Sandra E. Graham

Another Legend Passes Away-----Hall of Famer George Kell



Posted: Wednesday, March 25, 2009

by Sandra E. Graham
My Books and Articles

Another great celebrity passes away into history as the funeral procession stretches far down the tree lined lane. George Kell, Detroit Tiger's third baseman, is taken to his final resting-place.

Although I'm not a great sports fan, being more into soccer than baseball, this particular player holds a special place in my heart. George was not only a celebrity, but he was also my neighbor. I grew up just down the street from the Kell home in Swifton, Arkansas.

And although my parents have both died many years ago, my niece bought our family home and still lives there today with her husband and two daughters. My parents remember George as a little boy making his home runs, along with all the other kids in the neighborhood, by hitting hard clods of dirt with a stick.

Swifton is a small one-horse town as the old saying goes-Main Street is interstate highway 67, a blacktop going North to South through the middle of town. George Kell put Swifton, Arkansas on the map many years before a young unknown Bill Clinton put Hope, Arkansas there.

For many years Arkansas was known as a backward state, uneducated, poor, and far behind in the technological race of progress. Arkansas even changed its logo from ‘Land of Opportunity' to the ‘Natural State'. Times have changed drastically since the late forties and fifties. Arkansas has become probably one of the most completely self-sufficient States in the Union. Rice, cotton, and even diamonds have made Arkansas a State to be reckoned with, not to mention all the great names that have come out of this great State.

Just to name a few:

In politics------Dale Bumpers (1925- ) Former governor and Senato
                       William Jefferson Clinton (1946- ) Former President
 

In sports--------Hubert Eugene "Geese" Ausbie (1938- ) Harlem Globe Trotters
                         Lou Brock (1939- ) Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985
                         Paul "Bear" Bryant (1913-1983) Head coach of University of Alabama's
                         Crimson Tide from 1958-1983.  
                        Jerry Jones (1942- ) Millionaire owner of Dallas Cowboys Football team.
                        George Kell (1922-2009) Baseball Hall of Fame in 1983.
                        Mark Martin (1959- ) NASCAR race car driver.
                        Reese "Goose" Tatum (1921-1967) Harlem Globe Trotter's first "funny man".
                       Jermain "Bad Intentions" Taylor (1978- ) Undisputed Middleweight Champion                        of the World in 2005.
                        Hazel Walker (1914-1990) Considered one of the greatest women's
                        basketball players to ever play the game.
 
Authors & Journalists----John Grisham (1955- ) Lawyer and best-selling author and member
                                          of Arkansas' Intertainer Hall of Fame.
                                           Kenny Johnson (1942- ) Science fiction icon.
                                          Charles Portis (1933- ) Wrote the famous novel "True Grit"
                                          which sold to Paramount and won John Wayne an Oscar for
                                           his performance in the role of Rooster Cogburn.
 
Actors and Actresses and singer/song writers------Joey Lauren Adams
                                          Julie Adams
                                          Catherine Tharp Altvater
                                          Lisa Blount
                                          Frank Bonner
                                          James Bridges
                                          Jim Ed Brown
                                          Ed Bruce
                                          Sonny Burgess
                                          Glen Campbell
                                          Johnny Cash  
                                          Floyd Cramer
                                          Jerry Van Dyke
                                          Lefty Frizzell
                                          George Hamilton
                                          Alan Ladd
                                          Tracy Lawrence
                                          K.T. Oslin
                                          Dick Powell
                                          Charlie Rich
                                          Mary Steenburgen
                                          Billy Bob Thornton
                                          Conway Twitty
 
And these are just a few of the long list of well-known individuals born in or made their homes in Arkansas. I'm sure we all tend to feel a certain personal injury when a great talent from our own hometown passes away. And so, I will miss the late great George Kell of my old neighborhood of Swifton, Arkansas, as I am sure will the whole town, if not the entire State.
 


 

 

About the Author

Sandra E. Graham

Born in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, Sandra graduated from Egypt High School in Egypt, Arkansas in 1965. Continuing her education by attending Eastfield College in Mesquite, Texas; Crowley’s Ridge Community College; Mississippi Community College; and finally back home to Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Arkansas. She currently lives in Jonesboro with her husband, Donnie and a wealth of Grandchildren! Visit her website at www.wix.com/grahase/sandragrahamarticlesandbooks to see her newest publications. Sandra's books Amos Jakey and Nicolina are historical adventure books published by American Book publishing and may be purchased through pdbookstore.com, Amazon, Books in Print, Barnes and Noble, and Baker & Taylor. She also writes free book reviews for authors through Book Pleasures.
 
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Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)
» left by Gary W. Halsey Sr.
 3 years 58 days ago.
51 fans.
Well written piece Sandra, and very informative, "who would have thunk it" as they say.....wow, lots of great names came outta your state....impressive, and a wonderful tribute to them all. I really like reading stuff like this.....oh, by the way, you know the article you wrote about the nano? I had just read your article and lo and behold, what do I see on one of the morning programs, I think it was "Good Morining America", they had one on there.....that was so weird....to just read about it, and wa-la, there it was ...... spooky in a way.....whoooooooo.......hee.hee..hee...I am about to embark on a challenge, to write about something I have known about for years, someone from work challenged me to write about, "How To Find Your True Love, Do You Look For It, Or Does It Find You"?....that outta be a challenge....well, wish me luck.....your fan and friend in pen......Gary........
» left by Sandra E. Graham from Paragould, AR USA 3 years 55 days ago.
Thanks. That sounds like it will make a great article.  But I for one, think true love finds you or maybe it happens simultanously.  Thanks for reading and commenting. good luck on your next article, I know it will be great.
Sandra
» left by Deb
 3 years 57 days ago.
Great article. I live up near Ash Flat, Arkansas and have heard much about George Kell. Thanks for writing this article about him. He was a great man.
 
Deb
» left by Sandra E. Graham from Paragould, AR USA 3 years 55 days ago.
Thanks for reading and commenting, Deb.
Sandra
» left by Lorrie Davids
 3 years 53 days ago.
96 fans.
Sandra, I enjoy reading everything you write and this tribute was no exception. Thanks for sharing your information.
» left by Sandra E. Graham from Paragould, Ar USA 3 years 52 days ago.
Thanks so much, Lorrie.  I appreciate the kind words.
Sandra
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