From the Joplin Globe
....individuals who will be honored during homecoming activities. TheSchool of Fine Arts has named Earl Clark, an Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame inductee, as the Outstanding Alumnus for 2009.-----------
I wonder if this will make up for the County Clerk refusing to issue a marriage license for him and Sarah. For those who never met them and don't remember the details - As I recall, Sarah's parents committed her to the State Mental facility at Vinita because she refused to stop dating Earl. They dismissed her after a thorough examination as being pregnant but not crazy. Her mother then took her to Miami and turned her out on the street. Enter Mabel who brought her to Fairland where she stayed with Granny until, by the time the baby was about three-months-old and Earl had graduated, they were married in Granny's living room.
The girls and I drove up from Texas so I could play for the wedding. I remember picking up the wedding cake in Joplin. Then Sarah carefully painted the groom on the cake ornament the proper color.
I have noted a few stories about "Big Earl" and his appearances at festivals and other occasions in Tulsa. Don't know where Sarah or Chineah (sp) are.
Outstanding Alumnus for 2009 and Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Famer - not bad.
No comments:
Post a Comment