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{{unreferenced|date=August 2006}}'''Lewis McDonald Grizzard, Jr.''' ([[October 20]], [[1946]] - [[March 20]], [[1994]]) was an American writer and [[humorist]], famous for his Southern demeanor and commentary on the [[U.S. Southern states|American south]]. Although he spent the early career as a newspaper writer and editor, becoming sports editor of the ''Atlanta Journal'' at age 23, he is much better known for his humorous [[column (newspaper)|columns]] in the ''[[Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]''. He also published twenty-five books, including ''If I Ever Get Back to Georgia, I'm Gonna Nail My Feet to the Ground'', ''I Haven’t Understood Anything since 1962'', and ''Chili Dawgs Always Bark at Night'' and was a popular stand-up comedian. Although much of his comedy discussed the South and Grizzard’s life, it was also a commentary on issues prevalent throughout America, including [[divorce]], [[politics]], and [[health]]. Lewis Grizzard was the stepbrother of Southern humorist [[Ludlow Porch]]. |
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==Biography== |
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Grizzard was born at [[Fort Benning]], Georgia on October 20, 1946. His father Lewis Grizzard Sr., a soldier in the United States Army, left his mother Christine, a school teacher, when Lewis was young and they moved to [[Moreland, Georgia]], where Lewis would spend the rest of his childhood. Grizzard would recount his often frustrating relationship with his father in ''My Daddy Was a Pistol and I'm a Son of a Gun''. He began his writing early, publishing stories of his little league team in the ''[[Newnan Times-Herald]]''. |
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Grizzard attended the [[University of Georgia]] in [[Athens, Georgia]]. He was a member of [[Sigma Pi]] Fraternity and during his time in Athens became an avid Bulldogs fan. He studied journalism but shunned the school newspaper in favor of the independent ''[[Athens Banner Herald|Athens Daily News]]''. After graduating, Grizzard moved on to Atlanta, joining the ''Atlanta Journal'' and becoming the youngest ever executive sports editor of the Journal by age 23. Executive Journal editor Jim Minter said that had Grizzard stayed there, he would be remembered today as one of the great newspaper editors of the 20th century. His time there included the [[Southern Airways Flight 932|Marshall University football team tragedy]] and the Journal's coverage of [[Hank Aaron]]'s 715th home run. |
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Grizzard then became executive sports editor at the ''[[Chicago Sun Times]]''. He would later recall this as the most miserable period of his life. His tenure included a controversy involving the spiking of columns by Lacey Banks, which resulted in charges of racism and the firing of Banks. Although the paper supported Grizzard, a federal arbitrator reinstated Banks and criticized Grizzard as "racially insensitive". Grizzard, for his part, contended that the arbitrator did not understand the newspaper business and pointed out that he had replaced Banks with Thom Greer, a writer who was also black; Grizzard felt this invalidated any charge of racism. He felt that he had been pronounced "guilty by geography". Grizzard was also divorced for the second time while in Chicago. Grizzard's career as a newspaper man is recalled in his auto-biographical ''If I Ever Get Back to Georgia, I'm Gonna Nail My Feet to the Ground''. |
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In 1977, Grizzard returned to Atlanta as a columnist for the sport section of the ''Atlanta Constitution''. After eight months, he switched to writing the humor column which would eventually make him internationally famous and beloved in the South. At his peak, he was syndicated in 450 newspapers and making regular appearances on television and the stand-up circuit. His popularity in Atlanta was such that the alternative newspaper ''[[Creative Loafing]]'', in its annual "Best of Atlanta" poll, included the categories "Best Columnist" and "Best Columnist besides Lewis Grizzard". |
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Grizzard often drew criticism for his disparaging remarks about gays and feminists. And his dislike for the New South and reflections on the Old South of his youth were frequently misinterpreted. Nevertheless, he was extremely popular in the South and had enduring popularity across the nation because of the humor, humanity, patriotism and old-fashioned values that purveyed his writing. His frequent bewilderment by the modern age stuck a chord with many baby boom readers. Grizzard famously refused to use computers, writing every column on an antique typewriter ("When I write, I like to hear some noise"). |
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In 1988, Grizzard made his acting debut on the sitcom [[Designing Women]], in the episode "Oh Brother," which first aired on January 18. Grizzard played the role of Clayton Sugarbaker, half-brother to Julia and Suzanne Sugarbaker, a former mental patient aspiring to be a stand-up comedian. |
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Grizzard was famous for having a somewhat troubled life, battling alcoholism and going through three divorces. He was voted "The Author From Hell" at publishing convention for his behaviour on book tours. He also suffered from a congenital heart defect. In his own words, "There are three little leaflets that control the flow of blood to the heart. I was born with only two of those leaflets. It was just after the Great War, so there may have been a shortage. Either that or my daddy didn't get a good toe-hold." His near-death after a third valve replacement surgery in 1993 brought in over 50,000 letters from well-wishers. He later attributed his miraculous recovery to the prayers of his fans. Shortly after marrying for the fourth time, he died from a [[myocardial infarction|heart attack]] after another valve surgery. Grizzard suffered [[brain damage]], according to one report, from lack of [[oxygen]] to the [[brain]], had he survived, he would have been noticeably impaired. In accordance with his wishes, he was cremated and some of his ashes were scattered at the 50-yard line of [[Sanford Stadium]] at the University of Georgia. |
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==Published works== |
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*''Kathy Sue Loudermilk, I Love You: A Good Beer Joint Is Hard to Find and Other Facts of Life'' ([[1 December]] 1979) (Collection of previously published ''[[Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]'' [[column (newspaper)|columns]]) |
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*''Won't You Come Home, Billy Bob Bailey?: An Assortment of Home-Cooked Journalism for People Who Wonder Why Clean Underwear Doesn't Grow on Trees'' ([[1 November]] 1980) (Collection of previously published ''Atlanta Journal-Constitution'' columns) |
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*''Glory! Glory! Georgia's 1980 Championship Season: The Inside Story'' (1981) (Loran Smith with Lewis Grizzard) |
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*''Don't Sit Under The Grits Tree With Anyone Else But Me'' ([[1 November]] 1981) (Collection of previously published ''Atlanta Journal-Constitution'' columns) |
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*''They Tore Out My Heart and Stomped That Sucker Flat'' ([[1 October]] 1982) |
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*''If Love Were Oil, I'd Be About A Quart Low'' ([[1 October]] 1983) |
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*''Elvis Is Dead and I Don't Feel So Good Myself'' ([[1 October]] 1984) |
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*''Shoot Low Boys - They're Riding Shetland Ponies'' ([[1 October]] 1985) |
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*''My Daddy Was A Pistol and I'm a Son of a Gun'' ([[1 October]] 1986) |
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*''When My Love Returns From The Ladies Room, Will I Be Too Old To Care?'' ([[1 October]] 1987) (Collection of previously published ''Atlanta Journal-Constitution'' columns) |
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*''Don't Bend Over In the Garden, Granny - You Know Them Taters Got Eyes'' ([[1 October]] 1988) |
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*''Lewis Grizzard on Fear of Flying'' ([[1 April]] 1989) |
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*''Lewis Grizzard's Advice To The Newly Wed . . . & the Newly Divorced'' ([[1 April]] 1989) |
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*''Chili Dawgs Always Bark At Night'' ([[1 September]] 1989) (Collection of previously published ''Atlanta Journal-Constitution'' columns) |
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*''Does A Wild Bear Chip In The Woods?'' ([[1 May]] 1990) |
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*''If I Ever Get Back To Georgia, I'm Gonna Nail My Feet To The Ground'' ([[1 October]] 1990) |
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*''Don't Forget To Call Your Momma; I Wish I Could Call Mine'' ([[1 April]] 1991) |
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*''You Can't Put No Boogie Woogie On The King of Rock and Roll'' ([[1 October]] 1991) (Collection of previously published ''Atlanta Journal-Constitution'' columns) |
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*''I Haven't Understood Anything Since 1962 and Other Nekkid Truths'' ([[1 October]] 1992) |
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*''I Took A Lickin' and Kept on Tickin' and Now I Believe In Miracles'' ([[1 January]] 1994) |
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===Posthumous collections=== |
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*''The Last Bus To Albuquerque'' ([[1 September]] 1994) (Collection of previously published ''Atlanta Journal-Constitution'' columns) |
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*''It Wasn't Always Easy But I Sure Had Fun'' ([[1 November]] 1994) (Collection of previously published material) |
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*''Life Is Like a Dogsled Team . . . : If You're Not the Lead Dog, the Scenery Never Changes--The Wit and Wisdom of Lewis Grizzard'' ([[1 May]] 1995) (Collection of previously published material) |
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*''Grizzardisms: The Wit and Wisdom of Lewis Grizzard'' ([[1 June]] 1995) (Collection of previously published material) |
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*''Southern By The Grace of God - Lewis Grizzard on the South'' ([[1 May]] 1996) (Collection of previously published material) |
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==Live comedy albums== |
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*''On The Road With Lewis Grizzard'' (1985) |
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*''Live! (From Moreland to Moscow)'' (1986) |
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*''Let's Have A Party! With Lewis Grizzard'' (1987) |
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*''Addicted to Love (Live)'' (1989) |
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*''Don't Believe I'da Told That'' (1991) |
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*''The Best of Lewis Grizzard'' (1994) (Collection of previously released material) |
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*''One Last Time'' (1994) |
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*''Alimony: The Bill You Get, for the Thrill You Got'' (1994) |
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*''Lewis Grizzard'' (2001) (Collection of previously released material) |
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*''An Evening with Lewis Grizzard'' (2001) ([[DVD]]) |
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==Lewis Grizzard quotes== <!-- limit to 5 quotes please --> |
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{{Wikiquote}} |
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"Life is like a dogsled team, If you ain't the lead dog, the scenery never changes" |
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"You ain't from around here, are you? Don't lie and say you're from Florida, that accent says New Jersey." |
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"I am the only person in the history of Moreland, Georgia to ever be on the New York Times' Best Seller list. I'm the only person in the history of Moreland, Georgia who ever '''heard''' of the New York Times' Best Seller list." |
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"Real estate agents are God's plague on mankind when locusts are out of season." |
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Lewis’ advice to Atlantans in case of nuclear war: "If you live on the South side of Atlanta, get on I-75 and go south. If you live of the North side of Atlanta get on I-75 and go north. If you are a Yankee get on 285." (For those of you not familiar with Atlanta highways, I-285 is a loop or [[beltway]] around the city) |
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"The most effective form of birth control known to man is a Bronx accent." |
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"It's difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a homegrown tomato." |
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==References and further reading== |
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*Chuck Perry. ''Don't Fence Me in: An Anecdotal Biography of Lewis Grizzard''. 1995. |
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==External links== |
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*[http://www.lewisgrizzard.com/ The Official Lewis Grizzard Website] |
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*[http://www.lewisgrizzard.com/archives.htm Lewis Grizzard columns] |
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*[http://newnan.com/lg/ The Lewis Grizzard Museum] |
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*[http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-987 Georgia Encyclopedia entry on Lewis Grizzard] |
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* [http://wiredforbooks.org/lewisgrizzard/ 1986 audio interview with Lewis Grizzard by Don Swaim of CBS Radio, RealAudio] |
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[[Category:1946 births|Grizzard, Lewis]] |
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[[Category:1994 deaths|Grizzard, Lewis]] |
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[[Category:American humorists|Grizzard, Lewis]] |
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[[Category:American sportswriters|Grizzard, Lewis]] |
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[[Category:Georgia (U.S. state) writers|Grizzard, Lewis]] |
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[[Category:American columnists|Grizzard, Lewis]] |
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[[Category:People from Georgia (U.S. state)|Grizzard, Lewis]] |
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[[Category:University of Georgia alumni|Grizzard, Lewis]] |
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[[Category:Columnists|Grizzard, Lewis]] |
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[[Category:American journalists|Grizzard, Lewis]] |
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[[pt:Lewis Grizzard]] |
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