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Elvis
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Elvis
Presley, the one-time truck driver who
as a rock ’n’ roll singer was idolized by
fans and denounced by preachers as the
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With his death, a generation suddenly felt older.
DAILY NEWS
Daily Since 1872
Doctors say rock king's death not drug connected
devil’s tool, is dead of a heart ailment at
age 42.
Doctors denied Presley’s death was
drug-connected.
Griffin, Ga., 30223, Wednesday Afternoon, August 17,1977
GRIFFIN
Dr. George Nichopoulos, longtime
physician to the swivel-hipped, throaty
baritone who was known as the “King
of Rock ’n’ Roll,” said an autopsy
revealed a constriction in one of the
main arteries to the heart, which
restricted blood flow and brought on a
heart attack.
“What caused it? Any one of a
number of things,” he said following
Presley’s death Tuesday.
Nichopoulos said his patient, who
carried about 175 pounds on a six-foot
frame as a young man but recently had
been reported grossly overweight, had
been taking a number of appetite
depressants, but did not have a drug
problem.
Dr. Jerry Francisco, the Shelby
County medical examiner, discounted
rumors that Presley, who had been a
virtual recluse at his white-columned
Graceland mansion for 20 years, had
suffered from a drug problem.
“There was no indication of drug
abuse at all,” Francisco said. “I was
aware of the rumors and that is why I
mention it.”
Delbert “Sonny” West, who was a
Presley bodyguard for 16 years, said in
Chicago just hours before Presley died
that the singer was heavily addicted to
drugs and haunted by fears that drove
him into seclusion.
Presley, whose recording of
“Heartbreak Hotel” helped to put him
on top of the entertainment world 21
years ago, was discovered unconscious
at Graceland in suburban Memphis on
Tuesday afternoon.
Presley was found dressed in
pajamas and lying face-up in the red
carpeted bathroom next to his second
floor bedroom.
He was taken to Baptist Hospital in a
Fire Department ambulance while
Nichopoulos and emergency medical
technicians worked to revive him.
The doctor said attempts to revive
Presley, who appeared in 31 films —
including “Love Me Tender,” “GI
Blues,” and “Jailhouse Rock,” con
tinued because of a slight chance life
still existed in his body.
“The reason we continued to
resuscitate him was his pupils were
constricted,” the doctor said at a
hospital news conference after an
autopsy. “Usually in death, there’s not
enough oxygen and the pupils dilate.”
“Heartbreak Hotel,” the first hit for
Presley, was released in January 1956.
It was one of 45 records that sold more
than one million copies, including
“Hound Dog,” “AU Shook Up” and
“It’s Now Or Never.”
Booming record sales and over
flowing audiences at personal ap
pearances made the entertainer who
combined country-western, gospel and
rhythm and blues one of the world’s
Run on records
There was a run on Elvis Presley
tapes and records in Griffin today.
Some dealers sold out quickly and
told customers it would be at least next
week before more were available.
Vol. 105 No. 194
wealthiest entertainers.
When TV brought “Elvis The Pelvis”
into milUons of homes, church and
parents’ groups denounced the raw
sexuality of his performance as a bad
influence on children. His gyrating hips
were only mildly suggestive compared
to many of today’s rock performers, but
on the Ed SuUivan Show, he was shown
only from the waist up.
Vernon Presley, the star’s father,
was taking his son’s death “very badly,”
said fanuly friend Dr. EUas Ghanem in
Las Vegas.
Presley, whose new single, “Way
Down,” was at the top of BiUboard’s
latest list of Hot Country Singles, was to
have flown to Portland, Maine, Tues
day night to begin an 11-day tour of the
Northeast and South.
Presley had played racquetbaU at his
private court until almost 6 a.m.
Tuesday.
Word of Presley’s death swept across
this city where he had lived since
leaving his birthplace, Tupelo, Miss., at
the age of 13.
Mayor Wyeth Chandler ordered flags
in the city lowered to half-staff in
memory of Presley.
Elvis was working as a truck driver
after graduating from Memphis’
Humes High School when he walked
into Sam Phillips’ office at Sun Records
in 1955 to record “Blue Moon of Ken
tucky.” The recording became a hit.
His career was largely the creation of
a promotional genius, Col. Tom Parker.
Weather
FORECAST FOR GRIFFIN AREA—
Variable cloudiness with showers likely
tonight. Mostly cloudy Thursday with
chance of showers. Low tonight around
70; high Thursday in upper 80s.
LOCAL WEATHER — Low this
morning at the Spalding Forestry Unit
72, high Tuesday 91.
Opinion
Time to cool it
at the hospital
Critics of the Griffin-Spalding Hospital have been
relentless in heaping coals of fire on that institution during
the past few weeks.
Some criticism has been justified.
Some perhaps has not.
There are a disgruntled few in every community who
seize every opportunity to criticize — be it the hospital,
the city commissioners, the county commissioners or the
weather forecaster.
When the current furor cools, they will look for other
places to vent their wrath.
Some have offered criticism constructively in the hope
that wrongs can be made right. Though all do not fall into
this category, most probably are sincere.
Out of the ashes can come some good.
Already some has emerged.
For one thing, the Hospital Authority has made all
committee meetings open to the public. We do not expect
them to be stampeded but people should feel better just
knowing they can attend if they wish.
Another thing is that the administration has requested
citizens to let their views about the hospital be known at
authority meetings which are public, or through hospital
board members and administrators. That is a con
structive approach and some good ideas are bound to
come from it.
Complaints about billing and collecting have been
graphic and specific.
The old story about having to hit the mule in the head to
get its attention might apply here. Those with grievances
certainly know by now that they have the attention of the
administration.
Surely those who look after the business end of the
hospital should know that computers are heartless and
thoughtless and can be trusted only so far to handle
human needs.
Every person in the business offices should realize that
every bill or statement of account that goes out goes to a
human being with feelings.
Likewise, those who have complaints about the hospital
should realize that people in the business end are human
too, have feelings and make mistakes just like the rest of
us.
Doctors, nurses and others who care for people at the
operating and sick room levels are not under fire. Most of
them are conscientious and dedicated professionals who
wish to help suffering people.
But compassion ends when the computers take over.
This should not be. Compassion should prevail
throughout every aspect of the hospital, including the
business offices.
This appears to be where most of the trouble lies.
A careful review of this aspect of an otherwise fine
institution is in order.
But this goal cannot be accomplished as speedily and
effectively as it should with administrators and other
officials smarting constantly under continual fire.
Therefore, in the interest of the community which it
serves and the hospital itself, we suggest that the time has
come to cool it. Then the people in charge can straighten
things out.
The Griffin-Spalding Hospital can become a shining
example for others instead of a whipping boy. Presently
through continual whipping of the hospital Griffin is
flaying itself.
People
••• and things
New parents of 3 day old baby still
undecided on name.
Dogs, left chained to trees, howling in
terror during thunder storm.
Midget footballer checking his last
year’s helmet, finding it too small.
The Country Parson
trank Clark
iWi
“A successful person isn’t
always one who’s had a suc
cessful career.”
