Mississippi Moments Podcast

For over thirty-five years, Wade Guice served as the Harrison County Director of Civil Defense. His first office was a small trailer powered by an extension cord. During his time in that position, he is credited with saving countless lives during several tornados and hurricanes including Camille. Please enjoy Guice's story in his own words in this extended version of the original broadcast.

On January 23rd, 1968, the USS Pueblo, a Naval Intelligence ship was seized in International waters by the North Korean Government. Reverend Rodney Duke of Lake, Mississippi was serving as a communications technician aboard the Pueblo at the time. For the next 334 days Duke and the rest of the crew endured over 200 interrogations. He remembers the physical and psychological torture and the effect it had on him. This extended version contains more graphic detail than the broadcast version.

     Jim Kelly of Pearlington, grew up in the nearby town of English Lookout.  He recounts how English Lookout got its name and how lumber companies used schooners and tug boats to carry harvested timber down the Pearl River to Gulfport.      The logging towns that sprang up along the Pearl River often had no roads and depended on boats for mail, supplies and transportation. Kelly remembers the mail boat of Captain Boardman that ran from Logtown to English Lookout.

In the mid-1960s, Mississippi began the process of desegregating its public schools.  Winston Fairley of Gulfport recalls transferring to a previously all-white school in Hattiesburg after finishing the eighth grade.  As the son of a local civil rights leader, Fairley felt a sense of duty to represent his people and make his father proud.  Even so, he remembers the move left him feeling isolated within his own community.

Jewish holidays are traditionally associated with certain foods. Gail Goldberg of Greenwood discusses some of these dishes. She explains why, as the Jewish population of Greenwood has declined, holiday traditions have become even more important.  Goldberg also details the tremendous amount of effort that goes into preparing for the family’s annual Rosh Hashanah celebration.

In 1999, Erik Robert Fleming became the fiftieth African American to enter the Mississippi legislature in the modern era.  He discusses why he became interested in becoming a politician. Fleming also comments on race relations within the legislature and the need for coalitions.

In 1963, Charles Dunagin was hired by newspaper publisher Oliver Emmerich to be the editor of the McComb Enterprise-Journal.  He recalls the turbulent summer of 1964 and his paper’s efforts to report the racial violence. Dunagin also recounts the bombing of civil rights workers that summer and how his own family was threatened with the same fate. Enjoy the extra details in this extended version of the original.

During the Big Band Era, Dances were an important social activity for young people. Frances Joyner of Tupelo recalls her first dance and staying out all night.  Organized dances had unique customs and vernaculars. Joyner explains the terms Check-In List, Stag Line, No-breaks and Specials. Joyner also remembers dancing on the roof of the Peabody Hotel in Memphis. Please enjoy this extended version of the original broadcast.  

The Great Depression of the 1930s left millions of Americans unable to support themselves or their families. As a teenager, Lillie McLaurin of Hattiesburg remembers the time she encountered a soup line. She relates how the experience changed her priorities. McLaurin recalls how her father would give some of his shifts at work to others with less seniority and a certain grocer who gave away food to those in need. Please enjoy this extended version of the original broadcast.

For many growing up in Mississippi, cold weather meant that it was hog-killing time. Charles Wright of Natchez remembers sneaking late night snacks from his grandmother's smoke house. Wright recalls his family's Christmas gatherings as a time filled with a lot of food and a lot of Love. Happy Holidays from the Mississippi Moments family to your family!

Jessie Turner of Natchez discusses his family's tradition of hunting and cooking wild game and how it evolved from an economic necessity to a sport that fosters friendship and community. He explains how to cook a wild hog in the field and his two favorite methods for cooking raccoon in this extended version of the broadcast episode.

Songol Arslan of Jackson grew of in Ankara, Turkey.  She describes a traditional Turkish diet and discusses some dishes are served during the holidays. Of all of the dishes that Arslan prepares for her American friends, they love her carrot salad the most.  She reveals how it's made.

Kenneth York is the Tribal Historian for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.  He discusses traditional Choctaw sources of carbohydrates as well as the soups and stews that the Choctaws prepared in clay pots over an open fire. York also describes the wide variety of game that Mississippi Choctaws enjoyed barbequing. 

Delores Ulmer of Jackson is a second generation Lebanese-American. She discusses Kibbeh, a traditional Lebanese meat dish and how to prepare sasuf, which is a wheat salad now known at tabouli.  According to Ulmer, preparing food together is a Lebanese tradition that makes the work more fun and brings the family closer. Please enjoy this extended version of the original radio broadcast

In the past eight years, the number of Mississippi Farmer’s Markets had doubled from around 30 to over 60. Andy Prosser with the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce discusses the benefits of supporting local Farmer’s Markets. He explains how his department certifies and supports the formation of Farmer’s Markets.  Many low income Mississippians have limited access to fresh produce.  Prosser details how the State’s voucher program provides them with healthy food choices.  

In books like North Towards Home and My Dog Skip, Willie Morris drew upon memories of growing up in Yazoo City for inspiration. He recalls his family’s long history in Mississippi and how summertime boredom often led to mischief. Morris reflects on the education he received in the Yazoo City Public School system.  He remembers the influence one teacher had on his decision to become a writer. Please enjoy this extended version of the original radio broadcast.

During WWII, items needed for the war effort created shortages of consumer goods. Parnell McKay of Pass Christian recalls a scarcity of paper, fuel, and apartments. Fearing attack by the Germans or Japanese, civilian observation posts were set up along the Gulf Coast.  As a high school student, McKay volunteered as a spotter. He remembers the day he spotted a U-boat. McKay also reveals how liquor laws were ignored to “service” the servicemen.

On June 6th, 1944, Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy, France.  Cmdr. Rip Bounds of Hattiesburg piloted his Utility Landing Ship onto Utah Beach carrying 25 tons of ammunition.   Bounds remembers endless days of ferrying men and equipment to the beach and carrying the wounded away. He gets emotional when he recounts the efforts of the Red Cross Ladies to give comfort to the wounded warriors.   In this extended version, we hear many more details including his meeting Churchill, Montgomery and Patton.    

Dr. Dollye Robinson has had a distinguished career as a Professor of Music Education at Jackson State.  So it was only natural that she would join the Mississippi Arts Commission.   Robinson details the efforts of the Arts Commission to find funding for various programs statewide and presents an eloquent defense for the continued support of the Arts and Humanities in our schools.

In 1947, a Mississippi association of African-American teachers decided to pool their resources and sue the state for pay and benefits equal to that of their white counterparts. After Gladys Noel Bates agreed to be named the plaintiff, her contract was not renewed and she and her husband were unable to find work as teachers anywhere in the South. In this extended version of last week's radio broadcast, hear details of how the group was able to keep news of the pending suit secret and how she was isolated from her peers after it made national headlines. Mrs. Bates passed away on Oct. 15th, 2010 in Denver, Colorado where she enjoyed a long and successful career in public education.