Thanksgiving Day Court

left to right: Bill Mitchell, Gayle Steverson, Andy Burch, Nancy Pugh, Alan Hyde, Lindsay Nathan, 

Hooty Crittenden, Patsy Green 

Linda Methvin Smith suggested this one.

This is one of those freak happenings captured on film by accident.  The scene is the 1955 Thanksgiving Day game with Coffee our senior year.  The main happening in the picture is the taking of the official photo of the Thanksgiving Day Court. 

 The point of this little game is to notice the people in the background and supply your guess as to what that guy sitting on the back wall of the stadium represents and what is he doing?  

Linda tells me that in her mind's eye he is Stevie Wonder getting his inspiration for the song, "Just Called To Say I Love You."  Even though segregation reigned supreme back then, the love he is expressing in the song lifted him up to that perch.  Stevie Wonder was born blind,   therefore, he never knew the 'differences' in skin color(s)    So, his lyrics  (to Linda) are telling the populace of this earth to reach out...and love one another regardless of  color, race,  religion.   Taking it even a bit further, giving the shadowy figure/apparition, an identity....did he  fly up there??  ...must have been a tall ladder or God's help? 

E-mail your answer to Louis, explaining who you think he is and what he is doing.  

For example, you might look at the court and recognize that four of the eight are deceased and try to make something of that.  Or, you might think of little, bitty Zaccheus, the Jericho tax collector who was determined to catch a glimpse of Jesus.  Maybe this guy really thought Coach Wright or one of our football heroes could walk on water so he climbed up there to have a look.

The best answer will be worth my standard reward--an RC Cola and a Moon Pie.  Answers will be judged by Linda Methvin Smith and whomever she picks to help decide.

Responses:

Sam Malone:

By the way, the guy sitting on the wall of the east grandstands may have been Buck Burcham, who used to work at TVA with my dad.  I remember seeing him sitting up there a couple of times.  He was a big football fan and had a loud voice.  When he got going, you could hear him all over the stadium.  I can't  recognize any features, so I don't know if it is him.

Buck Locke:

I am sure that no one will get the one of the guy on the stadium wall, so my thought is that it is "Pig Iron" Leath, who is Patricia's dad! 

Ed. Note:  This is not a contest to identify that shadowy character, but rather an opportunity for you to use your imagination and create a fictitious story about who he might be.  

Barbara Laughlin South:

I noticed Larry Hall sitting on a folding chair just to Patsy Green's left.  He looks like he is trying to hide; so I think the man on the wall is Larry's dad who is looking every where for Larry.  

What???? no RC cola and moon pie!!!!!!!! 

Bette Anderson Pickin

Hi, Louis.  Just wanted to throw my entry into the hat for that coveted RC Cola and a Moon Pie prize:

               "Only The Shadow Knows" who will win the Turkey Day Game!

By the way, who did win?  Tell Linda she has an eagle eye for detail.  I sure never saw that (guy on the wall).