Green Street community takes its name from Burnt Corn tannery owner

Burnt Corn's John Green.

Last week in this space, I wrote about a recent field trip that I made up to the Green Street community. This sparked much discussion over how this small community got its name, and I’m happy to report that someone in the reading audience knew the real answer. For those of you unfamiliar with Green Street, it’s a small community located about 20 miles northwest of Evergreen, between Fairnelson and the Monroe County line.

In the days leading up to my visit to Green Street, I checked a book called “Place Names in Alabama” by Virginia O. Foscue, but it contained no information about Green Street. Historical records say that this community was a former saw mill town, and Evergreen library historian Sherry Johnston told me that she remembered reading about three men with the last name Green who owned and operated a saw mill in that area. She said that at one time the community was “thickly settled” and even included a commissary and a black smith shop.

Don Green, who lives in Mississippi but has ancestral roots in Conecuh County, said that his third great-grandfather John Green started the first school in Burnt Corn, which isn’t too far from Green Street as the crow flies. Don wondered if Green Street possibly took its name from the school’s founder.

Another man told me that a tale often told in the community is that a long time ago, God and the Devil had a knock-down-drag-out fight in that part of the county. When they finished, the surrounding countryside had been consumed by flames, all except for a strip of green that ran down through the middle of what we now call Green Street. The man who told me this said that he didn’t put much stock in the tale, but he’d heard it all his life.

After last week’s column hit the streets, Mrs. Sherry at the library told me that additional research revealed that the community was actually named after a man named “Tanner” Green. Tanner Green, who was not related to John Green, raised a large family and had a host of sons, Sherry said. Eight of Tanner’s sons served in the Confederate Army, and he also owned a large tannery near Burnt Corn that made shoes for the Confederate Army. Margaret Gaston noted that she’d read somewhere once that all of Tanner Green’s sons shared the same middle name, “Bigby.”

Billie Patterson, who is also well-versed in the John Green family history, confirmed that John and Tanner were not related. She’d also been told in the past that Green Street was not named after John Green. She noted that John Green did own property in that area, but his home place was on County Road 15, about one mile outside of Burnt Corn.

During the past week I did some digging and learned that Tanner Green’s full name was Whitson Bigby “Tanner” Green and that he was born in Stafford County, Va. on Sept. 22, 1796. He served in the 1836 Seminole War and migrated to Monroe County two years later. Records reflect that he died on Jan. 30, 1885 at the age of 89 at Burnt Corn and that he is buried in an unmarked grave in the Watson-Green Cemetery in Monroe County.

'John Green Cemetery' marker tells of early Conecuh County leader

This week’s featured historical marker is the “JOHN GREEN CEMETERY” marker that was erected on June 29 by members of the John Green Cemetery Preservation Association.

As the name of this marker implies, it is located at the John Green Cemetery in Burnt Corn, Ala. Burnt Corn lies in both Conecuh and Monroe counties, but this cemetery is located well within Conecuh County, about 16 miles northeast of Evergreen.

The marker has text on both sides, but both sides are identical. What follows is the complete text from the marker.

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“JOHN GREEN CEMETERY, CONECUH COUNTY: War of 1812 veteran John Green (1790-1882) settled in Burnt Corn in 1816. He held many public offices, established the first school, and represented Conecuh County in the state legislature in 1824 and 1829. He was the Conecuh delegate to the 1861 (Secession) Convention of the People of Alabama and the 1875 Constitutional Convention. ‘He is allowed to be, even by those who oppose his sentiments, a man of unimpeachable character, a worthy citizen, and a kind obliging neighbor’ (The Southern Evangelist, 1835). ‘It may be truly said that he had but few if any enemies, and no man who ever lived, so far as he was known, had more friends’ (Mobile Register, 1882). LISTED IN THE ALABAMA HISTORIC CEMETERY REGISTER IN 2010, MARKER ERECTED IN 2013 BY THE JOHN GREEN CEMETERY PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION.”

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Green, who was born in South Carolina in March 1790 and died at the age of 92 in Conecuh County in July 1882, served in the First Regiment of the Georgia Volunteers during the War of 1812. During his life, he worked as an attorney, a farmer and educator. He also served as a state legislator as indicated on the marker.

The John Green Cemetery, which has recently undergone restoration due to damage from Hurricane Ivan and logging operations, is located off of Conecuh County Road 15, about one mile from that highway’s intersection with County Road 5. The cemetery contains about 20 graves, and the oldest grave in the cemetery dates back to Oct. 17, 1817. The cemetery also contains the graves of Civil War service members.

The new marker in honor of John Green is just one of many historical markers in Conecuh County. Others include the marker at the Alabama Baptist Children’s Home site on Main Street in Evergreen, the Ernest Stanley Crawford, M.D. marker on Front Street in downtown Evergreen, the “Emerald City” marker in front of the Old Depot in downtown Evergreen, the marker in front of the Evergreen Baptist Church on Park Street in Evergreen and the Rev. Hillary James Hawkins, D.D. marker on County Road 97 at Lime Hill. Others include the Anderson Stallworth Family marker at Nichburg, the James Salter Monument at Pine Orchard and a number of Old Federal Road markers at Pine Orchard, Bermuda and at the John Peobles Toll Bridge.

In the end, visit this site next Wednesday to learn about another historical marker. I’m also taking suggestions from the reading audience, so if you know of an interesting historical marker that you’d like me to feature, let me know in the comments section below.

Historical marker tells of 'Burnt Corn Male Academy' in Conecuh County

'Burnt Corn Male Academy' historical marker.

This week’s featured historical marker is the “BURNT CORN MALE ACADEMY” marker in Conecuh County, Ala. This marker is located on the south side of Conecuh County Road 30, less than half a mile from the intersection with County Road 5 at Burnt Corn.

This marker was erected by the Alabama Historical Association in 2012. There’s text on both sides of this marker, but both sides are identical. What follows in the complete text from the marker:

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“BURNT CORN MALE ACADEMY: Incorporated by legislative act on Dec. 31, 1841, the Burnt Corn Male Academy was built near here, close to a fresh spring. The spot became known as Academy Spring. Despite its name, the institution became coeducational. John Green, who started the first school in Conecuh County near here, and Dr. John Watkins, who lived and practiced nearby, were instrumental in starting the Academy.”

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According to the Web site, www.burntcorn.com, the Burnt Corn Male Academy was located about 200 yards off the Old Federal Road. D.M. O’Brien was one of the school’s early principals, and his wife, Nannie Clingman O’Brien, and daughter, Bettie Lanier O’Brien, were early teachers at the school.

The Dec. 31, 1841 legislative action that officially incorporated the school read as follows - "That a Male Academy be and same is hereby incorporated in the County of Conecuh, to be styled and known in law, as the Burnt Corn Male Academy, and that John Watkins, John Green, John Marshall, J.J. Roach, T.S. Roach, J.B. Clausel, Ithiel Lee, Hanson Lee, John R. Richardson, Caleb Lindsey. William E. Ellis, William Cunningham, Anaias Godbold, Eli Atkinson, and Issac Betts, and their successors in office be, and they are hereby declared a body politic and corporate, by the name and style of the Burnt Corn Male Academy; as such shall be capable in law or equity to sue or be sued, and plead and be impleaded, and shall be deemed necessary and expedient for the good government of said academy, and for that purpose may have and use a common seal, and alter the same; appoint such officers as they may deem proper, and remove the same for improper or neglect of duty. Provided, such by law and regulations as are herein authorized to be made, be not repugnant to the laws and constitution of this State and of the United States."

If you visit this historical marker today, take a few minutes to visit the grave of Dr. John Watkins, which is located just around the corner on County Road 5 in the Old Bethany Baptist Church cemetery. A native of Virginia, he passed away at Burnt Corn in 1853.

John Green is buried in the historic John Green Cemetery, which is located off of Conecuh County Road 15, about one mile from that highway’s intersection with County Road 5. The cemetery contains about 20 graves, and the oldest grave in the cemetery dates back to Oct. 17, 1817. Green died in July 1882.

In the end, visit this site next Wednesday to learn about another historical marker. I’m also taking suggestions from the reading audience, so if you know of an interesting historical marker that you’d like me to feature, let me know in the comments section below.

Theories abound over how the Green Street community got its name

Grace's Grocery in "downtown" Green Street.

One day last week, I got to talking with a man on the sidewalk between the newspaper office and the post office, and somehow or other the subject of how the Green Street community got its name came up in the conversation. I asked around and no one could seem to agree.

I first checked a book called “Place Names in Alabama” by Virginia O. Foscue, but it contains no information about Green Street. Historical records say that this community, which is located about 20 miles northwest of Evergreen, was a former saw mill town, and Evergreen library historian Sherry Johnston told me that she remembered reading about three men with the last name Green who owned and operated a saw mill in that area. She said that at one time the community was “thickly settled” and even included a commissary and a black smith shop.

Don Green, who lives in Mississippi but has ancestral roots in Conecuh County, said that his third great-grandfather John Green started the first school in Burnt Corn, which isn’t too far from Green Street as the crow flies. Don wonders if Green Street possibly took its name from the school’s founder.

Another man told me that a tale often told in the community is that a long time ago, God and the Devil had a knock-down-drag-out fight in that part of the county. When they finished, the surrounding countryside had been consumed by flames, all except for a strip of green that ran down through the middle of what we now call Green Street. The man who told me this said that he didn’t put much stock in the tale, but he’d heard it all his life.

I got to thinking about all of this last Thursday morning and not having much on my agenda at that time, I loaded up in the truck and headed to Green Street. As many of you know, to get to Green Street from Evergreen, you take State Highway 83 to Lyeffion, then turn left at the school onto County Road 30. From there, you stay on County Road 30, passing through Fairnelson, until you reach County Road 9, where you’ll see a sign for the Green Street AME Zion Church.

County Road 9 will take you to “downtown” Green Street, which on most maps is marked at the intersection of County Road 9 and Green Street Road. Last Thursday, I eased through this crossroads and made my way down to the Green Street African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, which was founded in 1891. A modern, brick church building sits there today and according to its cornerstone, the sanctuary was built in 1966.

According to the building’s cornerstone, Grand Master J.B. Lett of Pilgrim Masonic Lodge No. 160 conducted the dedication ceremony for the building back when L.S. Moore was the church’s pastor. Alfred G. Dunston was bishop, and W.B. Faddis was church elder. Trustees at that time included Amos Salter, Earlie Grace, Anderson Grace, Frank Dailey, James E. Harris, John Watkins, Bishop Salter, John A. Dailey, Charlie Grace Sr., McKenly Grace and J.M. Grace Sr.

From there, I took a few minutes to explore the church’s cemetery, which is in three sections near the church. One section is behind the church, and the other two sections are across the road. The graveyard immediately across from the church sits on a small hill and some of the graves there go back to the early 1900s.

I continued up County Road 9 to County Road 2, the northernmost limits of the Green Street community, before turning around. As I made my way back to “downtown” Green Street, I made note of the homes I saw there, including a few that looked long abandoned. Others ranged from modern mobile homes to large brick dwellings.

If you ever take the time to visit Green Street, you’ll see a number of shooting houses off in the distance, bird houses nailed here and there to fence posts and light poles, as well as old farm equipment that harken back to the early days of mechanized agriculture. A number of homes also had large family gardens, and one can only imagine the fresh vegetables enjoyed by the community’s hungry residents.

Back at the Green Street crossroads, I turned west and a short distance later pulled into the parking lot of Grace’s Grocery, an old, tin-roofed country store with two gas pumps and a pair of American flags flying under the front porch. I hopped out with an eye toward getting a Coca-Cola, only to find that the store hadn’t opened for the day. After a brief look through the front window, I climbed back in my truck and continued east.

Those of you who have been this way will know that you’ll have to drive over more than a few speed bumps before the pavement eventually turns to dirt. As you continue down, you’ll pass a number of modern chicken houses before coming to a stop sign at County Road 5, which is the Old Federal Road and makes up the border between Conecuh and Monroe counties. I sat there for a moment and decided to go south to see the large Salter monument that I knew was just a short distance down the road.

A minute or two later, I parked at the monument and got out, keeping my eyes open for snakes. This tall, white marker has been there for as long as I can remember and says: James Salter, N.C., 1760-1835, Comsy. 2 Regt., Rev. War, Member State Legislature Ala. 1823-1828, Memorial Erected by Conecuh Chapter 1972 DAR and Descendants Hon. Wiley Salter, Judge Frank T. Salter.

From there, I headed back to the Green Street crossroads and then continued east toward Purnell Methodist Church. As I traveled down this shadowy road, I noted loggers working in the distance and also had a large turkey hen run out in the road in front of me. I attempted to take a picture of her with the camera I had in the truck seat, but she proved too fast.

At the old church, which was founded in 1915, I got out for a look around. This stately wooden church sits at the intersection of County Road 30 and Green Street Road and has been the site of countless services, homecomings, singings, weddings and funerals over the years. I made my way to the cemetery, opened the gate and stepped inside.

I’d never been to this cemetery before, but I knew that my great-great-grandparents – George and Mattie Burt – were buried there. After a brief search, I found their graves there in a small plot under the blazing sun. They died four months apart in 1930. No doubt they would be very surprised by how many descendants they have today.

In the end, I enjoyed my field trip up to the Green Street community, but I’m still at a loss as to how the community got its name. If anyone in the reading audience knows, please let me hear from you. It would be interesting to hear the definitive explanation behind how this community got its distinctive name.

Historical marker tells of Conecuh County's first school and John Green

'First School in Conecuh County' Historical Marker

This week’s featured historical marker is the “FIRST SCHOOL IN CONECUH COUNTY” marker in Conecuh County, Ala. The marker is located on the west side of Conecuh County Road 15, between Burnt Corn and Brantley Switch, west of Evergreen.

This historical marker was erected by the Alabama Historical Association in 2012. There’s text on both sides of this marker, but both sides are identical. What follows is the complete text from the marker.

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“FIRST SCHOOL IN CONECUH COUNTY: The first known school in Conecuh County, ‘Students Retreat,’ was located near this site. The land was owned by John Green, who also was the school’s first teacher. Green served the county in the state House of Representatives and the 1861 Secession Convention. He was elected, too, to the 1875 Constitutional Convention, at the age of 85.”

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John Green (or “Greene” as its spelled in many references) was a pioneer from Conecuh County’s early history and was also one of the most interesting county residents ever. He is mentioned often in B.F. Riley’s 1881 book, “History of Conecuh County, Alabama,” which describes Green’s accomplishments in great detail. According to that book, Greene established the “Students Retreat” around 1817 near the site of Greene’s home. Bear in mind that this was before the establishment of Conecuh County and before Alabama achieved statehood.

According to Riley, “among (Greene’s) pupils were the Rev. David Lee, now of Lowndes County; his brother, Ithiel, deceased; Watkins Salter, at one time clerk of the court of Conecuh, and afterward its representative in the legislature, and still later a representative from Lowndes County; the late Miles Herrington, and Jacob Betts, a prominent merchant at Burnt Corn – the quite a small boy.”

Later in the book, Riley writes that Greene “came to Conecuh County as early as 1816. At that time, it was embraced within the board limits of Monroe. He was born in Abbeville District, South Carolina, on March 8, 1790. When he had attained to 10 years of age, his father removed with his family to Jackson County, Ga., where he resided till 1816.

“Coming to Conecuh at this period, Mr. Greene found it without the slightest trace of civilization. But, thoroughly prepared to grapple with the difficulties here encountered, he began to establish his home in the midst of the wild forests. Quite fortunate for upper Conecuh, and for its educational interests, one of its first citizens was a man whose attention had been largely directed to literary pursuits.

“Of course, at this period of the county’s history, educational facilities were exceedingly meager. According to Mr. Greene’s own statement, he was indebted, for his acquirements, to a small public library in Jackson County, Ga. Here, under the direction of a judicious friend, he was enabled to pursue a course of reading, and to improve his handwriting.

“Ambitious of future eminence, he prosecuted with zeal his studies to the utmost of his facilities, and finally decided to adopt the profession of teaching. He was the first to establish a school in Conecuh, and has trained for usefulness many of her best and honored citizens.

“At different times, Mr. Greene has had accorded him, by his fellow citizens, worthy honors. Twice has he been selected as her representative in the General Assembly of the State – once in 1824 and again in 1828. Though a Union man, he was chosen to represent Conecuh in the Secession Convention in 1861; and in 1875, was sent as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention.

“Coming to Conecuh in early manhood, with no other resources at command than an honest heart, a courageous energy, and an unbending will, he has accumulated a fortune, reared a useful family, and by his sage counsel and public spiritedness, has aided largely in advancing the interests of the county from its organization to the present. He is one of the very few persons now alive (in 1881) who has lived under the administration of every President, from Washington to Arthur. Venerable with age, Mr. Greene still lives in the midst of his fellow citizens, honored and revered by all who know him.”

In the end, visit this site next Wednesday to learn about another historical marker. I’m also taking suggestions from the reading audience, so if you know of an interesting historical marker that you’d like me to feature, let me know in the comments section below.

Army solider from Lower Peach Tree was killed in France in July 1918

This past Wednesday – July 22 – marked 102 years since the death of John Henry Privette, who was killed in action during World War I.

It was on July 22, 1918 that U.S. Army Private First Class John Henry Privette of Lower Peach Tree was killed in action at the age of 23 while serving as a cook. Born on May 1, 1895, he is said to be buried in Liberty Methodist Church Cemetery in the Hestle community, west of Coy. (Liberty Methodist Church is also known as the Bear Creek Church.)

According to records at the Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery, Privette’s death was first officially noted on Army casualty lists on Sept. 27, 1918, and his death was widely reported in the Oct. 3, 1918 edition of The Wilcox Progressive Era. That story read as follows:

“The casualty list of the past week gives the name of John Henry Privette of Lower Peach Tree as having been killed in action in France on July 22. This makes the second Wilcox boy to pass over to Fame’s eternal camping ground. John Watson of Pineapple was the first, being killed July 15. May the heroic spirit of these two young soldiers go marching on till the tyrant of Europe pays the penalty of his atrocious crimes. Watson and Privette are the first gold stars in Wilcox’s Service Flag.”

According to Privette’s service records on file at the state archives, it appears that he was initially buried overseas. At some point, like many other soldiers, his remains were exhumed and transported back to the United States for reburial. Privette’s body arrived in Hoboken, New Jersey on June 19, 1921 – nearly two years after his death – and were then sent (probably by train) back to Wilcox County.

Privette’s next of kin was listed as Green Privette, who I presume to be his father. On his son’s service records, Green Privette’s address was listed as Sunny South, which is just north of the Hestle community and Liberty Methodist Church Cemetery. If you visit this cemetery today, you will find a marker for Green, but I’ve never been able to locate one for his son, John Henry.

As best that I can tell from state records, in addition to John Henry Privette and John Watson, at least 23 other Wilcox County soldiers were killed during World War I. Those soldiers include Charley Blackman, William Boykin, William Dumas, William Kelsaw, William Reaves, Harry I. Savage, Howard Singleton and James Williams, all of Camden; Henry M. Autrey, Vivian T. Deaton and Jenkins Jones, all of Sunny South; Oscar L. Autrey, Henry C. Boutwell and Charles E. Treaster, all of Pine Hill; Jimmie A. James and Willie Gay Williams, both of Furman; Fletcher E. Smith of Lower Peach Tree; Frank C. Brooks of Coy, Fred Battle of Gastonburg, John Butler of Snow Hill, Daniel Robinson of Prairie, Frank Stallworth of Bellview, Wiley McMurphy Steen of Pine Apple and Samuel C. Watford of Caledonia.

In the end, I’d like to hear from anyone in the reading audience with more information about John Henry Privette or any of the other World War I casualties listed above. Also, if you know of any other soldiers from Wilcox County who were killed in World War I not mentioned above, please let me know and I will add them to the list.

FICTION - The Ambulance Incident - Part I

The ambulance’s dashboard digital clock said that it was five minutes after three in the morning. My partner, John, and I were on our way back to Claiborne from Mobile. We’d taken a latenight transfer to the ICU at Port City Infirmary and were now on our way back to the base.

There was a full moon out, but we could barely see it through the layer of thick fog that covered the road and surrounding woods. Despite the conditions, we’d jumped at the chance to go to Mobile because we knew that it would eat up three or four hours of our shift. We imagined the crews back in Claiborne running their tails off on 911 calls. Nights with a full moon are like that.

I tried unsuccessfully to stiffle a yawn, and it didn’t escaped John’s notice. “If you get sleepy, just say so,” he said. “We can swap seats, and I’ll drive.”

In the unwritten rules of EMS, it was my job to drive us all the way home if possible. John was a paramedic, and he ran the truck. I was just a basic, the low man on the totem pole, which meant that I did what he told me to do and drove us everywhere we went.

“Nah, I’m good,” I said. “You just sit over there and count the deer in the ditches.”

“I’m going to count sheep instead,” he said. He stretched, drew his jacket in around him, nestled down into his seat and closed his eyes. A few minutes later, I heard him snoring.

The foggy miles clicked by as the ambulance hummed over the road at 70 miles per hour. I’d driven this route many times before and felt that the ambulance could almost drive itself back to Claiborne. I glanced away from the road for a second to turn on the radio when everything went sideways.

I caught a glimpse of movement in the ditch on the right side of the road before something darted into the path of the ambulance. I slammed on the brakes, and the thing struck the side of the truck. The force of the collision snapped off the radio antanea and sent a web of cracks across the windshield.

The wheels squaled over the pavement, and I fought the steering wheel to keep the heavy ambulance on the road. When we came to a stop the acrid smell of rubber filled our nostrils.

“What the hell was that?” John asked excitedly, still half asleep.

My heart pounded in my ears and every drop of saliva in my mouth had vanished. “I think I hit a deer,” I said.

John rubbed his shoulder where he’d been thrown against the seatbelt. “How far back do you reckon?” he asked.

“A few hundred feet,” I guessed. “I was doing about 70.”

John reached into the compartment beside his door, pulled out a large flashlight and clicked it on. “Let’s check the damage,” he said.

I got my flashlight and joined John on his side of the truck. There was a large dent in the fender as well as a fair amount of hair and blood from where the animal struck with the vehicle.

“Go check the radio,” John said.

I reached inside the cab, pulled the mike from its clip on the center console and pressed the transmit button. “EMS 7 to 911 for radio check,” I said. I released the transmit button and listened, but there was no answer.

John pulled his walkie-talkie radio off of his belt and keyed it up. “EMS 7 to Claiborne 911, radio check.” Again, there was only silence.

“We’re too deep in the woods and too far from a repeater for this weak thing to work,” he said.

John shivered in the chill damp of the fog and produced his cellphone. “Check your phone and see if you’ve got any bars,” he said. His phone’s tiny screen illuminated his face in pale blue.

“I’ve got nothing,” I said. “Zero bars.”

John snapped his phone shut. “You want to go back and see how big it was? It might still be in the road.”

“Yeah, I guess.” I reached inside the cab and turned on the emergency flashers.

John began going through his jump bag, and I knew what he was looking for. “I might need it to put him out of his misery,” he said. He pulled the slide back on the .40-caliber handgun that he wasn’t supposed to have on the ambulance. “Let’s go.”

We walked back down the road through the thick fog. The moonlight and our flashlights did little to hold back the misty darkness. Pines loomed over us on both sides of the road, and the long howl of a nearby coyote mixed with the sighs of the windblown treetops.

A football field’s length from the ambulance, we saw the outline of something in the road. At first, we thought it was a deer, but as we drew closer, we saw that it was something else altogether.

“That’s a man,” John said. He jammed his gun into the waistband of his pants and covered it with his jacket. “Come on.”

We ran to the man and saw that he was naked. “Stand there and give me some light,” John said.

He knelt by the man and shook him by the shoulder. “Sir, sir,” he repeated. “Can you hear me?”

There was no answer from the man, who was lying on his side, his face obscured in shadow. John grabbed him by the wrist and felt for a pulse. “It’s faint,” he said. He then leaned in close with his ear near the man’s cheek. “He’s breathing,” he said.

We could see that the man was a bloody mess. He was covered in dirt, bits of wet grass and a lot of blood. He had a deep gash on the side of his head, probably from where he struck the side of the ambulance.

“This guy’s lucky to be alive,” John said. “You probably weren’t going as fast as you thought. He must have just glanced off the side of the truck. Run and drive it back, so that we’ll have more light.”

I ran back to the ambulance, jumped inside the cab and executed a three-point turn. On the way back, I made several unsuccessful attempts to raise 911 on the radio.

I stopped about 20 feet from John, hopped out and ran to the back of the ambulance. I opened the double doors and pulled the stretcher out.

“Grab a backboard and a CID,” John yelled. “We need to package this guy.”

I got the equipment out of a side compartment, tossed it all on top of the stretcher and rolled it all to a spot near the body.

“Did you try the radio again?” John asked.

Yeah, but no one answered,” I said.

“That figures,” he said. “This guy is a candidate for MedFlight, but we’ve got no way to call them. They probably wouldn’t fly in this fog anyway.”

I knelt at the man’s shoulders, placed both hands on the side of his head and held his neck straight. We then rolled him onto the backboard and secured him in place. In one smooth motion, we lifted the backboard and moved the unconscious man to the stretcher. I unfolded a white sheet and placed it over him, leaving his face uncovered, while John buckled him down.

A moment later, we slid the stretcher into the back of the ambulance and climbed in behind him. “Go ahead and put him on the monitor,” John said as he began to assess the man for broken bones. A minute later, I had the blood pressure cuff on the man’s right arm and the pulse-ox sensor on his left index finger.

John shook his head. “It’s a miracle,” he said. “I don’t think he’s broken anything major. Most of this blood’s from the laceration on his head.”

“At least we’ve got that going for us,” I said as I began to attach the circular, sticky electrodes to the end of the four colored wires that led to the heart monitor. I pulled the sheet down off the man’s chest and removed the small covers from the bottom of the electrodes, exposing the adhesive and the small amount of silver nitrate under each pad.

Salt, pepper, ketchup, lettuce, I thought to myself as a reminder of the order that the white, black, red and green wires were to be attached to the man’s torso. When I applied the white electrode to his chest, just below his right shoulder, the unexpected happened.

The man’s eyes snappped open, and he let out a loud, unnerving yowl. John looked up from where he was preparing an IV in time to see the man begin to thrash around. Stinking, gray smoke began to issue from the spot where I’d applied the electrode, and the man grabbed me by the throat in a claw-like grip. Just that fast, my head swam on the edge of unconscisousness as the man’s fingers tightend.

(All rights reserved. This story is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.)

How many of 'Baen Readers List of Recommended Military SF' have you read?

A month ago, back on Jan. 7, I posted a best-of book list called “SF Masterworks,” and a few days ago a friend e-mailed me some information about a similar sci-fi book list called “Baen Readers List of Recommended Military SF.”

The list was compiled by Baen Books, an American publishing company that’s known for its science fiction and fantasy titles, including high-quality military science fiction. Titles on its best-of list were selected based on their “main theme military concerns.”

Books that made the list included the following titles:

1. Armor by John Steakley (1984)
2. At Any Price by David Drake (1985)
3. Berserker by Fred Saberhagen (1967)
4. Bill the Galactic Hero by Harry Harrison (1965)
5. Bolo! by David Weber (2005)
6. Breakthrough by David Drake and Bill Fawcett (1989)
7. Cobra by Timothy Zahn (1985)
8. The Compleat Bolo by Keith Laumer (1990)
9. Conqueror’s Heritage by Timothy Zahn (1995)
10. Conqueror’s Legacy by Timothy Zahn (1996)

11. Conqueror’s Pride by Timothy Zahn (1994)
12. Counterattack by David Drake and Bill Fawcett (1988)
13. Counting the Cost by David Drake (1987)
14. Crisis by David Drake and Bill Fawcett (1991)
15. The Dance of Time by Eric Flint and David Drake (2006)
16. A Desert Called Peace by Tom Kratman (2007)
17. Destiny’s Shield by Eric Flint and David Drake (1999)
18. Divided Allegiance by Elizabeth Moon (1988)
19. Dorsai! By Gordon R. Dickson (1959)
20. Downbelow Station by C.J. Cherryh (1981)

21. Drakon by S.M. Stirling (1995)
22. Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card (1985)
23. Expedition to Earth by Arthur C. Clarke (1953)
24. Eye of the Storm by John Ringo (2009)
25. The Far Side of the Stars by David Drake (2003)
26. The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien (1954)
27. Fireships by David Drake (1996)
28. First to Fight by David Sherman and Dan Cragg (1997)
29. The Forever War by Joe Haldeman (1974)
30. The Forge by S.M. Stirling and David Drake (1991)

31. The Forlorn Hope by David Drake (1984)
32. Fortune’s Stroke by Eric Flint and David Drake (2000)
33. Freehold by Michael Z. Williamson (2004)
34. Galactic Patrol by E.E. “Doc” Smith (1950)
35. The Green Hills of Earth by Robert A. Heinlein (1951)
36. Gust Front by John Ringo (2001)
37. Hammer’s Slammers by David Drake (1979)
38. Hell’s Faire by John Ringo (2003)
39. A Hymn Before Battle by John Ringo (2000)
40. Igniting the Reaches by David Drake (1994)

41. In the Heart of Darkness by Eric Flint and David Drake (1998)
42. In the Stormy Red Sky by David Drake (2009)
43. The Jungle by David Drake (1991)
44. King David’s Spaceship by Jerry Poumelle (1981)
45. The Last Centurion by John Ringo (2008)
46. Legion of the Damned by William C. Dietz (1993)
47. Liar’s Oath by Elizabeth Moon (1992)
48. Live Free or Die by John Ringo (2010)
49. Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen by H. Beam Piper (1965)
50. Lt. Leary, Commanding by David Drake (2000)

51. Marching Through Georgia by S.M. Stirling (1988)
52. March to the Sea by David Weber and John Ringo (2001)
53. March to the Stars by David Weber and John Ringo (2003)
54. March Upcountry by David Weber and John Ringo (2001)
55. The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein (1966)
56. The Mote in God’s Eye by Larry Niven and Jerry Poumelle (1974)
57. Oath of Fealty by Elizabeth Moon (2010)
58. Oath of Gold by Elizabeth Moon (1989)
59. An Oblique Approach by Eric Flint and David Drake (1998)
60. Old Man’s War by John Scalzi (2004)

61. On Basilisk Station by David Weber (1992)
62. Once a Hero by Elizabeth Moon (1997)
63. Path of the Fury by David Weber (1992)
64. Paying the Piper by David Drake (2002)
65. Phule’s Company by Robert Asprin (1990)
66. The Prince by Jerry Poumelle and S.M. Stirling (2002)
67. Redliners by David Drake (1996)
68. The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkein (1955)
69. Rolling Hot by David Drake (1989)
70. Semper Mars by Ian Douglas (1998)

71. The Sharp End by David Drake (1993)
72. Sheepfarmer’s Daughter by Elizabeth Moon (1988)
73. Soldier, Ask Not by Gordon R. Dickson (1967)
74. Some Golden Harbor by David Drake (2007)
75. Space Cadet by Robert A. Heinlein (1948)
76. Space Viking by H. Beam Piper (1963)
77. Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein (1959)
78. The Stone Dogs by S.M. Stirling (1990)
79. Surface Action by David Drake (1990)
80. Sworn Allies by David Drake and Bill Fawcett (1990)

81. Tactics of Mistake by Gordon R. Dickson (1971)
82. Through the Breach by David Drake (1995)
83. The Tide of Victory by Eric Flint and David Drake (2001)
84. Total War by David Drake and Bill Fawcett (1990)
85. The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien (1954)
86. Uller Uprising by H. Beam Piper (1952)
87. Under the Yoke by S.M. Stirling (1989)
88. The Vor Game by Lois McMaster Bujold (1990)
89. Vorpal Blade by John Ringo and Travis S. Taylor (2007)
90. The Warrior by David Drake (1991)

91. The Warrior’s Apprentice by Lois McMaster Bujold (1986)
92. Watch on the Rhine by John Ringo and Tom Kratman (2005)
93. The Way to Glory by David Drake (2005)
94. We All Died at Breakaway Station by Richard C. Meredith (1969)
95. The Weapon by Michael Z. Williamson (2005)
96. We Few by David Weber and John Ringo (2005)
97. West of Honor by Jerry Poumelle (1976)
98. What Distant Deeps by David Drake (2010)
99. When the Devil Dances by John Ringo (2002)
100. When the Tide Rises by David Drake (2008)
101. With the Lightnings by David Drake (1998)

In the end, how many of these books have you had the chance to read? Which did you like or dislike and why? Which is your personal favorite and why? Which would you recommend and why? Let us know in the comments section below.

South Alabama Rebels were formed 162 years ago near Camden, Alabama

Franklin King Beck

Today – Aug. 24 – marks 162 years from the day that the South Alabama Rebels were officially organized in Wilcox County.

According to the 1989 book, “Men of Wilcox: They Wore the Gray” by Ouida Starr Woodson, the South Alabama Rebels were organized near Camden on Aug. 24, 1861. Soldiers in the company elected John J. Longmire as captain of the unit, and they left Wilcox County around Oct. 1, 1861. From Wilcox County, they traveled to Montgomery, which had been the capital of the Confederacy up until May of that year when it was moved to Richmond, Virginia.

In Montgomery, the South Alabama Rebels were mustered into the Confederate Army as Co. A of the 23^rd Alabama Infantry Regiment. In all, companies from 10 South Alabama counties, including Wilcox County, made up the 23^rd Alabama Infantry. Prominent Wilcox County citizens like Franklin King Beck and Felix Tait served as officers in the 23^rd Alabama.

After training and drilling for a short period of time in Montgomery, the 23^rd Alabama was ordered to Tennessee. The regiment remained in “The Volunteer State” until December 1862 when it was ordered to Vicksburg, Mississippi. Known as the Gibraltar of the South, Vicksburg was a major strategic strongpoint on the Mississippi River, and in May 1863, Union General Ulysses S. Grant and his army laid siege to the city.

This historic siege lasted 47 days before Confederate General John C. Pemberton surrendered the city on July 4, 1863. Soldiers in the 23^rd Alabama were among the 29,495 Confederates who surrendered, and were paroled and exchanged within 60 days of their capture. The City of Vicksburg would not officially celebrate the Fourth of July again until 1907.

After their exchange as prisoners of war, the regiment was ordered back to Tennessee, where they fought at the Battle of Lookout Mountain and the Battle of Missionary Ridge. Soldiers of the 23^rd Alabama were also among the Confederate forces who tried to stop Union General William Tecumseh Sherman during his infamous “March to the Sea.”

Col. Franklin King Beck was killed at Resaca, Georgia in May 1864, and the regiment later suffered great losses during the Dalton-Atlanta campaign. The few who survived returned to Tennessee and later moved into North Carolina in the waning days of the War Between the States. They eventually surrendered at Saulsbury, N.C. in May 1865.

In addition to Longmire, Tait and King, the muster roll of the South Alabama Rebels is a who’s who of family names that still endure today in Wilcox County. Officers in the company included First Lt. George H. Moye, Second Lt. J.W. Steen and Third Lt. Postell Threadgill. Non-commissioned officers in the company were First Sgt. William Hanks, Second Sgt. Dan Martin, Third Sgt. John Lott, Fourth Sgt. Henry Chandler, First Corporal R.W.L. Watson, Second Corporal John Burson and Third Corporal J.T. Murphy.

Privates in the company were John Curry, Thomas Dunnam, J.E. Finkley, Bran Glass, Tyler Garlington, George Geck, Jim Hinson, George Honisberger, Kahn Kark, Ben Long, Ben Marshall, John Marshall, William Morgan, John McMurphy, William McLeod, Joe Pickett, Tom Perkins, Josh Pritchett, Elias Powell, Tom Rigby, Frank Rigby, William Saunders, Joe Anderson, Marsh Anderson, Enoch Burson, Bartlett Burson, Amos Burson, William Boyd, J.F. Brunes, John Brooks, John Boyles, John Champion, William Champion, LeGrand Champion, Westry Dunn, Frank Dulaney, Hardy Finkley, Able Garlington, Thomas Glenn, Louis Hayes, Jim Huckabee, Joe Horton, Joe Kersey, William Luke, Jim Marshall, John Manns, Joe Mason Sr., Orin Martin, Jack McAlister, John Perkins, Toll Powell, Bartlett Peavy, Dr. Calb Rayburn, Green Rigby, Ben Richard, Billie Saunders, Hiram Smith, Isaac Thomas, Jack Trull, Jim Venson, William Watson, LaFayette Watson, W.T. Warren, James Sills, Leven Turner, James D. Tepper, Tom Vick, G.M. Watson, Rufus Watson and Jackson Warren.

There is no doubt that these men have many descendants still living in and around Wilcox County today. If anyone in the reading audience has any additional information about these men or the company they would like to share, please let me know. I’m sure that I’m not the only one who would enjoy hearing more about this historic military unit from Wilcox County.

(Got a comment or question? E-mail Lee Peacock at leepeacock2002@hotmail.com.)

Which music album would you select as the 'Greatest Album of All Time'?

In yesterday’s post about Pink Floyd’s iconic rock album, “The Wall,” I mentioned that in 2003 Rolling Stone magazine had ranked “The Wall” No. 87 on a best-of list called “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.”

Originally released in November 2003, the list was selected from over 1,600 albums by nearly 300 musicians, music critics and figures in the music business. You’ll find the complete list below, but if you’d like more information about the list itself and the albums that made the cut, visit http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-20120531. Without further ado, here’s the list:

ROLLING STONE’S “500 GREATEST ALBUMS OF ALL TIME”

1. The Beatles – Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
2. The Beach Boys – Pet Sounds
3. The Beatles – Revolver
4. Bob Dylan – Highway 61 Revisited
5. The Beatles – Rubber Soul

6. Marvin Gaye – What's Going On
7. The Rolling Stones – Exile On Main Street
8. The Clash – London Calling
9. Bob Dylan – Blonde On Blonde
10. The Beatles – The Beatles

11. Elvis Presley – The Sun Sessions
12. Miles Davis – Kind of Blue
13. The Velvet Underground – The Velvet Underground & Nico
14. The Beatles – Abbey Road
15. The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Are You Experienced

16. Bob Dylan – Blood on the Tracks
17. Nirvana – Nevermind
18. Bruce Springsteen – Born to Run
19. Van Morrison – Astral Weeks
20. Michael Jackson – Thriller

21. Chuck Berry – The Great Twenty-Eight
22. Robert Johnson – The Complete Recordings
23. John Lennon – Plastic Ono Band
24. Stevie Wonder – Innervisions
25. James Brown – Live At The Apollo

26. Fleetwood Mac – Rumours
27. U2 – The Joshua Tree
28. The Who – Who's Next
29. Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin
30. Joni Mitchell – Blue

31. Bob Dylan – Bringing It All Back Home
32. The Rolling Stones – Let It Bleed
33. Ramones – Ramones
34. The Band – Music From Big Pink
35. David Bowie – The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars

36. Carole King – Tapestry
37. Eagles – Hotel California
38. Muddy Waters – The Anthology: 1947-1972
39. The Beatles – Please Please Me
40. Love – Forever Changes

41. Sex Pistols – Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols
42. The Doors – The Doors
43. Pink Floyd – The Dark Side of the Moon
44. Patti Smith – Horses
45. The Band – The Band

46. Bob Marley & The Wailers – Legend
47. John Coltrane – A Love Supreme
48. Public Enemy – It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
49. The Allman Brothers Band – At Fillmore East
50. Little Richard – Here's Little Richard

51. Simon & Garfunkel – Bridge Over Troubled Waters
52. Al Green – Greatest Hits
53. The Beatles – Meet the Beatles!
54. Ray Charles – The Birth of Soul: The Complete Atlantic Rhythm and Blues Recordings 1952-1959
55. The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Electric Ladyland

56. Elvis Presley – Elvis Presley
57. Stevie Wonder – Songs In The Key Of Life
58. The Rolling Stones – Beggars Banquet
59. Creedence Clearwater Revival – Chronicle
60. Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band – Trout Mask Replica

61. Sly & The Family Stone – Greatest Hits
62. Guns N' Roses – Appetite For Destruction
63. U2 – Achtung Baby
64. The Rolling Stones – Sticky Fingers
65. Phil Spector – Back to Mono (1958-1969)

66. Van Morrison – Moondance
67. Radiohead – Kid A
68. Michael Jackson – Off The Wall
69. Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin IV
70. Billy Joel – The Stranger

71. Paul Simon – Graceland
72. Curtis Mayfield – Superfly
73. Led Zeppelin – Physical Graffiti
74. Neil Young – After the Gold Rush
75. James Brown – Star Time

76. Prince & The Revolution– Purple Rain
77. AC/DC – Back In Black
78. Otis Redding – Otis Blue
79. Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin II
80. John Lennon – Imagine

81. The Clash – The Clash
82. Neil Young – Harvest
83. The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Axis: Bold As Love
84. Aretha Franklin – I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You
85. Aretha Franklin – Lady Soul

86. Bruce Springsteen – Born In The U.S.A.
87. Pink Floyd – The Wall
88. Johnny Cash – At Folsom Prison
89. Dusty Springfield – Dusty In Memphis
90. Stevie Wonder – Talking Book

91. Elton John – Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
92. Buddy Holly & The Crickets – 20 Golden Greats
93. Prince – Sign 'O' The Times
94. Hank Williams – 40 Greatest Hits
95. Miles Davis – Bitches Brew

96. The Who – Tommy
97. Bob Dylan – The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
98. Elvis Costello – This Year's Model
99. Sly & The Family Stone – There's a Riot Goin' On
100. The Zombies – Odessey and Oracle

101. Frank Sinatra – In the Wee Small Hours
102. Cream – Fresh Cream
103. John Coltrane – Giant Steps
104. James Taylor – Sweet Baby James
105. Ray Charles – Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music

106. Ramones – Rocket to Russia
107. Sam Cooke – Portrait of a Legend 1951-1964
108. David Bowie – Hunky Dory
109. The Rolling Stones – Aftermath
110. The Velvet Underground – Loaded

111. Radiohead – The Bends
112. The Mamas & The Papas – If You Can Believe Your Eyes And Ears
113. Joni Mitchell – Court and Spark
114. Cream – Disraeli Gears
115. The Who – The Who Sell Out

116. The Rolling Stones – Out of Our Heads
117. Derek and The Dominos – Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs
118. Kanye West – Late Registration
119. Etta James – At Last!
120. The Byrds – Sweetheart Of The Rodeo

121. Sly & The Family Stone – Stand!
122. Jimmy Cliff – The Harder They Come
123. Run-D.M.C. – Raising Hell
124. Moby Grape – Moby Grape
125. Janis Joplin – Pearl

126. Bob Marley & The Wailers – Catch A Fire
127. The Byrds – Younger Than Yesterday
128. The Stooges – Raw Power
129. Talking Heads – Remain in Light
130. Television – Marquee Moon

131. Black Sabbath – Paranoid
132. Various Artists – Saturday Night Fever
133. Bruce Springsteen – The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle
134. The Notorious B.I.G. – Ready to Die
135. Pavement – Slanted and Enchanted

136. Elton John – Greatest Hits
137. The Replacements – Tim
138. Dr. Dre – The Chronic
139. The Meters – Rejuvenation
140. Blondie – Parallel Lines

141. B.B. King – Live At The Regal
142. Phil Spector – A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector
143. Dr. John – Gris-Gris
144. N.W.A – Straight Outta Compton
145. Steely Dan – Aja

146. Jefferson Airplane – Surrealistic Pillow
147. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young – Déjà Vu
148. Led Zeppelin – Houses Of The Holy
149. Santana – Santana
150. Bruce Springsteen – Darkness on the Edge of Town

151. Arcade Fire – Funeral
152. The B-52's – The B-52's
153. A Tribe Called Quest – The Low End Theory
154. Howlin' Wolf – Moanin' in the Moonlight
155. The Pretenders – Pretenders

156. Beastie Boys – Paul's Boutique
157. Joy Division – Closer
158. Elton John – Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy
159. Kiss – Alive
160. T. Rex – Electric Warrior

161. Otis Redding – The Dock of the Bay
162. Radiohead – OK Computer
163. Prince – 1999
164. Linda Ronstadt – The Very Best of Linda Ronstadt
165. Marvin Gaye – Let's Get It On

166. Elvis Costello – Imperial Bedroom
167. Metallica – Master of Puppets
168. Elvis Costello – My Aim Is True
169. Bob Marley & The Wailers – Exodus
170. The Who – Live At Leeds

171. The Byrds – The Notorious Byrd Brothers
172. Rod Stewart – Every Picture Tells A Story
173. Todd Rundgren – Something/Anything?
174. Bob Dylan – Desire
175. Carpenters – Close To You

176. Aerosmith – Rocks
177. Funkadelic – One Nation Under A Groove
178. Curtis Mayfield & The Impressions – The Anthology 1961-1977
179. ABBA – The Definitive Collection
180. The Rolling Stones – The Rolling Stones, Now!

181. Bob Marley & The Wailers – Natty Dread
182. Fleetwood Mac – Fleetwood Mac
183. Willie Nelson – Red Headed Stranger
184. Madonna – The Immaculate Collection
185. The Stooges – The Stooges

186. Sly & The Family Stone – FRESH
187. Peter Gabriel – So
188. Buffalo Springfield – Buffalo Springfield Again
189. Quicksilver Messenger Service – Happy Trails
190. Elvis Presley – From Elvis In Memphis

191. The Stooges – Fun House
192. The Flying Burrito Brothers – The Gilded Palace Of Sin
193. Green Day – Dookie
194. Lou Reed – Transformer
195. John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers – Blues Breakers

196. Various Artists – Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era, 1965-1968
197. R.E.M. – Murmur
198. Little Walter – The Best of Little Walter
199. The Strokes – Is This It
200. AC/DC – Highway to Hell

201. Nine Inch Nails – The Downward Spiral
202. Simon & Garfunkel – Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme
203. Michael Jackson – Bad
204. Bob Dylan – Modern Times
205. Cream – Wheels Of Fire

206. Prince – Dirty Mind
207. Santana – Abraxas
208. Cat Stevens – Tea For The Tillerman
209. Pearl Jam – Ten
210. Neil Young & Crazy Horse – Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere

211. Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here
212. Pavement – Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
213. The Rolling Stones – Tattoo You
214. Ike & Tina Turner – Proud Mary - the Best of Ike and Tina Turner
215. York Dolls – New York Dolls

216. Bo Diddley – Bo Diddley / Go Bo Diddley
217. Bobby Bland – Two Steps From The Blues
218. The Smiths – The Queen Is Dead
219. Beastie Boys – Licensed to Ill
220. The Meters – Look-Ka Py Py

221. My Bloody Valentine – Loveless
222. Professor Longhair – New Orleans Piano
223. U2 – War
224. Neil Diamond – The Neil Diamond Collection
225. Green Day – American Idiot

226. Bruce Springsteen – Nebraska
227. Pixies – Doolittle
228. Eric B. & Rakim – Paid In Full
229. Aerosmith – Toys In The Attic
230. Bonnie Raitt – Nick Of Time

231. Queen – A Night At The Opera
232. The Kinks – The Kink Kronikles
233. The Byrds – Mr. Tambourine Man
234. Simon & Garfunkel – Bookends
235. Patsy Cline – The Ultimate Collection

236. Jackie Wilson – Mr. Excitement!
237. The Who – My Generation
238. Howlin' Wolf – Howlin' Wolf
239. Madonna – Like a Prayer
240. Steely Dan – Can't Buy A Thrill

241. The Replacements – Let It Be
242. Run-D.M.C. – Run-D.M.C.
243. Black Sabbath – Black Sabbath
244. Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP
245. Jerry Lee Lewis – All Killer, No Filler: The Anthology

246. The Mothers of Invention – Freak Out!
247. Grateful Dead – Live/Dead
248. Ornette Coleman – The Shape of Jazz to Come
249. R.E.M. – Automatic for the People
250. Jay-Z – Reasonable Doubt

251. David Bowie – Low
252. Jay-Z – The Blueprint
253. Bruce Springsteen – The River
254. Otis Redding – Complete & Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul
255. Metallica – Metallica

256. Kraftwerk – Trans-Europe Express
257. Whitney Houston – Whitney Houston
258. The Kinks – The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society
259. Janet Jackson – The Velvet Rope
260. Willie Nelson – Stardust

261. Grateful Dead – American Beauty
262. Crosby, Stills & Nash – Crosby, Stills & Nash
263. Tracy Chapman – Tracy Chapman
264. Grateful Dead – Workingman's Dead
265. Ray Charles – The Genius of Ray Charles

266. Blood, Sweat & Tears – Child Is Father to the Man
267. The Who – Quadrophenia
268. Paul Simon – Paul Simon
269. The Jesus and Mary Chain – Psychocandy
270. The Rolling Stones – Some Girls

271. The Beach Boys – Today!
272. Sleater-Kinney – Dig Me Out
273. Smokey Robinson and The Miracles – Going to a Go-Go
274. Labelle – Nightbirds
275. Eminem – The Slim Shady LP

276. Parliament – Mothership Connection
277. Janet Jackson – Rhythm Nation 1814
278. Various Artists – Anthology of American Folk Music
279. David Bowie – Aladdin Sane
280. U2 – All That You Can't Leave Behind

281. Mary J. Blige – My Life
282. Muddy Waters – Folk Singer
283. Barry White – Can't Get Enough
284. The Cars – The Cars
285. Stevie Wonder – Music Of My Mind

286. Al Green – I'm Still in Love With You
287. X – Los Angeles
288. Grateful Dead – Anthem of the Sun
289. The Kinks – Something Else By The Kinks
290. Al Green – Call Me

291. Talking Heads – Talking Heads: 77
292. Bob Dylan and The Band – The Basement Tapes
293. The Velvet Underground – White Light/White Heat
294. MC5 – Kick Out the Jams
295. Leonard Cohen – Songs Of Love And Hate

296. The Smiths – Meat Is Murder
297. The Mothers of Invention – We're Only In It For The Money
298. Kanye West – The College Dropout
299. Weezer – Weezer (Blue Album)
300. Black Sabbath – Master of Reality

301. Dolly Parton – Coat Of Many Colors
302. Public Enemy – Fear Of A Black Planet
303. Bob Dylan – John Wesley Harding
304. Jeff Buckley – Grace
305. Lucinda Williams – Car Wheels On A Gravel Road

306. Beck – Odelay
307. The Beatles – A Hard Day's Night
308. Frank Sinatra – Songs for Swingin' Lovers
309. Creedence Clearwater Revival – Willy And The Poor Boys
310. Red Hot Chili Peppers – Blood Sugar Sex Magik

311. Various Artists – The Sun Records Collection
312. Jane's Addiction – Nothing's Shocking
313. Nirvana – MTV Unplugged in New York
314. Lauryn Hill – The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
315. Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers – Damn The Torpedoes

316. The Velvet Underground – The Velvet Underground
317. Pixies – Surfer Rosa
318. The O'Jays – Back Stabbers
319. Bob Marley & The Wailers – Burnin'
320. Radiohead – Amnesiac

321. Nick Drake – Pink Moon
322. Randy Newman – Sail Away
323. The Police – Ghost In The Machine
324. David Bowie – Station to Station
325. Eric Clapton – Slowhand

326. The Cure – Disintegration
327. Liz Phair – Exile in Guyville
328. Sonic Youth – Daydream Nation
329. James Brown – In the Jungle Groove
330. Neil Young – Tonight's the Night

331. The Beatles – Help!
332. Richard and Linda Thompson – Shoot Out the Lights
333. X – Wild Gift
334. Graham Parker – Squeezing Out Sparks
335. Soundgarden – Superunknown

336. Radiohead – In Rainbows
337. Jethro Tull – Aqualung
338. Big Brother & The Holding Company – Cheap Thrills
339. Tom Waits – The Heart of Saturday Night
340. Black Flag – Damaged

341. Moby – Play
342. Depeche Mode – Violator
343. Meat Loaf – Bat Out Of Hell
344. Lou Reed – Berlin
345. Talking Heads – Stop Making Sense

346. De La Soul – 3 Feet High and Rising
347. Pink Floyd – The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn
348. Muddy Waters – At Newport 1960
349. Jay-Z – The Black Album
350. The Yardbirds – Roger the Engineer

351. Neil Young & Crazy Horse – Rust Never Sleeps
352. Dire Straits – Brothers In Arms
353. Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
354. Billy Joel – 52nd Street
355. The Yardbirds – Having A Rave Up With The Yardbirds

356. Randy Newman – 12 Songs
357. The Rolling Stones – Between the Buttons
358. Miles Davis – Sketches Of Spain
359. Elton John – Honky Chateau
360. Buzzcocks – Singles Going Steady

361. Outkast – Stankonia
362. The Smashing Pumpkins – Siamese Dream
363. Order – Substance
364. The Doors – L.A. Woman
365. Rage Against the Machine – Rage Against the Machine

366. Johnny Cash – American Recordings
367. Madonna – Ray of Light
368. Eagles – Eagles
369. The Smiths – Louder Than Bombs
370. Mott the Hoople – Mott

371. Arctic Monkeys – Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
372. The Police – Reggatta De Blanc
373. Jefferson Airplane – Volunteers
374. Roxy Music – Siren
375. Jackson Browne – Late For The Sky

376. Björk – Post
377. John Lee Hooker – The Ultimate Collection (1948-1990)
378. Oasis – (What's the Story) Morning Glory?
379. TLC – Crazysexycool
380. Toots and The Maytals – Funky Kingston

381. The Beach Boys – Smile
382. Modern Lovers – Modern Lovers
383. Talking Heads – More Songs About Buildings and Food
384. The Who – A Quick One
385. Bob Dylan – Love And Theft

386. Steely Dan – Pretzel Logic
387. Wu-Tang Clan – Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
388. Various Artists – The Indestructible Beat of Soweto
389. Don Henley – The End of the Innocence
390. The White Stripes – Elephant

391. Jackson Browne – The Pretender
392. The Beatles – Let It Be
393. M.I.A. – Kala
394. Randy Newman – Good Old Boys
395. LCD Soundsystem – Sound of Silver

396. Roxy Music – For Your Pleasure
397. Massive Attack – Blue Lines
398. ZZ Top – Eliminator
399. Tom Waits – Rain Dogs
400. The Temptations – Anthology

401. Red Hot Chili Peppers – Californication
402. Nas – Illmatic
403. Lynyrd Skynyrd – (pronounced 'lĕh-'nérd 'skin-'nérd)
404. Dr. John – Dr. John's Gumbo
405. Big Star – Radio City

406. PJ Harvey – Rid Of Me
407. The Clash – Sandinista!
408. Sinead O' Connor – I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got
409. The Doors – Strange Days
410. Bob Dylan – Time Out Of Mind

411. Eric Clapton – 461 Ocean Boulevard
412. Wire – Pink Flag
413. Minutemen – Double Nickels on the Dime
414. The Go-Go's – Beauty and the Beat
415. Van Halen – Van Halen

416. Tom Waits – Mule Variations
417. U2 – Boy
418. Wings – Band on the Run
419. Portishead – Dummy
420. Buddy Holly & The Crickets – The "Chirping" Crickets

421. Various Artists – The Best of the Girl Groups
422. The Ronettes – Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes Featuring Veronica
423. Diana Ross and The Supremes – Anthology
424. Bruce Springsteen – The Rising
425. Gram Parsons – Grievous Angel

426. Cheap Trick – At Budokan
427. Peter Wolf – Sleepless
428. The Police – Outlandos D'Amour
429. Brian Eno – Another Green World
430. Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend

431. PJ Harvey – Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea
432. Brian Eno – Here Come the Warm Jets
433. George Harrison – All Things Must Pass
434. Big Star – #1 Record
435. Nirvana – In Utero

436. Beck – Sea Change
437. Lil' Wayne – Tha Carter III
438. The Cure – Boys Don't Cry
439. Sam Cooke – Live At The Harlem Square Club, 1963
440. The Pogues – Rum, Sodomy & The Lash

441. Suicide – Suicide
442. Devo – Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!
443. Cheap Trick – In Color
444. War – The World Is A Ghetto
445. Steve Miller Band – Fly Like An Eagle

446. MC5 – Back in the USA
447. Stan Getz & João Gilberto – Getz/Gilberto
448. The Police – Synchronicity
449. Big Star – Third/Sister Lovers
450. Jackson Browne – For Everyman

451. Amy Winehouse – Back To Black
452. John Prine – John Prine
453. EPMD – Strictly Business
454. Alice Cooper – Love It to Death
455. Los Lobos – How Will the Wolf Survive?

456. Marvin Gaye – Here, My Dear
457. My Morning Jacket – Z
458. Elton John – Tumbleweed Connection
459. The Drifters – The Drifters' Golden Hits
460. Hole – Live Through This

461. Public Image Ltd. – Metal Box
462. R.E.M. – Document
463. Echo & The Bunnymen – Heaven Up Here
464. Def Leppard – Hysteria
465. The Magnetic Fields – 69 Love Songs

466. Coldplay – A Rush of Blood to the Head
467. Bruce Springsteen – Tunnel of Love
468. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band – The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
469. Fugees – The Score
470. LL Cool J – Radio

471. Richard and Linda Thompson – I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight
472. George Michael – Faith
473. The Smiths – The Smiths
474. Manu Chao – Próxima Estación: Esperanza
475. Elvis Costello & The Attractions – Armed Forces

476. The Notorious B.I.G. – Life After Death
477. Merle Haggard – Down Every Road 1962-1994
478. Loretta Lynn – All Time Greatest Hits
479. Funkadelic – Maggot Brain
480. Raekwon – Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…

481. D'Angelo – Voodoo
482. Steve Earle – Guitar Town
483. Gang of Four – Entertainment!
484. Mott the Hoople – All The Young Dudes
485. Pearl Jam – Vitalogy

486. Earth, Wind & Fire – That's The Way Of The World
487. Cyndi Lauper – She's So Unusual
488. Husker Du – New Day Rising
489. Kiss – Destroyer
490. ZZ Top – Tres Hombres

491. Albert King – Born Under A Bad Sign
492. Eurythmics – Touch
493. Wilco – Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
494. MGMT – Oracular Spectacular
495. Bonnie Raitt – Give It Up

496. Boz Scaggs – Boz Scaggs
497. The White Stripes – White Blood Cells
498. The Stone Roses – The Stone Roses
499. B.B. King – Live In Cook County Jail
500. OutKast – Aquemini

In the end, what do you think about this list? How many of these albums have you listened to? Which do you own? Which is your personal favorite? Let us know in the comments section below.

Today in History for Nov. 26, 2014

Vlad the Impaler (Dracula)

Nov. 26, 1476 – Vlad the Impaler (Dracula) defeated Basarab Laiota with the help of Stephen the Great and Stephen V Báthory and became the ruler of Wallachia for the third time.

Nov. 26, 1819 – The Alabama state legislature approved the articles of incorporation for Coffeeville, Ala.

Nov. 26, 1863 – United States President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed November 26 as a national Thanksgiving Day, to be celebrated annually on the final Thursday of November.

Nov. 26, 1863 - Confederate troops under General Braxton Bragg retreated from Chattanooga, Tenn. Bragg resigned shortly thereafter.

Nov. 26, 1863 - The Mine Run campaign began when Union General George Meade moved against General Robert E. Lee after months of inaction following the Battle of Gettysburg. Meade sent three corps against Lee's right flank around a small valley called Mine Run. By Dec. 1, Meade realized that to continue his attack would be foolish and he began pulling his men back across the Rappahannock River into winter quarters.

Nov. 26, 1885 - The first meteor trail was photographed in Prague, Czechoslovakia. It was part of the Andromedid meteor shower.

Nov. 26, 1896 – Witnesses in Oakland, Calif. observed in the sky on this date a "giant cigar shaped ship." It was one of thousands of mysterious airship sightings that continued into the spring of 1897.

Nov. 26, 1922 – Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon became the first people to enter the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun in over 3,000 years.

Nov. 26, 1923 – The “horribly mangled” body of George Neferos, a Greek man from Chicago, was found on the railroad tracks near Sparta, Ala. during the morning. Papers in his pockets showed that he’d been discharged from the Army at Camp Grant, Ill. on May 31, 1919. Authorities believed that he was riding on a flat car, fell asleep and feel off a fast moving freight train.

Nov. 26, 1946 – NFL lineman and head coach Art Shell was born in Charleston, South Carolina. He was an offensive lineman for the Oakland and Los Angeles Raiders from 1968 until 1982. He coached the Raiders from 1989 to 1994 and again, briefly, in 2006.

Nov. 26, 1968 – The Evergreen City Council created a Public Housing Authority and agreed to proceed with plans for a low rental housing project in Evergreen, Ala. D.T. Stuart III, an official of the Bank of Evergreen, was named chairman of the authority. Other directors included Byron Warren, H.E. Scott Jr., Walter Poole and Ed Smith.

Nov. 26, 1950 – During the Korean War, Army PFC Robert H. Hart of Conecuh County died while a prisoner of war in Korea. Army Sgt. Herbert W. Frazier of Escambia County died while missing in Korea.

Nov. 26, 1965 – The Betts Family of Monroeville presented the State Archives in Montgomery with a portrait of early Monroe-Conecuh County settler John Green. The Betts were descendants of Julia Green, a daughter of John Green and wife, Nancy Betts Jones.

Nov. 26, 1977 – Former Conecuh County athlete and coach Wendell Hart passed away in Atlanta, Ga. at the age of 60.

Nov. 26, 1998 - Barry Sanders of the Detroit Lions became only the second running back in NFL history to run for more than 15,000 career yards.

David Baldacci's 'The Target' tops best-sellers list this week

(This post was originally supposed to have been posted on Sunday, but wasn't due to an oversight.)

Today is Sunday, so that means that it’s time for my weekly breakdown of this week’s Publishers Weekly Best-Sellers Lists. According to those lists, there are two new books at the top of the four major best-sellers lists this week.

"The Target" by David Baldacci replaced "The Collector" by Nora Roberts as the No. 1 book on the hardcover fiction best-sellers list.

"Smart Money Smart Kids" by Dave Ramsey and Rachel Cruz replaced "Flash Boys" by Michael Lewis as the top book on the hardcover nonfiction best-sellers list.

"Never Go Back" by Lee Child remained the top book on the mass market paperback best-sellers list for the fourth week in a row.

"Heaven is for Real" by Todd Burpo remained the top book on the trade paperbacks best-sellers list for the third week in a row.

There were eight new books on this week’s hardcover fiction best-sellers list that weren’t on the list last week. Those books (and their places on the list) included "The Target" by David Baldacci (1), "Insurgent" by Veronica Roth (2), "Allegiant" by Veronica Roth (3), "Chestnut Street" by Maeve Binchy (5), "Frozen" by Victoria Saxon (6), "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green (7), "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein (8) and "Oh, The Places You'll Go" by Dr. Seuss (10).

There were nine new books on this week’s hardcover nonfiction best-sellers list that wasn’t on the list last week. Those books included "Smart Money Smart Kids" by Dave Ramsey and Rachel Cruz (1), "Everybody's Got Something" by Robin Roberts and Veronica Chambers (2), "Minecraft: Redstone Handbook" by Scholastic (3), "Minecraft: Essential Handbook" by Scholastic (4), "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young (6), "A Fighting Chance" by Elizabeth Warren (7), "Optimal Living 360" by Sanjay Jain (8), "StrengthsFinder" by Tom Rath (9) and “Pride Over Pity” by Kailyn Lowry (13).

There were two new books on this week’s mass market paperbacks best-sellers list that weren’t on the list last week. Those books included “Hunted” by Karen Robards (10) and “Sawyer” by Delores Fossen (15).

There were two books on this week’s trade paperbacks best-sellers list that weren’t on the list last week. They included “Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn (2) and “Gone” by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge (4).

As a reminder, I’m posting these lists each Sunday because they, as a whole, represent a great, contemporary recommended reading list. These lists are initially released each week on Thursday, and if you’re interested in reading them then, visit Publishers Weekly’s Web site at www.publishersweekly.com. Below you’ll find all four of this week’s best-seller lists.

FICTION

1. "The Target" by David Baldacci

2. "Insurgent" by Veronica Roth

3. "Allegiant" by Veronica Roth

4. "The Collector" by Nora Roberts

5. "Chestnut Street" by Maeve Binchy

6. "Frozen" by Victoria Saxon

7. "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green

8. "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein

9. "The Goldfinch" Donna Tartt

10. "Oh, The Places You'll Go" by Dr. Seuss

11. “The Invention of Wings” by Sue Monk Kidd

12. “Carnal Curiosity” by Stuart Woods

13. “Keep Quiet” by Lisa Scottoline

14. “Power Play” by Danielle Steel

15. “Blossom Street Brides” by Debbie Macomber

NONFICTION

1. "Smart Money Smart Kids" by Dave Ramsey and Rachel Cruz

2. "Everybody's Got Something" by Robin Roberts and Veronica Chambers

3. "Minecraft: Redstone Handbook" by Scholastic

4. "Minecraft: Essential Handbook" by Scholastic

5. "Flash Boys" by Michael Lewis

6. "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young

7. "A Fighting Chance" by Elizabeth Warren

8. "Optimal Living 360" by Sanjay Jain

9. "StrengthsFinder" by Tom Rath

10. "Grain Brain" by David Perlmutter

11. “The Women of Duck Commander” by Kay Robertson, et. al.

12. “Everything I Need to Know I Learned from a Little Golden Book” by Diane E. Muldrow

13. “Pride Over Pity” by Kailyn Lowry

14. “Players First: Coaching from the Inside Out” by John Calipari and Michael Sokolove

15. “The Blood Sugar Solution 10-Day Detox Diet” by Mark Hyman

MASS MARKET PAPERBACKS

1. “Never Go Back” by Lee Child

2. “Starting Now” by Debbie Macomber

3. “Daddy’s Gone a Hunting” by Mary Higgins Clark

4. “Forget Me Not” by Fern Michaels

5. “Best Kept Secrets” by Sandra Brown

6. “Alex Cross, Run” by James Patterson

7. “The Panther” by Nelson DeMille

8. “Tell Me” by Lisa Jackson

9. “The Hit” by David Baldacci

10. “Hunted” by Karen Robards

11. “Winds of Change: Island of Flowers/Untamed” by Nora Roberts

12. “The Devaney Brothers: Ryan & Sean” by Sherryl Woods

13. “Doing Hard Time” by Stuart Woods

14. “North to Alaska” by Debbie Macomber

15. “Sawyer” by Delores Fossen

TRADE PAPERBACKS

1. “Heaven Is for Real” by Todd Burpo and Lynn Vincent

2. “Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn

3. “Shadow Spell” by Nora Roberts

4. “Gone” by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge

5. “Orphan Train” by Christina Baker Kline

6. “Whiskey Beach” by Nora Roberts

7. “King and Maxwell” by David Baldacci

8. “Four Blood Moons: Something Is About to Change” by John Hagee

9. “Skinny Meals: Everything You Need to Lose Weight – Fast!” by Bob Harper

10. “Four Friends” by Robyn Carr

11. “Mistress” by James Patterson and David Ellis

12. “Behind the Beautiful Forevers” by Katherine Boo

13. “Fly Away” by Kristin Hannah

14. “Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness” by Susannah Cahalan

15. “The Last Bride” by Beverly Lewis

In the end, let me know if you’ve had a chance to read any of these books. What did you think about them? Which would you recommend? Let us know in the comments section below.

The Evergreen Courant's Sports Flashback for May 24, 2012

19 YEARS AGO
MAY 27, 1993

“OPEN HORSE SHOW: The Blue Ribbon Saddle Club is sponsoring an Open Horse Show Sat., June 19, 3 p.m. at the R.P. Shelley Arena, Hwy. 84 West, Andalusia, Ala.
“Classes include: Halter, Pleasure, Gaited, Timed events, Saddle Horse, Pee Wee and Walking Horse. Everyone is welcome.”

“EVERGREEN TINY MITE & PEE WEE CHEERLEADERS: Evergreen Tiny Mite and Pee Wee Jaguar Cheerleader sign-up will be held Sat., May 29, at the Carver Recreation Center from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. There will be a $10 sign-up fee.”

34 YEARS AGO
MAY 25, 1978

“Sparta Academy athletes are recognized: Girl and boy athletes of Sparta Academy were honored at the Sparta Quarterback Club’s annual Athletic Banquet held in the school gymnatorium on Thursday night.
“Wayne Frazier, an all-everything at Evergreen High School and former star football player at Auburn University and for the Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers of the NFL, was the principal speaker. Wayne, who played in the Super Bowl with the Chiefs, now lives in Brewton.
“The Jerry Peacock Memorial Trophy was presented for the first time at the banquet with the honor going to Gray Stevens. The Trophy is given by the Class of 1977 in memory of their late classmate, who was an outstanding athlete and student and drowned in a tragic accident last year.
“The Class of 1977 has provided a big, handsome trophy which will remain at the school with the name of the athlete winning the honor to be engraved on it each year. The Jerry Peacock Memorial Trophy is awarded to a senior, male athlete who has been outstanding in football, basketball and baseball and is selected the most outstanding by the votes of the athletes participating in those sports.
“Athletes recognized in the various sports were: Girls Basketball: Best Defensive Player, Sharon Johnson; Best Offensive Player, Angie Driver; Best Free Throw Shooter, Michell Joyner; and Most Valuable Player, Mary Claire Robinson. Girls Softball: Hustler, Rosemary Ralls; Best Batting Average, Missy Thacker; and Most Valuable Player, Mary Claire Robinson.
“Football: Best Offensive Lineman, Harry Crabtree; Best Defensive Lineman, Greg Anthony; Best Offensive Back, Ronny McKenzie; and Best Defensive Back, Johnny Ralls.
“Basketball: Most Valuable Player, Gray Stevens; Best Rebounder, Tony Raines; Best Scorer, Terry Peacock; and Best Free Throw Percentage, Stevens.
“Recognized for winning All District Honors were: football, Harry Crabtree and David Sabino; basketball, Gray Stevens; and baseball, Terry Peacock."

“Tony Rogers, outstanding quarterback for the Evergreen High School Aggies, signs a full grant-in-aid scholarship to Livingston State University as his high school coach, Charles Branum, looks on. Rogers was an outstanding passer and runner for the Aggies.”

49 YEARS AGO
MAY 23, 1963

“Aggie Baseballers Given Player Awards: The Evergreen Aggies have selected the winners of the baseball team’s three awards for the 1963 season, Coach Henry Allmon announced this week.
“Selected as the team’s Most Valuable Player was Jimmy Weaver, son of Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Weaver. The first member of the Evergreen Baseball Hall of Fame is Donnie Jones, son of Mr. and Mrs. E.L. Jones. The winner of the Batting Championship Trophy is Sid Lambert, son of Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Lambert, with an average of .370. Lambert barely edged out Weaver, who hit .367. Weaver and Jones were chosen by a vote by the team. Jones is a senior and both Lambert and Weaver are juniors.”

“Two Local Players in All-Star Game: Jimmy Weaver, son of Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Weaver, and Sid Lambert, son of Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Lambert, participated in the 1963 East-West High School All-Star Game on Thurs., May 16, at Patterson Field in Montgomery.
“Lambert and Weaver played for the West squad which emerged victorious, 5-2. Weaver pitched for the last three innings, surrendering two runs and three hits. He doubled in his only appearance at the plate. Lambert caught for six innings and batted twice, but failed to get a hit.”

“The Evergreen Aggies wound up their baseball season in Red Level Wednesday afternoon with an 11-5 victory over the host Tigers to give them an 8-5 record for the season. The game ended on a sour note however, as Aggie rightfielder Donnie Jones ran into a light pole while chasing a fly ball and had to be taken to the Conecuh County Hospital in Evergreen.”

64 YEARS AGO
MAY 25, 1948

“AGGIES PLAY INTRA-SQUAD GAME MONDAY NIGHT by John Law Robinson: The first annual Green and White football game will be held at Brooks Stadium Monday night at 8 p.m. Preceding the varsity contest, a Green and White Junior game will be played.
“The Greens, have a slight weight advantage over the Whites in both the line and backfield. The Green line will be about four pounds heavier per man and the line will outweigh the White forward wall by approximately three pounds per man.
“Leading the Greens’ offensive attack will be Co-Captain John Green Ralls, who will be running from the tailback position for the first time. Little Mudge Lee will be handling the ball from the quarterback slot and hard-running Nick Stallworth has been shifted from end to wingback. At fullback, the Greenies have Jeff Moorer, who also backs up the line on defense.
“Co-Captain Sammy Hanks heads a forward wall of seven experienced linemen, six having earned their monograms. Hanks and Max Pope will start at the tackle posts while Dean Shaver and Donald Wiggins, both former backfield men, will open at guards. Dudley Bartlett will open at center and will back up the line along with Jeff Moorer on defense. Benton Carpenter and Pete White, a pair of pass-snagging ends, will start, at those positions.”

79 YEARS AGO
MAY 25, 1933

“The Evergreen colored baseball team played Brewton last Monday, losing 2-0. A small, black, left-handed flinger from Brewton, who threw sweeping curve balls interspersed with a high ‘hard one,’ kept such redoubtable sluggers as Wilson Cross, Willie Lloyd and Sim Brown at bay throughout the game.
“Evergreen will go to Andalusia to play the team representing that city on next Mon., May 29. The local team defeated Andalusia here last week, and it is expected a large crowd of colored fans will accompany the team there for the game.”

“Locals Win Thursday; Lose Sunday: Evergreen broke even in last week’s baseball play, winning one from Luverne and losing one on Sunday to Ft. Deposit, the latter affair being ‘one of this things’ – weird in every respect of the word. Fielding, umpiring and base-running was of the fanatical kind.
“Paced by Joe Hagood, slugging third baseman, Evergreen defeated Luverne last Thursday, 11-10, at Gantt Field. Hagood slammed out two doubles to right field, lacing one over Stringer’s head and dragging the second over first base and down the foul line to the right field fence. Skeeter Amos, local centerfielder, banged out a three-base clout to the same territory to account for the third extra-base hit by the local club.
“As the score indicates, the game was a slugfest from beginning to end, Evergreen using two hurlers, while Luverne used only one pitcher, in a losing way. Bradley, Luverne outfielder, hit a double and a triple, to lead his team at bat.”