Extracted from The Laurel Leader-Call (Laurel, MS)
C. W. Hailes Fatally Hurt In Accident
MOSELLE, Miss. -- Clarence W. (Greenwhiskers) Hailes, 70, of Route 2, Ellisville, was killed Monday night near here when the car in which he was riding crashed into a bridge abutment on Highway 11, two miles north of Eastabuchie, the Mississippi Highway Patrol said.
Patrolmen H. T. Richardson and J. B. Dickerson said Hailes, a farmer, and Thomas R. (Buster) Knight, 30, Route 2, Ellisville, identified as the driver of the car, was en route home from Moselle where they had attended an American Legion meeting. The officers said Knight's car struck the bridge about 10:30 p.m.
Hailes was taken to the Forrest County General Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Knight, brother-in-law of Jones County Sheriff John Bryant, was seriously injured. He was taken to the Forrest County General Hospital, the officers said.
The cause of the accident was not immediately determined.
His survivors include his widow, Mrs. Dorothy Hutchinson Hailes; three sons, Sherman W. Hailes, Pasadena, Texas; Robert R. Hailes, Franklin, La.; and Raymond C. Hailes, New Orleans; two daughters, Miss Gladys Hailes, New Orleans; and Mrs. Lilah Whitehead, Collins; one brother, P. G. Hailes, Jackson; and three sisters, Mrs. C. M. Cobb and Mrs. C. J. Bender, both of Aberdeen; and Miss Leo Hailes, Jackson.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete.
Jones Funeral Home is in charge.
Extracted from The Laurel Leader-Call (Laurel, MS)
CLARENCE W. HAILES
Funeral services for Clarence W. Hailes, 70, of Route 2, Ellisville, who was killed in an automobile accident Monday night, will be held Thursday morning, 10 o'clock, from the chapel of Jones Funeral Home.
The Rev. Dill Woods will officiate and burial will be in Ellisville cemetery.
Hailes was a veteran of World War I and a member of the American Legion.
He was a member of the Willow Grove Baptist Church and taught the Men's Sunday School Class.
He was at one time employed by the Chicago Bridge Co., and later by an oil company in South America. After leaving the latter, he returned to Ellisville to his farm and raised cattle and fruit.
Hailes was well known in Laurel, where his letters to the editor frequently appeared in the Leader-Call.
Survivors not previously listed are a son, Clarence W. Hailes Jr., and nine grandchildren.
Jones Funeral Home, Ellisville, is in charge.
Extracted from The Laurel Leader-Call (Laurel, MS)
Greenwhiskers Gave His Views To Public
By JAY WEST
Our inveterate letter writer “Greenwhiskers” is dead.
Clarence W. Hailes, 70, who got his nickname from the fact that some green paint was spilled on his whiskers while he was working in New England, died as the result of an automobile accident. He had grown the whiskers to protect his face from the bitter wind and sleet while doing steel work on a waterworks project years ago. The name stuck with him.
Hailes lived on a rural route out of Ellisville and at a time when most men of his age are willing to “take it easy” he spent his time poring over the Congressional Record and writing letters of approval or disapproval to both newspapers and congressmen.
He could have added to his income by applying himself to other chores but preferred instead to discuss the issues of the day in handwritten, non-paying “Letters to the Editor.”
He was in frequent disagreement with the published editorial opinion of the newspapers which published his letters (which included the Laurel Leader-Call).
However, his strongly opinionated letters did present a different view and we published them because we felt they did provoke some people to think. He acquired many friends and adversaries.
There was no “gray area” in his thinking. It was either pro or con with him. He took a particular delight in deflating politicians and jabbed constantly at their foibles.
Those who knew him personally saw underneath the strong, professorial appearance and strong voice a man who loved nature and all her handiworks. Of particular pride were his scuppernongs and muscadines.
He like to think of himself as a “character” and he was delighted when some reader answered his letters. He wanted to provoke mental controversy. One of his pet theories was that many women members of Congress were doing a better job than their male associates.
He chafed when we limited him letters to 400 words and could not get them into print as fast as he could write them.
We reiterate that while we differed with him on many subjects we felt he performed a useful public service in getting people to think. Then, too, we believe the world will be in a pretty dull place when there are no more individualists like “Greenwhiskers” around.
Tuesday, March 20, 1962
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Wednesday, March 21, 1962
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Wednesday, March 21, 1962