This is the second in a series of articles remembering those from years gone by. Today I have listed another group of my late friends and acquaintances whom I have written about or will write about in future columns.  Writing about those having lived here or moved from here is my effort to keep their memories alive. Their obituaries have appeared in The Advance over the years.

Included this week are Cliff Bethea, Claude Woodson, Alfred Brown of Brown Bus Line, James McKay, Tarzan White, Jeff McGhee, Bill Hadley, Marshall Robinson, Melba Weekly, Dr. McKinley, Mr. “Candy Man” Robinson,  Norma McGill, Ernest Weekly, Coach A. R Holmes, Nick Tunstall, Randolph Maxwell, Rupert Watson, G T McGill, Lawrence Dickenson and Ben Linsenby.

Others are Billy Tuberville, Scrap Shivers, George Lambert, Cordie Powell, Dr. Peavy, Loraine English, Coach C P Floyd, Wayne McKay, Bill Shoemake, Pauline White, Claude Peacock, Jack Akins, Claude Steele, Willy Bruce McKinley, Russell Stillings, Wheeler Crook, Joe Everette, Dr. Salley, Carlton Martin, Billy McDonald, Ms Horne (popular nurse of the 1940s) and John Ragan.

Each week I will continue mentioning their names in my column.

Now here is some news from 1954.

A census that year reflected a markedly population growth. Six thousand six hundred residents lived here then, an increase of one thousand from the 1950 census.

Patients of Dr. St. Amant were always welcomed by a friendly staff consisting of Ruth McGill Brock, Margaret Kennedy, Bertha Nelson and Dr. St Amant’s wife.

Dr, J O Lisenby led a group of city leaders who replaced the long standing Atmore General Hospital with the Green Lawn Hospital.

Bernie Salter and his family moved to Atmore that year where he assumed the duties of hospital Administrator. He settled in his new home located near radio station WATM and his two young sons often found fascination peeking in our rear window watching all of the DJs spin records and “talk over the air.” Back then our diversified staff of announcers included Sam Ford, Popping Off Paul Wood, Jim Cruise, Tom Miniard, Billy McGill and me.

Also in 1954 a large eighteen-wheeler loaded with Spam overturned on Highway 31 near Perdido Creek.  A couple of my friends and I pitched in to help reload the cargo into another big truck. I remember getting our fill of Spam and Mayonnaise sandwiches all day long.

The truck driver also gave us a big box full of dented cans of Spam, which we carried home.

Our afternoon coffee session group has been enjoying Chuck Stevens dropping by on his lunch break here of late. The affable and well learned entrepreneur shares some interesting tidbits of his success in the auto business. It was particularly interesting to learn about his own unique advertising department.

An advertising associate who has been with him for a number of years lends his graphic expertise producing eye-catching newspaper and TV ads. Chuck has tremendous admiration for the Staff family.  Speaking of the Staffs here’s a belated congratulation to Jim Staff on becoming our next mayor. Now, let’s go after one of those “offshoot” Airbus industries and bring a lot of jobs to Atmore.

In some current news, one lady emailed me it’s rather sad when some “friends” fail to accept an invitation to become a “Friend” on Facebook? She’s right. Some folks with ego problems are like that.  And, when they post on Facebook I enjoy linking them to my   favorite line, “…and ten dull words oft slip into one low line”…..to wit, something uttered nothing said (count the words).

The column this week would not be complete without a brief mention of college football. The UL Monroe team has created quite a stir with their dominant performances in the SEC West division. Perhaps the heads of our conference should have invited this spirited team into the conference at the time Texas A&M and Missouri were invited. I’m sure Arkansas and Auburn would concur.

I will have more news from the Atmore area next week.

Lowell McGill can be reached at exam@frontiernet.net.