The Jackson Sun from Jackson, Tennessee • A4

4A THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2017 THE JACKSON SUN MIKE JUNG PRESIDENT LELAND BURRESS III SALES DIRECTOR TRUEX PLANNING EDITORCOPYRIGHT 2016 THE JACKSON SUN, A GANNETT COMPANY you will know the truth, and the truth will set you JOHN 8:32 (NIV) TAMMY GILLIAM FINANCE MANAGER BRAD ISAACS PRODUCTION MANAGER TAMMY WARREN CIRCULATION MANAGER GENERAL INFO, 427-3333 OUTSIDE MADISON COUNTY, (800) 372-3922 DELIVERY, SUBSCRIPTIONS 1-800-244-3225 425-9760 CLASSIFIEDS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, 423-0300 NEWSROOMFAX, 425-9639 ADVERTISING FAX, 425-9604 NEWS TIPS, 425-9638 FEATURES, 425-9634 SPORTS, 425-9751 EDITORIAL PAGE, 425-9686 BUSINESS, 425-9641 PHOTO REPRINTS, 425-9670 SPEAKERS BUREAU, 425-9603 TOURS, 425-9610 NEWSPAPER PROMOS, 425-9735 THE JACKSON SUN (ISSN 0890-9938) IS PUBLISHED DAILY BY THE JACKSON SUN, 245 W. LAFAYETTE JACKSON, TN 38301. PERIODICAL POSTAGE PAID AT JACKSON, TN 38301-9998 AND ADDITIONAL POINTS OF ENTRY. POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO: THE JACKSON SUN, P.O. BOX 1059, JACKSON, TN 38302-1059.

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TO SUBSCRIBE OR MAKE CHANGES TO YOUR ACCOUNT, CALL 1-800-244-3225 OR VISIT aboutyoursubscription.jacksonsun.com. CUSTOMER SERVICE: 1-800-244-3225, HOURS: SAT. SUN. WALK-IN HOURS: MON.FRI. TN-0001154953 As the TV matriarch of the Cun- ningham clan in the sitcom Marion Ross appeared in over 250 episodes during the hit 11- season run from 1974 to 1984.

But one episode has special for the actress this time of year. In First broadcast two days before the No- vember holiday in 1978, charac- ter (also named Marion) leads the cast in a departure from the usual Milwaukee-based setting. She narrates a story set in the Plymouth Colony, with the cast dou- bling as historical characters, to re- mind her family that sharing and giv- ing thanks are the traditions behind the annual festivities. (Bosley) and I were dressed up as pilgrims and I had on a lovely with a white recalled Ross from her home in Woodland Hills, California. Fonzie (Hen- ry Winkler) comes in wearing tradi- tional clothes, but with his leather jacket over It was classic hu- mor: Fonzie on a wooden motorbike; later, when he invites Indians into the compound, punished and restrained in the stocks but breaks free with a characteristic Fon- zie move broke the stock hey, a quips Anson Wil- Potsie character).

son actor, comedian and impressionist Jim Meskimen (see www.jimmeskimen.com) also re- calls the episode. show often break the boundary of the normal format, so the Thanksgiving episode was a chance to do he said from Los An- geles. was a big Marion episode, too, and I have to say Mom was charming in He also recalls Al Molinaro arriv- ing at the pilgrim Cunningham home toting a heavy cask of cider. asks him and Al re- plies something like I rolled it most of the That was typical of the strength of the writ- ers a lot of opportunity for some cheap but funny vaudeville gags. humor that stands the test of Like many TV moms in sitcoms dating back to the and role was essentially one of the traditional homemaker with limited opportunities for character develop- ment.

I would ask the pro- ducers if I could have a kind of said Ross. response was dear, not about you, about the However, they real- ized children were much of our audi- ence and they would be talking about the show next day at school. So it was important for Tom and me to be in ev- ery episode so viewers saw parents who were always there watching out for the own family roots trace back to Minnesota, where she was born in Watertown and spent her formative years in Albert Lea. my high school junior year, I moved to Minne- apolis to take drama She remembers her Minnesota Thanksgivings as being father was older, so there was not much playing she re- called. was a middle child and the rambunctious one, so I would run out and shovel the snow the walk- She says Thanksgiving included a large extended family seated at ta- bles stretching into the living room.

remember by the time I was about 10 having the traditional meal of turkey, pumpkin pies, and also ru- tabagas. Guests would say gas? We feed those to the But we liked them mashed with salt and With a Scottish father and a Cana- dian mother of Irish background, Ross says it was more than just the harsh Minnesota climate that tough- ened her for a career in the brutal en- tertainment business. was raised not only with that can do attitude, but also must do So I was always determined to get into Marion was 16 when the family headed west. War II just ended, and my father had been working on the Pana- ma Canal and the Navy transferred him to the base in San Diego. We sold everything, got on a train full of ser- vicemen coming home from the war, and moved to At West Coast Thanksgivings seemed strange.

were a terrible disappoint- ment and just seem natural with the warmer she said. now a seasoned Califor- That includes enjoying outdoor activities, particularly one with a long family Thanksgiving tradition at Happy Days Farm. what I call my house. After all, paid for she not- ed, laughing. on two acres, and we play bocce ball at Thanksgiving with the family and a few But no one will be expecting Mar- ion to prepare this meal.

not much of a she ad- mitted. was always a bit tense when I did! The young mothers (daughter and daughter-in-law) will probably be doing most of the And in the spirit of the season, the family often invites a guest who might otherwise be alone some- what akin to the Thanksgiving episode where Fonzie convinces the pilgrims to welcome the local Indians. the end, they join our family for the said Ross, who turned 89 this year and will be publishing her autobiography next spring. The pilgrim episode concludes at the table, where Richie (Ron Howard) leads the dinner party in prayer: you, oh Lord, for leading us to this New World. And thank you for the freedom that we can all share to- As the story returns to then pre- sent-day Milwaukee, Marion serves the meal to her attentive family, add- ing: is a day to count your bless- ings everyone has something to be thankful Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University at Montgomery, Ala, and has written features, columns, and interviews for over 650 newspapers and magazines.

See www.tinsel- towntalks.com A Thanksgiving 'Happy Days' cast publicity photo ABC NICK THOMAS Special to Jackson Sun USA TODAY NETWORK TENNESSEE For Ross, holiday episode was a break from normal role as matriarch Marion Cunningham Tom Bosley and Marion Ross in the 'Happy Days' episode, 'The First SCREENSHOT BY MILLER-MILKIS MARTIN Prom season is usually associated with spring, but a group of students in the area around UT Martin attended one this past weekend. Duncan Ballroom in the Bol- ing University Center was the site of the second annual special needs prom, hosted by the Non-Traditional Students Association along with other campus organizations and local busi- nesses in Martin. UTM Chancellor Dr. Keith Carver and his wife, Hollianne, attended the event. UT Martin student Julie Durham, of Dresden, is president of the non-tradi- tional students and the main event or- ganizer.

Durham said the idea for the prom came from her members, many of whom are raising children and believed the event was needed. She said last prom was intend- ed for mostly high school-age children, but no age limit applied this year. is absolutely a chance for them (the children) to be who they are with- out any stigmas or anything like that be- ing Durham said. About 30 student organizations, both Greek and non-Greek, chipped in to support this event. Also, area businesses contributed services to make the day special, including Debo- nair Limousine in Union City, which provided two hours of free limousine service.

Styles on Broadway in Martin provided hair and makeup at no charge for 15 of the students and later included haircuts for the guys as part of the prom-support package. Jonathan brother Colby Ross is a junior at Westview and has attended the prom both years. Riley lives in Glea- son, graduated with a business degree from UT Martin last December and now works at Manpower employment ser- vices in Jackson. He recalled last year when Julie Dur- ham asked university Greek organiza- tions for assistance with the prom. Ri- ley, then a student member of Sigma Al- pha Epsilon fraternity, agreed to serve as prom co-director and coordinated Greek organization support while Dur- ham organized the non-Greek groups.

these kids here, it (the prom) just puts a smile on their face, something hosted especially for he said. know, really the focus is them and them having a good time, and that just means the world to them and to Riley returned to campus to attend this event and continues to see what the prom means to Colby and why the event is important. he was very excited about Riley said of his anticipation of this prom. even took him to Styles on Broadway, had them their hair up and everything today, so it was an all-day treat for The Tennessee Titans football fran- chise in Nashville donated cups for the prom and want to do more next year. getting out there, and I think going to grow exponentially in years to Riley said.

Participation in this prom roughly doubled last combined number of student and family partici- pants. Special needs prom at UTM a chance be who they Submitted University of Tennessee-Martin Colby Ross, center, of Gleason, celebrates during special needs prom at UT Martin with Rebekah Heidelberg, of Martin, and Richard Mewes, of Puryear. This marked the second year for the event. SUBMITTED.