Recollections: Legends of Yesterday - Price Continued

­­This is a reprint of original articles by Hugh Woolley, a longtime resident and community leader of Graceville. Woolley published these articles in The Graceville News more than 20 years ago.

Originally published in the October 5, 2000 edition of The Graceville News.

Professor Price, as he was often called, was good in most everything he did. He was good in agriculture and coaching. He had a direct way of conveying what he wished the students to know. He also had the respect of the students and his parents.

Mississippi State University had a good name and still produces some of the best graduates in the south, as most land grant colleges do. I, of course have known several MSU graduates such as Dr. W. B. Andrews and Jerry Clower and University of Florida's head agronomist.

To give you an example of Price's use of psychology and motivation I wish to quote this anecdote as told to me by Radious Watford years ago. He said, "Fessor was working the stew out of us and from 3 pm to dark. I had to milk two cows after dark. I told Fessor that I was going to have to quit. Fessor looked at Radious with those steel gray eyes and said, "Son why are you quitting?" "I told him about tending cows after dark." Price replied. "Son I will hold the light for you." Radious said, "I felt so ashamed, that was the last of that and I returned to practice and played for Graceville."

Another story is when we were playing at Pensacola, when we gathered in the dressing room, Coach Price firmly said, "Now boys, I want you to get this straight, the ones who don't hit hard tonight, you are not going back with me, I am going to leave you over here." "Most of us had never been that far from home before and coach really got our attention."

J K Powell told me this story that he and the teacher were discussing purebred hogs. Mr. Price said, " I am going to order some purebred spots, meaning spotted Poland China breed that were in big demand then. Hog farmers throughout the south had found that the spot crossed with the duroc Jersey was about as good as you could get at the time. The cost of the pig was $25. J.K.said, " I don't have $25." Fessor said, "J.K. I will loan you $25 with no interest, but I want you to sign a note and when you get your first litter you can pay me back." J.K. bred his gilt to a Poplar Springs pure bred boar and she had a litter of nine pigs. He also said he sold three pigs to Ben Liddon for $25 each and paid Mr Price back. He then bought a boar and was in the hog business.

On December 25, 1923 Price married Janie Mixon, a local teacher who was born in Madrid, Al. They were lifelong partners who shared three children. Ann, whom I taught school with for many years. Mary Evelyn Watford said the ballplayers really took to Ann since she was a pretty little girl and their coach's daughter who would go to the ball games with him. Ann married Cecil Merit and had two boys Jerry and Andy. Patsy who married John Watson had three boys Forrest, Robert and James. R.L. Price Jr married Joe Ann McIntosh and they had two boys, Bill and Scott and two girls, Janie Ruth and Joanna.

Mrs. Janie was a social studies teacher. Bernard Williams jokingly said she graduated more flat-headed boys than any other teacher. She had full control because she knew how to use a geography book upside of the head. Mrs. Janie was the daughter of Mr Travis Mixon Sr who was a large landowner and president of the bank of Graceville. He was quoted saying," I don't want to own all the land in the world just all that is adjoining me."

J.K. Powell used to own a 1925 Model "T" Roadster and help Fessor to haul football players home from practice and to some games. He said Fessor Price would be busy most of the time. When he was real busy, Fessor would get JK to run his wife over to Madrid to visit her people.

To Be Continued...

GRACEVILLE’S FIRST FOOTBALL TEAM

Which is probably the 1926 or 27 team according to information that was received from those still living who are 80 to 90 years old. Identification is the best six different people could do. Kneeling (from left) Radious Watford, Mike Toole, Walter Hurston, Roy Watford, Hugh Dubois, Sharrod Partin, Edward Mears, D.C. Lammons, Howard Wall. Standing (from left) unknown, Charlie Grace, Mack Keen, Burger Keen, Henry Nichols, Marvet Simmons, Dewey Brunk, Coach Price, C.J. Nichols, Hubert Jackson, and Ray Watford.

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