Marietta Policemen, Years Ago and Now

Marietta Patrolman Ed Hunter and his two children Eddie and Anna, and Eddie's one eyed rag doll in the 1940s'.

Marietta Policemen Ed Hunter and Jesse Cooper.  I think Jesse and his family lived on or near the corner of McDonald and Maxwell Streets.  I have no idea why I know or think that.

Marietta Policemen Stanley and his brother Ed Hunter.  Stanley was a plains clothes officer.

Cobb County Chief of Police Ed Hunter in the 1950s.  Before he was Cobb County Chief he was chief of the Marietta Police but I don't have a picture of that.

Rupert Raines.  He was the assistant chief of the Marietta Police in the 1970s. (Rupert made that face for my benefit, actually he is very gentle, 

Here is Dan Flynn, the current chief of the Marietta Police Force.  We were on a Civil War Hospital tour together in downtown Marietta.  He is very congenial and likable.  So is the Mrs.

The reason of this Marietta Police Force article is that Friday at 10:30am the Marietta Museum of History will have an opened discussion of the Marietta Police of the past.

Ralph Harper and Joe Jenkins at the 2014 Varner Reunion.  It appears that they are awed at each other. 

A REMINDER:  If you show up tomorrow at the American Legion expecting to party with old friends, you may or may not get your wish,  it is according to how many other people didn't get the message about the reunion being upped a week because of bad weather predictions.

The real date and time now is next week at, same place, at Noon on Saturday, May the 2nd.

Bill Spinks at the Varner Reunion

This is Bill Spinks.  He was a special Honor Guest at the 2013 Varner Reunion, also pictured below is his daughter Patsy and her husband Hylton Dupre.  

  Bill Spinks knows just about everybody my age or older of my father's side of the family and the same on Anna's mother side of the family.  They grew in the same neighborhood on Powder Springs and Reynolds Streets .  He surprised me at the funeral home a few years ago when he walked up to me and said, "Hello Rock!"  He recognized me after over 50 years.

I was good friends with his daughter Patsy and in high school went over to their hose a lot. 

Visiting them at their house was always an interesting experience.  They had a horny little dog that every time  would spend the entire time I was there humping my leg.   I think we all chose to ignore the horny  panting little rascal.

Which reminds me, The Varner Reunion this year will be this coming Saturday,  April 25th, at noon. 

Who said you can't go back?

Paul and Pete Meet

Varner's and Bell Reunions are great for seeing old friends that you have forgotten about.  Here at the 2011 Varner Reunion Paul Roper is shaking Peter Benbow's hand.   I felt like I was invading their privacy, so I moved on to take some more pictures.  Peter owns a small engine  repair company in Doraville or Chamblee. 

Speaking of which, you too can see old friends (and enemies) at the upcoming Varner Reunion, next Saturday, April the 25th, at noon at the Horace Orr American Legion on Gresham Avenue in Marietta.

Paul and Pete
Meet.

I like that bounce!

If I could only found a Mary to be in the picture too, I could label the picture:
Peter, Paul, and Mary.

Varner Reunion Only One Week Away!

Here is Monty Calhoun talking to Clarence  Robinson at the 2013 Varner Reunion.  Clarence used to work with my father at the Marietta Police; Clarence was a plains clothes detective.  He probably patted down more people at that Varner Reunion than anyone else there.  Maybe Mickey Carlile could come in a close second.

Remember!  The Varner Reunion will be one week from today:  Saturday, April 25th, noon at Horace Orr American Legion.   

Mayor Bill Dunaway at the 2011 Varner Reunion

Bill Dunaway at the 2011 Varner Reunion.  I think he was at the end of his second term  as Mayor of Marietta .  You might wonder why his arm is in a sling in this picture.  Shaking a lot of hands?  Well,  most people shake with their right hand.  Slapping a lot of backs?  That too, would be a right hand job.  Maybe the sling is a conversational piece.   This year's Varner Reunion will be at the Horace Orr American Legion, or Gresham Avenue, in Marietta,  April  25th.  It starts at noon, outside.  See old friends.  Hot dogs and hamburgers cooked on a grill will be available.  Rolling drunks will start at sundown.

Gossiping at the Varner Reunion

In this picture we see Bobby McEntyre and Arnold Guest, listening to  David Clackum at a Varner Reunion.  It looks like David is telling some surprising gossip.  Come to the Varner Reunion, Saturday, April 25, at noon, at the American Legion, so if the current gossip is about you,  you will be there to  defend your good name.

Varner Reunion, 2 weeks from Today!

In this picture Brenda and Marvalyn are sitting outside enjoying a Varner Reunion and suddenly Marvalyn looks at us face to face and says, "The Varner Reunion is two weeks  from today! It will be outside too!"  Saturday,  April the 25th.  The party will start at noon.

Get Close at the Varner Reunion!

Get Close to one another At the Varner Reunion, Saturday, April 25th, noon, outside,  at Horace Orr American Legion, Marietta.  By the way, this is picture is a false plug.  Even though all four of these people go to the Varner Reunion, this isn't a picture of a scene of a Varner Reunion.  It is a picture of a scene at Paul  Roper's  birthday party. 

So sue me.

Trammell House Sweets

It is that time of the year again.  The time to gorge yourself with fudge and other sweets.   Rachel Bowen Fry, owner and cook,  of TRAMMELL HOUSE SWEETS is ready to take your order!

GC BBQ Opening 3rd Location

Our friend Cecile at GC BBQ (Grand Champion Barbecue) told us this evening that GC BBQ is opening their 3rd location.  It is  in Atlanta at 99 Krog Street.  You ever heard of the famous Krog Tunnel near  DeKalb Avenue?  Well, Krog Street is there too.

For now it will be take-out only.  I asked Cecile are they bringing their own graffiti.  She looked at me  with loving  eyes that silently said, "Smart ass!"  and gave us each a hug.  

Sprayberry Highschool's Yearbook ECHO On-Line

My friend and  ex-fellow postal worker Skip Are  has a couple of very good and interesting websites.

One is a collection of Sprayberry High school yearbooks THE ECHO, page by page, student by student.  Of course at first you have all the ECHO annuals in front of you.   First, once you are at the sight select Enter, then you will see a menu on the left.  Select ECHO. Then you pick one of the years you attended, click and look at it, page by page and see old school mates, forever young, just like yourself. 

It took Skip many hours of detail work to do all this.  I know, I did something similar with Marietta High School's THE OLYMPIAN, but not nearly as many.

The reason I am sharing this with you is that I don't think every one who went to Sprayberry is aware of this site.

the address of the site is:

http://www.sprayberry-echo-project.com/

Enjoy!

Joe and Forrest

In the little blogging community I belong to I have made several friends over the years.  It is sort of like the old expression that "water seeks it own level".  One of my blogger friends is Joe.  Joe and I have a common interests in EC comicbooks, Blues, Dylan, movies, and an obsessive   fan-ship of the New Orleans Street Band Tuba Skinny.  If you go to Joe's blog  TALLEYHO you probably won't have to go far to come across a youtube video clip of Tuba Skinny.

He happened to run into many famous or infamous people, musicians, poets, movie stars and whatever.

I one time called him a real Forrest Gump.

Well, I am begging to wonder if Forrest Gump was a composit of him.  With all the people he had crossed paths with on their climb to great-hood, one of the people was the inspiration for Forrest Gump.  I should have known.

Check out his blog that he explains this.  Click on the link below:

http://joeb-tallyho.blogspot.com/2013/04/forrest-gump-rides-again.html


The above is a link to just one story, the story about the Forrest Link connection.  It also mentions me.  Joe grew up in Mobile, Alabama, but has first hand knowledge of everything between Mobile and the Texas border, maybe further.  He and his wife lived in New Orleans in the 1960s, they traveled Europe over Europe, and now live in Arlington, Virginia - he has seen a lot and shares what he has seen in his blog, which is good.  If you want to see his whole blog, article after article, click on the below:

http://joeb-tallyho.blogspot.com/

28 Days Until April the 28th! Varner's Reunion

Sandy Ramsey and Rupert Raines

Link for details:

www.varnerreunion2013.com

35 Days Until The Varner Reunion

Ken Chaney

On your calendar draw a big red circle  around April he 27th for the Varner Reunion.  They call it a reunion for a reason.  It means "re-unite".  See friends (and enemies) of long ago in your formative years.  Ask them, "How ya doing?"  Compare who looks the oldest!  Compare checkbooks!

For straight off the stuff Varner information link:

 www.varnerreunion2013.com.


"Straight off the stu!ff" used to be a way of bragging when you let go a stinking flatulent, of course that was before we were grownup and mature.  Come to the Varner Reunion and act like a teen again!

Varner's Reunion, Tomorrow!

Jerry McBee



Jackie Turner

4pm at the Horace Orr American Legion Post on 921 Gresham Avenue, Marietta.

We will be looking for you!

Varner's Reunion, 4 Days Away!

Paul and Ivanell Roper

10 More Days Until the Varner's Reunion

click on either to enlarge



Above - Kathryn Durrett

11 Days Until the Varner's Reunion

Click on either image to make larger.


James "Roughhouse" Camp

Varner Reunion - 2 Weeks from Today!

Two weeks from today is the Varner Reunion on April 23,2011.

I posted the below video of the 2010 Varner Reunion then, as a reminder, or jolt, here it is again: