By Larry Walker
February 11, 2013
I’ve been writing this column, weekly, for eleven plus years, and have enjoyed doing it very much. I think it can be improved. Look for shorter columns with paragraphs of less length. Here goes with several subjects.
* College football fans know that National Signing Day was last week. Georgia signed about thirty, and had lots of threes and fours, but were short on fives. Those who are interested understand this system.
Ray Goff, in commenting on signing day, told me of his once having one scholarship left so Georgia gave it to Robert Edwards out of Washington County.He was their last choice. Later, Edwards was drafted by the NFL in the first round. So much for knowing who was going to be great.
Alabama, of course, Auburn, Florida and Mississippi were rated higher than Georgia. But, when you sign thirty great athletes, like Georgia did, there’s probably a ‘Robert Edwards’, or two, in the bunch.
* Politics is always interesting for the interested. Of late, at least in Georgia, U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss’ announcement that he would not run, again, has caused great surprise and interest. Already, Congressman Paul Broun has declared his candidacy. I’ve heard from Congressman Jack Kingston, who also expressed interest. Our own Ross Tolleson is being touted by some.
There could be eight or ten legitimate candidates to qualify for this race.
I quail hunted with Senator Chambliss, in South Georgia, along with Dink NeSmith and Rusty Griffin, about a week before Chambliss made his ‘won’t run again announcement’. I thought the Senator was rather somber and somewhat pensive that day. Now I know why.
We will miss Senator Chambliss. He was trying to solve problems and is, in my view, a statesman. Georgia will miss him. RAFB will miss him. I will miss him.
* Want a good Sunday School lesson or a civic club program? Invite Robert Jones to talk about the Middle East and what is going on over there. He was at our Sunday School class, The Pathfinders, recently, and did a superb job. Robert is the son of Bobby and Laurie Jones, and is the Youth Director at Grace Church.
* Two relatively recent departures by death need to be mentioned. Alice Gilbert died at age 101. She would have been 102 in May. What a kind, positive, uplifting person she was. It would be a great world if all had Alice Gilbert’s spirit. By the way, Mrs. Gilbert was still driving until the end of her life. Her great friend, Ginny Mason, said this about her: “Alice was loyal, kind and unselfish. She was also fun. I miss her every day!”
Wayne Ragin, a 1972 graduate of Perry High School, died on November 29, 2012. Wayne was living in Atlanta when he died, but for a few years he and his wife, Patrice, lived in Perry. Wayne was President of the Senior Class at PHS. Like his Mom and Dad, Herman and Gloria Ragin, he was uncommonly handsome. Wayne, an African-American, and from Perry, ran for Houston County Commission as a young man and against a credible Warner Robins candidate. Although Wayne did not win, he got over 10,000 votes. Remarkable. But, then again, Wayne was a remarkable man. And, he would have made a very good commissioner.
* Much rain the last two weeks. Hallelujah! I wonder about those who never want it to rain. Rain is life. Without rain, all living things perish.
* Cyberwar. Years ago, when Russia was our main concern, I told Janice that “one day the Russians will over-fly us, erase all of our computers, and we will be dead in the water.” Well, it’s now the Chinese with an increasingly aggressive Cyberwar. It’s scary.
* Jere Morehead will be the next President of the University of Georgia. Morehead is popular with UGA students and UGA faculty, and most of all of those who know him. I believe that he will be a very effective and respected President. I certainly hope so.
That’s it for this week. I still need to work on length. I’ll try to do better next week. Selah.
*For other information, see our website and blog: www.galawyersonline.com
/>
/>
/>
Comments on this entry are closed.