L
E T T E R S T
O T
H E E
D I T O R
MARCH
6, 2008
A
Friend Says Goodbye
It
has been said that we are only granted a few good friends
in our lifetime. We have hundreds of acquaintances but good
friends, only a few.
I am proud to say Ann Boyd Thomas was my friend. Her death
has broken my heart.
Ann Boyd Thomas was a complex, simple person. Those of us
who knew her understand this. Her professional life was complex.
Her job as publisher of the News and Press was something she
took very seriously. The paper “went to bed” at a certain
time every week and that was that. When that time came she
wanted it right and it was. She never took credit for the
paper being as good as it is. She would say she surrounded
herself with good people and they made her shine!
Her personal life was a little simpler. When she would leave
her office she would climb into her big ole truck and head
to the horse barn with her midget dog and her best friend,
Margaret Ann Thomas. (These three could have more fun than
any 10 people doing nothing but hanging out together). Ann
Boyd’s equestrian skills were as sharp as her journalistic
ones but as with the paper, she never was braggadocios in
this regard. She just quietly offered her horse advice to
those who wanted it and reserved it for those who did not.
She even instructed her niece Tessa on the fine skills of
reining from her hospital bed (using Morrey’s belt) a few
short weeks ago.
I heard a song years ago and the lyrics said, “Life is what
happens when you’re making other plans.”
Ann Boyd’s life changed dramatically about two years ago when
she learned she had cancer. Her priorities were redirected
and she decided to spend more time outside of working. Her
focus became her family and her health.
In the end, she would lose her hard fought battle to live
and the Lord would call her home.
Her final struggle would be a difficult one. I don’t know
why she had to struggle the way she did but one day I’m going
to see the Lord face to face and I’m going to ask him.
She and I had three standard greetings. If I said Hello AB
she would reply Hello JT. If I said Good Morning Ann Boyd
she would say Good Morning J Todd, and if I said Good Morning
Newspaper Lady she would reply Good Morning Undertaker Man.
I went to her bedside a few nights before her death. The room
was dark and I could hear her labored breathing.
When I opened the door to her room she immediately knew who
I was. She asked me to walk over to her side.
She said, after a few moments, in a very shallow voice, “Todd,
look into my eyes and kiss me right here,” pointing to her
forehead. I leaned over and kissed her on her head.
She then paused for a brief moment and said, “Goodbye, Todd.”
This would be the last time I would talk to my friend.
In a way I guess we could say Ann Boyd Thomas’ life was “Put
to Bed” on Saturday. The deadline came and that was that.
No more time for any more last minutes. It was time to start
the press.
Isn’t it wonderful that we each can envision our own headline?
I don’t know about you but I would be willing to bet she made
it to the almighty front page, ABOVE THE FOLD!
We never rehearsed a goodbye so I guess I’ll say, until we
meet again, so long my friend. I love you.
Todd Hardee, Darlington
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Other
Darlington Heroes Should Be Included
I just read your article about a possible memorial for Billy
Farrow. Probably other Darlington heroes should be included.
Putting it at the site of the old Hardees would be appropriate.
His aunt was Lillian Stem McFall, and she and her husband,
whose first name I probably never knew, owned and lived at
the McFall Hotel, later the Park Terrace, which was on that
site. His cousin, Illy McFall ran her kindergarten there for
some years, assisted by her aunt, and Miss Lill’s sister,
PeeWee Stem Bonnoit. (I never knew PeeWee’s first name,either.)
The unknown man in the picture is Billy’s first cousin,
the late Freddy Stem, also called “Peppy” or “Pepi”,
son of Fred and Mary Timberlake Stem. They lived in the white
brick house on St.John’s Street. Mr. Fred was mayor
of Darlington for one or two terms, and probably one of the
only Republicans in town in the 40’s.
Billy’s mother was Jessie Stem Farrow, and he had an
older sister, Margie, probably Margaret, named for their maiden
aunt, Margaret. Margie married and moved to some far off place
like Ohio or some other far flung place and had three sons.
There was another uncle, William Stem, known as “Pie”,
in the tobacco warehouse business with Mr. Fred. They owned
Centerbrick Warehouse on South Main and West Broad Streets,
across from the First Baptist Church.
Pie and his wife, Bess, had a daughter named “Betsy”
who is married and to the best of my knowledge still living
in Columbia with her husband, Harry Mashburn. She was
born, I believe, the year Billy made his last flight,
so he may never have seen her. So, he does have a first cousin
living in South Carolina…
I grew up at 123 Park Street, just down the street from the
Fred Stems. My parents were Bill and Ruby Rikard James.
I hope some of this will be helpful to someone in your quest.
Nancy James Webert
Farrow Memorial Could Bring Pride,
Education
I think it is a wonderful idea for Darlington to finally join
the other towns in our wonderful and free country to honor
our veterans without them we would not live in a free nation.
The sacrifices that are made daily by veterans when we are
at war and when we have peace is the reason why our country
is the grandest on earth.
The ultimate sacrafice that was made by young Billy Farrow
is something that all Darlingtonians should hold their heads
in pride that this young man was from OUR TOWN. All school
students and all native Darlingtonians should carry in their
heart the wonderful and heart warming story of this young
veteran, and a memorial to him and all veterans is something
we should do and all take a part in. Since Billy Farrow was
an Eagle Scout maybe the boy scouts could use him as a true
role model because I know that some of his training to survive
was instilled in him in the scouts. I feel like boy scout
groups, girl scout groups, veteran groups and people should
and want to help with this memorial for Mr. Farrow and all
veterans.
Carolyn Langley, Darlington
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Where
Have All the Movies Gone?
“Lights! Camera! Leave?” This has become the new
battle cry of the film industry in our state now that our
film incentives have been changed.
Remember when all those big budget films were being shot around
our state? That could soon be a thing of the past now that
a change made to our incentives has been driving away business.
Too often, states have been slow to react or have made the
wrong decisions when it comes to dealing with fast-paced industries
and economic development. The ensuing wake up call that finally
grabs their attention usually happens after they have lost
countless jobs and millions of dollars.
Under our original film incentives, nine feature films, a
television series, a television pilot, 7,100 jobs and millions
of dollars in increased economic activity were generated.
Since the Department of Commerce changed the incentives, there
were no new movie productions and only one television pilot
in 2007. And currently, we have one film under production,
one new television pilot and one television series that was
almost forced to leave our state because of the change in
incentives.
So why are we driving away a multi-billion dollar, high wage
industry?
In 2005, the General Assembly passed a film incentive package
that made South Carolina a top contender for film production
in today’s ever expanding film industry and attracted
all this Hollywood investment to our state. The result was
maximum capacity film production.
But now the original intent of the law we passed has been
changed for the worse by our State Department of Commerce.
In June of 2007, by using a loophole in the law, Commerce
changed and reduced the incentives we offer film productions.
The resulting negative impact on the film industry in our
state was immediate. We have seen projects that were attracted
to South Carolina forced to go to other states at the last
minute because incentives originally advertised to them had
been suddenly changed.
As a result of the changes that were made, we have seen a
mass exodus of the film industry from our state. We have lost
our competitive edge in an industry where tax incentives make
or break deals.
The University of South Carolina’s Business School recently
conducted an in-depth study on the economic impact of seven
films recently shot on location in South Carolina.
Their study found that, even though our state had no permanent
infrastructure currently in place, these films had a very
positive economic impact and our original incentives were
helping to seed the industry in our state.
The study concluded that for every $1.00 we spent on supplier
rebates, it generated a total income effect of $3.68 for our
state. That is almost a 4 to 1 return on our investment. It
also concluded that for every $1.00 we spent on wage rebates,
it generated a total income effect of $1.30 for our state.
This past week, the House introduced legislation to, once
again, make South Carolina a top competitor in the film industry.
The bill reinstates many of the original incentives the General
Assembly passed in 2005 and enhances others.
To further encourage the hiring of South Carolinians, the
bill expands wage rebates for residents from 20 percent to
30 percent. Also, it creates an apprenticeship program that
will help our citizens gain valuable experience and gain access
to future involvement in this industry.
The more films we are able to attract, the larger the economic
impact will be on our state. Clustering this industry in our
state will lead to more film related businesses moving to
South Carolina. And that is our goal, to grow an industry.
Bobby Harrell, Speaker of the S.C. House of Representatives
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