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Champion Bull Rider Likes
Traveling On The Global Circuit
By JAMES BUDD
News Editor
The bulls usually weigh in
at 1,800 lean and mean
pounds. The rider weighs in at
130 pounds and is 5 feet, 4 in
ches tall.
Sometimes, the bull wins.
Other times, the rider wins.
It's man against beast.
You've got to be a little
crazy to get on an angry
1,800-pound bull before
thousands of spectators and
ride until the time limit ex
pires or until you're thrown
off and break a f;g or two — or
even worse.
But to do 300 rodeos a year
and to travel a quarter-mifiion
miles to ride bulls... well,
you've got to be super crazy.
But world champion bull
rider Charlie Sampson, who
came to Chattuoga County
last weekend for the Charlie
Lowry Rodeo, says he
couldn’t imagine doing
anything else.
Sampson, who stands
5-foot-4 and weéghs a shade
over 130 pounds, won the
world title ?or bull riding last
December at the ‘‘super vowl”
of pro rodeo — The National
Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma Ci
ty, Okla.
“I rode 10 bulls in nine
days,” says Sampson, who is
the first Black to win a Profes
sional Rodeo Cowboy Associa
tion championship in any
event. “‘The finals are where
the top 15 cowboys (}ualify -
it's the super bowl of rodeo.”
Sampson - admits bull
riding is one of the toughest
sports around and like most
rodeo cowboys, you've got to
love what you do or you'll
never make it to the top.
Injuries are part of the
sport. Sampson tied for first
in the Lowry Rodeo last
weekend and was riding with
a hairline fracture to his left
leg. ‘I banged my le%up six
weeks ago in Baton Rouge,”
says Sampson. ‘‘lt’s just part
of rodeoing.”
In 1979, Sampson finished
20th overall for the year after
receiving a broken sternum,
two broien ribs and a punc
tured lung in an August ride
that ended his season early.
A broken right leg in 1980
Racing: Love It, Or Leave It
By PAM PURCELL
Staff Writer
Automobile racing is a
dangerous and expensive
sport, but for one young Chat
tooga County resident it's
just fast pace action that he
enjoys as a hobby.
Greg Wyatt of Summer
ville is involved with stock car
dirt track racing. He has even
designed and built three cars
to compete in the races since
becoming interested in com
peting in the stock car sport
some two years ago.
Wyatt's first involvement
in racing competition began in
1977 when fie started par
ticipating in motor cross rac
ing. He raced in motor cross
competition for some three
years before giving up the
sport.
“It is the most fihysically
demanding s?‘ort I have been
involved with,”’ Wyatt said
about motor cross. “It's very
hazardous to your health.”
After giving up motor
cross, Wyatt's interest in rac
ing continued. In the middle
of the 1981 stock car season
Wyatt decided to try his hand
at racing for competition once
again.
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Greg Wyatt of Summerville is shown
with the third race car he has built and
raced in com‘fetition. Wyatt competed in
a race Saturday night in Woodstock. Out
put him out of action for most
of the season.
But in 1981, Sampson
began his climb to the top
thanks to an injury-free
season. 3
There is some financial
CHARLIE LOWRY RODEO RESULTS
ESTIMATED SIO,OOO PURSE
EVENT FIRST PLACE
Bull Riding (Tie) ...H......‘..‘............CharlieSampson.LosAnEeles.Calif.
Roy Carter, Crockett, Texas
Barrelßacing .. ................................Jackie Wilmon, Freedon, Texas
TR RODING .. ... .. .SO h s e iST .SN
Richarcfy Garcia, Atlanta
Ca1fR0ging.....‘..A.........‘.‘................DanEdd1eman.G01den,C010.
BRHEBREONC ... .. ... i e se b Seott Fogg, Mound City, Mo.
Steer Wrestling . .................................DaleDenton, Henderson, Ky.
Basiback . bYNe e e e e IEET R
Calf Tying Contest ..........................Chattooga High School Indian Lore
reward for the top cowboys.
In 1981, Sampson netted
$49,318 in earnings and finish
ed the season in fourth place
overall. His wins included the
Houston Rodeo, where he
became the first Black
cowboy to win an event in the
rodeo’s 49-year history.
Part of the secret to suc
cess in rodeo is to keep on the
move. Sampson was in Athens
Former Resident Coaches
National Champion Team
A former resident, Jerry Turner, son of Mr. and
Mrs. James ‘“‘Shorty’’ Turner of Summerville, is the
head coach of the National Champion Little College
West Coast Christian College Knights.
The Knights wrapped up a 23-4 overall record for
the year, including a stretch of 19 straight wins.
They won the Western Christian Athletic Associa
tion title with a 11 wins, 1 loss record.
The Knights won the national title at the Na
tional Little College Convention in Norfolk, Neb.,
March 13.
It was the second straight season Turner’s
Knights had the national limelight. Last year Mike
Lockhart, a Knight guard, held off singlehandedly
five opposing players over the final 2:10 of a game to
preserve a Knights win, 75-67.
Wyatt's first task was to
build a car that would meet
the stock car racing stan
dards. He decided to build a
1965 Chevelle and comé)ete in
the Tri-Circuit Races that are
held in Woodstock, Rome and
West Atlanta. Wyatt does not
race in West Atlanta. His car
contains all the required safe
ty equipment: seat belts, fire
extinguisher, helmet and roll
cage. i kg
Although it was his first
stock car racing season,
Wyatt won third through fifth
places at the various races he
competed in with his newly
built car.
As the 1981 season drew to
a close Wyatt and several
friends began working on a se
cond race car, one that he
hoped would handle better
and run faster. When the 1982
season opened Wyatt was still
working on his car, a 1969
Camaro, and missed several of
the races.
When the car was finished
it proved to work better than
the first in all respects, accor
ding to Wyatt. ’lphe way the
race car handles is a key to
winnini. Wyatt said. He
noted that speed is very im
His Third Race Car
of 25 cars starting the race, Wyatt came
in second in his custom-built 1972 Nova
despite a few difficulties with the car on
the track.
the night before the Lowry
Rodeo and immediately after
riding here Friday night, he
had to leave to catch a plane
for the West Coast for more
rodeos.
Sampson traveled a
quarter-million miles last
year, including a trip to
Australia. ‘I spent 300 days
on the road last year,” says
the 25-year-old champ.
‘‘Australia was kind of ex
citing, but last summer was
the most hectic time. In June
I went to 27 rodeos, in July I
went to 32 and in August I
went to 36 rodeos.”
1982 was a sweet year for
portant, but without control
the driver is handicapped.
W{latt. a local car dealer,
cut the 1982 racing season
short due to difficulties with
the new car. At the end of the
season, much to his surprise,
Wyatt was notified that
awards were given to the top
five money winners for the
1982 season and he had placed
fourth in his class. He com
petes in the hobby class,
where usually 15 to 24 cars
race. |
After sorting out the pros
and cons of racing, Wyatt said
that he decided late in 1982 to
BUit racing again and sold his
amaro. However, in
December he changed his
mind for a fourth time, decid
ed to race again and with the
help of friends began working
on a new car for the 1983
stock car racing season.
Wyatt's third car is a 1972
Nova, which he hopes will per
form better than either of the
other two vehicles. The first
three races of the 1983 season
were missed by Wyatt due to
delayed work on the new car.
Wyatt's first race in the
new car was Saturday, April
9, in Woodstock. He started
the Los Angeles native. His
$91,402 in earnings ranked
him first in the PfiCA stan
dings, $13,755 more than
runner-up Bobby DelVecchio,
who is a native of Brooklyn
and a good friend of
Samflson's.
The $91,402 in winnings
broke a single season event
record for earnings by almost
Special Classes
Scheduled
A three-week course on
learning how to deal with
changes connected with
becoming a single person will
be held Thursga nights at
Floyd Junior Coli;ge %)eginn
ing Mafi' 5.
“When A Relationship
Ends” classes will include
discussions on how to deal
with changes; pertinent credit
facts that persons will en
counter; adjusting relation
ships with children, former
spouses and in-laws; the im
petus of sexuality; confronta
tions with former friends,
especially married couples;
and racing altered social
status roles. -
Dr. Gerald Jennings;
associate professor of
pstichology at ‘Berry College,
will be the instructor.
Sessions will be held
Thursdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
through May 19. The fee will
be S2O. To register or obtain
more information, contact
FJC’s Public Service Office at
295-6324.
eighth out of 18 cars and soon
moved ui) to take the lead.
Wyatt held the lead until two
laps from the finish when he
suffered a flat tire on the right
rear wheel and had to come
out of the race. He said he was
very satisfied with the car and
planned a few adjustments to
it before the next race.
The second race in the
Nova for Wyatt came Satur
day, April 16, in Woodstock
again. This time Wyatt finish
eg second out of 25 cars that
started the competition and
suffered a few diflf)iculties dur
ing the race. During the se
cond lap of the race a pin came
out of t%e shifter whil% the car
was in fourth gear. Wyatt had
to finish the race with the car
in fourth gear, which caused a
few problems durinfi the cau
tions with Wyatt having to
start off in fourth gear. He
held his second place position
until the end of the race.
Despite the problems, Wyatt
said he was pleased with the
car's tperformance,
After each race Wyatt
must examine his car for
damages and make repairs
before the next race, which is
sometimes the following day.
Wyatt races every Satur
day night at the Dixie Speed
way in Woodstock and begin
ning May 1 he will race on
Sunday ni%ht at the Rome In
ternational in Rome. The
Rome track is known as the
fastest half-mile dirt track in
the South, said Wyatt.
Drivers draw for their posi
tions in the hobby class, line
up in a double line and must
be -side-by-side, bumper-to
bumper when rounding
number four turn in order to
get the green flag to begin the
race. Speeds on the wet dirt
track average between 85 and
90 miles per hour. After 15
laps are completed the winner
receives the checkered flag to
signal the end of the race.
Prize money is paid to the
first 10 finishing each race.
It cost Wyatt $7 entry fee
per race and approximately
$lB for fiasoline each time he
races. The car, equipped with
a 305 engine, averages seven
to eight miles per gallon dur
ing a race.
There are five races each
night. The classes competing
Che Summerville News
$28,000. The previous record
was set by Don Gay in 1981 at
$63,908.
Last year’'s money boosted
Sampson's total career earn
inis to $167,757 — not bad for
a kid who grew up with 13
brothers and sisters in the
rough Watts section of Los
Angeles.
ampson paid a quarter for
his first pony ride at age 10
while on a Cub Scout field
trip. He picked up rodeo ex
perience working around an
area boarding stable and took
his first rodeo tfi'F as a ‘‘go
for"” at age 13 to Tishomingo,
Okla., with a group of local
cowboys.
Sampson says he's known
Charlie Lowry for several
yvears and always wanted to
come to his rodeo. ‘I really
like Georgia and
Summerville,”” says Sampson.
‘‘But as long as I'm rodeoing,
I don't care if it's Atlanta or
Athens as long as I'm doing
what I love.”
Sampson, who lifts
weights and runs to stay in
shape for the exhaustive rides,
says he hopes to get a sponsor
one day and possibly go into
the promotion aspect of the
business in a few years.
Glass Menagerie
Comes To Rome
One of America's best lov
ed classic plars, “The Glass
Menagerie, will be brought to
Rome City Auditorium at 8
p.m. May 2. The production,
which -‘is part -of. a
Southeastern tour produced
bK Atlanta’'s Academy
Theatre, is the final event of
the 1982-83 Town and Gown
Series, co-sponsored by the
Rome Area Council for the
Arts, Berry College, Floyd
Junior Col{ege and Shorter
College.
Admission prices are $5,
adults; and $3, students and
senior citizens; with a dis
count available for students
and educators in Rome City
Schools. Tickets will be
available at the door the even
ing of the performance. ’
are as follows: bomber, hobby,
B cadet, B sportsman and
modified.
“Racin§ is a big hassle,”
Wyatt exY ained. ‘'You've got
to really like it to do it. You
get interested in racing just
by going and watching races.
There's a lot of difference in
watching from the stands and
doing it. I've seen quite a few
accidents, but not many in
juries so far. There's a lot of
expense in racing. To me it's
more or less a hobby. You
can't make that much money
unless you get into the bigger
races. There's also a lot of
hard work, but to me it's
worth it. I just like going real
fast and turning left."”
Foster Care Program Helps
Youngsters Get On Right Path
Susie is 12 years old. She is in the hospital with a frac
tured skull ang three broken ribs. She was abused by her
father and needs care in a safe, loving home.
Mark is 14 and in an institution. There is nothing
wronlg with him that a home and a community of caring
peoße can't hel%remedy.
avid is a baby with a mother too sick to care for him.
He needs to be rocked, fed and loved by foster parents
wl}:fi would like to share their lives with a small chfid for a
while. ;
Susie, unfortunately, is not an isolated case. Seventy
five percent of the children needing foster care have been
removed from their homes because of abuse or neglect.
And teen-agers in trouble, like Mark, are a large part of
the total number of Georgia youngsters who need a fami
ly. Some have lost parents through family break-ups, il-
Iness or death. ;
It really doesn’t matter how a child and his family
become seg)arated — death, divorce and economic pro
blems are but three ways — but when this happens grow
ing up alone is a pretty frightening way to live. All
children in fostercare have come from a painful situation.
'lll‘hlere are many, many Georgia children who need your
elp. .
QVHO ARE FOSTER PARENTS? Foster parents
open their homes and hearts to children who need love,
care and attention. They offer a good family life until it
becomes possible for the child to return home or to go to
another permanent home.
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR FOSTER
PARENTHOOD? Foster parents work with the Depart
ment of Family and Children Services in the best interests
of the child. All foster parents should be in good physical
and mental health. For some children single parents are
appropriate. No special housing is required, except that
homes must meet generally accepted standards of sanita
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World Champion Bull Rider
Charlie Sampson, the 25-year-old world
chamFion bull rider, tied for first in
Charlie Lowry's Rodeo here last
weekend. Sampson, the first Black to win
a PRCA world championship in any
event, earned $91,402 in winnings last
GTE Layoffs Expected
In Southeast During May
General Telephone Tues
day announced it will lay off
about 200 employees during
May across an eight-state
area, including 31 in Georgia.
Layoff figures by com
munity are not firm because
there will be some employee
transfers associated with the
layoffs.
_‘*As soon as we have had
personal discussions with
employees affected by the
layoffs, we will be able to talk
about numbers by location,”
said Phil Hays, Vice President
and General Manager for
Georgia.
Hays said that in addition
to layoffs, other measures
were being taken toreduce the
organization's size.
“Overall, ‘our work force is
being reduced by about 260
jobs,”” said Don Prigmore,
President of General
Telephone of the Southeast
and General Telephone of
Kentucky, Headquartered in
Durham, N. C.
“We are eliminating posi
year to rank him first in professional
rodeo standings. The 130-pound man
stands 5-foot-4 and is one of 13 brothers
and sisters who grew up in the tough
Watts section of Los Angeles.
tions currently vacant as well
as releasing all contractors
who are doing work that could
be done by employees,”’ said
Prigmore. “We want to ensure
that we are doing everything
we can to minimize the
layoffs.”” Even with such
measures, Prigmore said there
would be more layoffs later in
the year. The extent is uncer
tain at this time."”
Prigmore said, ‘‘The rapid
changes in the telephone
business that pushed the com
pany into layoffs also dictate
a careful approach to them.”
“That’s why we formed a
special committee to review
how our work force is being af
fected by these changes,
where cutbacks are required,
and how we can continue to
provide a good telephone ser
vice," he said. “Tgat's also
why we are making some
layoffs now and deferring
others until later in the year.
We want to be sure we don't
over-react to the changes in
our operating environment."’
tion. The house must be large enough to allow for privacy
and to provide the foster chfid with a place to call his own.
Twelve hours of training is provided by the county
depar(tjment and must be completed before the home is ap
proved.
ARE THERE DIFFERENT KINDS OF FOSTER
CARE? Regular foster care is used for most children in
need of care. Emergency foster care is available on a
24-hour basis for crisis situations. Specialized foster care
is e:d limited resource used for children with very special
needs.
HOW ARE FOSTER PARENTS AND CHILDREN
MATCHED? Before qlacement, a caseworker tells foster
parents about the child, and the couple can then make a
decision about accepting a particular child. When possi
gle. the foster parent may visit the child before making a
ecision.
ARE FOSTER PARENTS PAID FOR THE SUP
PORT OF A CHILD? Foster care is not a moneK-making
prcl)f)osition. Foster parents are reimbursed for the child’s
dai efipenses. and medical and dental care are I&rovided.
(¥A FOSTER PARENTS OFFER HOMES TO
SEVERAL CHILDREN? As many as six children, in
cludines the foster parents’ own children under age 16, are
allowed in a sinéle household.
HOW LONG WILL A CHILD REMAIN IN A
FOSTER HOME? It varies. Foster care is temporary
care. Babies usually stay only a short time, but older
children may stay months or several years.
HOW CAN I BECOME A FOSTi:ZR PARENT? The
Chattooga County Department of Family and Children
Services is eranmng to conduct Foster lyarent Training
beginning May 3. For more information concerning foster
e&rents or the training, contact Joye Toles or Deborah
gers at 857-3487.
Pri%'more said improved
technology, increasing com
petition, a sluggish economy
and government — mandated
changes have “put us in a
position where we have to
operate with less people if we
expect to stay in business.”
Employees to be laid off in
May wil{ begin receivin
notification May 2. Generzfi
Telephone’s Human
Resources Staff will be pro
viding employees assistance
in finding a new job.
Kindergarten
! Registration
Trion City Schools is now
registering students for the
1983-84 Kindergarten session.
For additional information or
questions answered concern
ing our kindergarten program,
please call 734-7212.