Editor, Sun-Sentinel:
I would like to express some thoughts about two men whose names appeared in the obituaries of this paper. I knew them from over a half- century ago.
The first one was Edward Logan. My first contact with the Logans was in 1963 and ’64. Mrs. Betty Logan was one of my sixth-grade teachers. I loved her Mississippi History class. She was instrumental in arranging our sixth-grade graduation. I remember sitting on stage with all my fellow classmates singing, “Go Mississippi” and getting my first-ever diploma at the old gym.
My next encounter was in the fall of 1964. I entered the seventh grade at East Tallahatchie. Mr. Logan was principal. He welcomed us to school, made speeches at assembly programs and pep rallies. He also coached basketball teams at East Tally.
In the spring of 1966, I had a personal encounter with Coach Logan. I, along with four other guys, had disobeyed our study hall teacher. We skipped out at recess instead of staying in as we were told. In third period math class, the intercom came on. Coach Logan said, “Mrs. Cobb, send David Miller to the office.” When I got there, Mrs. Murphree, Coach Logan and the other four guys were waiting. Mrs. Murphree explained the charges. Coach gave a short speech and then applied the board of education to our backsides. We followed the rules after that.
The Logans left Charleston and continued in education for many years. Mississippi’s loss was Louisiana’s gain. He died at 94.
The other man was Coach Brown Walker. He was my teacher and football coach. He was a good teacher. He was tough on all of us who played football. Coach Walker would make us run sprints until we thought we would die. He would say, “Suck it up. I’m gonna get you guys in shape,” and he did.
In 1967, East Tallahatchie lost every game, going 0-10 for the season. In the summer of 1968, coaches Dale Burt, Don Jones and Brown Walker made us go to football camp. It was a tough week at Castilian Springs near Durant.
The first game of 1968 was at Grenada. They were supposed to beat us. Before our bus left Charleston, Coach Burt told us, “Coach Jones, Coach Walker and myself will treat you all to a steak supper if y’all beat Grenada tonight.” If my memory is correct, the final score of that first game of the season was East Tallahatchie 21, Grenada 12. A couple weeks later, our entire team met at the old Post Office Cafe and we all had a fine steak with all the trimmings thanks to our coaches.
After graduation, I lost all contact with the Logans and Walkers. They both stayed in education for many years. Their influence touched the lives of thousands of students in a positive way. The world is a better place because they passed our way for a short time.
David Miller
Scobey
