By Vicki Scott
It has become an obsession for me in answering questions in a journal book recently given to me for Mother’s Day by my daughter Eva. One question asked was what were events that happened the year I was born. So far, I‘ve written two pages and just now made it to March of 1965. I looked back at the question to make sure it was asking for the whole year, which it did.
The New York Jets signed Joe Namath to a contract for $427,000.00 over three years.
We went to the Tuskegee-Lee Annual Senior Luncheon the next day with this subject fresh on my mind but temporarily tucked away. The subject was on the back shelf until one of our seniors, Don Stephens, arrived with his lovely wife Roselyn and sat at our table.
For some reason, we started talking about football. I shared with a couple at our table we met earlier that Don had three brothers who played football at the University of Alabama. Don said one of the brothers signed the same year Joe Namath did as a quarterback.
Joe Namath was back on my mind then as I shared the year 1965, because I knew it was the year I was born. I had the name right, but Joe Namath signed with the University of Alabama in 1961. Don did not tell me until later, as I noted my mistake. I appreciate Don not correcting me in front of our new friends. He even brought me a book with proof that I had the year wrong.
Back at the luncheon table, the couple we had just met let us know that the lady was from Joe Namath’s hometown of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. What a small world that one famous name could cause so much conversation and research!
When I returned home, I called Eva to update her on my new findings. Keep in mind that she started it.
Vicki Scott may be contacted at lily200383@yahoo.com.