HOW VIRGINIA AND I FIRST MET

It was April, 1946, while in the Army,  stationed at Camp Pickett, Virginia, the most amazing incident occurred out of the clear blue sky when I received orders to report to L. S. U. to teach R. O. T. C. !  My brother, Wren was playing football at L. S. U.,  so I could not wait to go to Baton Rouge.

One of my favorite pastimes was fishing.  I lived near one of the University Lakes so I could walk to the water's edge several times each week after work.  One day I met a man with only one arm who was also fishing by himself near the bank.  I noticed that he had hooked a catfish and was desperately trying to remove the hook from the fish with his only hand.  I offered to help him and then we became better acquainted.

I discovered that we both had a similar love for music.  He just happened to be a voice teacher at L. S. U. (Mister Loren Davidson).  He was also the choir director at First Methodist Church in Baton Rouge.  He invited me to join his choir since I enjoyed music so much.  

I arrived at the choir room that Thursday night and there was only one vacant seat available in the large choir.  I couldn't help but notice a very pretty young lady sitting right next to me.  Her name was Virginia Durrett, and later we became much better acquainted.

She had a beautiful voice and several times we would meet on campus after her voice lessons with Mr. Davidson.  Neither of us had a car, so the "courting" would consist of us going on a city bus to a movie after after a "formal" dining at the only Piccadilly Cafeteria on 3rd Street downtown.  Sometime I would visit her in her dormitory on campus (in the lobby only!)

We were married August 5th, 1947 at the First Methodist Church.  I was 20 years old, and really enjoyed singing in the choir for the next 30 years.  I was discharged from the Army in 1948 and enrolled as a Freshman student at L. S. U.  She had graduated and was working as a secretary on the campus while I was able to graduate in 1951 after three years.  She had studied Elementary Education and began her teaching career at Highland Elementary school in Baton Rouge.

We wanted to own our home instead of renting, so with the help of the G. I. Bill I was able to qualify for a loan for a small home near the University (824 Aster St.)