Auburn assistant coach Joe Connally |
Jan. 17, 1814 – Lt.
Joseph Morgan Wilcox was buried at Fort Claiborne, two days after getting
killed in a fight with Creek war party. Wilcox County, Ala. was later named in
his honor.
Jan. 17, 1897 – The Jackson & Jernigan steam saw mill at
Kempville in Monroe County, Ala. burned, causing a loss of several thousand
dollars.
Jan. 17, 1906 – The home of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene E. Henderson
at Drewry in Monroe County, Ala. burned down after a faulty stove flue ignited
a fire while the family was eating breakfast. The house was one of the few
antebellum homes remaining in the area. E.E. Henderson, a farmer and
businessman who was around 40 years old, had died from typhoid fever in the
home on Jan. 11. “The fire was discovered while the family was at breakfast and
might have been arrested and the building saved with the assistance at hand but
for the failure of the supply of water,” according to The Monroe Journal. “The
loss is a total one, there being no insurance.”
Jan. 17, 1907 – The Monroe Journal reported that Monroe
County Sheriff M.M. Fountain was in Montgomery during the first of that week.
Jan. 17, 1916 - The mid-winter term of the Monroe County
(Ala.) Law and Equity Court convened on this Monday with Judge W.G. McCorvey
presiding. “The court is grinding away on the civil docket this week, the
number of cases, however, is not unusually large,” The Monroe Journal reported.
“Few beside jurors, witnesses, court officials and parties litigant are in
attendance.”
Jan. 17, 1917 – Confederate veteran Joseph R. Bass of Evergreen,
Ala. passed away in Caddo Mills, Texas at the age of 79 and was buried in the
Odd Fellows Cemetery at Caddo Mills.
Jan. 17, 1918 – The Wilcox Progressive Era reported that the
“Street Fair has come and gone, and many Camden citizens are wiser and poorer.”
Jan. 17, 1918 – The Wilcox Progressive Era reported that “a
barn belonging to Mr. R.J. Goode Jr. of Gastonburg was struck by lightning and
set on fire last week. About 50 tons of beans and 40 tons of hay were lost with
the barn, which was practically new. This is rather an unusual occurrence for
this time of year.”
Jan. 17, 1918 – The Wilcox Progressive Era reported that
“the coldest weather since 1899 was experienced throughout the South the past
week.”
Jan. 17, 1918 – The Wilcox Progressive Era reported that Mr.
J.K. Cammack of Primrose, a substantial citizen of Wilcox County, had moved to
Columbia, Texas. Cammack for several years, had been a successful farmer at
Gees Bend, and his departure was noted with regret by the newspaper.
Jan. 17 1918 – The Wilcox Progressive Era reported that a
recent addition to its exchange list was The Baldwin Times, which was edited by
Abner J. Smith, who formerly owned and edited The Progressive Era. Bro.
Jan. 17, 1918 – The Wilcox Progressive Era reported that Mr.
and Mrs. A.T. Wilkinson of Gastonburg, after almost 40 years of living in
Wilcox County, had moved to Selma. Mr. Wilkinson is one of Wilcox County’s
best-known citizens and Wilcox County had been enriched by his stay here, the
newspaper reported. “His efforts and influence were always devoted to the
betterment of his town and county. Our loss is Selma’s gain.”
Jan. 17, 1918 – The Wilcox Progressive Era reprinted a news
item from the Demopolis Times that said that Demopolis was sorry to have to lose
one of her doctors in the coming week because Dr. T.C. Savage had received a
call during the previous week to report at Fort Oglethorpe for duty in the
medical reserve corps, and was to leave the later part of the week. He was to
re-enter the service with the rank of captain. Dr. Savage was a son of Mr. F.H.
Savage of Camden, and gave up a large and lucrative practice to serve his
country, according to the Progressive Era.
Jan. 17, 1918 – The Wilcox Progressive Era reported that
news from the bedside of Miss Myrtle Fail, who was seriously burned the week
before, was very encouraging. She was attending school at the State Normal
School at the time.
Jan. 17, 1918 - Mrs. Long, wife of I. Long, and mother of
Haimon and Robert Long of Evergreen, died on this Thursday at her home in
Baltimore. Robert Long was with his mother when the end came. Mrs. Long had
been in failing health for many months, and her death was not unexpected.
Jan. 17, 1922 - Capt. J.L. Marshall of Perdue Hill visited
Monroeville, Ala. on this Tuesday.
Jan. 17, 1941 – McKenzie High School’s varsity boys
basketball team beat Evergreen, 27-18, in McKenzie, Ala. Later that night, in
Evergreen, the “E” Club held a dance at Evergreen High School. The club was
open to players who had logged 21 quarters in basketball.
Jan. 17, 1944 - A radio version of Alabama author Octavus
Roy Cohen's book “I
Love You Again” was broadcast as part of “The Lady Esther Screen
Guild Theatre” series.
Jan. 17, 1950 - The second television version of Alabama
author William March's story "The Little Wife" was broadcast.
Jan. 17, 1951 – The Monroe Journal reported that Alabama’s
last surviving Confederate veteran – 104-year-old P.R. (Riggs) Crump of Lincoln
- had died. Crump celebrated his 104th birthday on Dec. 23, 1950. He
joined the 10th Alabama Regiment in 1863 at the age of 16. He saw
action in the Virginia campaign and saw General Lee’s surrender to Grant. He
was buried near Lincoln.
Jan. 17, 1955 – James “Big Jim” Folsom began his second term
as Alabama’s governor, replacing Gordon Persons. Folsom’s second term ended on
Jan. 19, 1959, when he was succeeded by John Malcolm Patterson.
Jan. 17, 1956 – Georgiana High School’s boys basketball team
snapped Evergreen’s eight-game winning streak on this Tuesday night by beating
the Aggies, 54-49. Evergreen’s Randy White was held to only 19 points, his
lowest total of the season, by a tight defense that kept the Aggies behind all
the way. White scored 19 for the Aggies, followed by Robert King with nine,
Eddie Kelly with eight, Wendell Tolbert with six and Mickey Joyner with seven.
Jan. 17, 1957 – The Monroe Journal reported that the initial
use of Monroe County’s new jail building was scheduled for some time during
mid-February, Probate Judge E.T. Millsap announced that week. Special opening
ceremonies were being planned for about Feb. 15, Millsap said. The new jail was
located on North Mt. Pleasant Street and its overall cost had been estimated at
$135,000. Millsap said the County Commission would pay cash for the new jail
from the current balance in county funds. No decision had been listed on the
disposition of the property containing the old jail.
Jan. 17, 1957 – The Monroe Journal
reported that Bobby Allen, star fullback with the Monroe County champion Frisco
City Whippet football team, was recently selected as a member of the 25-member
squad for the annual Alabama All-Star high school football game to be held at
the University of Alabama in August. Coach Don Anderson, in making the
announcement of Allen’s selection, stated Allen was the only Monroe County
player chosen for the team.
Jan. 17, 1957 – The Monroe Journal reported that Monroe
County had three widows of men who served with the Confederate forces, according
to Miss Lillion Sawyer, director of the county Department of Pensions and
Security. The information was divulged in a report of Confederate pensions on
the county roll as of Jan. 1. The widows were listed as follows: Mrs. Susan C.
Easley of Beatrice, Mrs. B.A. Porter of Frisco City and Mrs. Sallie Reed of
Uriah Route.
Jan. 17, 1959 – Early on this Saturday morning, Floyd
Bennett Dees, 69, a “well known and much esteemed citizen” of Evergreen, Ala.,
was found dead a few hundred yards from his home on Rural Street. He’d been
missing since mid-afternoon of the previous day and a search was made for him
all through the night, but it wasn’t until around daylight that he was found by
his grandson, Wayne Peacock. He was lying in a ditch not far from the highway
and had apparently died several hours earlier from a heart attack. Born on July
31, 1889, he was buried in Evergreen’s Magnolia Cemetery.
Jan. 17, 1962 – Sebastian Junger, who wrote “The Perfect
Storm” in 1997, was born in Belmont, Mass.
Jan. 17, 1978 - Coach Joe Connally of the Auburn University
football coaching staff was the featured speaker at the annual Lyeffion High
School football banquet held at the school on this day. Taking part on the
program honoring the Yellow Jacket players were assistant coaches Jim McKinnon
and Ronnie Williams, Coach Connally and head coach Darwin Cook. Jacket players
receiving awards were Jerry Johnson, defensive back; Harold Kyser, offensive
back; Willie Hunter, offensive lineman; Kenny Nevlous, defensive lineman; and
Joe Salter, sportsmanship.
Jan. 17, 1980 – The Evergreen Courant reported that Sparta
Academy placed three players on the Alabama Private Schools Association’s
All-District III football team. Those players included Ronnie McKenzie, Terry
Peacock and Greg Crabtree.
Jan. 17, 1981 - Monroe County’s Junior Miss, DeLois
Clausell, was one of 49 contestants who arrived in Montgomery on this Saturday
to compete for the 1981 state Junior Miss title.
Jan. 17, 1983 - Alabama Gov. George C Wallace began serving
his fourth and final term as Alabama’s governor. His term would end on Jan. 19,
1987.
Jan. 17, 1983 – A number of Conecuh County, Ala. public
officials were administered their oaths of office and officially began serving
their terms in office. Probate Judge Frank T. Salter began his fourth term in
office. District Judge Sue A. Bell and Circuit Clerk Jean E. Ralls were
beginning their first full terms in office. County commissioners beginning
their first term in office included Percy Salter, Jerold Dean, C.W. Salter and
Freddie Stallworth, who was the county’s first black commissioner. Coroner
Danny Garnett was also beginning his first term in office.
Jan. 17, 1994 – Weather reporter Harry Ellis reported 1.11
inches of rain in Evergreen, Ala.
Jan. 17, 1995 - Probate Judge Rogene Booker swore in retired
state trooper Tom Hall as Conecuh County, Alabama’s new Sheriff on this Tuesday
afternoon. Hall’s wife, Velois, held the Bible for the ceremony while his
brother-in-law and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Milsted, looked on. Jeff T.
Brock was sworn in as Conecuh County’s new District Judge. He was sworn in by
his uncle, Evergreen City Judge Joe Nix. Jo Ann Harper was sworn in as Conecuh
County’s new coroner. She was sworn in by Booker, and Libby Biggs held the
Bible for the ceremony.
Jan. 17, 1995 - A ribbon-cutting was held on this Tuesday
for ABC Computers, located at Colony Square Mall, in Evergreen, Ala. The new
business was owned by Andy Gladwell.
Jan. 17, 2016 – A UFO was reportedly seen around 6:50 p.m.
on this Sunday in Pelham, a suburb of Birmingham, Ala. The witness in this case
had stepped outside to smoke when he looked up and saw an “erratic traveling
flame.” At first, he thought this “bright flickering flame” was some kind of
burning parachute, and as he watched, he thought it was going to land about 50
yards away in a neighbor’s yard. Suddenly, it stopped descending and changed
direction, and as he continued to watch it began to gain altitude. The witness
said he watched the object as it traveled away from him, and eventually it
became so small that he could no longer see it.
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