Tuesday, March 1, 2011

YOU ARE THERE - March 4, 1981


There was  a full scale investigation of the disappearance of Soperton banker Gary Ladue. Do you remember how it turned out?

David Sanford was to be honored as Soperton's latest Eagle Scout.

Lion Bill Peterson brought Carl Gillis to the meeting as guest speaker.

Clayton Stephens administered the oath of office to Councilman Donnie Cammack.

Windsor's column: The subscription campaign.

Ricks's column: Soperton - City of 100,000.

Pine Poll: When asked opinions of the governor's race, selected answers were: Sam Nunn if he would run, Joe Frank Harris, Billy Lovett, and "Possum" Lovell.

March 6, 1931: A whole page was devoted to the "Orland School Examiner," edited by the school superintendent and son of Soperton News editor.  His name was H. M. Flanders, Jr.

Mrs. Bernice Walker celebrated her 80th birthday.

Virgil Norris (Sr.) grew a big crooked neck pumpkin.

Boys Basketball ended with a loss, 71-59, to Metter, whose only defeat of the season was to Treutlen.  Lavon Mercer must have been on the top of his game this time against John Morgan's Vikings.

William A. Ricks
http://billricksofsoperton.blogspot.com 
Thanks for subscribing to  'Bill Ricks of Soperton' 
Photo files at http://picasaweb.google.com/W.A.Ricks/

3 comments:

Tim said...

The Soperton banker who disappeared -- wasn't he also the one who wrote the "parody" song about Georgia winning the national championship ('The Irish Went Down to Play Georgia"), under the name, "The Charlie Spaniels Band"? I believe it turned out that he went up somewhere in the NE (New Hampshire or Vermont or Maine) visiting relatives and didn't bother to tell anyone about it.

John Koon said...

Lavon "Tree" Mercer! man that is a blast from the past! One of the largest players ever to play in Region 3A. I remember when Richard Johnson and the 1976 (I think) Vikings knocked off Mercer in the 1st or 2nd round of the Region Play-offs in Alamo. Played one of the first ever triangle in two defenses I can remember. Shut him down almost completely. The Vikings then lost to Lyons on the next night and with it a trip to the state play-offs. Mercer went on to play at UGA where he still holds the record for career shooting percentage 60.2%, season shooting percentage 64.3% and also the career record for blocked shots with 327. In the 80s and 90s, Tree played professional basketball in Israel leading his teams to 6 Israeli Championships (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995) and 5 Israeli State Cups (1984, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1994)The last I heard he was the Women's Basketball Coach and Associate AD at Spelman College. Thanks Bill for the memories!!!!

BillRicksofSoperton said...

Tim, I believe you are right in every detail.

John, Thank you for your valuable comment. What a great memory and love of sports! You are one of our best sports experts. Until I read it, I had forgotten Mercer's name "Tree". I remember now J. E. McLendon calling him "Tree". I always enjoyed the excitement of the games, but, honestly didn't have the athletic capacity for the details, like you do.Thank you.

Bill