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About Griffin daily news. (Griffin, Ga.) 1924-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 17, 1977)
e/QUNjrr professional serviceX / ) \ y f \ i \ \ / I »y\ I I / \ '"FROM / XPfOPLE WHO CARE./ V |k / GRIFFIN-SPALDING- HOSPITAL " A PAIN OR A PLEASURE? r 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 H W W&i bw. UK fl 1 ... jfl ■gl Jal jflMfl^|Br tn WIBBBW. * -rl-188 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.”
