Vaught Statue Dedicated

By Jimmie McDowell
OXFORD-----The dedication of the John Howard Vaught statue created by Brookhaven
physician J. Kim Sessums is a masterpiece. The six-foot statue was unveiled the morning of the Auburn-Ole Miss game before a large crowd, including many of the tall Texan's former players which included Charlie Flowers, Billy Ray Adams, Modest John Dottley, Farley Salmon, Jimmy Lear, Ray (Buck) Howell, Kenny Dill, Tommy Taylor, Billy Hitt, Kent Jr. Lovelace, Beaux Ball, Billy Mustin, Eddie Crawford, Warner Alford, Richard (Possum) Price and others.
Price and Jack (Bouncer) Robertson were co-chairs of the fund raising drive, and funds are still needed to pay the balance on the account.Men and women who admired Vaught and Ole Miss football are urged to contribute.
Chancellor Robert Khayat, who, of course, also played for Vaught, participated in the program an hour and a half before the kickoff. Houston Nutt's Red and Blue warriors added to the delight of the day with an impressive win over Auburn, coached by former Ole Miss grid mentor Tommny Tuberville.
The statue featured Vaught's traditional hat, alligator shoes, a beautiful suit, probably purchased at Steven's Men's Store in Jackson from salesman Bill Lee, Vaught's original "Road"Scholar. One day Vaught drove Lee to Batesville, pointed South towards Winona, Lee's home town, and told him to hit the Road.
Years later Vaught gave Bill Lee a pair of alligator shoes. Another time Lee called his old coach, a widower then, and told him the new fall suits had arrived and Vaught told William he had a very important meeting with the Game and Fish Commission scheduled in a couple of weeks and he would drop by the store which he did.
As the cuff was being penned Lee asked the Coach what was he going to be doing after his meeting and the Coach replied sternly that he had told him that he had to attend this important meeting--then asked" Why do you ask?"
Lee said that he thought the coach might enjoy taking a lovely 22 year old divorcee out of dinner. Vaught quickly replied: "The meeting should not have to last that long" and thought well of Bill Lee's suggestion.
Vaught would have enjoyed the win over Auburn as did the 55 thousand plus who witnessed the encounter. Well, scratch several thousand of the Plainsmen fans. It was the ninth game of the season and Ole Miss is now 5-4, one game from being bowl eligible. Bowl scouts were in abundance, headed by the Cotton Bowl, the Liberty Bowl, the Independence Bowl, the Capital City Bowl, the Papa John Bowl and the Music City Bowl.
The Rebels have an open date before playing Louisiana Monroe which shocked Alabama in Tuscaloosa last year, LSU in Baton Rouge, and Mississippi State. The Football season has been strange. With a little luck the Rebels could be unbeaten
Let us not forget Athletic Director Pete Boone, who also played for Vaught and as a center once snapped the highest center over a punter's head and later played in a foursome with Vaught at the Gulf Guaranty Golf Tournament. He admits he played rather poorly and told his old coach that he would practice and practice before next year's tournament and added that Vaught said that was fine but he also would be playing in a difference foursome the next time around.
Jevan Snead , the quarterback, came through when it counted against Auburn, but also threw some bad passes. He needs to practice and practice during the two weeks of getting ready for the final three games of the season and lead the Rebels to their first bowl game since Eli Manning was spectacular in a Cotton Bowl victory as was Herman Sidney (Eagle) Day in another cotton Bowl game over 50 years ago.
Raymond Brown, hero of an Ole Miss win over Texas in the Sugar Bowl, was also on hand for the display of the John Vaught statue. He also played in Baltimore's win over the New York Giants and Charlie Conerly in "the greatest pro game" after his glory days at Ole Miss. Brown set a new rushing record from the line of scrimmage running 92 yards for a touchdown after standing in his own end zone to punt. Realizing if he did kick a Texan would block the effort he tucked the ball under his arms and set sail for glory land. In the huddle he had told his mates to cover well, because he was exhausted.
Sixty yards into his touchdown gallop All-America Guard Jackie Simpson told him to lateral the ball to him since he must surely be getting tired. Brown simply gritted his teeth and went on to score, breaking Harol Lofton's longest run from scrimmage record.
After the statue ceremony the crowd was invited into the beautiful M Club for refreshments. Some one asked Lovelace a while back did he want to see the Archie Manning Room? Kent Jr,. replied that all he wanted to see was the Kent Lovelace Room.
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