When I entered the business in 1971, one of the first newspaper families that I met were the Maxwells in Oglethorpe County. After graduating from the University of Georgia and a short time working elsewhere, Ralph Maxwell Jr. came home to eventually take over The Oglethorpe Echo from his father, Ralph Sr. Following Ralph’s stroke in recent years, he began to slow down. I was not surprised when he called to tell me of his plans to close the 147-year-old newspaper.
Safety, protection must start at community level
The Lavonia Woman’s Club petitioned Andrew Carnegie for funds to build the Lavonia Carnegie Library. The club is looking for new members who want to make a difference in the community.
Buddy Hart and I enjoyed road trips—short and long. In 2021 Buddy said, “I’d like to see the new Bulldog football facility.” When he saw the poster of Fran Tarkenton, Buddy said, “We played youth-league baseball together back in the day.” Buddy was an outstanding athlete who spent some time at UGA on a baseball scholarship.
Baylie Jade Phillips has seen the Georgia-Clemson rivalry from both sides. Phillips attended Clemson and twirled with the school’s Tiger Band (right photo) before transferring to the University of Georgia and twirling for the Redcoat Band.
Three of the items moved from my office were the 1948 Texaco gasoline pump, four 1940s framed Coca-Cola posters and an antique display case, filled with newspaper relics, including the first Macintosh computer our company purchased in 1988.
