Word: blessey
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...Gerald Blessey, who was among the few integrationists at Ole Miss in 1962, declined to discuss Lott's latest troubles but told Time in 1997 that he considered Lott more of a political opportunist than a George Wallace--style hater. "You could say that Trent was representing the views of his constituents" in supporting segregation. Blessey lost to Lott in a congressional race in 1976 and said that while he and Lott have been "often on opposite sides over the years," he believed that on the issue of race, "Trent has a good heart...
Most days are whiled away staring at TV, smoking cigarettes, drinking countless cups of coffee and dredging up new stories to recycle. "You start running out of lies to tell," says Bob Wills, a three-decade river veteran and captain of the Ann Blessey. To pass the frozen hours. Wills and his two-man crew enjoy a friendly game of poker, with a nickel limit on raises. Over on the White Dawn, gambling is not allowed. Nevertheless, the crew has worn out three decks of cards playing no-stakes spades. Deckhand Tommy Kelly, 36, from rural Sugar Tree, Tenn., feels...
...barge companies try to rotate personnel every 30 days, but some men have been afloat since the vessels got stuck. Money is one reason: Scott Knapp, engineer of the Ann Blessey, makes $110 a day to run the tow's engines for an hour. Wills' $210 a day comes painlessly as well: he spends about two hours monitoring the radio and "wheel-washing"-wagging the boat's tail to keep the craft from becoming frozen in place like the barges...
Except for the tedium, however, the crews are not suffering. The barge companies supply all meals, and the fare is fine. The men on the Ann Blessey polish off inch-thick steaks several times a week. Lunch one day last week on the Hawkeye consisted of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, tamale pie, green beans, pineapple upside-down cake and fresh bread. "The cook's probably working harder than anybody," says Dennis Drury, captain of the Cooperative Vanguard...
...crew member, a tipple on the town led to chills and thrills. After unwinding at the Tee-Pee Lounge and Chintz's Bar on a Saturday night, Hallinan slipped on a jetty as he was boarding the Ann Blessey and fell into the icy water near the bow. It took ten minutes for the crew to fish him out. "That was the biggest excitement we've had," said Wills. "Leo joined the Polar Bear Club...