Recollections: Legends of Yesterday - Tom B. Crutchfield

­­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 May 10, 2001 edition of The Graceville News.

The legend this week will be a unique individual that many of us knew. You can tell by the picture that it is Tom B. Crutchfield, better known as Buddy. He was born into a large family of 14 children of which three died at birth. The surviving children were Lizzie, Ida, Frank, Beckey, Buddy, Lester, Grady, Gladys, Alice, Jim and Buck. Today Jim is the only one of the 14 still living. Jim has some of Buddy's traits. He is a very good farmer and businessman. He and his wife raised a family of seven children. I taught several of his children and grandchildren, who became very productive Crutchfield's.

Buddy's parents were Green and Roxie Crutchfield. I understand that Green was a teller of tall tales, and was called on to entertain people quite often. I am sure that Buddy worked hard all of his life, but he had a business mind. He belonged to the old school and could stretch a dollar about as far as anybody that I have ever seen. The last time that Buddy was at my house he was looking for hay wire as he knew that I usually had some on my truck. I, like Buddy, would hate to try to farm without haywire and duct tape.

Buddy used to say, "Woodly" as he called me. "I ain't got no education." I would say. "Buddy you may not have a degree from a college, but you have an education of experience and hard knocks. You have been successful, where thousands have fallen by the wayside."

The legend has owed me as much as $10,000 time and time again. He couldn't write, but he could print his signature. I was told by two different people that Susie Walker was the one who taught him this. I am sure that Susie was proud of this accomplishment. Of course, the money owed was not actually my money, but I was responsible for it. Mississippi Chemical Co-op had a ground storage program where the farmer could plow down fertilizer in the fall and not be billed until May the coming year. This program kept the factory running during the slack period and increased the profit for the company. That was a management program that helped the co-op pay back to the customers millions of dollars in patron refunds for several years. Buddy knew a good deal when he saw one. He would take advantage of free credit, and would often remark, "Don't let my bill run past due. I don't y pay interest. I collect interest." One day Mixon Cooper, local banker, had just made a loan to an individual and in walked Buddy. Mixon said to the individual, "I want you to meet the man who owns the money that I have just loaned you."

Here is a man who couldn't write his name, but he was one of the first that Robert McRae and the group that formed Peoples Bank contacted about buying stock in the new bank.

Buddy would print his name on the company's invoice and say. "Woodly, don't worry about your money if anything should happen to me. The bank has got instructions to pay all of my debts before my kids get a penny." Buddy knew good credit when he saw it, unlike most Americans who abuse credit almost every day. We expect Congress to balance the National budget and most of them can't even balance their family budget.

Buddy, being aware of how fragile this life is in this world, had his will well in order. Don Graham, executor of Buddy's will said that he had the will well organized as any that he had ever handled.

Once I visited him and he had just bought a new John Deere tractor with a cab and air conditioner. He was proud of it and said a friend said to him, "Buddy, are you sure that you can afford to splurge your money on this cab." Buddy replied, "Well, in my old age I can do my chores and keep warm and dry. I paid more for my living room which I use once or twice a year. I use this tractor every. day, yes I believe i can afford it."

Tom B. Crutchfield married Ruth Kellum. They had six daughters as follows: Flossie who did not have any children; Floy had one daughter, Hope; Pearl had three daughters, Susie, Cindy and Tammie; Roxie had one son, Roger; Sybele had one son, Mark; Tommie had two sons, Scott and Jason.

I taught Roger in school and he was a good student. I understand he is in Alaska now and doing well. Buddy was a unique individual and certainly belongs to the "Legends of Yesterday."

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