....Friendship is the Golden Thread that ties the HEART of all the World!
~~John Evelyn~~
About the AuthorBio of Walter A. Russell (Book ID: 56700) Walt was born in Mesena, Georgia, and reared in Stevenson, Alabama. After finishing high school in Stevenson he enlisted in the Air Force where he served twenty-eight years in various assignments throughout the world, including Germany, the Pentagon, and Southeast Asia. He continued his education while in the military, attending Rollins College in Orlando, Florida, and community colleges in San Bernardino, California, and Honolulu, Hawaii. During his five-year tour at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, Walt traveled extensively throughout the Pacific Theater of Operations managing munitions storage activities for the AF. Following the Hawaiian tour he was assigned to Patrick Air Force Base, Florida, where he retired in 1979. Walt achieved the rating of Chief Master Sergeant. Included in his awards and decorations are the Meritorious Service Medal and five Air Force Commendation Medals. Walt and his wife, Jan, live in Panama City, Florida, and can usually be found on a golf course. In 1972 Walt, a history buff, became interested in genealogy and began researching the history of his paternal ancestors. He accumulated, organized, and individually indexed more than eight thousand names of relatives and related families that are presented in this review. His first effort to publish resulted in: Descendants of Matthew Russell and Related Families of Jackson County, Alabama (A Collection of Genealogies.) The above quote is from Walt's website. He is remembered by most residents of Stevenson as Bobby Russell. For further information about his book, you may access his website at: http://www.matthewrussellgenealogy.com/ Photo Link is below: The Stevenson Library Board hosted a "BOOK SIGNING" during 'The 2009 Stevenson Depot Days Festival' at The Stevenson Public Library, located on Main Street in "HISTORIC DOWNTOWN" from 2:00-4:00 on Saturday afternoon, June 6, 2009. Bobby Russell, author, autographed copies of his books sold at this event. Copies of both volumes are available on his website at the link above.
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"STEVENSON DEPOT DAYS GOSPEL NIGHT"
Please be sure to reserve Wednesday night, June 3, 2009, for a special treat this year. Gather with your lawn chairs, and bring along your friends and neighbors for a great evening of outstanding singing and fellowship, along with All-American hot dogs and all the trimmings free for all!
Beginning at 6:00 in the evening in front of the DEPOT FLATCAR STAGE, will be local church choirs and gospel groups. The featured group will be "EMMAUS ROAD" from Dalton, GA, followed by even more locally sponsored groups and individuals doing their own special brand of gospel music! There will be a "LOVE OFFERING" for "THE EMMAUS ROAD QUARTET", a World-Famous Gospel Group!
June 2-7 has been chosen as the week festivities begin for the 2009 edition of
"THE STEVENSON DEPOT DAYS FESTIVAL"!
Watch for more information, as it becomes available.
"SEE YA' at DEPOT DAYS 2009!"
"PETE" is the sire of a litter whelped 11/06/08!"PETE" & "SHORTY" have a MAJOR-POINTED daughter, "KOFUKU ADDS A SPARKLE AT GEMBOX, TOO".
STEVENSON MAYOR ELECTED 2007 DEPOT DAYS GRAND MARSHAL
Mayor James Rickey Steele
During Mayor Steele's nearly seven years in office, he has led the City Council in many projects to improve the City of Stevenson, while never losing his "personal home-town touch"! Rickey, a former student of mine at old Stevenson High School, entered the "political arena" as Campaign Manager for Co-Beta Club member, Bo Jack Loyd. Rickey made many friends at the State Beta Club Convention in Birmingham, AL , which was instrumental in the successful campaign of Bo Jack as " the one and only State National Beta Club President ever elected" from Stevenson, AL! Ms. Jan Britton and I, Senior National Beta Club Sponsors, were not surprised when Rickey Steele entered the political scene, himself, nearly twenty years ago. First elected to the Stevenson City Council in 1992, Rickey was in the first graduating class of Certified Municipal Officials in the State of Alabama in 1996. Among his other honors, was his election as "Stevenson Civic Club's Man of the Year". Other activities include: Member of the Jackson County and North Alabama Executive Committee with the Alabama League of Municipalities,Past-President of the Jackson County ARC, and membership in Bolivar Masonic Lodge of Stevenson, The Scottish Rite, and Cahaba Masonic Temple.
Congratulations, Rickey!
This post is intended to serve as a chronicle of past "Depot Days Festivals" as well as to provide UPDATES for 2006 at my personal website at:Stevenson Depot Days.Com . Please feel free to post your own announcements, too. "See You at Depot Days 2006 in The Stevenson Park as well as at the traditional "Depot Days" activities held in front of the Stevenson Depot Railway Museum in Historic Downtown!"
Mrs. Jennifer Shrader Swoboda, Chairperson of the 2004 Festival Planning Committee, urged visitors, "to join us in Historic Downtown Stevenson Wednesday, June 9th, through Saturday, June 12th, for an array of exciting Events. A new feature this year is the ALUMNI BAND REUNION to be made up of past members of the SHS Panther Band (1950s-1988 ) and the NJHS Chief's Band (1988-2003) ...! All past members of both bands are invited to lace up their shoes and join other alumni for one more romp down Main Street to hoot, holler, toot, and strut their stuff and show everyone they've still got it!" Other announced events with details yet to come are.....WEDNESDAY:Community Worship Service, THURSDAY:Ice Cream Social with Live Gospel Entertainment, FRIDAY:Hobo Stew Cook-Off and Live Entertainment on The Flat Car Stage, SATURDAY:GRAND PARADE, ALUMNI BAND REUNION, Children's Activities at the Stevenson Public Library,Arts and Crafts Fair at the Cowan House, All Day Entertainment on the Flat Car and Playhouse Stages, Stevenson Railroad Museum Tours, and the Street Dance on Main Street (Admission $1.00). 
Swaboda said, "This year's Festival Theme is, 'THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES', so join us in Historic Downtown Stevenson JUNE 9th-12th, 2004, to stroll down Main Street and enjoy the rich history and strong COMMUNITY SPIRIT of this lovely Southern Town called STEVENSON, ALABAMA."
For more information, or to get involved in the planning yourself, please let us know what you'd like to contribute to this year's effort by phoning the FESTIVAL PLANNING COMMITTEE at (256) 437-3012.
WEBSITE: 
http://stevensondepotdays.com/
2005 DEPOT DAYS UPDATE!
Most events from 2004 were continued in the 2005 Depot Days Event, featuring JOHN H. GRAHAM as GRAND MARSHAL for the 2005 FESTIVAL PARADE. Although there was a light rain threatening to dampen spirits, all went well and CLASS REUNIONS of SHS Classes graduating in years ending in 5s were enjoyed by THE CLASS OF 1980 celebrating at FRIDAY'S RESTAURANT, while THE CLASS OF 1955 REIGNED SUPREME at THE AMBER HOUSE on their BIG 50th! The CLASS of 1980 touted their classmate, JOHN H. GRAHAM, as the youngest GRAND MARSHAL ever! Another NEW EVENT was a book-signing by SHS alumnus, Jennifer Parcus, co-author of "HIGH COTTON" with her mother, Sandra Poole, who autographed for a "sell-out" crowd, their critically acclaimed locally-set novel at THE STEVENSON PUBLIC LIBRARY in HISTORIC DOWNTOWN. For MORE about DEPOT DAYS 2005 and LINKS to the newly launched websites for STEVENSON, ALABAMA ....see POST BELOW!
THE 2005 QUILTING CONTEST was won by: THE FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF STEVENSON! The Cash Prize of $25 was donated to a fund sponsored by ladies of the church for ongoing projects, and the prize-winning quilt will be auctioned off for additional funds. Chances on the quilt may be purchased for $1 each or 6 for $5. See: Louise Kennedy, Joy Singleton, or Shirley Patalas for more information. CONGRATULATIONS, LADIES, and a special thanks for all you do!
To support these talented "quilting ladies" in their worthy projects, and to purchase your chances to win their lovely hand-made prize quilt: Please contact: THE FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF STEVENSON: Rev. Bill Stone, Pastor PH: 256)437-8776
. You'll be glad you did!
UPDATES: Stevenson Depot Days Festival 2006 Schedule of Events:
Stevenson Depot Days & Quilt Show 2005!
GRAND MARSHAL: John H. Graham
Festival Parade: 10:30 AM, Saturday, June 11, 2005
Quilt Show: 2:00 PM, Saturday, June 11, 2005
Book Signing: 10:00 AM-1:00 PM, Saturday, June 11, 2005 at Stevenson Public Library in "Historic Downdown" during "Depot Days 2005"!
Local Authors: Jennifer Parcus Youngblood & Sandra Poole are former residents of Jackson County, Alabama. A mother-daughter team, their fascinating story is found at Novel: Livin' In High Cotton
NEW: Official Websites launched for Historic Downdown:
.....Though we travel the World over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it NOT.....~~~Ralph Waldo Emerson~~~
Santa & "PETE"
CHRISTMAS PARADE was Saturday, December 4, 2004!
3:00 PM on Main Street
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