The Jellico High School Homecoming this year was very well organized and conducted. But for whatever reason, there seemed to be a drop off in the crowds attending every activity except possibly the dinner and the assembly.

Some believed that it was due to the number of class reunions with their individual activities being held away from the school. But others stated that there simply was not the turnout of folks from outside the area and from outside the state that we have come to expect. (My class regularly has from 13 to 16 members in attendance every year but this year we had only half that number to attend - one of our smallest turnouts ever. Other classes reported similar drop off in attendance - and those meeting in the same area as our class.

There never has been - and may never be again - a crowd to equal the second Alumni Homecoming that was held several years ago. I was principal at Jellico High during that period of time and Assistant Principal David Chitwood and I began the annual homecomings the first year with a "Parade of Classes" that included four or five members of each class dating back into the early 1920's. Those four or five class representatives were presented to the crowd prior to our homecoming football game. The event was so successful that we decided to have a full pledged reunion of all members of the alumni the following year.

I worked at the school during the summer months but had no secretarial help. So I had to personally write and type the announcement letters; addressed and stuffed all envelopes for all alumni members of whom I could obtain addresses; personally purchased the postage from my pocket since there were no funds of any type for that purpose; and mailed the correspondence.

The response was overwhelming and we were literally "bowled over" by the number of folks from all classes and from so many different areas that came for the event. Eventually so many vehicles blocked the driveways of area residents, resulting in numerous calls to the police department and visits to the school by the officers. We had no school intercom at that time and we had to attempt to get the word to those illegally parked the best way that we could. And that word more often than not was totally ignored since everyone was so involved in the activities.

The entire first affair was a total success. And that first full Alumni Homecoming led the late Carson Ridenour, Clinton, Tennessee and John Louis Turnblazer, Corbin, Kentucky to come to my office a few days later and to propose the formation of a Jellico High School Alumni Association. And back to the old cliché , the rest is history.

That was a wonderful gesture on the part of Hazel Boles to contribute one thousand dollars ($ 1,000.00) in memory of Bascom Boles. The donation is to be used toward purchasing of a floor cover for the high school gymnasium so that alumni events can be held there. The annual homecoming is a JHS affair and the activities should be conducted at that school.

I certainly appreciate Linda Meadows for nominating me for future consideration for the Alumni Award along with several others. It was gratifying that she still can recall all of the personal effort that I put into getting the event organized and underway. Sometimes those who do most - if not all - of the work to start such activities are the last to be recognized and it was good of Linda to mention my name. I greatly appreciate the honor but if selected I would decline as I have done before. I started the annual homecoming as a means for former students to continue to feel a part of Jellico High and to keep in touch with what is happening at their alma mater. They have succeeded beyond even my highest goals and expectations and that is reward enough.

It was great news that Roy Price and Jake Bennett have succeeded in bringing the Barter Theatre production of "Grace Moore: The Tennessee Nightingale" to Jellico. The event is scheduled for Jellico High School on Saturday, November 15th with curtain time set for 7:00 PM.. Tickets are $ 10.00 which is a very low price for the quality entertainment that will be presented. (Call 784-3275 for tickets and/or information.)

Better get your tickets early! The announcements of the event had barely been printed and distributed when Jake informed me that he had already reserved seating for thirty (30) or so. And the auditorium only seats three-hundred (300). Although it is basically a one person play, those who have seen it are very enthusiastic in their praise.

There is no need to worry about the cost of the production. As reported earlier, the mini grant application submitted by Jake to the Tennessee Arts Council has been approved that will cover nearly one half of the expenses. And since that time, the Town and Country Bank that will be locating in Jellico has announced that it will donate seven hundred and fifty dollars $ 750.00 toward the cost.

Note: Grace Moore was not the only classical singer produced by Jellico. Mr. H.O. Gilbert who once managed the old movie theatre located in the former Creekmore Grocery/ Bill's Dollar Store on North Main Street and who led the choir at the Methodist Church before leaving our town for military service during World War II, later sang the lead role in "The Marriage of Figaro". And the daughter of one of the McCurry family (that many will remember from their days in Jellico but now living in California) sang before this year's Alumni Assembly. I simply cannot remember her name (along with so many other things) but she certainly gave every indication of possessing the quality and strength of voice required for grand opera.

One of the most interesting facts of which I am aware is the relationship of country music to grand opera. In the early days of radio, virtually the only live musical productions available for radio broadcasting were the grand operas produced in large cities. And most stations were limited to carrying grand opera for the entertainment of their listeners. (In fact the web site dedicated to Grade Moore www.gracemoore.com has stated that Elvis Presley who listened to Moore on the radio as a young boy in Tupelo, Mississippi became a big fan of hers. And according to some of his associates, the King later named his Memphis home Graceland in her honor - although I do not know that that has ever been confirmed.)

But the best example is that fact that radio station WSM in Nashville during the early 1920's hired an announcer who was familiar with grand opera to do the station's commentary during the classical productions that they were carrying. I seem to recall that his name was George Hay (later known as "The Solemn Old Judge) but again don't trust my memory. I've learned not to!

WSM also wanted some local entertainers to perform live to help stimulate local residents to tune in to their station. So after one production carried live from the Metropolitan Opera House in New York to be followed immediately by the local country musicians, the announcer commented that "You have been listening to grand opera. Now you are going to hear some grand ole opry". The pickers and fiddlers fired up and we all know what happened after that! The Grand Ole Opry is still on the air today and is the longest continuously running program in the history of radio. And many country entertainers have performed in the classic music halls around the country including New York's Carnegie Hall where reportedly "Country Don Williams" sang while wearing his well worn and aged hat and authentic country clothing during his performance.

As I have written before, I hope that everyone had an opportunity to read the recent article in the Knoxville News-Sentinel that detailed all of the improvements made to the downtown in Clinton - including the opening of a very nice restaurant with an old town atmosphere much like the one that I have advocated for Jellico for the past several years. It reportedly has caught on in great style. (Jenny and I have not yet gone there to eat but we plan to do so in the near future.)

I heard compliment after compliment during homecoming concerning the improvements that are being made in the appearance of our downtown. Thanks to Betty Vermillion I was able to talk to one retired member of the alumni who stated that he and his wife were very impressed at what has been taking place are now going to give serious consideration to moving back to Jellico after an absence of many years. And an ole Elk Valley boy, Adrion Baird, who once served as a ranking official in the United States Department of Education during the administration of Ronald Reagan and who now lives in Lafollette and serves as a member of the Campbell County Commission, stated that for the first time ever, he has to agree that Jellico now presents a better appearance than Lafollette. (I sure hope that that statement doesn't cost him the next election.)

We can get it done in Jellico and we are getting it done! But as I write over and over, we have all got to get involved and we have all got to stay at the task. When things come to a standstill, they actually go backward! And we don't want that to happen to the progress that we are presently making in Jellico.

The "Task Force for Downtown Revitalization" study recently made its report during an open meeting. And there were some very interesting suggestions/recommendations to greatly improve our town. One idea was a decorative (brick) "Gateway to Jellico" to be located somewhere near the top of the hill on the 4-lane near the traffic light (Hardees and Buddy's Barbeque). Since there is a hill and visitors getting off the Interstate cannot see the very nice residential area located along Fifth Street, many never bother to drive into our town. Attracting visitors to our downtown is one of our major objectives and a very attractive "gateway" located there should be helpful in that respect. Another idea was to relocate the stage in Veterans Park to the grassy area behind the fence and to do extensive landscaping of that area along with the possible placement of some nice bleacher seating. The area vacated by movement of the stage would be utilized for a "railroad passenger depot" type of pavilion to include public rest room facilities and an extended covered area for an open-air market.

And there were other suggestions that are well worth consideration. Now we will just have to explore any possible funding for the suggested improvements to include the availability of grants for restorations, renovations and improvements.

(Someone asked me recently why I am pushing and working so hard to bring our downtown back to life again. According to that individual, five years after the work is completed, few if any, will even remember my efforts. And that is undoubtedly true! But the main thing is that future generations will be able to enjoy growing up in Jellico and develop the same fond memories that we have of that childhood experience. That alone is well worth our efforts.)

I recently overheard a couple of my very little fellows at Boston Elementary School arguing over whether the sum of 15 plus 15 is 30 or 25. And the funny thing about that argument was that the young man arguing that the sum is 25 was giving by far and away the best reasoning for his answer. In fact he got me to re-figuring. (I hope that they have a debate team at Whitley County High. If so, I'm going to recommend him highly for the team in future years.)