Lee acquired Tarrant singer/pianist Alleen Goodwin's artist's scrapbook from '48 to '61. It is one of the clearest windows you have ever seen into pre-rock'n'roll B'ham. I'm goin' crazy tryin' to find a BROTHER DAVE GARDNER ad in all this stuff! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1kZ7SQ2MV4

Whatever happened to Pat Seymour? She taught me Freshman English in Morgan and then I got her for Composition in Woods. GREAT TEACHER! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKlJzvjg-uM

THE SNAKE in a June '78 TUSCALOOSA NEWS photo. Kenny had a 28-3-2 record from '65-'67.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJpDMug1YMA

I know she'll never believe it but I've learned more from this woman than ANY OTHER MEMBER OF THE CARTEL! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQa7SvVCdZk

Reggie Young, Troup County Sheriff Turner, Bobby Emmons, Ima Whithers ~ Chips Moman's secretary at American Studios in Memphis, Tenn., and now executive assistant to the president of BMI, Reggie Young's wife- Jenny Hollowell, Lee Morris

So kewl to see my friend, Reggie Young, pickin' on ALABAMA's new video.
http://www.cmt.com/videos/alabama/607164/are-you-sure-hank-done-it-this-way.jhtml?artist=504205

The Boss loves this circa 1943 image. Not many books printed on good paper that year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bR3K5uB-wMA

Leigh,

Called Finebaum this afternoon & asked him if he ever thinks that Harvey Updyke will produce his alleged newspaper clipping about Auburn students rolling Toomer's Corner when Coach Bryant passed away. Paul said he didn't think Harvey would ever produce this phantom clipping. In Courtney's column he wrote,"Anyone fool enough to have applauded aloud Paul Bryant's demise in 1983 would have been killed outright. Maybe even with herbicide."

best,
r http://daybeardied.com

In '51, ETTYWAUW COUNTY were just like ever other "progressive county" in Alabama: SEPARATE BUT EQUAL!!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHsDa9_HSlA

This song by THE TUBES reminds me of the hoochie coochie show @ the '67 Peanut Festival. I had two dates, best friends, who were juniors. They were so excited to be going to a girlie show. I'll never forget how hard those girls laughed at those acts. Both of those gals are still around but IMHO, life has passed them by.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQ_k_VG6Syc

Buddy,

Hope you arrived safely in Bangkok.

Pretty sure my buddy from Dothan, Hurley Alvin Smith, was killed instantly in Hue on 2/2/68. http://www.i-mef.usmc.mil/external/1stmardiv/history/history.jsp

Morgan Weed, who was my Boy Scout counselor for Nature Merit Badge, was hit May 10, 1970 & died May 11, in "PROVINCE NOT REPORTED" CAMBODIA, a.k.a. Tnoat [ed. note: not on the Internet] http://www.vietnam6bn31inf.com/KIA/WeedMorganWilliam.htm

My third victim of Vietnam was Gary Tomlinson who worked @ the Information Desk @ the Union Building @ Bama before I gotta job there. He & I had known each other since high school because he was our Area Chief in ORDER OF THE ARROW, a Boy Scout organization. Gary died while missing after a helicopter crash on July 3, 1971.

Have a safe trip & please drink a toast or have a toke for my buddies.

best,
rr



Many thanks to Ray Hutto for shooting us this link to the Vietnam Memorial Wall.
http://www.virtualwall.org/iStates.htm
Three of my closest childhood friends are on that Wall.

Hurley Alvin Smith's Daddy was my Dad's "main man" @ Jack Wise Tire Co. From 1959 until Alvin graduated from high school in '66, I spent almost every weekend doing something with Hurley Alvin. We kept chickens, pigeons, crows, quail and pheasants. We had horses and ponies. We had a trap line set up around the Turkey Pond located south of Porter's Fairy Land. We usually fished Enon Pond or the VFW. I learned a lot about the woods and water from Hurley Alvin.

Hurley Alvin Smith

Lance Corporal
C CO, 1ST ENG BN, 1ST MARDIV, III MAF
United States Marine Corps
Dothan, Alabama
November 27, 1946 to February 02, 1968
HURLEY A SMITH is on the Wall at Panel 36E Line 086
See the
>>>>>>>full profile for Hurley SmithSee the full profile for Hurley Smith

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Last update 02/20/2010

The next cat I looked up on The Wall was Morgan Weed.
Click on the following link if you want to read about a true hero. http://www.vietnam6bn31inf.com/KIA/WeedMorganWilliam.htm
Morgan was from Andalusia & he was Assistant Activities Director at the Boy Scout Reservation near New Brockton. He taught me Nature, Archery & Marksmanship Merit Badge in '62 & '63. In '67, I would become Assistant Activities Director and teach Nature Merit Badge. This experience lead directly to my teaching career in Bilology.Over the years after Morgan moved to Decatur, I ran into him at Order of the Arrow functions and saw him a couple of times during my freshman year at Alabama. I had no idea the Army had pulled Morgan out of Law School at Bama and that he was in Vietnam until a fellow Scout walked into Dr. Strong's Political Science class and told me Morgan had been killed in Cambodia. This was May of 1970 and the University of Alabama was under martial law because of the Kent State protests.

Morgan William Weed

First Lieutenant
RECON PLT, D CO, 6TH BN, 31ST INFANTRY, 9TH INF DIV, USARV
Army of the United States
Decatur, Alabama
January 02, 1945 to May 11, 1970
MORGAN W WEED is on the Wall at Panel 10W Line 020
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>>>>full profile for Morgan WeedSee the full profile for Morgan Weed

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Last update 02/21/2010

The last of my friends on the Wall is Gary Tomlinson http://www.virtualwall.org/dt/TomlinsonGP01a.htm
Who was the very first person I saw on the first day I ever walked into the Student Union Building @ The University of Alabama in September of 1968? GARY TOMLINSON! What a sight for sore eyes!
Gary was in charge of the information desk @ The Union Building and the next year I got hired on Work-Study as the maintenance man for the Union. I had met Gary during high school because he was Area Chief for our division of The Order of The Arrow. Gary had been Chief of Cherokee 50 and because I was Secretary of Cowikee Lodge, I was involved in some of the politics that got Gary elected Area Chief. I really wish I had gotten to know Gary better.

Thanks Ray. This was sad but I have some precious memories of these three cats. I looked up to each one of them like a big brother.

Gary Preston Tomlinson

First Lieutenant
A BTRY, 4TH BN, 77TH ARTILLERY, 101ST ABN DIV, USARV
Army of the United States
Birmingham, Alabama
September 03, 1947 to July 03, 1971
GARY P TOMLINSON is on the Wall at Panel 03W Line 099
See the
>>>>full profile for Gary TomlinsonSee the full profile for Gary Tomlinson

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Last update 02/21/2010

Mittuh Richard, I showl 'preciate you taking this picture even though it looks like I pissed in my pants.
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=GP3GiFLV30M&vq=medium

One of the coolest things about the 2011 1ST ANNUAL SOUTHEASTERN REGIONAL MUSIC CELEBRATION @ COWBOYS (formally THE FLAMINGO) in Dothan Sunday afternoon will be running into cats from THE OLD REC CENTER CROWD & having to reintroduce yourself because no one recognizes one other because we haven't seen each other in almost 50 years. Wilbur should be there with HIS WANDERING EYE! SEE YA SUNDAY @ THE DIRTY BIRD!!!!
http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=125385900859788

Greenwood Cemetery became a winter wonderland this morning & the McLester monument captured my attention. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ln7m_1Om8Js

Tuscaloosa went WET in '56. DONNA WAS BORN! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5e1_K-JDfOk&feature=related

Two of my favorite things together in the same place: Crepe myrtle bark in the dead of winter & a misspelled convenience store clerk sign. Crepe myrtle is without a doubt my favorite plant, tree or flower, blooming six months of the year in a variety of colors and then standing curved, slick & bare for another six like some piece of modern art. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1tstiCxybQ

Nothing like a drive down 10th Street for an old Tuscaloosa Road Dog. From the stoplight @ Dr. Edward Hillard Dr., down through Daly Bottom, slowing down by Tutwiler and west to Queen City, 10th stands alone as one of T-town's CHEAPEST THRILLS! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk3mAX5xdxo&feature=related

Please help us spread the word about the 2011 1ST ANNUAL SOUTHEASTERN REGIONAL MUSIC CELEBRATION @ COWBOYS (formally THE FLAMINGO) in Dothan Sunday afternoon. Doors open @ Noon, music starts @ 2 & should run until 11. Come out to a terrific venue that has over 40 yrs. of memories for the Wiregrass crowd & help us to commemorate the lives of so many departed Tri-State musicians.WE GONNA CUT UP THE JUICE & TURN THE DAMN THANG LOOSE! http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=125385900859788

I pulled the image of Bteghrine off of their Wikipedia site. The picture was taken from the huge circular rock (Sheer Al-mabroum) above St. George Church.

We gonna have a genuine FACEBOOK DRIVEN EVENT Sunday with the 2011 FIRST ANNUAL SOUTHEASTERN REGION CELEBRATION OF MUSIC @ COWBOYS IN DOTHAN.

Well, if ya pay any attention to the news, there's another FACEBOOK DRIVEN EVENT going on over in the Middle East. If you from South Alabama, VIRTUALLY EVERY PERSON you have ever met of Lebanese (a.k.a. "Syrian") descent comes from people who came here from a little town called Bteghrine (pronounced "Bet Green"). If you like GITTIN SKEERED, click on the BTEGHRINE webpage, go over to the left column labeled BTEGHRINE GUIDE, scroll down to NEWSPAPERS & click on all 5 of their newspapers' websites. http://www.bteghrine.com/

BTEGHRINE

Looking forward to seeing old friends and making new ones Sunday afternoon @ THE DIRTY BIRD (A.K.A. The Flamingo, Cowboys) @ the 2011 1ST ANNUAL SOUTHEASTERN REGION CELEBRATION OF MUSIC http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=125385900859788
A lot of former members of Flamingo house bands will be performing & we'll ROCK OUT (maybe some of the former strippers will show up. They don't need to perform but if some of their gorgeous daughters wanted to take the stage, I don't think anyone would have an objection) but everyone will also shed some tears as we memorialize almost 60 deceased Wiregrass musicians from our generation. SEE Y'ALL SUNDAY AFTERNOON DOWN ON U.S. 231 SOUTH IN DOTHAN!

M~
Always great to hear from you!
Yeah, I'm doing fine & so is CHRISTOPHER!

This gal I went out with for MARDI GRAS on Dauphin Island this weekend is best friends with Linda Zoghby & I asked her to mention Jetta & Bteghrine to her & Linda amened all the connections.

Well, when I started talking to this gal in front of Archie & Paula @ the beach house about the Lebanese in Alabama, (you know Ray Saliba from Memphis has Archie's restaurant in the Demopolis Hotel), Paula, Archie's wife, who you never met, mentioned that the way her parents paid their mortgage on Caplewood here in Tuscaloosa was taking in students & that two OF THE BEST were Soteros brothers from Dothan.
Well they grew up directly across the street from my Grandmother's house on 203 Jeff Street where I basically lived from '59 until '68. Had a brain concussion in their backyard in '59. Maybe dat my promblim.

Anywayzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...
Wanted you to know it's still a small world & you're always welcome to call 205-657-7724

best,
rr
The Salibas of Bteghrine, Lebanon http://www.bteghrine.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bteghrine
http://bteghrine.blogspot.com/

The biggest business in town: SALIBA NAILS & SCREWS
http://www.bteghrine.com/SNS.htm



image courtesy of http://www.southern-style.com/Southeast%20Alabama%20Heritage%20Association/Saliba.htm.
Michael Thomas Saliba, Satute Hareek Saliba, Jameely Saliba, Jimmie Saliba, Josephine Saliba, Jeanette Saliba (1934)

From the Dothan City Cemetery:

SALIBA Abe Thomas 12 Jul 1886 07-Aug-1951 s/o SALIBA Mrs. Thomas

SALIBA Charlie 11-Oct-1904 05-Jan-1907 s/o SALIBA E. T. & W. 1 small & 2 large unm graves also

SALIBA D. A. 1867 1938 h/o SALIBA Mrs. D. A. May be s/o Mrs. Thomas Aliba - in same lot (Born in Betgreen Syria)

SALIBA D. A., Mrs. 1871 1950 w/o SALIBA D. A. Born in Betgreen, Syria

SALIBA George 12 Mar 1875 13-Feb-1949

SALIBA T. S. 1865 1938 ?s/o SALIBA Mrs. Thomas In same lot, born in Betgreen, Syria

SALIBA Thomas, Mrs. 1850 1945 w/o SALIBA Thomas On stone is marked "Our Mother" "Mose" "Abe" "Mike"

http://www.tutorsaliba.com/

http://www.answers.com/topic/george-hawi


Johnny Soteres in 1970
image courtesy of http://www.dothanhigh1970.com/3/guestbook.htm

Dr. Pete Soteres' son's blog: http://mortalethics.blogspot.com/2007_04_15_archive.html


Dr. Peter Soteres
Peter Spiros Soteres, M.D., of Signal Mountain, passed on to Heaven on Friday, April 13, 2007.
He was born in Dothan, Ala., on July 22, 1939, and was the son of the late Fahimy Sapp and Spiros Peter Soteres.
After attending high school in Dothan, Dr.
Soteres attended the University of Alabama, where he was initiated into Kappa Sigma Fraternity as well as ODK and Phi Eta Sigma. He graduated from the University of Alabama College of Medicine and trained at Southwestern Medical School, Parkland Hospital in Dallas, Texas. He served in the USAF as a medical officer at Offutt AFB in Nebraska.
He completed his training in pulmonary medicine at the University of Nebraska Medical College and at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. Dr. Soteres became the first board certified pulmonologist in Chattanooga when he came here to practice in 1972. He was a member of many professional organizations and was a past president of the Chattanooga Hamilton County Medical Society. He was Volunteer of the Year for the Tennessee Lung Association and an active member of Tennessee Medical Association. When his sons were young, he was active in Dixie Youth League Baseball as a coach and as an officer. He was a member of First-Centenary United Methodist Church and the Morgan Sunday School Class.
Following a brief retirement from his medical practice, Dr. Soteres joined Hospice of Chattanooga, where he was a constant support and strong influence for patients, their families and for the staff. Dr. Soteres was a respected and beloved doctor in Chattanooga for more than 30 years. In that time he treated thousands of patients and was known for his medical expertise, his warm bedside manner and his attentiveness to those under his care. Beyond his professional excellence, he treated everyone around him — patients, their families, nurses, doctors and other hospital staff — with respect and compassion, and in doing so touched countless lives and made this world a better place for us all.
He is survived by loving wife, Nancy, of Signal Mountain; three sons, Peter Kipling (Desiree Earl) Soteres, of Signal Mountain, Dr. Daniel Fletcher (Dr. Allison Sabel) Soteres, of Castle Rock, Colo., and W. Ryan (Jeanine Pistocco) Soteres, of Scottsdale, Ariz.; two grandchildren, Zoe Ariadne Soteres and Daniel Fletcher Soteres II; two brothers, Dr. James S. (Nancy Crawford) Soteres, of Atlanta, and Dr. John K. (Anita Zinna) Soteres, of St. Louis, Mo.; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and special friends.
A celebration of life service will be held at 5:30 p.m. today, April 16, 2007, at First-Centenary United Methodist Church with the Rev. Charles Neal, Dr. David Harr and the Rev. Frank Jump officiating.
Arrangements are by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson.
Active pallbearers will be Sid Reynolds, Norman S. Faris, Dan Predmore, Fred Adcock, Charlie Fox, Tom Harris, William D. Andress, Tommy Stevens and Roger Stebbing.
Honorary pallbearers will be the Morgan Class members, Chattanooga Hamilton County Medical Society and Hospice of Chattanooga.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Lung Association, 3335 Ringgold Road, East Ridge, TN 37412; American Heart Association, 519 E. Fourth St., Chattanooga, TN 37403; American Cancer Society, 850 Fort Wood St., Chattanooga, TN 37403; or to Hospice of Chattanooga, 4355 Highway 58, Suite 101, 58 Commons Building, Chattanooga, TN, 37416.
Please share your thoughts and memories at www.mem.com.
Arrangements are by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson, TN 37343.