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Billy Ray's
Rambling's
As I have often said in many of my e-mails about the city of Greenville's demise and the Old Air Base, and so with the Greenville Airman reunion. It has been a trying time for many of us after loosing several of the members. Many of us were unable to travel, as well as the total cost of the trip for some. I seen several in wheel chairs determined to make it to Greenville for the Reunion. Then we had those that never give up that would travel many miles to be among friends from so many years ago. Many renewed old friendships and some made new ones. Ines and I have been blessed by meeting so many nice people while attending the reunions, as well as being disappointed we were unable to attend others because of my health problems.I realize at times it may get boring seeing the demise of Greenville with no attempt to revitalize or attempt to recognize that part of Greenville history that was a vital part at that time. Because it was such a vital part of Greenville in the 50's one would expect the city would capitalize on the previoue prominence and go all out to rebuild that city and make it a place that people and business's would want to put roots for future generations to look back on and rave about how well they loved Greenville as we did in the 50's. It is really sad to see such a wonderful city continue to decay. To be continued............... |
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To All Concerned ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This web-site was set-up as a result of members being located from all over the states to form a Reunion depicting our nostalgic memories of that wonderful time at Greenville Air Force Base and The City of Greenville during the 50's. It is not maintained as an attempt to record the history of Greenville, Mississippi, but to emphasize an important part of History about Greenville Mississippi, that will be forever etched in the hearts and minds of the people that were there and attend the reunions that are held there every year. A few of the members do not feel the same about the Old Base and Greenville as most of us do, and as a result do not attend the Reunions with other members. They have missed a part of history that was an important part of their life. there from 1954 thru 1959, still recall many of the things that was of interest to us. Those memories will be with me forever, as can be said of the previous citizens that graduated from the Greenville School Systems during the 50's. For those present Greenville citizens that would like a history lesson about how your city used to be, please contact someone from the graduating class of the 50's. The city of Greenville was one of the busiest cities in Mississippi with a never ending of things to do. Even though there are things going on in Greenville, today, they have not captivated the citizens as the ones of the old days. The sad part of Greenville, is when the Old Air Base closed many of the memories went with it and never came back, and the city began a downward spiral, with the closing of the Drive Inn's, the Movie Theaters, many of the Restaurant's on main street except, Jim' Cafe, and places that we hung out and had a little fun. There is a few that still stand, here is three I can recall, Lillo's, Jim's cafe, Doe's Eat Place, maybe a few more that I can't recall at this time. Unlike the chain store and fast food establishment's that don't have the personality nor the personal attraction the Old Place's had. Many of the privately owned Hotels and Motel's went the Chain route as well and the city began to diminish in quality, character and value. Greenville also lost some of it's brightest and influential citizens to other cities, some came back, but some have not returned because they found things better in other places that were better suited for their area of training, expertise, and lifestyle. Greenville can come back, but the City Commissioners will need input from the older local citizens as well as other greenvillians that have moved away, for that nostalgic feeling of the old days. I do not remember seeing any obese people in or around Greenville, I suppose it was because of the amount of walking and dancing we did or it could have been the type of food we ate. Greenville should encourage private ownership of the old type Dairy Queen's, and Frost Top's and discourage the chain stores. I don't think many growing up in Greenville today will look back some 30 years from now and remember the great times they had at McDonalds. Billy Ray |