Barbara Ricks Contents: Dr. Barbara Ricks — Books for the World Inc. Location: Vertical Files at B.S. Ricks Memorial Library of the Yazoo Library Association| 310 N. Main Street, Yazoo City, Mississippi 39194 . n-"r CALENDAR —2 VERTICAL rtn.i ^ COMICS-4,5 SOUTHERN STYLE TV TONIGHT —8 THE CLARION-LEDGER ■ JACKSON. MISSISSIPPI MONDAY. JUNE 12, 1989 JOE ROGERS Columnist The Clarion-Ledger & Senator Andy? Well, why not? I He's already funny n ; According to reports, Andy Griffith says he appreciates the interest but has no intention of runningfor the U.S. Senate from his home state of North Carolina. This qualifies as real news, since I had no idea there was any interest in Andy Griffith running for the U.S. Senate. But,come to think of it, why not? Fred Gandy, better known as Gopher from The Love Boat, is a congressman now. I think ^ome guy from The Dukes of Hazzard is, too, proof that the entrance requirement isn't too steep. And Ange has that easy-going, even-handed touch. He'd probably sit around on the steps of the Capitol, strumming his guitar and singing, "You get a line, and I'll get a pole, hoAey..." Then he'd amble in and vote to make going over to the fillin' station for a bottle of pop the national pastime. He'd have a great nickname, too; Senator Without a Gun. And what a staff he could as semble. Barney to the rescue Of course Andy would need a top aide, and who would be better qualified than Barney Fife? Barn's organizational skills are un- equaled — he served on the board of directors for the tin foil drive in high school, not to men tion the volleyball court maintenance crew. ' Opie could be his paw's press secretary, since he and Howie Pruitt once put out their own newspaper, The Mayberry Sun. coll Boyd/The Clarion-Ledger Aunt Bee is a little harder to place. To my Books for the World president Barbara Ricks q=,w of textbooks in Mississippi was halted in 1987. knowledge her greatest skill lies in the prepara .nd tion of fried chicken and related southern deli cacies, which doesn't seem much called for in a Senate office. Maybe she could just crank out her kerosene cucumbers for use by the Defense Department in chemical warfare. Goober and Gomer could keep his official of Books for the World fice car running good, though it could prove ex ■ The organization saves ^ pensive. If they bought parts through thegov- lanthropist was founder and president of Mississippi Chemical Corp., Yazoo /}M-f "V ^ Otis I see as a possible nominee forajob with quenches the thirst for literacy. Since day one, Mississippi Chemical the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. has provided free office space, a book I don't know how the tobacco and firearms By Leslie R. Myers warehouse and unlimited technical ser would fare, but I suspect he would see to it the Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer vices to the project. country had plenty of alcohol. YAZOO CITY — Imagine learning to Initially, Cooper sent religious books Sarah would be the receptionist, handling all read, but never having a book. Try learn worldwide. He expanded his focus in telephone calls,and she would also be invisible. ing to swim, without water. 1986, after discovering the severe need for Howard Sprague would seem a lock for what The thirst for books, for literacy, is school books.(In 1988, Book Link in Tu ever is the most boring job that has to be per widespread in Third World countries. pelo took on the religious books project to formed in the office. It would suit his personal There, many children study everything avoid federal funding conflicts.) ity. from basic reading to science to philoso Today, Ricks is very aware that she is Emmett Clark would — well, actually, Em- phy without even a book to share. fulfilling Cooper's dream. mett's dead. Entirely unavailable. But, seeing Meanwhile, the United States is burn Cooper hired Ricks, a rural Yazoo as how he was the most useless character this ing or burying about 40 million books County native, in 1986,after she complet side of Barney's bloodhound Blue, the loss each year. In Mississippi alone, as many 111 ed postgraduate studies in curriculum at wouldn't be too great. as 500,000 textbooks have been destroyed Harvard University. annually. "Owen Cooper chose me. He said he Just a little off the back Stopping the waste, saving the books and I would be a team and make this The same can't be said for Floyd, similarly and shipping them to needy people work," said Ricks, always smiling when departed but much missed. If he set up a barber worldwide is the mission of Books for the she talked of him."He said he wanted for shop in the Capitol the entire Senate could World,a non-profit organization in Yazoo me to do for Books for the World what he have met in there and done twice the business City. did for Mississippi Chemical — what a in half the time. This year, the small enterprise will res challenge. To those who might argue that a professional cue 1.5 million books — the highest num "He impressed me. When he died — on lifetime spent trying to make people laugh is in ber yet — and distribute them to such di Nov. 8, 1986 — I was worried, very wor adequate preparation for the Senate, I would vergent locations as Panama, Thailand, ried. I promised him I'd stay on two years. argue that it is the perfect preparation for the Jamaica, the Philippines, Honduras, So I did. He knew I could do it, but I Senate. Chile and several African countries. 700,000 books packing the group's warehouse has created a need for more space. didn't know. ' All the world's a stage, right? We all play That's $18 million dollars worth of books "Now I stay because I know Books for many roles. saved, from kindergarten storybooks to Carter pointed out- He still lives in "We make an impact because aspira the World works." For that matter,look who wejust had as pres macroeconomics and medical books. Many others have learned that. ident for eight years. And eveiybody knows Plains, Ga., but comi^utes to Atlanta to tions are raised, morale is lifted and hope "It's a real joy to realize how important work in the Carter Center at Emory Uni is apparent in the faces of those people," Former first lady Rosalynn Carter Andy is a better actor than Ronald Reagan. the gift is to the people of those coun hopes her state will copy the project to aid Otherwise, Ronnie would have starred in his versity. said Ricks, 43, who has visited the Third tries," said Books for the World president World classrooms. "Hope is so powerful. Uganda. "Mrs. Carter wants us to help own hit TV show. Now, those Chilean are receiving Barbara Ricks."I think we've made a dif books from about 20 U.S. publishers and It's vital in motivating a people." start a grass-roots movement in Georgia Maybe that should be a long-term goal: Pres ference." ident Without a Gun. Would beat what we had, six state textbook commissions, includ The successful project receives dona to gather books so Georgia can adopt Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter ing Mississippi's Books for the tions from businesses and individuals Uganda," Ricks said. "Eventually, she'd which was President Without a Clue. supports the project as chairman of Of course, you have to build up to that, and World. , and major funding from the U.S. Infor like other states to adopt other countries, Books for the World's advisory board. mation Agency and U.S. Agency for Inter the leap from sheriff of Mayberry to Leader of To date, 21 Thir^ World countries if the Georgia model could be replicated." national Development (USAID). The the Free World might be too big ajump to make • t ^ great honor to be associated have received massif" book shipments. Former President Carter referred to with Books for the World," Carter said. U.S. State Department acts as a liaison to that project, noting, "The Carter Center all at once. ' It IS a shameful fact that over 40 million This year, another cOzen countries will The Senate would be a nice mid-point. books are destroyed in the U.S. each year share the wealth. other countries. hopes to work with Books for the World in The best reason to vote for Andy, though, Ricks said the twofold. We A few companies donate by trucking the near future to supply textbooks for while children in developing countries go the books to Yazoo City or by shipping the children of Uganda, a country that is would be to get rid of the fellow who's already without. ^ provide large numb®^® m books in con there from North Carolina: Jesse Helms, a "This organization provides a vital centrated areas, whi^^ makes an impact them overseas. But Books for the World not yet receiving this valuable assis member of the Neanderthal party. link to these children, whose education is on education.For we've shipped pays for most shipping. tance." For that matter, getting rid ofJesse Helms is the key to the future of their countries" 400,000 books to Uibena — probably a Books for the World was founded in Many publishers also have been con- reason enough to vote for Ernest T.