COLUMN: A Look Back

50 years ago
(August 28, 1958)

Mr. Dillon, race, and beauties are highlights
One of the biggest weeks in history faces the town of Darlington - and Darlington County as a whole - when an estimated 100,000 people, including race fans, TV addicts and vacationers, are expected to flock in to see and take part in the Southern festival, beauty contest, and 500 mile auto race.
Leading up to the big Labor Day spectacle, both Hartsville and Darlington have made extensive plans for pre festival activities. Jim Arness, TV's top man on the totem pole - Matt Dillon of "Gunsmoke" - will arrive in Florence Friday evening where he will be greeted by mayors and police of Darlington and Florence, and will be made honorary Marshall of Darlington.
And, in Hartsville, the Police Department is staging an elaborate "Meet the Press" and beauty pageant at Coker College, which will give everyone a chance to view the beauties in the Miss Southern 500 contest. A supper for the queens will be held at 5:30 at the Manhattan Steak House.
On Friday, beginning at 5 p.m. in Darlington, a festival will get underway in Darlington. "This will really be a surprise," according to Russ Catlin, Raceway publicity director. Only Confederate money can be spent, and there will be mint juleps, and square dancing under the stars, along with plenty of chicken bog eating."
On Saturday morning at 11 a.m., the Festival Parade gets underway in Darlington, led by Arness, and will stretch for more than two miles in downtown Darlington, all the way to the Raceway. At 1 p.m., the contestants will have luncheon at St. John's School cafeteria. The beauty contest begins at 7 p.m. Saturday evening and will feature the cream of South Carolina beauty.
There are currently 44 entries in the race for the Miss Southern 500 crown, now being worn so attractively by Miss Martha Brannon.
On Sunday afternoon the festival at the Elks Club in Darlington will be in full swing. At 3 p.m. Arness will lead the cotillion.
Gates to the Raceway infield will open noon Sunday afternoon with 20,000 race fans expected to camp all night and partake of the mardi gras merriment. A two-hour pre-race show called "A Parade of bands and beauties" will precede the 11 a.m. starting time of the race. A 17-state radio network, the largest independent sports network in the South, will broadcast the contest. Arness will pace the Ninth Southern 500 race.

'Fastest gun
in Hartsville'
(Photo of Wade Newsom) - "Fastest gun in Hartsville is what they're calling Wade Newsom. Since early ticket sales to the Miss Southern 500 beauty pageant began, weeks ago, the deputy sheriff has been ribbed about "shootin' it out" with Matt Dillon, or to see who had the fastest draw, at least. Police Chief Fred Watson has been tutoring Newsom, and says, "Wade can now easily carry the title of fastest gun in these here parts, pardner." The Hartsville policeman said Wade would be on hand for the Friday night festivities at Coker College, and "may even demonstrate that lightin' like draw."

School supplies
The cost of school supplies, in an ad from B.C.Moore's Notebook paper, 2 pkgs for 5c. Look what 50c will buy! - 12 pkgs note book paper, 12 circus pencils. Note book fillers: 10c and 25c; composition books, 15c and 25c; notebook binders, 25c - 69c - 98c; zipper cases, $1.00 - $1.49 - $1.98.

Births: Randy Dale Gainey, 8/21; James Steven Starling, 8/21; Jack Leland McClenny, 8/20; and John Evans Flesher, 8/20.

Engaged: Edna Earle Sellers to Charles B. Brown and Betty Maria Henderson to Randolph L. King.

Wed: Jessie Elizabeth Dunaway to Rev. Richard Arden Howle, 8/23; Dianne Lyles to Charles W. Dadswell, 8/23; Elizabeth Montgomery Cart to Alexander Smith Morrison, 8/23; and Helen Ruth Thomas to Henry Elmer (Hank) Carter, 8/23.

25 years ago
(August 24 - 31)

Foxes' college prospects
The Hartsville Red Foxes almost lost head coach Johnny Roscoe during the winter.
He turned down a position at Wofford College, and later was rumored to be in the running for vacancies at Lancaster and Conway.
The Hartsville native returns, however, for his seventh season at the HHS helm. His record for the six previous years: 52-18. That includes five playoff appearances in the last five years, a playoff mark of 6-4 and the 1981 Division II-AAAA state championship.
There are two players on this year's team that have received a lot of preseason ink. One is offensive lineman Jerome Slater (6'6", 250), who was mentioned in Street and Smith's list of top high school offensive linemen in the nation. The other is fullback Timothy James. Both are major college prospects.
There are currently 12 former Red Foxes playing college football. Carl Johnson is at Catawba. Eric Hughes and Carl Isaac are at Chowan. Jamie Morphis, Rodney Payne, Bo Wilhelm and Roderick McFadden are at Wofford. Randy Johnson is playing at Newberry. Clay Morphis is at the Citadel. Scotty Mozingo is at Presbyterian. Ted Jett plays at Winston Salem State, and Bobby Clair plays for Northeast Oklahoma A & M. Anthony James is still at Western Carolina, and although his football eligibility has run out, he still has one more year of track to go.

Ron Rich resigns
Ronald R. Rich has resigned as pastor of Kelleytown Baptist Church to accept a call to Victor Baptist Church in Greer. September 11 will be his last Sunday at Kelleytown. Rich has served as pastor of the church since June 2, 1974.
Under Rich's leadership, the church completed a $500,000 sanctuary and office complex. Major renovations were also made of the former sanctuary and educational building, which resulted in a new fellowship hall and additional classroom space. During his pastorate the church also called its first associate pastor, J. Robert Woodham in 1981.

Chandler on telethon
David Chandler, a 35-year-old Hartsvillian who was stricken with muscular dystrophy at the age
of five, will co-host the Jerry Lewis 21-hour Telethon to be aired on WDPE, channel 15 in Florence, beginning Sunday, Sept. 4 at 9 p.m. and lasting until 6:30 p.m. September 5.
According to David, Lewis will be doing his part from Las Vegas.
"It's going to be a lot of fun," he said.
According to David, he doesn't have a disease of the muscle itself. The electrical impulses from his brain do not reach the muscles. This causes the muscles to deteriorate because they cannot be used.
"There's no remission," he said. "The patient continues to get weaker and weaker."
However, David can live a normal lifespan with his handicap. "I can outlive anybody," he said.

Births: Jane Elizabeth Gibson, 8/14; William Coleman James,8/17; Casey Lauren Mason, 8/15; Thomas Justin Smith, 8/15; Erin Elizabeth Gilbert, 8/17; and Mary Alana Gardner, 8/15.

Engaged: Sandra Lynn Wingard to Kenneth Evan Williams and Margaret Elizabeth Cox to W.G. (Buster) Freeman Jr.
Silver anniversary: Rev. and Mrs. Everette R. Price.

Wed: Kristen Elizabeth Nelson to Forrest William Flaniken Jr., 8/28; and Lisa Michele Watson to Gene Raymond Howle, 8/13.