Jerry Summers
In a world that needed laughs when the late Lewis McDonald Grizzard, Jr. finally succumbed to his fourth heart surgery on March 20, 1994, at the age of 47 the South and the nation lost a source of levity that was funny, outspoken, and included many humorous tales about his native state of Georgia and his experiences in his childhood home of Moreland, Georgia.
With his beloved Bulldogs having finally broken the Nick Saban Alabama Crimson Tide football curse on January 10, 2022, a whole new field of opportunities for his unique way to make people laugh would have been born.
During his short life football was a topic that he often discussed and commented upon during his support of his beloved “Dawgs!” Some of his more notable football quotes are included:
a)“I stopped being interested in pro football when I looked around and Johnny Unitas (quarterback – Baltimore Colts) with his high-top black shoes was gone.”
b)“I gave it up when Dandy Don (Meredith) left Monday Night Football when television replays were allowed to contradict the decisions of the referees.”
c)“The game of life is a lot like football. You have to tackle your problems, block your fears, and score your points when you get the opportunity.”
His published works included 21 books that included many of the columns that he had previously published in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution where he also co-authored a story with Loran Smith titled “Glory! Glory! Georgia’s 1980 Championship Season.
The Inside Story (1981).”
All of the paperbacks are easy to read with many funny and sometimes controversial topics that caused him to be both loved and disliked by many readers.
All have catchy titles such as
a) “If Love Were Oil, I’d Be About a Quart Low”
b)“My Daddy Was a Pistol and I’m a Son of a Gun”
c)”Elvis Is Dead and I Don’t Feel So Good Myself”
d)“If I Ever Get Back to Georgia, I’m Gonna Nail My Feet to the Ground” (based on his controversial career as a sportswriter at the Chicago-Sun Times)
Sometimes his love of the South got him in trouble and his direct and not so subtle humor today would probably get him more criticism (and increase his number of readers)!
One of his memorable quotes about politics should have been followed by presidents Richard Nixon, Bill Clinton, Joe Biden, and Donald Trump but unfortunately, they were not heeded!
“THE PUBLIC MORE OFTEN THAN NOT WILL FORGIVE MISTAKES, BUT IT WOULD NOT FORGIVE TRYING TO WIGGLE OUT OF ONE!”
Back to football:
His 1991 “Don’t Forget To Call Your Mama, I Wish I Could Call Mine” contains a memorable reference to legendary Bama football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant.
In addition to his salary for coaching the Crimson Tide to multiple national championships Bryant had a television show that was sponsored by Golden Flake Potato Chips and South Central Bell.
During the taping of one of the commercials for the telephone company the Bear was supposed to say in his slow Southern drawl at the end to “Call Yo Mama.”
However, the renowned gridiron legend adlibbed by adding to the above part, “I wish I Could Call Mine.” It immediately became a classic and further endeared him to his supporters.
However, 23 years after Lewis Grizzard’s death, in 2019 the above quotes as well as many other recollections of the avowed Georgia Bulldog became a “topic of discussion” at a gathering of sportswriters and columnists at the Bryant Conference Center in Tuscaloosa for the Alabama Writers Hall of Fame Gala.
History can only speculate on what Lewis’ columns would have said about the January 10, 2022 victory of Georgia over Bama!
He probably summed up his life as a writer by stating, “A little irreverence is always important to being a columnist. I try to do that.”
The reading of any of Lewis Grizzard’s written material is informative, entertaining and worth the price of purchase.
His childhood home of Moreland, Georgia has established the Lewis Grizzard Museum which is 35 miles from Atlanta off U.S. Highway 29 South and Alt. U.S. Highway 27 at 7 Main Street in the Historic Moreland Mall, off the nearest interstate I-85. It is open on Thursday-Saturday from 10:00 am and 3:00 pm and by appointment.
The director Carol Chancey is friendly and will be glad to answer your calls and questions at (678) 492-3161 or at their website. She does remark that “although Moreland is only 35 miles from Atlanta the quiet Georgia town in 100 miles away from the state capitol.”
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Jerry Summers
(If you have additional information about one of Mr. Summers' articles or have suggestions or ideas about a future Chattanooga area historical piece, please contact Mr. Summers at jsummers@summersfirm.com)
Lewis Grizzard