Mississippi Moments Podcast

For over thirty-five years, Wade Guice served as the Harrison County Director of Civil Defense. His first office was a small trailer powered by an extension cord. During his time in that position, he is credited with saving countless lives during several tornados and hurricanes including Camille. Please enjoy Guice's story in his own words in this extended version of the original broadcast.

On January 23rd, 1968, the USS Pueblo, a Naval Intelligence ship was seized in International waters by the North Korean Government. Reverend Rodney Duke of Lake, Mississippi was serving as a communications technician aboard the Pueblo at the time. For the next 334 days Duke and the rest of the crew endured over 200 interrogations. He remembers the physical and psychological torture and the effect...

     Jim Kelly of Pearlington, grew up in the nearby town of English Lookout.   He recounts how English Lookout got its name and how  lumber companies used schooners and tug boats to carry harvested timber down the Pearl River to Gulfport.      The logging towns that sprang up along the Pearl River often had no roads and depended on boats for mail, supplies and transportation. Kelly remembers the...

In the mid-1960s, Mississippi began the process of desegregating its public schools.   Winston Fairley of Gulfport recalls transferring to a previously all-white school in Hattiesburg after finishing the eighth grade.  As the son of a local civil rights leader, Fairley felt a sense of duty to represent his people and make his father proud.  Even so, he remembers the move left him feeling isolated...

Jewish holidays are traditionally associated with certain foods. Gail Goldberg of Greenwood discusses some of these dishes. She explains why, a s the Jewish population of Greenwood has declined, holiday traditions have become even more important.   Goldberg also details the tremendous amount of effort that goes into preparing for the  family’s annual Rosh Hashanah celebration.

In 1999, Erik Robert Fleming became the fiftieth African American to enter the Mississippi legislature in the modern era.   He discusses why he became interested in becoming a politician. Fleming also comments on race relations within the legislature and the need for coalitions.

In 1963, Charles Dunagin was hired by newspaper publisher Oliver Emmerich to be the editor of the McComb Enterprise-Journal .   He recalls the turbulent summer of 1964 and his paper’s efforts to report the racial violence. Dunagin also recounts the bombing of civil rights workers that summer and how his own family was threatened with the same fate. Enjoy the extra details in this extended version...

During the Big Band Era, Dances were an important social activity for young people. Frances Joyner of Tupelo recalls her first dance and staying out all night.  Or ganized dances had unique customs and vernaculars. Joyner explains the terms Check-In List, Stag Line, No-breaks and Specials. Joyner also remembers dancing on the roof of the Peabody Hotel in Memphis. Please enjoy this extended version...

The Great Depression of the 1930s left millions of Americans unable to support themselves or their families. As a teenager, Lillie McLaurin of Hattiesburg remembers the time she encountered a soup line. She relates how the experience changed her priorities. McLaurin recalls how her father would give some of his shifts at work to others with less seniority and a certain grocer who gave away food to...

For many growing up in Mississippi, cold weather meant that it was hog-killing time. Charles Wright of Natchez remembers sneaking late night snacks from his grandmother's smoke house. Wright recalls his family's Christmas gatherings as a time filled with a lot of food and a lot of Love. Happy Holidays from the Mississippi Moments family to your family!

Jessie Turner of Natchez discusses his family's tradition of hunting and cooking wild game and how it evolved from an economic necessity to a sport that fosters friendship and community. He explains how to cook a wild hog in the field and his two favorite methods for cooking raccoon in this extended version of the broadcast episode.

Songol Arslan of Jackson grew of in Ankara, Turkey.  She describes a traditional Turkish diet and discusses some dishes are served during the holidays. Of all of the dishes that Arslan prepares for her American friends, they love her carrot salad the most.  She reveals how it's made.

Kenneth York is the Tribal Historian for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.  He discusses traditional Choctaw sources of carbohydrates as well as  the soups and stews that the Choctaws prepared in clay pots over an open fire. York also describes the wide variety of game that Mississippi Choctaws enjoyed barbequing. 

Delores Ulmer of Jackson is a second generation Lebanese-American. She discusses Kibbeh, a traditional Lebanese meat dish and how to prepare  sasuf, which is a wheat salad now known at tabouli.   According to Ulmer, preparing food together is a Lebanese tradition that makes the work more fun and brings the family closer. Please enjoy this extended version of the original radio broadcast

In the past eight years, the number of Mississippi Farmer’s Markets had doubled from around 30 to over 60. Andy Prosser with the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce discusses the benefits of supporting local Farmer’s Markets. He explains how his department certifies and supports the formation of Farmer’s Markets.   Many low income Mississippians have limited access to fresh produce....

In books like North Towards Home and My Dog Skip , Willie Morris drew upon memories of growing up in Yazoo City for inspiration.  He recalls his family’s long history in Mississippi and how summertime  boredom often led to mischief. Morris  reflects on the education he received in the Yazoo City Public School system.   He remembers the influence one teacher had on his decision to become a writer....

During WWII, items needed for the war effort created shortages of consumer goods. Parnell McKay of Pass Christian recalls a scarcity of paper, fuel, and apartments. Fearing attack by the Germans or Japanese, civilian observation posts were set up along the Gulf Coast.   As a high school student, McKay volunteered as a spotter. He remembers the day he spotted a U-boat. McKay also reveals how liquor...

On June 6 th , 1944, Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy, France.   Cmdr. Rip Bounds of Hattiesburg piloted his Utility Landing Ship onto Utah Beach carrying 25 tons of ammunition.   Bounds remembers endless days of ferrying men and equipment to the beach and carrying the wounded away. He gets emotional when he recounts the efforts of the Red Cross Ladies to give comfort to the wounded w...

Dr. Dollye Robinson has had a distinguished career as a Professor of Music Education at Jackson State.   So it was only natural that she would join the Mississippi Arts Commission.   Robinson details the efforts of the Arts Commission to find funding for various programs statewide and presents an eloquent defense for the continued support of the Arts and Humanities in our schools.

In 1947, a Mississippi association of African-American teachers decided to pool their resources and sue the state for pay and benefits equal to that of their white counterparts. After Gladys Noel Bates agreed to be named the plaintiff, her contract was not renewed and she and her husband were unable to find work as teachers anywhere in the South. In this extended version of last week's radio broad...

Here is a favorite of ours from June 2009, featuring Southern Miss coach and first full-time Athletic Director, Reed Green.

On November 9 th , 1965 a power outage plunged New York City into darkness during rush hour.   Clarksdale native, George Falls was in a helicopter with Holiday Inn founder, Kemmons Wilson when the lights went out.  He recalls the  ride back to New York City in total darkness and the way people made the best of a bad situation. This extended cut gives many more detail s than the original radio vers...

In August of 1954, the first franchised Holiday Inn opened for business in Clarksdale, MS. George Falls, then a senior in high school, recalls the excitment and feelings of pride shared by the entire town. After college, Falls went to work for the fledgling company. As a member of the Franchise Department, he witnessed Holiday Inns' metamorphosis from a small southern chain into an industry giant....

Margaret Loesch, of Pass Christian, earned her degree from The University of Southern Mississippi in political science, but it was in children's television that she made her career. Starting as a typing clerk at ABC in 1971, Loesch quickly rose through the ranks to become head of children's programmnig at NBC. She developed many classic kid's shows including The Smurfs, GI Joe, Transformers, Power...

Jimmy Havard played football for Southern Miss from 1958 to 1962. He recalls making the freshman cut in the summer of ’58.   In 1961, Havard set a record for the longest punt return in Southern Miss history. He remembers that play and Roman Gabriel, the famous North Carolina State quarterback who tried to stop him. Years later as the coach for Petal High School, Havard kept a pre-game superstition...