Friends and family members joined Willie Scott and Jimmie Scott as they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary recently at Scott's Temple Church of the Living God in Douglass. This joyous occasion opened with the entrance of Willie Scott escorted by her sons, Jimmy W. and Gary C. Scott. Jimmy Scott was escorted by his granddaughters. The program was opened by master of ceremony Jack Johnson, prayer by Evangelist Francis Burns. The Scott Temple Choir provided music followed by a video presentation chronicling the couple's lives from the past to the present. The children, grandchildren and other relatives shared tributes and family remarks followed by words and expressions from the audience. Evangelist Patricia Johnson presented a lovely musical selection honoring the couple, followed by comments from Pastor Robert Johnson, and the program ended with remarks from the honored couple. After the food was blessed, the invited guests assembled in the church fellowship hall where they enjoyed a delicious meal catered by Michael Hightower of Delacroix's Cajun Seafood Restaurant.
A few months ago friends and family members of Ruthie Lee Gallon, a resident of Nacogdoches, were sent a card telling them to reserve a certain date on their calendar. The card also advised the invitee to keep this a secret because family and friends of Ms. Gallon wanted to surprise her on her 85th birthday celebration. According to her daughter, Helen Stagg from Houston, her mother was truly surprised, excited and very happy with the outpouring of love and good wishes. She said more than 130 people, including children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren were in attendance. Guests from Houston, Dallas, Crockett, Mesquite and Atlanta, Ga., were among the friends and family members who spoke to Mrs. Gallon, sharing fond memories describing her as a kind and generous woman. A unique video was put together providing a history of Mrs. Gallon's life, including others sending her best wishes by video and DVD technology. This gala event took place recently at Hotel Fredonia.
Mrs. Ruthie Gallon, congratulations, and may you add many more birthday celebrations to your list of life events.
As I have shared in this column before, friends back in Atlanta, Ga., and California ask me what I possibly can find to do here in Nacogdoches. Folks, I have another event that I will add to my list and tell them why I never get bored living in East Texas.
This past Saturday my husband and I put on our comfortable clothes and tennis shoes and made our way to the Expo Center where we joined a lot of other people at the Oldest Town in Texas Rally bringing motorcycle riders and barbecue cook-off teams to make noise and cook some good ol' barbecue. My cousin, Dell Johnson from Mount Enterprise, invited us to come as the guest of Roger Flanagan, head cook, and team members, Cheryl Hester, Dell Johnson, Ashley Flanagan, Jimmy Williams, Shelly and Brian Good and Michael Mitchell. This cook off team is called "Burnt to Perfection." I will agree with the name.
"Burnt to Perfection" because the ribs, chicken and brisket were perfectly delicious and burnt just right. They won a prize in the meat competition, and my husband said they deserved it, because their meat was good. I have discovered Texans take their barbecue seriously, as they do most things. My husband recognized someone on the cook team at NIBCO, and, of course, like most Texans, they offered and we accepted "some of their award-winning barbecue." The best way I can describe both cook teams and their meat is, "The judges may have only decided the winner by pulling a straw," because both cook teams were winners, according to my taste.
Dell said, "You must have good meat in order to get good barbecue." He said he and Roger Flanagan look for a certain look and texture in the meat. Both men agreed that black Angus was the top Texas meat, and that it was the most expensive. I learned something right then and there, "I do not know how to pick good meat because I do not know what to look for." I don't think anyone will invite me to join their cook team.
Dell knew I was looking for a story for The Daily Sentinel, so he brought Zack Shockey to me, explaining that he was one of the star stunt riders from the Dallas Fort Worth area. Zack is a part of the team stunters owned by stuntman Scott Harman traveling and performing throughout the country. My first impression of Zack was that he was only a kid still in high school, because of his boyish face. It surprised me when he said he was 24 and married with a 4-year-old daughter. I had a long conversation with Zack, listening carefully as he explained that he became interested in stunt motorcycle riding several years ago. Now it is a part of his life, something he feels he has to do, just as he has to breathe. He admitted that he has been seriously injured, breaking many parts of his body and spending time in the hospital. He said he gives his body time to heal and to get well, and then he goes back again
He said he does not think about getting hurt because, "Thinking is the leading cause of procrastination."
He chooses riding in a controlled environment, such as stunt shows, rather than riding on the streets and freeways. He said stunt riding was safer than the streets
Folks, I had to hold my breath when I saw him later during the show as he stood up on the seat of a moving motorcycle with his hands extended in the air. I must admit, once you meet this person who chooses to perform dare-devil stunts and then put a face to this person, it becomes harder to witness his performance — because it is risky and dangerous, and you don't want anything to happen because you know he is a real person and not just a performer. He said his wife is concerned, but she supports him and attends his performances, when she can.
I guess I have to remember that Zack is doing exactly what he wants to do — in his own words, "I have to ride, I have to do this because it is a part of my life."
I am glad that my husband and I had the opportunity to attend this motorcycle rally because I learned so much. For a short period of time, I was a part of the thunderous sounds of two wheels, three wheels, customized and homemade bikes and motorcycles.
Jeri Mills is a contributing writer.
