4:09 p.m.
Comedian, author, religious influence, college football star (for the Bulldogs, no less) - all of this describes the beloved fellow from Mississippi named Jerry Clower.
While attending the best college in the world (Maroon... White...), Jerry not only played football, he also majored in agriculture as well as was a member of Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity. After graduating, Jerry received a job with Mississippi Chemical Company. Now, I don't know if any of you have any experience growing up near a Chemical Plant, but I do - the very one where Jerry Clower worked. Just imagine all of the pollution generated by a chemical plant. Brown and yellow smoke shoots out of pipes.
Chemical residue seeps into the ground, which in turn seeps into our water system.
Obviously it is not good for the environment, but just imagine what that can do to humans...
If you have ever met anyone, or happen to be someone from Yazoo City, then you will know that there are a lot of loony-toons that reside there. I've always heard the saying, "There must be something in the water." Well, in this case, it's true.
Here are a couple examples: *the names have been changed to protect the crazy
Buddy Boulder* - Bud was the grandfather of one of our friends. He was a total schizo and we loved him for it. Word on the street was he used to bury money in coffee cans in the backyard because he thought aliens were going to come down and steal his cash. The only person who knew where the money was, other than himself, was his dog. I guess he showed the dog in case he needed help digging it up again. He drove a light teal Honda accord and would drive around the neighborhood every afternoon at the same time, round and round.
Well, we were kind of punks and when we would see him circling the hood, we would follow him, round and round. In retrospect, it was kind of cruel, considering his mental state. But at the time it was hilarious. I can't say for sure, but I believe he probably thought he was being chased by the mob or something. He also used to hang out at K-mart talking to the black lady that worked at the photo counter. I'm sure she really enjoyed that.
Sam Adams* - Sam is the father of a kid who was in my class. Sam lived in the same neighborhood as Buddy. While I wouldn't call him a schizophrenic, I would say that he was a little odd. Sam was married and had three kids. One son was a big stud - star of the football team, baseball team, basketball team, track team, voted as a beau in the beauty review... His middle child was in my class. Boy did this kid have a temper. I can't even remember how many times he got in a fight in elementary school. First his ears would turn red, then his face, then his eyes. And he was sort of dorky, but not to the point where we made fun of him for it. He just wore really bad glasses and had sort of funky hair. But he was good at sports, so it was always an advantage to have him on your kickball team. And finally he had a daughter. Hmmm. Let's just say if you called Sam at home and his daughter answered the phone, you would probably assume he had 3 boys. I'll just leave it there. Anyway, what made Sam extra special was that he was kind of a fruit/ fruitcake.
First of all, he had this very odd, kind of sweet voice. I could totally do an impression now, but you wouldn't be able to hear it, so there isn't much point. However, I am going to do it so I can entertain myself. Secondly, he always wanted to hang out with his older son and his friends. It's possible he was having a mid-life crisis, but I think he just liked hanging out with young boys. And thirdly, when we got older, we found out he was hanging out in the gay bars in Jackson, MS. So, let's look at the fact: His daughter was basically a son, he talked very femininely, he hung out with his teenage sons friends, and he frequented the gay clubs. If it walks like a duck, and it talks like a duck, it's probably into dudes.
I'm not sure what he's doing now. Last time I heard, he had been hitting the bottle a lot and divorced his wife. His daughter got knocked up, the oldest son had an illegitimate child and the middle son is managing a Home Depot.
Anyway, there are many more examples of how chemical plants effect the citizens who live nearby, but I will get back to the focus of my post.
While working, Jerry gained popularity when his coworkers heard his Coon Hunt Story and other comedy routines. Someone suggested that he record some of his routines, so Jerry taped his next few speaking engagements. Eventually, Clower's tapes wound up in the hands of "Big Ed" Wilkes in Lubbock, Texas, who had Clower make a better quality recording and began promoting it. He liked the idea and recorded an album under the Lemon label.
His first album was named Jerry Clower from Yazoo City Talkin', and it sold over 8,000 copies without being advertised. That's just how we roll in Yazoo City. People don't even have to know about us. Just say Yazoo and it's gold. In time, WSM radio in Nashville got a copy of the record, and when Turner played it on the air, Clower said "that thing busted loose". MCA was soon knocking on Clower's door offering him a contract. Once MCA began distribution in 1971, Jerry Clower from Yazoo City, Mississippi Talkin’ retailed more than a million dollars over ten months and stayed in the Top 20 on the country charts for 30 weeks. Again, that's how we roll.
In 1973, Clower became a member of the Grand Ole Opry, and remained with that organization until his death. He also co-hosted a radio show called Country Crossroads with Bill Mack and Leroy Van Dyke for a number of years. This show was produced and distributed by the Southern Baptist Convention. Clower's last album was Peaches and Possums, released posthumously in October 1998. Mmmm... There is nothing tastier on a hot summer day than peaches and possums. Top it off with some homemade vanilla ice cream and you've got yourself a real treat. Whoo boy.
Clower has written several books. Let the Hammer Down is a collection of humorous events and funny anecdotes. Other books he has written include: Ain't God Good!, which became the basis for an inspirational documentary that won an award from the NY International In dependant Film and Video Festival; Life Everlaughter, and Stories from Home.
Clower died following heart bypass surgery, aged 71. He had been married to Homerline Wells Clower since August 1947. He is also survived by a son, Ray, three daughters, Amy, Sue, and Katy, and seven grandchildren.
FYI - I went to church with Jerry when I was a little girl. Jealous? I know you are.
Source: Wikipedia
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