KILGOROUND
LINDA BALLARD

"I have some mighty fond memories of Kilgore," said Fletcher Jowers with a Southern drawl that depicts the word "Texan" through and through. "I was raised in Kilgore where I attended junior high and high school - part of the Class of '62," he said.

"It was during my high school days that the music scene began to change more into the Rock-n-Roll and I was big into playing the guitar. Not so much the rock-n-roll, although I did bite off into it, but, mainly acoustical guitar and Texas music was my love.

"When I was a little boy, we lived in the country and the big entertainment on Saturday night was sitting on the front porch and singing songs and believe it or not, a lot of those songs were from the Civil War. Dad, Tillman Jowers, had a guitar and as a little boy I was told to keep my hands off. I had an older brother that was allowed to play it when he became a teenager, but

he didn't do much with it. I think not being able to touch that guitar even then, kept a burning desire in my heart to be able to play one.

"When I was in the fifth or sixth grade, I received a little guitar for Christmas. By Easter, I took that guitar to school and played 'Red River Valley.' I've been playing ever since.

"In the mid 80s I moved back to Kilgore for a little while and met up with an old friend, Bob Campbell.

"Bob and I started writing songs and started going to the cowboy poetry gatherings. It just got me more and more involved in music - more than I had planned on. Sort of a snowball effect, I guess you could say. I cut a video with Charlie Daniels, Becky Hobbs and Ian Tyson. It was called "Ol' Cowboys & Dreamers." I guess it's still available. Red Steagall and became friends and we started writing songs together and "Sleepin' in My Leggins Tonight" was nominated for best song," he said.

Fletcher has been nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Song of the Year as well as Album of the Year.

He is still cowboy through and through and today is heavily involved in a Cowboy Church in Ellis County near Waxahachie. He has written many country gospel songs for the church and they are broadcast on KBEC 1390 AM every first Sunday of the month from 6-8 p.m. "We have a great time," he said, "come and visit with us."

"I don't suppose any body has told you I've gotten into riding bicycles," he asks. "On March 8, I rode 100 miles on bicycle with the National Team to raise money for the Leukemia foundation. My Kilgore friends have really been giving me a hard time about the cowboy riding the bicycle. I've been asked if I wore my cowboy hat while bicycling. I told them no, I would probably end up parasailing if I did."

"Yes, I have fond thoughts and good friends in Kilgore," he said.

Fletcher Jowers is still the cowboy and for now it's still good ol' country, acoustical and gospel pickin' and singin'. You can reach Fletcher at fletcher@fletcherjowers.com or 972-921-0825

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Fifty years ago today - In a history class at Eastview Elementary School the other day, Mrs. A.B. Duncan asked the youngsters if they could tell her who was the first white man to set foot on American soil…a little boy answered quick as a flash "Adam."

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HAPPY birthday today Leon Banda, Chandra Jones, Tabitha Starr Davis, Mrs. Floyce Practor, James Earl Shead, Jr., Robert McGill, Harold Hart, Autry Jones, Terry Kay Millett, Barbara Riley, Peggy White, Kurt Knotts, John Richers, Jamie Lee, Derick Williams, David Cox, Butch Neilson, Jamie Berryhill, Brady Whitmer, Josh Pool.

CELEBRATING anniversaries today Mark and Tindy Bass.