1

Dec 19. 1938
Charles K. Greer (white)
9012 Church Street
Sylacauga, Ala.
Newspaper, Man.

Noma Dobson, Sylacauga,
Talladega County.

AL-18

out Fair t

VETERAN NEWSPAPER MAN

Charles H. Greer now "runs a small-town newspaper" as he says, but he has worked on some of the large Southern dailies. He has been
a newspaper man since 1871. He and Mrs. Greer live in a seven-room
frame building at 9012 Church Street, Sylacauga, Alabama, where he and
his son, Roe P. Greer, own and operate the Sylacauga News. Mr. Greer
writes the editorials for the paper.

Born in Troupe County, Georgia, in 1860, he received his college
training in North Georgia Agricultural and Mechanical College at
Dahlonega. At the age of eleven he had become self-supporting, and while
he was in college he did many things to make money.

"I made a good bit writing the boys' love letters for them" he said,
his eyes twinkling at the recollection. "I remember one boy, who was so
in love that he wanted to keep on writing to her when school was out. He
lived in one town, she in another, and I in still another. I finally, un-
tangled this mixup by writing the letters, sending them to the boy, who
mailed them to the girl, and she never knew the difference. I rented
me a room, did my own cooking and lived on $4.50 a month.

"One of the school courses that has meant much to me
since was debating. We had debating societies and the most exciting event
of the school year was the debating contest at commencement.

"I worked on the old Montgomery Morning News when I first came to
Alabama. I well remember, though, (I was only sixteen or so) the inaugura-
tion of Houston as Governor of Alabama. As he was the first Democrat
elected governor since the War between the States, that was a great oc-
casion. People came from every direction. There were speakings and
celebrations all over town.

124

Dec 19. 1938
Charles K. Greer (white)
9012 Church Street
Sylacauga, Ala.
Newspaper, Man.

Noma Dobson, Sylacauga,
Talladega County.

AL-18

out Fair t

VETERAN NEWSPAPER MAN

Charles H. Greer now "runs a small-town newspaper" as he says, but he has worked on some of the large Southern dailies. He has been
a newspaper man since 1871. He and Mrs. Greer live in a seven-room
frame building at 9012 Church Street, Sylacauga, Alabama, where he and
his son, Roe P. Greer, own and operate the Sylacauga News. Mr. Greer
writes the editorials for the paper.

Born in Troupe County, Georgia, in 1860, he received his college
training in North Georgia Agricultural and Mechanical College at
Dahlonega. At the age of eleven he had become self-supporting, and while
he was in college he did many things to make money.

"I made a good bit writing the boys' love letters for them" he said,
his eyes twinkling at the recollection. "I remember one boy, who was so
in love that he wanted to keep on writing to her when school was out. He
lived in one town, she in another, and I in still another. I finally, un-
tangled this mixup by writing the letters, sending them to the boy, who
mailed them to the girl, and she never knew the difference. I rented
me a room, did my own cooking and lived on $4.50 a month.

"One of the school courses that has meant much to me
since was debating. We had debating societies and the most exciting event
of the school year was the debating contest at commencement.

"I worked on the old Montgomery Morning News when I first came to
Alabama. I well remember, though, (I was only sixteen or so) the inaugura-
tion of Houston as Governor of Alabama. As he was the first Democrat
elected governor since the War between the States, that was a great oc-
casion. People came from every direction. There were speakings and
celebrations all over town.

124