Friday, September 24, 2021
Remembering the Late Gov. Edwin W. Edwards in Sabine Parish
Part VIII
Rebel Park and The Sabine Index
I was at student at Northwestern in 1962 when I wrote a feature story about an Unknown Confederal Soldier buried in the woods near Marthaville after being shot by three Yankee horsemen. The story was published in a lot of area newspapers and there was so much interest that we decided to have a Memorial Service at the grave that year. The interest continued, and the folks around the community wanted to create a park and have annual Memorial Services there, so we did.
Eventually, the folks around Marthaville wanted the park taken into the state parks system so it could be improved and maintained by the state. We tried to get help under Gov. Jimmie Davis, to no avail. Then for eight long years under Gov. John McKeithen we didn’t get any help.
Then along came Gov. Edwin Edwards and he started to help us. Area legislators jumped in. Sen. Bryan Poston was a big supporter, as was Rep. John S. Pickett Jr., Rep. Jimmy Long, Rep. Mutt Fowler, Sen. Don Kelly, Sen. Paul Foshee and Sen. Sylvan Friedman.
So, through the years, it all came about, a little at the time. First the area was taken into the State Parks system. Then a road was constructed to the site. Next, a pavilion with restrooms was constructed. Next came an amphitheater with stage, sound and lighting equipment. Then, a Louisiana Country Music Museum was constructed. All this came about during the terms of Gov. Edwards. Everything.
On August 12, 1974, a group representing Rebel Park met with Gov. Edwards in the Governor’s Office in Baton Rouge. He issued a proclamation naming Aug. 31-Sept. 1, 1974 as Bluegrass Days in Louisiana commemorating the 2nd Annual Bluegrass Festival to be held there. In the group were Herman Birdwell, Hoyt Birdwell and the Areno Boys of Sulphur.
I told those present about the history of Bluegrass music, and Gov. Edwards responded that he was very familiar with that form of music and had always been a fan. The Areno Boys, a Bluegrass Gospel singing group, performed several numbers. The Governor joined in singing on several of the Gospel songs, showing his knowledge and love of Bluegrass music. The presentation was a hit.
Now, along the first of December 1974, someone from the Governor’s Office called me and said their Christmas Party would be held later in the month and wanted the Areno Boys to come and perform. They gave me the date, I contacted the group, and they were tickled to death to get the invitation.
Along with the Arenos, Sen. Poston and I and our wives were present. All the Governor’s staff was in attendance. The first order of business was food, and they had quite a spread. Lambert Areno, the dobro player for the group, said it was the first time he had ever eaten ham without gristle in it.
After the meal, the staff had prepared remarks for Gov. Edwards to read as he presented a Christmas gift to each employee. And it got very sexually explicit. Later, Edwards told me that it was bad, but added, “You should have seen it before I cleaned it up.”
Next, the Areno Boys played and sang Gospel Music. It was quite a sight to see those Cajuns doing the waltz to “Old Rugged Cross.” It was an event that I never forgot.
Word had gotten out about the event beforehand, and it had to be moved from the Governor’s Office to the Press Conference Room to accommodate everyone who attended.
Gov. Edwards was speaker at the 14th Memorial Day at Rebel Park on May 4, 1975. This was his first visit to Marthaville, and he did not get to see the park because of bad weather. The program had to be held at the Marthaville High School Auditorium because of rain. Sen. Bryan A. Poston introduced Edwards. He praised the governor for the improvements made at Rebel Park during his administration.
During his remarks, Edwards said, “I wish everyone in America would love this country like you do in this section of Louisiana. I am proud of your Christian principles and patriotism.” Referring to the Unknown Soldier, he said, “I might remind you it took three Yankees to kill one Rebel.”
Former Gov. and Mrs. Jimmie Davis provided the entertainment to a full house. Other speakers on the program were Louisiana Political Legend Bill Dodd, Rep. Jimmy D. Long, Rep. Mutt Fowler, former Sen. F. E. Cole and Sen. Paul Foshee. Ms. Johnnie Foster presented Edwards with a beautiful cake with his picture on it – truly a work of art.
Entertaining on the program were the Areno Boys of Sulphur. During this portion, they called Edwards to the stage to sing with them. He at first refused, but after a big round of applause from the audience, he walked to the stage. They sang “A Beautiful Life” and you won’t believe it, but the Governor sang the bass part.
Gov. Edwards was again speaker at the 16th Memorial Day on Sunday, May 15, 1977. We held a three-day Bluegrass and Country Music Festival and Memorial Day.
We were having problems with the State Parks officials, who were making it hard for us to use the park, and we billed it as “The Last Roundup” because we did not know if we could continue. The Rev. C. D. Bates and I talked with the Governor, and he said he would work the matter out to our satisfaction.
A bit later I was at the Mansion for a meeting and saw Gov. Edwards coming down the stairs. We talked for a moment and then he said, “Why don’t you try to get along with Larry Crain [head of the Parks Commission at the time]?” I responded, “Why doesn’t Dr. Crain try to get along with me?” He said, “I hadn’t thought of that!”
At this Memorial Day, at the suggestion of Sandra Thompson, who was Secretary of the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, Gov. Edwards presented me with a certificate of appreciation for the work I had done on developing and promoting Rebel Park.
That afternoon Roy Acuff and The Smokey Mountain Boys, David Houston and his Persuaders, and Jimmy C. Newman and Cajun Country were on the program.
The Governor was back at Rebel Park on Oct. 3, 1982 for the 21st Memorial Day program. Entertaining on the program were Roy Acuff and his Smokey Mountain Boys, Jim and Jesse and the Virginia Boys, Charlie Louvin and the Big Men, Wilma Lee Cooper and the Clinch Mountain Clan, and Jimmy C. Newman and Cajun Country.
Both Gov. Edwards and his brother Marion spoke at the 99th Birthday Party held for former Gov. Jimmie Davis at Rebel Park on Saturday, Aug. 12, 1998. It was a hot afternoon, but Edwards looked as cool as a cucumber. Sen. Don Kelly was master of ceremonies.
As keynote speaker, Gov. Edwards said, “I was 71 on Aug. 7 and as I celebrated my birthday in good health, I thought about you and expressed a silent wish that I would live as long and as well as you have and that on my 99th birthday, I would be able to enjoy the company and friendship of as many wonderful people as I know you will.” Also on the program was Gov. Buddy Roemer. Pete Abington led the crowd in the singing of “Happy Birthday.” Gov. Edwards was also present for Jimmie’s 100th birthday celebration in Baton Rouge on Sept. 10, 1999. Also attending were Gov. Buddy Roemer, Gov. Mike Foster and Gov. Dave Treen.
Attorney Ken Simmons recalled some of his memories to me of Gov. Edwards. He writes:
“I had the privilege of picking him up at local airports a couple of times. One was in DeSoto Parish when he came to speak at a church in South Mansfield. Overflow crowd. Another time was at Hart Airport when he flew in for a Memorial Day at Rebel Park. (You gave me the assignment.) When he got out of his plane, he spotted a State of Louisiana plane parked at the airport. He wanted to know who was there from the State, and I told him I thought Supt. of Education Kelly Nix was attending your function. Nix was making noises about running for Governor at the time. Not knowing how many people would be with Edwards, I brought both of my vehicles. I drove one and my wife drove the other. My cousin from Baton Rouge was with my wife (both very pretty women.) Edwards and I walked from his plane to the two vehicles, and he asked in which vehicle he should ride. I thought my vehicle would be a bit more to his liking, so I told him his choice. He quickly said, ‘I’m riding with the ladies.’ When it came time to leave Rebel Park, he told me he was riding back with Nix. Wouldn’t you have loved to hear that conversation? And maybe you did!”
The Sabine Index and Gov. Edwards
The first article I wrote of Edwin Edwards in the Index was in my column of March 15, 1973. I had attended the Louisiana Press Convention in Baton Rouge where he spoke. I wrote, “He is a young man to watch.”
On March 15, 1973, the Index ran an editorial titled, “Gov. Edwards, Welcome to Sabine.” He was in town to speak in Zwolle and to also announce the Garan plant was coming to Many. The editorial welcomed him to town and said we’d be happy if he came back often. Many Mayor Virginia Godfrey, who became good friends with Edwards, described him as having “charm, warmth and friendship.”
The Nov. 28, 1974 issue of the Index endorsed Gov. Edwards for re-election. The editorial stated, “It isn’t every day that the Sabine Index endorses a candidate for political office. And when it does, it is never this far ahead of the election.” The editorial went on to list the many reasons the man deserved re-election.
The Oct. 23, 1975 edition of the Index ran an editorial entitled “Let’s RE-Elect Gov. Edwards on Nov. 1.” The editorial listed reasons for voting for the Governor and closed by saying, “We feel very strongly the need to elect Gov. Edwards to a second term. For these and many other reasons, we endorse Gov. Edwards for re-election and urge everyone in Sabineland to go to the polls Nov. 1 and cast their vote for him.”
On Oct. 24, 1975, Gov. Edwards flew into Hart Airport to go to Zwolle for the dedication of the Rail Car Plant. Mayor Godfrey met him at the airport to show him a full-page ad she had placed in the Index for him. He was pleased.
And in the late 1970s there was great hope among a lot of people that Gov. Edwards might run for President. In its July 26, 1979 issue, the Index ran an editorial entitled, “Edwards for President.” We wrote, “Our Governor, we hear, is looking into the possibility of entering some presidential primaries next year. We think this is great, and at this point, Edwin Edwards may be a man whose time has come.”
And again on Oct. 13, 1983, the Index ran a large editorial, with picture entitled, “Sabine Index endorses Edwards for Governor.” The editorial was written by Bill Dodd. He said the State of Louisiana was the largest corporation and we needed a good man to head that corporation, and Edwin Edwards was the man for the job. It was a great editorial.
That wraps it up for this week. We will have another column about Gov. Edwards next Friday, Oct. 1. We have received many good comments from folks reading and enjoying the column. Thanks for reading.
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