Gr a c e No t e s Newsletter of the Memphis Scottish Society, Inc. Vol. 28 No. 5 • May 2012 Scottish Heritage Night

Don’t you love that old Scottish song, Take Me Out to the Ballgame? OK, maybe it’s not a Scottish song, but we can pretend that it is at our second annual Scottish Heritage Night with the Memphis Redbirds at Autozone Park on May 25. Gametime is 7:05 p.m., but you’ll want to get there early to participate in the pregame activities to be held on the Plaza. Once again, Wolf River Pipes and Drums will play, and they will Memphis be assisted by the Northeast Arkansas Caledonian Pipes & Drums from Jonesboro. We will have information tables set up where the crowd will Scottish be able to find out more about their own heritage and about the Scottish Society, Inc. Society. WRPD member Derek Stine will once again bring the crowd to their feet with the National Anthem, and there may be a couple of Board surprises in store. President Bring your friends and families and help out MSSI. The Redbirds Joe Lyle organization gives us a percentage of the profit on the tickets we sell. 901 754-1811 Flyers will be sent out via email to the membership as soon as we receive [email protected] them from the Redbirds, and they will be available for you to pick up at Vice President the May 14 meeting. All tickets sold through MSSI will be in the same Melissa Gibson section, and must be ordered ahead of time and picked up at the will call 901 299-3170 window....buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack...See you there! [email protected] May Meeting Treasurer Steve Martin Former MSSI President, Ben Kemker, will present the program for us 901 277-2848 at the May 14 meeting at Jason’s Deli. He is a member of Clan Elliot, and [email protected] the topic of his talk is The Elliot Curse. It seems that someone in Clan Secretary Elliot ticked off a member of the clergy, so he wrote a curse on the entire Elliot Clan. Invite your Elliot friends for this one! And to further entice George Malone you to come...Sammy Rich will be entertaining us during the dinner 901 385-1938 [email protected] hour. He has his voice back, so he will both play and sing for us. Come early; the music will start at 6:00 and end promptly at 7:00. Members at Large Jestein Gibson 901 605-2698 [email protected] Betty Gibson Clan Elliot Badge 901 323-5428 [email protected] Allen Simpson 901 388-7145 [email protected]

Tennessee Tartan. Created by the Heart of Tennessee Scottish Celebration as a State tartan. Passed by Tennessee Public Acts 1999, Chapter No.82, Senate Bill No. 73. The source of the tartan 2526 was: Bill Bickford of the Tennessee Tartan Committee. President’s Letter As it happened, he got away with this for some time, but eventually the Baptist Church decided to do a big restoration job on the outside of one of their biggest My brother and I went to Peebles, Scotland in ’97 to buildings.. play in a duplicate bridge tournament. It was held in Smokey put in a bid, and, because his price was so low, the Peebles Hotel Hydro. We got the weekend rate, he got the job. which included breakfast and dinner in a chandelier splendored ballroom. It was beautiful and luxurious. So he set about erecting the scaffolding and setting up The men attending the tournament wore tuxedos and the planks, and buying the paint and, yes, I am sorry to the women wore evening gowns. Unfortunately, we say, thinning it down with water . wore khakis and sport shirts, but that has nothing to Well, Smokey was up on the scaffolding, painting away, do with it. the job nearly completed, when suddenly there was a After the tournament (we held our own, but didn’t horrendous clap of thunder, the sky opened, and the rain win first place) we toured the countryside, staying in poured down washing the thinned paint from all over B&B’s. Each one was wonderful. It seemed as if they the church and knocking Smokey clear off the scaffold to took a seminar on how to serve breakfast because they land on the lawn among the gravestones, surrounded by were all very similar. The toast was always served in telltale puddles of the thinned and useless paint. a drying rack, and the tomatoes were cooked. Smokey was no fool. He knew this was a judgment from We walked the Royal Mile in Edinburgh with a big the Almighty, so he got down on his knees and cried: parade going on. We toured the big castle and noted the “Oh, God, Oh God, forgive me; what should I do?” “Mons Meg” cannon that was almost used to pulverize the Lyle castle. And from the thunder, a mighty voice spoke... My favorite was on the Isle of Skye, meeting a little old (you’re going to love this) See p 6 for conclusion. man who lived in a crofter house, made of stones with a thatch roof. All the locals were so nice and always I was in a pub on Saturday night and I noticed two spoke to you. I’ll never forget that trip. Joe Lyle large girls by the bar. They both had strong accents so I said, “Hi, are you girls from Scotland ?” One of them snapped, “It’s Wales you bloody Wee Bit o’ Scottish Humor idiot!!” There was a Scottish painter named Smokey MacGregor So I immediately apologized and said, “Sorry, who was very interested in making a penny where he are you two whales from Scotland ?” could, so he often thinned down his paint to make it go a wee bit further. I get out of the hospital this Friday.

Ed i t o r i a l St a f f Gr a c e No t e s Melissa Gibson Editor, (901-299-3170) Grace Notes is the official publication of the Mem- [email protected] phis Scottish Society, Inc. It is published monthly. Like the Society itself, the credo of Grace Notes is Sammy Rich “to foster education and promote understanding Publisher, (901-496-2193) of things Scottish.” [email protected] to foster education If you have something of interest to readers and promote understanding of this newsletter, please submit a typewritten Gavin Anderson of things Scottish manuscript to the editorial staff. If the article or notice is very brief (30 words or fewer), e-mail Circulation Editor, (901-485-8270) or just use the telephone. Grace Notes will accept [email protected] and publish good quality photographs. Please address all correspondence to: The deadline for all submissions is the fourth Karen English Gr a c e No t es week of each month preceding the month of Circulation Editor, (901-396-9134) The Memphis Scottish Society, Inc. publication. Please include a self-addressed [email protected] [email protected] stamped envelope with each submission, if you P. O. Box 770028 Memphis, TN 38177-0028 want the material returned. [email protected]

2 Wo l f Ri v e r Pi pes a n d Dr u m s Twenty Years of Scottish Music in the Mid South

This year marks the twentieth anniversary of parade and played from there. The one and only snare the founding of the Wolf River Pipes and Drums. In its drummer broke his sticks as we rounded the corner twenty year history, the band has brought the sound of on the main street. As we passed by some of the local the pipes and drums to Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, natives, a remark was made about “them guys in skirts.” Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee. The events the Naturally, “Mr. Tact” Clausi responded with “They are band has played for are Scottish Festivals, Burns Night Kilts, you bloody Aborigines!” About this time the locals for the Memphis Scottish Society annually, Kirkin’ of were getting ready to come on the street when one said, the Tartan Services, and police and fire functions for “they are carrying knives— leave them alone.” both the Memphis and Shelby County. To keep their The Holly Springs Parade taught us that we musical skills sharp, the band has competed at Lyon were not ready for the “big time” yet. Since that time College, , Kentucky, and most recently at the the band has worked continuously to improve in all Stone Mountain Games and Festival. The band has grown aspects of piping and drumming. Under the leadership from a group of ten and sometimes twelve members, to of Ian Seivwright as Pipe Major, Billie Hiner as Pipe twenty-three active players today. Sergeant (and now his brother, Kenny), the band has The band first practiced in Holly Springs, Mississippi become a quality performance band and continues to at the church of Father Neil Platt, who acted as Pipe use competition to refine the musical skills of the band Major and Instructor. The original group included Bill members. The band has been the warm-up band for Rod Crump, Bill Cowell, Nancy Chase, Ric Clausi, Deborah Stewart and has played on the bill with Lee Greenwood Cummings, Charles Jester, Morse Rose, and Steve at the Desoto County 9/11 program. The most high Sanders. Today Ric and Nancy are the only active players profile person the band has played for is Prince Edward from the original group. Father Neil was able to convince of England on the occasion of his talk at the university Bob Lentz, an accomplished piper from Tupelo, to take in Oxford, Mississippi. The band welcomed him as he over and instruct the band. Bob stayed long enough to came out of his limousine and he gave the band a big teach us three tunes and make us think we were pipers. thumbs up. A new dimension for the band is individuals There was only a bass drum and one snare in the drum participating and winning in individual competitions section. The drum section would grow with Bud Hisky both in piping and drumming. These include our on tenor and Bill Cowell on snare. Tuning, ensemble, youngest piper, Sean Borwick, and his brother Josh on and timing were not the hallmarks of the early band. the tenor drum. Kenny Hiner continues to excel at both Despite these issues the band still had the nerve to play the drums and now the pipes. in public, and actually took money for it sometimes. The The Wolf River Pipes and Drums placed third in most memorable pubic function was the first parade the grade V competition at the Stone Mountain games. After band did at the Holly Springs Christmas Parade. years of competing at Lyon College and twice at Glasgow, The Holly Springs Christmas Parade took place on Kentucky, the band established itself as a contender in a cold December evening in Holly Springs, Mississippi a very high profile competition at Stone Mountain. The in 1993. George Malone’s kilt just arrived from the kilt band will travel to Stone Mountain again this year to maker and it was brought to the parade for him to dress improve its standing with a lively competition set, well there. The band circled around George on the street played, that should make the judges take notice. The and attempted to dress him. The so-called experts put band is strong with a bright future as the new students the kilt on so that the pleats were in the front instead continue come to learn the pipes and drums and enter of the back. Deborah Cummings, who was leading us the band. It will continue to support the community that night, was late and came running down the street to and bring the sound of the pipes and drums to the Mid join us after we had already started marching. Because South, hopefully for another twenty years. we had no stamina, the pipes started together but did Thank you Ric Clausi for sharing this enlightening not finish together. The bass drummer, Morse, got tired, history of Wolf River Pipes and Drums. Here’s tae so he jumped up on a pickup truck in front of us in the twenty more years.

3 A Tale of Two Families

In 1905 in Benton County, Mississippi, a widowed and Parham stayed in Denver while the other children mother, Loucinda, died, leaving five children: Burl, returned to Tennessee. In that short time she managed to Robert, Ada, Etta, and Albert. Less than a year later, just meet and marry her husband, Rudolph, and remained in across the state line in Hardeman County, Tennessee, a Denver the rest of her life. Marion, James, and Elizabeth young mother, Sallie, died in childbirth, and a young would marry and raise their families back in Hardeman father, Waverly, was left with three young children and County. a newborn to care for with the help of his parents. And By now you’re asking yourself, “What does this have so it was that the 16-year-old orphan named Ada was to do with anything Scottish?” Well, I could say that sent from Benton County to Hardeman County to keep Loucinda, the widowed mother of five, was a Beaton, house and help take care of several young children, and that would be true, but the connection is much more namely Earl, Parham, James, and Elizabeth. extraordinary. In 1910, while Waverly was visiting his brother in Because, you see, Ada Morgan Pigeon was my great Denver, his father, Marion, died. In his will, he requested aunt, the daughter of Burl Green and Loucinda Beaton that his wife appropriate a small sum for Ada “for Morgan of Benton County, Mississippi; and Marion affection and for her service to us in our declining years.” Earl Smith was the father of Emily Smith, the son of The following year, Waverly was struck by a train and Waverly Earl and Sallie Jenkins Smith of Hardeman killed while saving his son Parham from the same fate. County, Tennessee. What are the odds that a relative of The children’s widowed grandmother, with the help of each of these families would end up meeting nearly 90 their Uncle Charles, were now responsible for the four years later because of their mutual interest in all things orphaned children, and Ada was still with them offering Scottish? what service she could. Thank you, Shari Moore, for sharing this fun piece of Between the time that Waverly died in 1911 and the genealogy. Family stories are the best. SR end of 1912, Ada accompanied the family to Denver. She

Ada Morgan Pigeon Marion Earl Smith

4 Shot Heard Round the World

Robert Brown “Bobby” Thomson (October25, , was the first major sporting event televised 1923--August 16, 2010) was a Scottish-born American coast-to-coast in the United States. The Dodgers took a professional baseball player. (Remember the Trivia night 4–1 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning; but Giants we had in February?) Nicknamed “The shortstop singled, advanced to third on a Scot,” he was an and right-handed batter for single by , and scored on a double by Whitey the New York Giants, Milwaukee Braves, , Lockman. With Lockman on second and pinch-runner and . His season-ending at third, Thomson’s walk-off three-run home run for the Giants in 1951, known as turned looming defeat into a 5–4 victory. The moment the “Shot Heard ‘Round the World,” is one of the most was immortalized by Giants play-by-play announcer famous moments in baseball history. It overshadowed ’s excited multiple repetitions: “The Giants all of his other accomplishments, including eight 20- win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant!” home run seasons and three All Star selections. “It was Waiting in the on-deck circle to hit behind Thomson the best thing that ever happened to me,” he later said. was rookie . The Giants’ miracle season “It may have been the best thing that ever happened to ended, however, at the 1951 World Series; the Yankees anybody.” swept the last three games to win the best-of-seven Thomson was born in Glasgow, Scotland, the youngest series, 4 games to 2. Thomson batted .238 in the Series of six children. He arrived in the United States two years with no home runs. later. His father, a cabinet maker, had moved to New The bat from the “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” is in York City shortly before Bobby’s birth and sent for his the collection of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and family in 1925. Museum in Cooperstown, New York. The uniform worn Thomson grew up on Staten Island in New York City by Thomson on that historic day is apparently a part of and signed with the New York Giants for a $100 bonus a large private collection owned by Dan Scheinman, a right out of Curtis High School in 1942. However, on member of the San Francisco Giants ownership group. December 5, 1942, he joined the United States Army Air Forces and trained as a bombardier. His entire service was within the continental United States. In fact, he played semi-professional baseball in the summer of 1945 while awaiting his discharge. The “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” Thomson became a celebrity for his dramatic walk-off home run off Brooklyn Dodgers to win the 1951 pennant. The home run, nicknamed the “Shot Heard ‘Round the World,” was even more dramatic than it may seem to the modern sports observer as, until 1969, league pennants were only decided by playoff when the teams involved finished the regular season in a tie. Prior to 1951 playoffs had only been necessary in 1946 (NL) and 1948 (AL). Thomson’s three-run shot was the exclamation point on a dramatic season for the Giants. Although in mid-August they were 13½ games behind the league-leading Dodgers, they won 37 of their final 44 games to tie Brooklyn on the final day of the regular season, forcing a three-game playoff. The Giants won the first game 3–1 as a result of a two-run home run by Thomson (off Branca). Brooklyn’s shut out the Giants in the second game, 10–0. The decisive contest, played on October 3 at the

5 MSSI News

Sunshine Committee Nancy Shields has agreed to be our Sunshine Chair again this year. You may contact her at 901-487-3184 or email her at [email protected] if you know of someone connected with our society who needs condolences, get well wishes or congratulations. All news doesn’t have to be bad. Scottish Heritage Night Once again the members of the Scottish Society, along with Wolf River Pipes and Drums, will gather at Redbird stadium for a celebration of our Scottish Heritage. Wear your kilts and come early so we can greet people as they enter the ball park. It is a fun afternoon and a great way to carry out our mission to many potential new members. Scholarship Committee Joe Lyle has selected the following members to be on the Scholarship Committee for 2012. Mary Ann Lucas, Ken Noe, and Geoffrey Meece. Please be sure to contact any of them or a board member to apply for grants and scholarships. Burns Nicht Steering Committee Melissa Gibson, V.P. , Sue Malone, and Mary Clausi are going to help steer us through the year with prepartions for Burns Nicht 2013. It is a crucial and time consuming task to plan for and carry out this event each year. Please offer to support these ladies any way possible.

Suds ‘n Spuds at Elmwood

This was the first year for the cemetery to host the Suds ‘n Spuds tour on St. Patrick’s Day. There were about 15 people who attended the tour, for which we all gathered at the Chapel for the Spuds (baked potatoes) and the Suds (a nice mellow beer). Following lunch, the tour guide took us to numerous grave sites and told us interesting facts and stories of how the Scots and Irish came to Memphis and later came to be buried at Elmwood. The guide was so well versed on the history that it was all too much to remember! I am looking forward to other tours during the year. I had a great time! Also, a milestone has been reached--Elmwood Cemetery turns 160 years old this year. Happy Birthday Elmwood! Thank you, Betty Gibson, for this writeup.

The Conclusion from Page 2

“Repaint! Repaint! And thin no more!”

Flowers of the Forest Our sincerest sympathies to the family of Ina Campbell, who died on April 9th at age 92. Mrs. Campbell was born in Troon, Scotland and emigrated to the U.S. in 1954. She formerly lived in Collierville and was a member of the Daughters of Scotia Lodge as well as MSSI. A long time member of Collierville Presbyterian Church, her memorial service will be held there on Saturday, May 5th at 11:00 a.m.

6 Calendar of Events Thursdays Sundays NEAC Pipes&Drums Friday May 25 Wolf River Pipes & Drums, 1:30-4:00 @ 1st Pres. SW Dr. Scottish Heritage Night 7:00-9:30 St. Luke’s Lutheran; Jonesboro, AR exit 45 Memphis Redbirds 2000 N. Germantown Pkwy. Game Time 7:05 PM 753-9494 for info. Monday May 14 MSSI Monthly Meeting Monday June 11 Sgt.Singleton Pipes & Drums Jason’s Deli. Poplar/Highland Burns Nicht Committee 5:00-7:00 Bartlett Baptist at 6:00 -Dinner, 7:00-Program: 5:00 PM Yale and Whitten Road. Celtic Music: Fresh Ground Jason’s Deli, Poplar and Highland Gordon Abernathy - 412-6846 www.sgtwksingletonpipesanddrums.org Monday May 21 Friday June 22 6:00 PM MSSI Board Meeting Brave Premier Panera Bread, Germantown Rd Details to Follow

Scottish - Celtic Radio Shows

Sundays, 6-7 p.m. “The Thistle and Shamrock” WKNO-FM 91.1

Saturdays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.“Strands of the Celtic Knot” Robert Campbell, host WEVL–FM 89.9 May 3: Beltane Bash May 24: Underneath the Stars The ancient year marked seasonal As the days grow longer our music Sun and Mon 6 p.m. and changes with special festivals and looks to the Northern and Western Fridays, 7 p.m. rituals. Beltane, one of four quarter- skies for inspiration this week and “The Thistle & Shamrock,” day festivals, is recreated today in draws meaning, guidance and solace WMAV–FM 90.3 the modern Scottish capital with from the sun, moon and stars. festivities to re-establish Edinburgh residents’ links with the natural year. May 31: Classically Celtic Join in our celebration of the natural Hear music that draws upon elements - Air, Earth, Water and Fire traditional roots whilst oozing – in a Beltane-themed hour of music. classical style, albeit with string sections sounding just a little more May 10: Celtic Romance racy than usual! Lose yourself in the sound of soulful ballads and songs of loving, June 7: Archie Fisher leaving, and loneliness in new and Don’t miss this opportunity to meet the traditional Celtic music of the heart. legendary Scottish singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer and broadcaster. May 17: Irish Classics Archie makes connections between Early Bothy Band, Kevin Burke, Paul Celtic and American song traditions Brady: it’s all here in our nostalgic and we hear music from across the browse through Irish classics of the decades of his remarkable career in ‘70s and ‘80s. the folk scene.

7 Gr a c e No t e s

The Memphis Scottish Society, Inc. P. O. Box 770028 Memphis, TN 38177-0028

www.memphisscots.com