Hall of Famer follows up

Dear Editor:

Thank you for the story Sonny Turner recently wrote about six new members to be inducted into the Limestone County Sports Hall of Fame. I would like to make two corrections. I know you go with the information you are presented.

I went to Birmingham-Southern College but there was no scholarship involved. Mr. Van Gilbert, who was chairman of the Limestone County Bank, sent word to me by the publisher of The Courier & Democrat, Steele McGrew, that he would loan me any money I needed. I had been working part-time for five years for the then-twice weekly newspaper as sports editor and general news reporter. Two months after graduation from high school, I had secured a position working from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. for the Birmingham Post-Herald on the copy desk, where locally written and wire copy were edited for style and accuracy. After the copy was edited, you wrote a headline for each story. We had six copyreaders and put out four editions a day.

I had thanked Mr. Gilbert before I went to Birmingham and told him I would receive $45 a week from The Post-Herald. I added that I would have to see if I needed help on tuition. Once I was settled in Birmingham, I realized it would be necessary. I could buy meals, pay for a room and buy books out of my salary, but there wasn’t money for tuition. Mr. Gilbert’s secretary took the call and said, “Don’t worry, just have the college send the bill to us.”

I went and registered for the first quarter of studies. I finished college in four years, though I went to summer school for two quarters. The total cost of tuition and fees at B-SC was $2,200. This was repaid; no interest was charged.

After 15 month on the copy desk, I was promoted to sports, replacing a man who had taken a position on a paper in Ohio. This job involved the coverage of Big Five high schools plus Birmingham-Southern College, Howard College (now Samford University), Alabama football and Auburn basketball.

On the subject of The Williamson Leader, I started in from scratch in September 1973 and operated it until November 1998. We sold the building at a profit, sold some equipment and gave the rest away. At that time, we talked to several people but didn’t find a buyer.

Sincerely,

Bailey Leopard Sr.