Front Porch Radio - History's Hook

This episode involves a visit with Tim Pettus and Curtis Peters in which explores and discusses the history of a Prisoner of War Camp established in Lawrence County that housed German POW's during World War II.

Join host Tom Price as History's Hook explores a story 80 years in the making.  Tom brings together two people who had no idea about their connection to Haynes Ayres, who was killed when his ship, the USAT Dorchester, was sunk by a German U-boat in 1943.  Listen to Winder Heller and John Whiteside tell their sides of the story and see how history connects people across space and time.

Commander Matthew Fontaine Maury, although raised in Tennessee in the early 19th century, had a calling for the sea. His scientific approach to the navy led to him earning the nicknames “Pathfinder of the Seas” and the “Father of Oceanography.” Learn all about this important American from an expert, Mr. Russell Hooper, the collector of the Pathfinder Papers

The honorable Holly Kirby is a Tennessean that inspires. After earning degrees in engineering and law, she went on to practice law in Memphis before being appointed to the bench in the Tennessee Court of Appeals, the first woman to sit on that Court. After spending nearly 19 years there, she was sworn into the Tennessee Supreme Court in 2014. Join Tom and co-host Judge Chris Sockwell as they learn...

Mr. Cecil Whiteside has spent most of his life in Hampshire, Tennessee with the exception of the years 1942-1945, when he was a member of the Navy Armed Guards, protecting cargo ships as they transported men and materiel all over the world. Join Tom and Dr. Gidcomb as they speak to Mr. Whiteside and his son Jeff, who has documented the life of a remarkable Tennessean.

Jefferson Street in Nashville was a nexus of African American culture, education, and entrepreneurship. The music that emanated from that space from 1950-1970 forever changed American music. Join Tom and Jo Ann as they speak to the curator of the Jefferson Street Sound Museum, Lorenzo Washington.

Join Tom, Jo Ann McClellan, and Dr. Barry Gidcomb as they collaborate with Columbia State Community College and discuss the award-winning book Beloved by Toni Morrison. Listen as the hosts and guests break down the literary and historical importance of this critically acclaimed book about the effects of enslavement.

Learning the basic principles of engineering on a farm in Maury County, Tennessee, Mr. Rick Burt parlayed that experience into nuclear and aerospace engineering. He worked his way up at NASA working on rocket systems, to become chief of testing and safety. Today, he is Deputy Director of the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL, where he is working on the next generation of space vehicle...

Mr. James Rushing is an accomplished songwriter. He has written hit songs in the genres of country, bluegrass and gospel music. His songs have been recorded by such artists as Garth Brooks, Dolly Parton, Ricky Scaggs, Charlie Pride, and many others. Mr. Rushing was nominated to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in both 2017 and 2018. Mr. Rushing is also a military veteran, having served in th...

In this episode Tom and Jo Ann speak to retired professional boxer Sammy Sparkman. Born and raised in Columbia, TN, Mr. Sparkman began boxing when he was just seven years old. Following some time away from the sport, Mr. Sparkman spent six years in amateur boxing before turning pro in 1997. He fought in the ring all over the United States and the world including Poland, Canada, Denmark, Italy, and...

Baseball is the quintessential American sport. Its long history dates back to the mid-19th century. But the sport has had a fractious history when it came to race relations. Despite quite a large number of African Americans playing in various leagues along-side white players in the early years of the sport, by the turn of the 20th century, complete segregation took hold. A number of quote, Negro l...

Mr. Bob Clement was raised, in large part, at the governor’s residence, as he was the son of three-term Tennessee Governor Frank Clement. As such, he was at the center of Tennessee history-in-the-making, in the 1950’s and 60’s. Mr. Clement learned the value of public service at an early age. After graduating from the University of Tennessee as an ROTC student and the University of Memphis, Clement...

Mr. Bob Clement was raised, in large part, at the governor’s residence, as he was the son of three-term Tennessee Governor Frank Clement. As such, he was at the center of Tennessee history-in-the-making, in the 1950’s and 60’s. Mr. Clement learned the value of public service at an early age. After graduating from the University of Tennessee as an ROTC student and the University of Memphis, Clement...

Born and raised in Tennessee, Dr. Harold Pryor graduated from high school and was embarking upon a college career when he entered World War II as a medic attached to General George Patton’s 3rd Army as it marched across Europe. Following the war, Dr. Pryor re-entered college where he earned his bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees. The later one in higher education administration from the Un...

History’s Hook host, Tom Price speaks to National and Country Music Radio Hall of Famer Blair Garner.  Blair is a Texas native who has been a radio personality since he was 17 years old.  Working in the radio business through college, his career took him to legendary stations in Washington, D.C., New York City, Houston and Los Angeles.  In the 1990’s, Mr. Garner launched “After Midnite” a syndicat...

We conclude an important three-part series as we explore the lives of Tennessee’s First Ladies, Rachel Jackson, Sarah Polk, and Eliza Johnson.  We end with the first, the wife of the 7th President of the United States, Rachel Jackson. A woman of the American frontier, Mrs. Jackson is an enigmatic figure to historians.  At times portrayed as a rube, at others, a refined woman and astute business ma...

History’s Hook explores the life of Mrs. Imogene Nelson. Raised in Maury County, Mrs. Nelson grew up in Columbia in the 1930’s and 1940’s. During WWII, three of her brothers served in the military, one of them, Shannon, a pilot, died when his plane crashed in Upstate NY. Mrs. Nelson graduated from Columbia Central before entering the Women’s Army Corps. She was stationed in Germany during the time...

Hosts Tom Price and Jo Ann McClellan speak with Ms. Sandra Seaton. Ms. Seaton is an award winning author, playwright, and librettist. Her plays have been performed in cities throughout the country, including New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, and her libretto for the solo opera “From the Diary of Sally Hemings,” set to music by Pulitzer Prize, Grammy Award winning, 2007 composer of the year winne...

On this episode, we continue our look at the extraordinary life of a man who has found great success as a career military man. Major General William Hickman spent 36 years serving his country. Born and raised in Maury County, Gen. Hickman attended local schools before attending Vanderbilt University. As an ROTC student there, upon graduation, he was commissioned into the army as a 2nd lieutenant i...

On this episode, we look at the extraordinary life of a man who has found great success as a career military man. Major General William Hickman spent 36 years serving his country. Born and raised in Maury County, Gen. Hickman attended local schools before attending Vanderbilt University. As an ROTC student there, upon graduation, he was commissioned into the army as a 2nd lieutenant in 1983. Over...

August 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the passing of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution which allowed women the right to vote. Tennessee played a pivotal role as it was the 36th and final state needed to make the 19th amendment the law of the land. Although Tennessee can make the claim of being the state that made this important change in American History happen, it belies the fact that T...

Hosts Tom Price and Jo Ann McClellan are joined by Louisville, Kentucky native Lyman M. Johnson. After attending the University of Louisville and spending time in the military, he also attended the University of Kentucky where he studied chemistry. He spent his career as a chemist for Honeywell Corporation before working as an environmental chemist with the Environmental Protection Agency. He now...