Druther's Resturant - A piece of History

If you have the hobby of collecting I am just curious why you save or collect what you do? I have several things that I like to collect. I am a big Royal Crown fan, and even a bigger Squirt Soda fan, so anything along those lines, I get excited about. I also love cowboy boots. I won’t write just how many I have, but, let’s just say I have several pairs I have collected over the years. This collect by the way is a “let’s wear’em” collection. So if you see me in Red Snake Skins you can just know that I am enjoying myself.
When one collects things I often think of old things, or things that use to be. Growing up in Southeastern Kentucky one of the famous locations we older folks made frequent stops to would have been Druther’s. Remember that fast food restaurant? Williamsburg had one, Corbin had one, Barbourville had one, Pineville had one, and even Middlesboro had one. I loved the potato wedges especially. You could always get a great ham and cheese too, or at least that would have been another favorite of mine when it came ordering time.
Recently I was traveling in Taylor County, Kentucky. What I discovered in the City of Campbellsville caused me to make a complete u-turn. It had been at least since 1983 that I had seen a Druther’s, but low and behold, there was a Druther’s sitting just as I remembered from back in the day. Outside on the marquee was the special, “two cheeseburgers for a $1.00”. With such hard economic times I was tempted to order me up a dozen at that pricing! Of course you can rest assured I asked if they had wedges, and they did, so that was ordered too. Once I got through ordering my “memory special”, I said, I didn’t know that Druther’s was still in existence. The employee informed me that I was eating at the last one in the United States. At that moment I felt like King of the World. I thought about trying to collect the big Druther’s Sign, but couldn’t fit that in my car…ha, ha.
Collecting is a lot of fun but being reminded is also just as much fun. One of the things I am often reminded of is the grace and mercy that Jesus Christ provides to his children. I am reminded when I think about problems I am facing that He is always there. When I think about decisions that I have to make, I am reminded that He is a friend that provides clear directions and wisdom, if we ask.
Life has many great moments that we can enjoy. Memories that are created from looking at all kinds of different things. Memories from favorite restaurants, to moments with friends all are good ways for us to be reminded that Jesus Christ cares about us, and even if we were to think that somehow he has forgotten us, or moved on with us, we need to re-think again. I thought that Druther’s was long gone, but I only had to be in the right city to learn that I was wrong.
When you experience a moment when you are wondering where He is, or what He is doing, I might recommend you stop your travels, do a turn around where you are and look back to see He is still right there. We certainly have a friend that sticks by closer then a brother, and that’s a good thing to collect.

Until then

Doc O.J. Helvey USA Judo Champion

If you ever attended Cumberland College in Williamsburg, Kentucky, then there is no doubt that the name “Doc Helvy” means something to you. His given name was Omer James Helvey. To the students that walked the campus of Cumberland College in Williamsburg most of us simply called him “Doc”, and to those students that were not participants of the Judo Program, which he founded, he was still “Doc” and loved all students, believing that if you set your mind to it, you could do it. The official record will reflect he was a representative on the U.S. Olympic Committee. He coached from the wrestling mats at Cumberland College many Olympians through the sport of Judo.
I believe it is an amazing statement to say that I don’t know of a resident student that passed through Cumberland from 1963 until his retirement in 1986 that doesn’t have a memory of Doc Helvy. Something he said to them or the assistance they received from him, because he was a student’s friend always. I remember meeting him when I was registering as a entering freshman, but really got to know him when I was an officer with the Student Government Association. Doc Helvy was someone that would give you a professional opinion but with a real upfront down home slant. You didn’t have to wonder what he was thinking or what his suggestion was to you, if you asked his opinion. Yet, he would always allow you to make your own decision, and he would even walk through that with you even if you had not followed his advice. That is different and that’s why his former student athletes and students a like love him so.
I personally know several of his former athletes that wrestled under his leadership and his recent passing created a flood of memories in their lives, recalling all the advice they had received from him, and no doubt they may have very well given Doc credit for advice that he didn’t give, but he would smile today I’m sure, just knowing he was so loved and well thought of. As a sports official who worked collegiate athletics, Doc was also a welcomed face on the scores table at Cumberland. As an official, or referee as most would say, sometimes you’ve must go to the scorers table to get a clarification of what happened, and it wasn’t just any scores table a basketball official could turn to, but with Doc at the score book, you always knew, even if it was against Cumberland, he would help you discover the truth. That is something else that is also amazing to me.
In today’s modern age of high tech everything it is refreshing to remember the simple acts of getting to know someone face to face. Learning the why’s and how to, is not always information that some folks will share. While Cumberland College provides the academic setting for learning in the classroom, most individuals have never underestimated the real value of education. That is when someone shares who they are and what they know, without a book, but from the heart with every intention to see you achieve greater then themselves. That my friend was “Doc O.J. Helvey” and the difference he has made in the lives of students will not be forgotten in my life, as long as I live, and my thoughts would be that those of us he impacted, that we share the values he taught to others just as he invested in us.
The Bible shares many scriptures that touch all our lives in many different ways. Currently I am thinking that it is more blessed to give then receive, but I am glad I received from Doc, and now is my time to give, so here I go.

Until then