason businesses, the construction of this wall was also made possible due to the contributions of skilled Gleason residents who freely donated their time and talent to this major undertaking. Notable in this regard was Gleason resident Darrell Bell who took the primary role in laying the brick for the wall from the beginning to the end of its construction; David Hopper also contributed to this effort during the early stages of this process. Darrell also did all of the brick work for the new Mike Snider Park sign that is located across from the Gleason Community Center, on the road leading to the park. Another who also donated his time and skills to the completion of the wall was Ross Chandler. Mr. Chandler, owner of Gleason’s Performance Steele was responsible for helping put together the 40 foot flagpole and attaching the ropes and other internal equipment necessary to raise and lower the flag. He then used an auger to dig the 4-foot hole containing the large metal underground sleeve, designed to secure and stabilize the flagpole. Using heavy equipment he then raised the flagpole and positioned it so the area around the underground sleeve could be firmly set in place with concrete. Early on, a number of other Gleason residents were also involved in preparing to lay the foundation for the wall and for the concrete work that was later involved.
Also noteworthy is the large number of citizens of Gleason and various community groups that supported this endeavor by purchasing memorial stones to honor family members as well as other individuals who have made significant contributions to this Gleason community over the years and deserve being remembered. The formal dedication of the wall began with some initial welcoming remarks, by President Anderson, and an opening prayer which was offered by Chief of Police, Jeff Hazelwood. This opening was followed by the National Anthem, sung by Mr. Charles Ross with Keith Dunning also providing a beautiful rendition of God Bless the USA. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Caitlin and Connor Cook and a tribute to the Military and those in Uniform, was presented by Mr. Steve Jones.
This was followed by additional remarks by President Anderson, where he dealt in somewhat more detail with the early beginnings of the wall and expressed his appreciation for those businesses and individuals whose contributions made this wall a reality. Midway through the dedication the crowd was treated with two low pass flyovers of an AirEvac Helicopter. The next presenter, Jim Johnson, drew attention to the Flagpole and American Flag located in the middle section of the wall and the inscription on the plaque in front of the flagpole which reads: “Dedicated to the City of Gleason, in Memory of James B. (JB) Johnson (1911 – 1957) and Sally A. Johnson (1924 – 2004) by Jim, Gary, and David Johnson. He indicated that both parents loved the City of Gleason and were actively involved with the Gleason community, his mother having been a member of the Gleason chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star, and a Sunday school teacher at First Baptist Church, and his father having been an Assistant Cashier at the Bank of Gleason, a Member of First Baptist Church of Gleason, the Gleason Masonic Lodge, Commander of the Gleason American Legion Post and a Veteran of World War II.
. Sadly, J.B. Johnson died at age 45, four months after having surgery for a malignant brain tumor. Not having insurance, due to a prior medical condition, no other income apart from his job, and being unable to work after the surgery, the family was in a very difficult situation financially. Thankfully, the good people of Gleason were there for the family, in many ways, during that difficult time - as is so often the case, when people of Gleason are in need. In this instance, Mr. Bob Owen, Mr. M.E. Fanning, and Mr. Carl Parks (who at that time was President of the Bank of Gleason) got together and somehow were able to work things out so that the Bank was able to assist the family financially during the four months J.B. lived after the surgery. After several months, when Sally decided that the family needed to move to Michigan where her family lived and there was no money for the move, Mr. Claude Steele came to the house one day and generously offered to use one of his Sweet Potato trucks to move the family to Michigan. He did what he said he would do - refusing to take a cent for the move. Jim indicated that these two examples, along with many other acts of kindness that were shown by others during this difficult time, not only represent how caring and supportive the people of Gleason were back in the middle to late 1950’s but how caring and supportive they still are today – when friends and neighbors are in need. This kind of caring for others, makes Gleason the type of town that people want to raise their children in and the kind of town that, even if they move away for whatever reason, they often choose to return! The final event of the dedication ceremony was presented by Jim Phelps and 5 members of Rolling Thunder who nicely illustrated the “Missing Man” ceremony, in a way that would touch the heart of any patriotic American.
The Missing Man Ceremony is one which remembers and honors those soldiers who are missing-in-action and very poignantly conveys that the military will always honor their service, their sacrifice for our freedom, that soldiers left behind on the battle fields in foreign lands will never be forgotten, and that attempts to find them and bring them home are never-ending. The dedication of the wall was concluded with a heart-felt Benediction by Mr. Jacky Esch, a long-time honored resident of Gleason and one who has been a valued contributor to the work of the Gleason Downtown Revitalization Initiative.
Gleason Basketball Championship Squads Reunite
KENNETH COKER Sports Editor The Dresden Enterprise
The clock was turned back inside the Gleason High School gym on Friday evening. Members of both the 1992 and 2007 Class A State Championship girls’ basketball teams reunited at their alma mater for a presentation and recognition of the squads in between games featuring the current Gleason and Greenfield squads.
To begin the ceremony, the 1992 and 2007 state championship trophies were wheeled out onto the floor by current members of the Lady Bulldog basketball program moments after Gleason claimed a 57-50 triumph over G’field.
Then, the 1992 squad was introduced and presented with medals commemorating the reunion by current members of the Lady Bulldog team. Three of the current Gleason girls have direct ties to the 1992 squad. Current Lady Bulldog junior Aubrey Wallace is the daughter of 1992 senior Cristi (Wallace) Sawyers. Gleason’s Lillian and Martha Nichols are the nieces of Camille (Connell) Legins, who was a sophomore on the ’92 state champion team.
“Although it’s been 25 years, I still remember winning the state tournament just like it was yesterday,” Sawyers said. “Seeing all the girls tonight from both teams as well as Coach (Randy) Frazier, Coach (Joel) Ayers) and Mr. (Mitchell) Parham brought back some of the best moments of my life. However, the highlight of it was my daughter handing me the memento from the evening. That brought tears to my eyes and will be something I cherish forever. I’m so proud to be a part of the Lady Bulldog team and hope that we will soon have a fourth state championship.”
All but five members of the 1992 girls’ state champion team were on hand at Friday’s celebration, including Becky (Crowe) Padgett.
“Friday night’s 25-year reunion brought back so many special memories like the love and support of our Gleason community, the bond between teammates, the admiration and respect for Coach Frazier and Mrs. Terry (Frazier) and the pride of what it meant to wear orange and represent the Lady Bulldogs,” said Padgett. “I was overwhelmed by Gleason High School’s warm welcome and hospitality.”
Aside from Sawyer and Padgett, other members of the 1992 squad – which went 33-3 en route to the state championship – present for the reunion were Selena (Dilday) Hodges, Heather (Lehmkuhl) Leach, Kristy (Freeman) O’Connor, Tonya (Parham) Lutz, Camille (Connell) Legons, Stacy (Stewart) Cook, Kristy (McKee) Dunn, and Holly (Crowe) Adams. Lisa (Wallace) Palmer, Ashley (Hopper) Flint, Brandy (Wiseman) Horler, Olivia (Lowe) Gilliam, Nicki (Stephens) Pace and LeAnn (Bell) Smith were not present.
Following the introduction of the 1992 state champion team, the 2007 squad was welcomed back for its 10-year reunion.
A decade ago, Gleason posted a 35-1 worksheet en route to the program’s third state crown. As was the case with the 1992 squad, the 2007 team’s medal ceremony had family ties. Current Lady Bulldog Jayden Green – who scored a dozen points during the win over Greenfield – is the niece of 2007 team member Candace (Green) Lindsey.
“It was great seeing everyone again and catching up like old times,” Green said. “I got a little emotional when my name was called and when Mr. P came out to do his chant, but I guess that’s expected when you’re nine months pregnant. I’m very proud of my niece Jayden and it’s an honor to know all those people were able to watch her win a big game.”
2007 Class A Miss Basketball award winner Kayla (Hudson) Irvin – the current girls’ coach at Crockett County and a second cousin to current Gleason player Kenady Atkins – was also on hand to take a bow alongside her teammates from a decade ago.
“It was such an honor to stand beside the girls I went to battle with 10 years ago,” Irvin said. “That team became my family. The wins and championships are fun, but it’s the relationships that make the journey worth it. Those ladies I love so much are now great wives and mothers. The lessons we learned on the court permeate into so many other areas of life. I was just so humbled and grateful to get to reminisce and experience that with them again.
“As a coach myself, I am now aware of the time and preparation our coaches put in to making us into a team that could succeed at that level. I see with clear vision that “whys” behind every drill and mental toughness challenge our coaches put us in. I am so grateful for the opportunity to play for coaches who expected excellence in all areas. It is my prayer that I am able to teach these same lessons to my team.”
Along with Irwin and Lindsey, numerous other members of the 2007 Class A state champion squad (35-1) were on hand on Friday including Ashley Coble, Camille (Cooper) Legens, Erica (Morgan) Stahr), Sara (Hensley) Webb, Elizabeth (Terrell) Cunningham, Kim (Edenfield) Marcus, Breanna (Wallace) Nerie, Jenna (Frazier) Verdell, Taylor Stout, Tiffany Coble, Riley (Auvenshine) Laster and Kim (Reynolds) Healy along with assistant coach Joel Ayers. Members of the 2007 squad not present were Becca Hodges, Alexis Tipton and Maggie Lowrance.
Following the team introductions, current Weakley County Director of Schools Randy Frazier – who served as the head coach for both of the honored Lady Bulldog state champion squads – briefly shared his memories of the two teams before turning over the festivities to former athletic director/ principal Mitchell Parham.
Parham led the home section of the crowd in a Gleason chant - a staple of postseason basketball pep rallies and games during his long tenure at the school.
“It was great to be back in Gleason for the reunion of the 1992 and 2007 state championship teams,” Parham said. “I enjoyed seeing all the former players as it brought back very good memories. I also enjoyed talking with many of the great Gleason Bulldog fans, who are the best. Thanks to Gleason High School for getting this together and I was honored to be invited to join in with the celebration. It was great.” Source: The Dresden Enterprise. Newly Re-elected Gleason Mayor and Aldermen Take Oath of Office Jim Johnson GleasonOnline.com Newly re-elected Mayor, Diana Poole, and four new Aldermen were sworn in on Sunday afternoon, November 27th. This will be the second term in office for Mayor Diana Poole and the first term in office for new aldermen Jim Phelps, Marcus Hopper and Doug Johnson; Jerry (Bubba) Dunn Jr., has previously served as alderman in the past. The ceremony began with some heartfelt welcoming remarks by Mayor Poole - along with some inspirational readings by Mayor Poole and Tony Terrell.
Gleason City Recorder, Angela Hunt read the oath of office and swore in the newly re-elected Mayor for her second term. The Mayor then read the oath of office for the newly elected Board of Aldermen.
Mayor Diane Poole Swears in New Aldermen L to R: Jim Phelps, Doug Johnson, Marcus Hopper, Jerry (Bubba) Dunn, Jr.
With all indicating their willingness to adhere to the oath of office, they were duly sworn in and signed the necessary papers. There was a good turn out for the swearing in ceremony, with numerous friends and family members of the newly elected mayor and aldermen and other citizens of Gleason attending the ceremony. The swearing in ceremony was followed by those in attendance enjoying some excellent cake and refreshments and spending time enjoying the fellowship of friends and neighbors.
Gleason Masonic Lodge #330 Focus on Brotherhood and Community Service
Jim Johnson GleasonOnline.com
Gleason Masonic Lodge #330 has a long history, dating back to 1867, when its charter was first issued. During this span of almost 150 years, the Masonic Lodge has been an integral part of the local community.
Over the years, the Masonic Lodge has met in several locations. Its initial meeting location was in the old Masonic Male and Female Institute, a two story brick building erected in 1904 (across the street from the Bandy - Jeter house), to replace a private school building which had burned down in 1902. Gleason's first public school opened in 1906 in this same building, with the Masonic Lodge continuing to hold their meetings upstairs in this building until it burned sometime later. For many years the Lodge met on the second floor of the old Carl Parks building, located on Main Street, where the Gleason Library was then located.
Since its inception, the Masonic Lodge has been committed to the local community and actively involved in the Gleason community in supporting many worthy causes and helping organizations. A notable example in this regard is providing support each year for the Gleason Relay for Life, with funds derived from Lodge members, as well as supporting this important activity by having members park cars for those supporting this important event. During both the Tater Town Special and the "Hometown Christmas" celebrations this year, members of the Masonic Lodge grilled hamburgers, cheeseburgers, hotdogs and smoked bologna and sold them to individuals attending these events. Proceeds from each of these efforts were contributed to the Gleason Downtown Revitalization fund - to further enhance the downtown area of the Gleason community. More recently, the Masonic Lodge picked up where the American Legion left off and agreed to assume full sponsorship of the Big Brothers program and their activities in this area. The Masons strong support of, and commitment to, the Big Brothers program was clearly highlighted during the recent Christmas holidays. Here, they provided large grocery boxes to some 50 homes in the Gleason community. These boxes each contained a frozen chicken, a pound of sliced cheese, a half gallon of whole mile, a pound of dried navy beans, a pound of red beans, 5 pounds of flour, 5 pounds of corn meal, along with bananas and other fruits, as well as a 2 lb box of salt, pepper, and seasonings. They also delivered fruit baskets to some 170 people in the Gleason area that were seniors, either needy, a widow or widower, and/or unemployed or of low income.
Front/Bottom Row: Bill Lynch, Jonathan McDowell, Kody Owen, Alan Owen, David Black, T.J. Hicks and Bobby Langley. Back Row: Ronnie Connell, Eric Owen, Sam Owen, and Blaine Owen - A special acknowledgment goes to Richard Black, (Organizer), Chairman, Alan Owen, Treasurer, Ken Sanders and Larry Hudson for the use of Steele Plant facility for storage and assembly. It can be noted that one of the primary goals of Masonry is to "make better men out of good men". It is believed that this is best achieved by focusing on strengthening one's character, improving one's moral and spiritual outlook, promoting personal responsibility, a belief in God, and by putting these attributes into practice in daily life. It is believed that, through this process, it is possible build a better world by building better men to work in their own communities.
In looking at the works of the Masons of Lodge #330 today, it appears that they are still living up to the strong tradition of those Masons who founded this Lodge almost a century and a half ago - in terms of their significant contributions to the local community. (Thanks to Bill Lynch of Gleason Lodge #330 for his contributions to this article.)
GLEASON HONORS - State Rep. Andy Holt (Center) presented proclamations to Jim Johnson (left) and Charles Anderson honoring both individuals for their involvement with last year's Tater Town Festival, where they led as Grand Marshals.
Both men serve on the Gleason Revitalization Committee and have, along with other members of the Committee, been at the forefront of renovating the city's downtown and preserving the history and heritage of Gleason. (Weakley County Press)
Gleason Downtown Revitalization: A Look Back at the First Year Jim Johnson GleasonOnline.com As it has now been somewhat over a year since the work of the Gleason Downtown Revitalization Committee was formally approved by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, it seems appropriate to take a look back in order to assess the accomplishment of the Committee now that 2015 has come to an end. Here it can be noted that, under the leadership of Charles Anderson as President, a wide range of projects designed to enhance downtown Gleason and the surrounding area have been undertaken. At the outset, it should be noted that many of the activities that the Revitalization Committee has engaged in during the past year would not have been possible without the generosity of those Gleason residents who have supported the work of this committee during the past year. Their generosity has included furthering revitalization efforts by making contributions at fundraisers as well as by volunteering their time and talents in helping make various revitalization projects a success. Activities engaged in during the past year have been of a varied nature. Some of these have been beautification efforts, other have been restorative in nature, while other, somewhat larger efforts, have represented a combination of the two. Examples have included providing new and more visible handicapped parking signs throughout the downtown area, the painting of fire hydrants, providing flower boxes throughout the downtown area and making major repairs to the Senior Citizens Center to deal with significant termite damage. A major initiative during the first year has involved making a number of improvements to Huggins Park, which had previously seen very little community use during recent years. During the past year a number of the building in the park have been painted, an old rusty chain link fence that posed safety issues has been torn down and replaced by a brand new 190 foot section of white vinyl fence - thanks to the generous donation by Imerys Ceramics. Thanks to the hard work of Luke Hughes, along with the efforts of committee members and others, Huggins Park now has a brand new nine hole Disc Golf course which has to this point hosted three successful Disc Golf tournaments, with the most recent tournament hosting the University of Martin Disc Golf team. Park beautification efforts have also involved the planting of several memorial trees, the donation of a fountain (by Charles and Rose Anderson) and planting a wide range of flower beds to enhance the look of the park. These park-related enhancements have resulted in many more citizens of Gleason and the surrounding area coming to the park to attend a various community events hosted by the Committee. These events have included an initial Revitalization Committee fundraiser, featuring Mike Snider and his band, a Gleason Movie Night which featured family friendly entertainment along with a full-service concession stand, the Committee's First Annual Fall Music Fest, and a Chili Supper Cook-off. These improvements have made Huggins Park a more suitable venue for an even wider range of community events that will allow families to enjoy wholesome activities and entertainment while also spending time with friends. Another major beautification/restoration project completed during the past year has involved the painting of the J & P Auto Care building, as well as the outbuilding adjacent to the service station. The painting of this business related to the Committee's belief that J & P Auto Care represented one of the major landmarks of downtown Gleason, having now been in business at the corner of Cedar and Main for over half a century. Much effort was put into completing this work project prior to the 2015 Tater Town Special to insure that visitors to Gleason during this event might see the downtown area at its best when viewed along the parade route. An additional fund-raising project during the past year has involved developing a Community Calendar that provides the dates of important family events such as birthdays, anniversaries and the like for Gleason citizens. The proceeds from the sale of these calendars help fund downtown improvements, as do all proceeds from activities sponsored by the Revitalization committee. Completing projects such as these is seen as important in laying the foundation for obtaining grant money to support other more costly revitalization projects. While a major focus of the committee is on beautification and revitalization of the Gleason community, another interrelated focus is on highlighting Gleason businesses, realizing that encouraging hometown shopping by promoting home grown businesses is a boon to the local economy. During the past year, President Charles Anderson has initiated a "Gleason Business of the Month" initiative, whereby one local business is highlighted each month through a special article focusing on that business. The article is first published on the Gleason website (GleasonOnline.com). The Weakley County Press has also agreed to provide a print version of each article in their widely read newspaper. During the past year some 10 Gleason businesses have been highlighted in this manner. These include Gleason Superette , Jozelle's Beauty Shop, City Drug Store., Gleason Lumber & Supply Company, Floyd Greenhouses, Gleason Hardware, Eveready Auto Parts. Gleason Clinic, Steele Plant Company and the Bank of Gleason. In terms of other items, it is also noteworthy that, during this past year, the Downtown Revitalization Program has also filed for and has been approved as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, Tax Exempt organization. This designation makes it possible for those individuals making financial donations to the Gleason downtown revitalization effort to declare their gifts as charitable contributions when filing their income tax return. Despite those things that the Committee has accomplished during the past year, much more work needs to be done during the coming year (and in the future) to enhance the City of Gleason's ability to attract new businesses, to improve the economic growth of the community and make the Gleason community a better place to live, work, raise a family and experience an improved quality of life. It is hoped that, based on these initial accomplishments, the Gleason Downtown Revitalization Committee will be seen as deserving of the generous support that it has received from the citizens of Gleason during the past year. It is also hoped that there will be others who will join with the Committee and contribute their time and efforts in helping 2016 be an even better year in terms of enhancing the Gleason community.
State Representative Andy Holt Presents Proclamation to Imerys
Front Row: State Representative Andy Holt, Arson Potts (Gleason, Imerys - KT Plant Manager), Chuck Laine (President, Tennessee Mining Association) Back Row: James Jarrett, Kerry Arnold, Eric Duke, Donald Cooper, and Brent Eugley (Photo by Charles Anderson).
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Remembering & Honoring Private Bobbie Dee Phelps By Jim Johnson GleasonOnline.com
On September 5th, 2015 Phelps Street in
Gleason, Tennessee was formally dedicated as "PVT Bobbie Dee
The dedication ceremony of "PVT Bobbie Dee Phelps Memorial Way" began with thoughtful opening comments by Gleason Mayor, Diane Poole and were followed by a heartfelt presentation by Mr. Jim Phelps, who commented on the circumstances surrounding Bobbie Dee Phelps making the ultimate sacrifice for his country - much of which is presented here.
In his comments Mr. Phelps noted that that Bobbie's Grandfather, Elvis Jackson Phelps, built the very first house on Phelps Street, where Bobby Phelps was born - "the yellow house located just down the street on the left" - (the old Roy Hodges home at 223 Phelps Street). READ MORE... Tater Town Festival Wraps up With Parade By DOUG MARSHALL Special to the Press The streets were crowded in small town USA, Gleason, TN on Saturday, Sept, 5. The air smelled like barbecue, and the children of the Gleason area eagerly grabbed candy off the ground from the passing floats. The patrons were gathered to watch and participate in the annual Labor Day weekend Tater Town Festival Parade. “This is the 42nd year for small town USA right here,” said grand marshal Charles Anderson. “Gleason is known for sweet potatoes and has been for years. Every year on Labor Day weekend we put together a little Tater Town special. Today we had a tractor show; it is the 11th year we’ve done that, and we really enjoy this. It’s a community time; it brings that small town pride back to town. People enjoy themselves. It’s a reminiscent time, and we have a lot of class reunions going on this weekend. This festival is a hometown event to bring hometown natives back to town.” “The Tater Town festival is all about a group of about eight women who pull the community together, just to be together, that’s all that it’s about. Just giving back to the community!” Jennifer Cook said enthusiastically about the festival. Jennifer Cook is one of the Gazelles who helped to put the event together. “I think it’s a time for the community to come together like it has been doing for 42 years,” said the other grand marshal, Jim Johnson. “The Gazelles do a wonderful job with this; we could not do this without them. I think it’s a place, not even just for the current citizens of Gleason. I grew up here and was away for a long time, and I kept trying to figure out how I could keep in touch. I finally developed a website for current and former Gleason citizens to keep in touch. There are a lot of people here today; some are here for their 55th class reunion, some for their 50th, and some others for their 40th. All of these people have come back for this Tater Town Festival, so I just think it highlights the cohesiveness of the town.” “It’s been a long time tradition here, of course Gleason is small, but this is one of the major things we do here,” said Dale Stevens, Gleason’s Director of Public Works. “The Gazelle group, the girls have recently lost some membership. They’re down to a bare minimum, and Gleason public works helps them out with this. They are a really great organization, and we cherish this time every year. We spend a lot of time; the public works department does a lot of work for them in an effort to help them out. Everybody, a lot of the classmates from years ago, have come back here every year and have class reunions and it’s just a tradition now. It’s been going on for a long time and people expect it and we enjoy helping put it on.” The parade proudly displayed police, fire, and EMS vehicles, along with the local National Guard. It was also filled with local businesses, government officials, local cheerleaders and beauty queens, along with other local groups and clubs.
TATER TOWN USA— Gleason High’s cheerleaders march through downtown Gleason during Saturday’s parade (top left photo). From left to right: Amber Watson, April Watson, Hailey Harrison, Gracie Long, Josie Long, Claire O’Connor, Jessica Remillian, Maggie Hampton, Madison Gazelle, Dorcy Bell, Bell Fallard, Allison Rollins. In the top right photo, the winners of the Tater Town beauty pageant ride through town; (from left to right) Queen: Mary Rollins, First Maid: Jamie Shay Bailey, Second Maid: Savannah Scarborough, and Third Maid: Chelsea Beasley. Grand marshals Charles Anderson and Jim Johnson are pictured in the bottom left photo. In the bottom right picture, motorcyclists ride through the parade. Weakley County Press. Helping Enhance the Gleason Community Through Clay: Charles Anderson, President of the Gleason Downtown Revitalization Program, receives a check in the amount of $1,500 dollars from Brent Eugley of Imerys North America Ceramics (formerly KT Clay Co.) for the new vinyl fence at Huggins Park.
Left Side: Imerys Ceramics Representatives: Front Row: Left to Right: Kim Montgomery - Ball Clay Lab Technician; Katy Lucas (dark green shirt/brown pants) - Geologist Back Row: Left to Right: Stacy Collins - Ball Clay Technician; Cruz Legens - Ball Clay Lab Technician; Eric Duke (white shirt) Production Supervisor; Kerry Arnold -(EHS) - Environmental Health and Safety Manager; Brent Eugley (with check) - Environmental Coordinator; James Jarrett (right side with bright yellow shirt) - Ball Clay Quality Control Manager/Product Development Coordinator.
Right Side: Revitalization Committee Representatives: Left to Right: Mayor Diane Poole (behind fence), Charles Anderson-President (receiving check), Rose Anderson, Gary Doster, James Jarrett (Imerys Representative), Chief Jeff Hazelwood, Doris Owen-Treasurer, Jim Johnson and Matt Cady.
GHS 50-year Class Reunion - Class of 1964
The Gleason High School Class of 1964 celebrated their 50th class reunion during Tater Town festivities on August 30, 2014. The reunion was held at Mallards Restaurant in Huntingdon, with classmates having additional time to catch up on old times friends at the Dixie Carter Performing Arts Center in Huntingdon.
F ront L-R: Rosemary Jorge, Suzette Edmonston, Martha Boone, Brenda Pickler, Judy Mansfield, Karen Dellinger, Sonja Godwn;Back L-R: George Sawyers, Ronnie Dilday, Iva May Lowery, Wanda Maddox, Betty Bradberry, Sandra Tilley, Martha Brewer, Carol Sue Delinger, Mrs. Floyd and Mr. Floyd, John Bradberry (Note - maiden names used for ladies). Gleason High School Class of 1962: Second Annual Follow-up to their 50th Reunion
The Gleason High School Class of 1962 celebrated their second annual follow up to their 50th class reunion during Tater Town festivities on August 30, 2014.
Barbara Clement White, Ronnie Parks, Ferrellin Webb Cassidy, Coy Segraves, Curtis Mayo, Linda Ray Bevis, Sammy Tilley, Joyce Holland Straughn, John Ozment, Joyce Stewart Jones, Bobby Langley, Linda Elinor Boone, Kenneth Doster, Linda Travillian Langford, Terry Bunnell Gleason Downtown Revitalization Fundraiser: A Big - Small Town Success James H. Johnson GleasonOnline.com
On Saturday, August 2nd, 2014, a Fundraiser, designed to support Gleason Downtown Revitalization efforts, was held from 5 until after 8 PM at Huggins Park in Gleason. The fundraiser was initially organized by the Gleason Downtown Revitalization Committee (Members: Charles Anderson, Ron Arnold, Mary Margaret Beasley, Andy Carroll, Gary Doster, Police Chief Jeff Hazelwood, Doris Owen, and Mayor Diane Poole) and focused on raising funds to support initial downtown revitalization projects that can provide the foundation for grant applications to fund larger projects. The evening began with an opening prayer, provided by Mr. Jacky Esch and the National Anthem, wonderfully sung by Mr. Wendell Verdell. The program consisted of gospel music, generously provided by "Witness Southern Gospel of McKenzie, Tennessee, as well as Gleason's own Mike Snider, widely known for being a regular on the Grand Ole Opry, as it is commonly known and referred to, and formerly a regular on the old Hee Haw television show as well as having received other honors associated with the country music industry. Additional musical entertainment was also provided by Ricky Morgan of The Great Pretenders, Wendell Verdell and Charles Ross and family of Gleason. Each of these individuals and groups provided their services freely in support of this initiative. Those in attendance were provided with plenty of great food, including both BBQ plates and hot dogs from Big Daddy's BBQ, Highway 79, McKenzie, Tennessee. Soft drinks, bottled water, as well as snow cones and desserts were also available at the concession stand. All in attendance had the opportunity to win more than 20 door prizes, such as gift cards and a variety of other items provided by numerous donors. Numerous attendees purchased chances to win various prizes ranging from gift certificates, to bicycles, to a Winchester Repeating Arms 12 gage shotgun, along with 5 boxes of shells and electronic noise-suppression ear muffs. With approximately 400 total in attendance, including lots of people from Gleason and the surrounding areas, others coming from further away, and more than a dozen others who were candidates for local, and state offices, this event has to be judged as having been a huge success. Not only did the citizens of Gleason come out in numbers to support this important event, but many also made cash donations during the evening. Others supported this initiative by simply coming to enjoy the entertainment and fellowship with friends, while enjoying the excellent food and beverages and buying tickets for the various prizes that were offered. Numerous other individuals, groups, and businesses made significant financial contributions, or provided goods or services that were significantly discounted or given freely for this event.
It is heartening to learn that the funds derived from this Gleason Downtown Revitalization Fundraiser were in excess of $4,000. This figure seems to highlight both the generosity of the citizens of Gleason, as a group, and the degree to which they care for their community and want it to be all it can be!
Gleason High School 50-year Class Reunion - Class of 1963 The class of 1963 had their 50 year class reunion on Saturday, August 31, 2013. Members of the class participated in the Tater Town Special parade by riding on a "Class of 1963 ~ 50-year Reunion trailer. A member of the Class of '63, the former Sandra Taylor who was the 1963 Miss. Gleason rode in a red 1963 Chevrolet Corvette owned and driven by Dale Nunnery, also a member of the Class of 63. The 50-year reunion was held at the First Baptist Church on Saturday evening. The festivities were also attended by several well wishers from other Gleason High School Classes from the early to mid 1960's. A good time was had by all! Below is a picture of those members of the Class who were in attendance.
Class members attending included, pictured from left to right are: Front Row: Carol (Tucker) Dycus, Delois (Boane) Shaw, Kaye (Billington) Owens, Sandra (Taylor) Johnson, Wanda (Hodges) Pritchett, Patricia (Reed) Segraves Back Row: Robert Smyth, Pat Dewberry, Bobbie Lou (Williams) Chandler, Janis (Hodges) Featherstone, Jean (Burrows) Cunningham, Dale Nunnery, LeRoy Segraves.
Click on the Above Link for all Reunion Pages
Gleason High School Class of 1962: Follow-up to the 50th ReunionMembers of the Class of 1962 followed up on their last year's 2012 Tater Town 50-year reunion by having a get together on Saturday, August 31st at at Hig's Restaurant in McKenzie. All members of the Class of 1962 and other friends were invited. As can be seen from the picture below, the turn out for this follow-up was great, with 16 Class of 62 members attending and having a good time interacting with old classmates and other friends from Gleason School. - Click on the link below for more Class of '62 pictures.
Members of the Class of 1962 attending included, FRONT ROW: Joyce (Stewart) Jones, Ferrelin (Webb) Cassidy, Linda (Elinor) Boone, Joyce (Holland) Straughn, Linda (Ray) Bevis, Lynda (Travillian) Lankford, Barbara (Clement) White. BACK ROW: Terry Burnell, Curtis Mayo, Bobby Langly, Ronnie Parks, Coy Segraves, Pert Pritchitt, John Ozment, Jim Lawrence, Sammy Tilley. (Picture compliments of Linda Bevis).
Click on the Above Link for More Class of '62 Pictures Family Recalls Life of Gordon Stoker By Joe Lofaro When Gordon Stoker, a Gleason native and a member of The Jordanaires vocal group that backed Elvis Presley, died this past Wednesday, his niece Jenna Wright said Stoker was “the best uncle in the world.” “He knew where he came from and he loved the people. He was a great person,” said Wright, who chairs the department of English at the University of Tennessee at Martin. Wright’s son, Zac, served as a pallbearer in Saturday’s funeral. “I was 12 years old before I realized Uncle Gordon was famous,” Zac Wright said. “He always wanted butter beans on okra.” Stoker’s career started at Tumbling Creek Baptist Church, outside of Gleason, when he was 8 years old. In addition to playing the piano at church, he played at singing conventions in West Tennessee. “Mom and dad hung on them (singing conventions),” Stoker was quoted as saying. “I remember singing in Fulton and Martin.” Better known as Hugh Gordon, he performed with the Clement Trio on WTJS in Jackson. He was recruited, after graduating from Gleason, to be the pianist in Nashville’s John Daniel Quartet. It was here that Stoker played on WSM’s Grand Ole Opry. After three years in the Air Force, Stoker moved to Oklahoma to be near family, but in 1948 he moved back to Nashville and rejoined the Daniel Quartet, who was now playing on WLAC radio. He met his wife, the former Jean Wilkerson, in 1949, at a church singing in Nashville. In 1950, he auditioned for and won the piano-playing job for the Jordanaires. “The Jordanaires drew on both black and white gospel music, as well as many of the hymns Stoker knew by heart from his childhood in rural West Tennessee,” said Joe Rumble in a recent Associated Press article. Rumble is the senior historian at the County Music Hall of Fame in Nashville. Stoker and the Jordanaires became members of the prestigious Hall of Fame in 2001. Not only did Stoker play the piano for the Jordanaires but he also took on the role as a vocalist, singing tenor. The group performed together for 60 years, singing backup for Presley, Patsy Cline, Jim Reeves, George Jones, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Red Foley and Kenny Rogers. “He was so famous,” Wright said. “But to me he was just Uncle Gordon. He was an extremely unassuming person.” Wright said her uncle attended her high school graduation in Gleason and Stoker, his wife and three children were in the fieldhouse when she graduated from UT Martin. Wright said her family was extremely close. In fact, Wright’s father, the late Wayne Stoker, and Gordon were together with others for Thanksgiving in 1983 when Mike Snider dropped by the house. “Wayne knew I won the national banjo playing contest in September of 1983,” Snider said. “It was on Thanksgiving in 1983, when I met Gordon at Wayne’s house. “Gordon asked me, ‘What do you want to do?’ I told him I would like to play on the Grand Ole Opry stage one time.” “I remember Wayne telling Gordon he had to hear me play because I was something a little different,” Snider said. Thanks to the Stokers, Wayne and Gordon, Snider was able to play on the stage at the Grand Ole Opry. He also appeared on Nashville Now and starred on Hee Haw. He is now a member of the Grand Ole Opry and he host segments this past weekend at the Opry. “I didn’t even want to be in the music business,” Snider said. “I was farming. I couldn’t have done it without Wayne and Gordon. They were two really nice men who went out of their way to help somebody they didn’t even know.” Wright will be the first to echo Snider’s comments about her dad and her uncle. “When my dad got real sick a couple of year’s ago, Uncle Gordon would call him every day, no matter where he was. Uncle Gordon also called Wright often. “When he would say goodbye he always said, ‘I love you, baby.’” At Gordon Stoker’s funeral at Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Wright was just as unassuming as her uncle.“I am sure there were some big-name celebrities there, but I don’t keep up with all that,” she said. In case your wondering about the music, Gordon Stoker and the Jordanaires sang backup on Tennessee Ernie Ford’s “No Tears in Heaven,” Presley’s “Known Only to Him” and Foley’s “This World is Not My Home.”
Despite the stellar lineup of music, Wright remembers the last words
her uncle Gordon Stoker said to her, “I love you baby.” The display opened Monday and runs through May 31. An opening reception is Thursday from noon to 12:30. “ELVIS: Grace and Grit” is the latest traveling exhibition from the CBS Television Photo Archive. Shot by various CBS photographers, the exhibition contains 35 candid and on-air photographs documenting Elvis before the Las Vegas years — during the meteoric rise of this star, according to Victoria Ann Rehberg, exhibition marketing manager. The exhibition was curated by National Exhibitions & Archives, LLC of Glens Falls, NY and the CBS Photo Archive.
The images, taken
by CBS photographers, represent a sampling of over 30 million
memorable images contained in the CBS Entertainment Archives, dating
back to when CBS first began broadcasting as a radio network in
1928. Gordon Stoker of The Jordanaires Dies at 88
By
Sarah Wyland
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Born August 3, 1924 in Gleason, Tennessee, Gordon grew up in a musical family and by eight was playing piano in church. He was soon playing at singing conventions in Western Tennessee and Kentucky. At one of the conventions, he caught the attention of John Daniel of the professional John Daniel Quartet who invited him to become the quartet’s first pianist when he finished high school. Before joining John Daniel’s group, Gordon performed on radio in Jackson, Tennessee as a member of the Clement Trio and backed a gospel quartet who performed on a radio station out of Paducah, Kentucky. After graduating high school at age 15, he moved to Nashville to join the Daniel Quartet and began performing on radio station WSM. Gordon joined the Air Force in 1943. After leaving the service, he enrolled at Oklahoma Baptist University before eventually retuning to Nashville and the Daniel Quartet. The Jordanaires, organized in the late 1940s, became a top gospel quartet. The group was formed by two evangelists, Bill Matthews and his brother Monty, in Springfield, Missouri. Bass singer Culley Holt and baritone Bob Hubbard completed the quartet with Bob Money acting as pianist early on. Gordon replaced Bob Money as pianist in 1949 after the group moved to Nashville to back Grand Ole Opry headliner Red Foley. Gordon soon became the lead singer and tenor. After the Matthews brothers returned to Missouri in the early 1950s, the group reorganized with Gordon remaining as tenor with Neal Matthews Jr. as a second tenor, baritone Hoyt Hawkins and bass Hugh Jarrett joining by 1955. Hugh was replaced by Ray Walker in 1958, completing the group that would be the lineup elected into the Country Music Hall of Fame. By 1950, the Jordanaires were known for their renditions of songs associated with both black and white gospel traditions, a genre they continued to work in after signing with Capitol in 1951. The group also started singing background on country records and their regular spots on the NBC network portion of the Grand Ole Opry and 1955’s Eddy Arnold Time made them a household name. While the group’s gospel albums helped them be elected into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2001, they are best known for the background harmonies they provided for dozens of other stars, including Elvis Presley on hits such as “Don’t Be Cruel,” “Are You Lonesome Tonight” and “It’s Now or Never,” which led them to work with other rock and roll stars like Ricky Nelson and Gene Vincent.In the 1960s and beyond, the group often worked as many as four sessions a day. Their recordings with Ferlin Husky (“Gone”), Jim Reeves (“Four Walls”) and Patsy Cline (“Crazy”) showcase the smooth pop-influenced side of Nashville’s recording scene during the time period, while their work with Don Gibson (“Oh Lonesome Me’), Johnny Horton (“The Battle of New Orleans”), Tammy Wynette (“Stand by Your Man”) Conway Twitty (“Hello Darlin’”) and Kenny Rogers (“Lucile”) demonstrated their diversity. The Jordanaires’ contributions to the Nashville recording industry include the system of studio music notation first popularized by Neal Matthews Jr. and known internationally as the Nashville Number System. They were also instrumental in establishing the Nashville offices of national performers’ unions representing radio and television artists and screen actors. After Hoyt Hawkins died in 1982, Duane West joined the group but left due to illness and was replaced in 2000 by Louis Nunley. Curtis Young joined in 2000 following Neal Matthews’s death. In 2001 the Jordanaires were elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame. In 2002, the won a GRAMMY with Larry Ford & the Light Crust Doughboys for Best Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Album, for We Called Him Mr. Gospel Music: The James Blackwood Tribute Album. The group’s final performance was in August 2012, in Tunica, Mississippi according to the Tennessean. Gordon was the group’s leader and owner, and The Jordanaires will not continue without him. “The group is over,” Alan Stoker, Gordon’s son, said. “It was a wonderful run. My father lived a great life, and left us a great legacy.” Gordon is survived by Jean Stoker, his wife of 61 years, sons Alan and Brent, daughter Venita and daughter-in-law Jeanne, five grandchildren and one great grandchild. Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, March 28, and again on Friday, March 29, at Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home, 660 Thompson Lane in Nashville. A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 30, at 2 p.m. at Christ Presbyterian Church, 2323 Old Hickory Boulevard in Nashville, with visitation one hour prior to the service. Gleason HS Class of 1962 Celebrates 50th Reunion
GLEASON (September 1) Gleason High School Class of 1962 celebrated their 50th reunion during Tater Town festivities on September 1, 2012. Class members attending included, pictured from left: (front row) Barbara Clement White, Lynda Travillian Lankford, Kitty Wray Oliver, Lynda Elinor Boone, Joyce Stewart James, Linda Ray Bevins, Joyce Holland Straughan, Ferrellin Webb Cassidy and Wanda Dilday; (back row) John Ozment, Pert Pritchett, Curtis Mayo, Jim Lawrence, Coy Segraves, Terry Bunnell, Bobby Langley, Sam Tilley and Ronnie Parks.
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