Pop was one of the most indomitable characters ever produced in Butler County.

He was, in three words, &uot;his own man.&uot;

He was one of the staunchest, most conservative persons ever to walk the streets of Greenville.

After finishing high school, the top jurist of the county urged him to go to the University of Alabama and to earn a law degree there.

That would have been a fine program for the young idealist, had it not been for the paucity of funds and the need he felt to support his only remaining parent, his mother.

It was thus that he sought and found a means of survival in his native cityas an apprentice to a local garment manufacturer.

So headstrong was he that he frequently took issue with his boss on certain matters, and would perform his duties his own way despite orders to the contrary.

Thus it was that he was often discharged from the job, sometimes up to five or six times in one week.

But, he'd return to work the day following each firing, only to be rehired on each occasion.

That, my friend, is what is known as persistence.

It paid off in this case, mainly because Pop was such a capable individual.

Always a Republican, though the word itself was spoken only in whispers hereabouts until the 50's, Pop made no secret of his political leanings.

He voted the GOP ticket unabashedly and proudly, over and over until his death in 1965.

He set up his own plant in the 1940's, providing the city with a healthy payroll and paychecks for his some 200 employees.

Whenever a piece of equipment malfunctioned for any reason, Pop would label it a &uot;blankety-blank Roosevelt.&uot;

You can see from that that the New Deal was not one of his favorite programs.

But, despite the heavy Democratic leanings of this area, Pop was a well-loved and highly respected individual.

He was the type of friend everyone would like to havehe was a real friend who would stick by you through thick and thin.

He would not only show his friendship when things would go against youhe'd help you load the truck when &uot;they&uot; were running you out of town.

That's true blue, folks.

The Greenville Advocate strives to emulate Pop's loyalty in its dealings with its subscribers, and in its efforts to bring and maintain harmony among all organizations within the city.

Buster MacGuire is copy editor and columnist for the Greenville Advocate.

He may be reached by calling 334.382.3111.