About: Turner McCullough Jr.

US Army retiree, Native of Charleston, SC; enjoys photography- especially B/W photo studies and portraits, printing photos; travel, the seacoast, jazz/good food/wine with friends. Believes active citizenship is the only true form of citizenship and the responsibility of every citizen. "Men in authority will always think that criticism of their policies is dangerous. They will always equate their policies with patriotism, and find criticism subversive."


Web Site: http://

Email: wanion69185@mypacks.net

Turner McCullough Jr.'s Articles:

Port Royal Lantern Tour unveils treasures of local history

By Turner McCullough Jr. | November 11, 2008 |
 

This nighttime lantern tour of the historic state park offers visitors insight into aspects of local history not readily available, and, too often, not pursued. Moving along softly illuminated trails, re-enactors share the area’s secrets for willing ears.

In what is hopefully to become an annual event, the Port Royal Historic State Park, now listed as an official Trail of Tears Park, staged their Lantern History Tour. The tour was not a Halloween fright-type of celebration, but rather an effort to share the history of this most under-appreciated area of Montgomery County and it’s contributions to Clarksville’s history. The Lantern Tour is the result of the combined efforts of The Friends of Port Royal and the Port Royal Park staff and supporters. The event, which was free to the public, ended with a roaring bonfire, toasted marshmallows and hot cider.



Col. John Montgomery

Entering the park along and down the candle-lit pathway, visitors first encounter a Longhunter, Colonel John Montgomery, played by Michael Ramsey, an APSU student and volunteer at Mansker Station in Goodlettsville. The colonel’s story relates experiences of his life spent trapping in Port Royal and exploration of the region in 1771. Leaving the colonel with his trusty long rifle, visitors move further on into the park, guided by illuminated mini-torch baggettes.

Next on the trail is an early settler woman, Susannah McFadden, portrayed by Silvia Britton, also a Mansker Station volunteer. Susannah relates the experience of living on the new frontier, its hardships, her surprises and her experiences of taking pioneers into the new frontier of 1790. She is an unusual entity, being a woman frontier guide in 1790. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Arts and Leisure, Education, Issues, Politics | 1 Comment »
 

AHDC annual Lifetime Achievement Awards a festive affair

By Turner McCullough Jr. | November 8, 2008 |
 


Guests enjoy the buffet table at the 2008 AHDC Lifetime Achievements Awards

The highlight of the Arts and Heritage Development Council’s annual membership drive was the Lifetime Achievement Awards presentations at Emerald Hill Pace Alumni Center. The festive atmosphere of the gala event was well suited to the occasion. Splendid appetizers and refreshment accompanied by the soft chamber music played by APSU Music Dept. students graced the warm and cordial atmosphere of the evening as family, friends, co-workers and AHDC members greeted one another and mingled freely.

Friday evening, November 8th, the Arts and Heritage Development Council of Clarksville and Montgomery County bestowed its Arts and Heritage Lifetime Achievement Awards during the Annual Membership Drive at Emerald Hill Pace Alumni Center. This event is held to raise money through memberships and to honor outstanding citizen’s who have made enormous contributions in the Arts and in Heritage.



Mayor Pro Tem Barbara Johnson and Mrs. Emma Canard

This year’s Arts Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to Sharon and George Mabry. The Mabrys have excelled in individual music careers and endeavors that have earned each of them success and renown in the higher echelons of professional music performance circles. The Heritage Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Riley Darnell, Tennessee Secretary of State.

Mayor Pro Tem Barbara Johnson gave the biography of each Arts Lifetime Achievement honoree. Montgomery County Mayor Carolyn Bowers gave the biography for Heritage Lifetime Achievement honoree Riley Darnell. Howard Winn was especially expressive of appreciation for the support Secretary Darnell has shown in support of the Fort Defiance Historical Park initiative. AHDC Executive Director Dianne Batson-Smith presented each honoree with their award. The Emerald Hill Pace Alumni Center proved the perfect setting for the enthusiastic and jovial gathering of honorees and an appreciative audience.

«Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Arts and Leisure, Events, News | No Comments
 

Broadway’s Charles Holt to perform in local dinner/jazz benefit

By Turner McCullough Jr. | November 8, 2008 |
 

Although he has performed in three of the most celebrated productions in Broadway theatre history: The Lion King, Jesus Christ Superstar and Smokey Joe’s Café, Nashvillian Charles Holt still finds time to give back to his community.

“My music is a gift from God and I want to share it with the world,” — Holt in a recent interview.

Holt will perform in a one-night only special dinner/jazz concert on Thursday, November 20 at 6 p.m. at the Emmanuel Family Life Center, 303 Fairview Lane in Clarksville. Prior to the performance, there will be a silent auction, and all proceeds from the auction will go to the center which is operated by First Missionary Baptist Church. In celebration of his gospel roots, Holt will make a special appearance, Wednesday, November 19, 2008, at 6 p.m., at the First Missionary Baptist Church. His latest CD “I Am” will be on sale both nights. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Arts and Leisure, Events | No Comments
 

A Lon-n-ng night filled with confusion and a $32m development proposal!

By Turner McCullough Jr. | November 7, 2008 |
 

The November 6 City Council meeting proved to be an endurance marathon for council members and the attending public. Motions were offered, then amended, only to be immediately reconsidered and called back. Unfamiliarity and uncertainty over parliamentary procedure weighed down the proceeding, dragging the meeting into one of longest sessions in council’s history.



Clarksville Mayor Johnny Piper (file photo by Bill Larson)

There are no pictures to illustrate the drama that was the city council’s meeting last night. Those who attended (expecting a fairly normal session) and stayed the long course, including the council members themselves, were exhausted at the end of this marathon session. It felt as if we all had been in the Boston marathon, our energies totally drained. The meeting finally adjourned at close to 11 p.m., with a surprise proposal that upped the price of the marina and related redevelopment plans to $32 million dollars.

In chronological order, this is how the evening played out: «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Business, Issues, News, Politics | 1 Comment »
 

Ohio Valley History Conference Closes with flourish

By Turner McCullough Jr. | November 6, 2008 |
 

The conference banquet dinner featured John Seigenthaler Sr. as keynote speaker. Panel presentations on Day Two prove diverse and expansive in scope.

The 24th annual Ohio Valley History Conference continued on a high note with the banquet dinner on Friday night, October 30th. The keynote address was given by John Seigenthaler Sr. in the Morgan University Center Ballroom. Seigenthaler shared his remembrances of Bobby Kennedy and the Kennedy Presidential era in his address, “Conversations with Bobby Forty Years Later.”

Among his many remembrances, he recounted the young attorney general’s zeal in pursuing union corruption and the tumultuous tension of the Civil Rights struggles, particularly in Alabama and Mississippi; the Selma Bus Boycott, and the lead-up to the March on Washington. When U.S. Attorney General Robert Kennedy agreed to speak at the Law School of the University of Georgia, following their confrontational desegregation battle the year before, the university administration did not want him to meet with either of the two Black students that had been admitted in its desegregation battle. However Bobby did precisely that and met with Sharlene Hunter Galt.

«Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Events, Issues, News, Politics | No Comments
 

Thank you, Montgomery County, for voting!

By Turner McCullough Jr. | November 5, 2008 |
 

Active citizenship was shown to be in full force with the November General Election. Early voting totals revealed that fully forty percent of registered Montgomery County voters had cast their ballot by October 30th. Quite commendable numbers. Yet there was more to come.



Final figures show that an additional 23% percent of the electorate went to the polls on November 4th. Yes, indeed! Sixty-three percent of Montgomery County’s registered voters participated in this general election.

People took their responsibility of active citizenship to heart and made themselves aware of the issues, their concerns and gave serious study of the candidates and judged them accordingly. This is a momentous accomplishment. One of the primary pillars of American democracy was reaffirmed in Montgomery County, Tennessee. An active and engaged citizenry is necessary for the earnest governance of the people’s business. It is hoped that this new sense of concern and involvement will continue on into 2010 and and 2012. There is much work ahead for us all. Let’s be about getting it done. Because, now you see, “Yes, WE Can!”

Sections: Opinion, Politics | No Comments
 

OMG, Seize the Day!

By Turner McCullough Jr. | November 5, 2008 |
 

A Personal Commentary

Watching the election returns last night as history was being made in Tennessee State Senate District 22 and the national race for president, I was mindful of my unique position as a witness to change.

I was keenly mindful that at the age of thirteen, my father and mother had insisted that I go to Washington, D.C. for the March on Washington in 1963. It was the first time I had ever traveled away from Charleston, and doing so myself was intimidating. Hearing all the speeches made that day astounded me. However, Dr. King’s address calling the nation to acknowledge its debt to America’s Creed was absolutely mesmerizing. Tonight, just short of six months since my father passed away, I witnessed an achievement of Dr. King’s Dream for this nation in which I know he would have rejoiced. My heart literally filled my chest in amazement, stunned and nearly in shock, that I have lived to see what my father, mother and grandfather could only dream of, become a reality. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Opinion, Politics | 1 Comment »
 

24th annual Ohio Valley History Conference honors Dr. Richard Gildrie

By Turner McCullough Jr. | November 4, 2008 |
 

The 24th annual Ohio Valley History Conference, was held at APSU’s Morgan University Center over the October 31 - November 1 weekend. As a special highlight, this year’s conference is dedicated to Dr. Richard Gildrie. Dr. Gildrie, a professor emeritus of history at APSU, retired after a thirty-eight year career of full-time academic instruction with the university.

The two-day conference was filled with over 120 essays and presentations covering a wide range of history topics and subjects. Presenters came to Austin Peay State University from across the country for this intense and detailed conference.

APSU Dr. Greg Ribidoux moderated the panel on Development of the Constitution in American History. APSU President Tim Hall gave a engrossing presentation in this session. His topic, “Against Ecumenical Impulse: Religious Separatism and the Value of Factions” was a revelatory review of the thoughts and beliefs of the early leaders of the new nation, the United States of America and how to best deal with the feared tyranny of the majority that could result under democratic rule.

James Madison, Thomas Jefferson and Sam Adams all felt that religious sectarian diversity would be the best means by which to frustrate the tyranny of a religious majority in a democratic style government. Research shows that claims that ours is a Christian nation are well off the mark, as the early settlers showed themselves to be equally guilty of religious intolerance as it had been practiced against them in England. In terms of government, many of our founding leaders believed that religious separatism ensures liberty for others in the pursuit of a civic toleration of differing perspectives.

«Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Arts and Leisure, Education, Events, Issues, Politics | No Comments
 

« Older Articles

Newer Articles »