Newspaper, Profile of Christopher Columbus "C.C." Dotson, LaSalle Parish La. Copied by: Tia Morris Masters Submitted by: Kathy LeMay Kelly, P.O. Box 219, Trout, La. 71371 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** From the Jena Times - Olla Tullos Signal Wednesday, July 7, 1999, Section B, Page 3 Thank You to the Times -Signal for allowing the following to be added to the Archives. A Times-Signal Feature..."Citizen Profile" A Very Special Salute C.C. Dotson is a simple man, but rich with family support. Christopher Columbus Dotson was born June 30, 1925 in Selma, La. To William Henry and Bertie Farmer Dotson. Columbus has three brother, Virgil Dotson, Huey Dotson and the late Henry Jr. Dotson and three sisters, Melba Sue Humphries, Mary Alice Hatfield and the late Inez White. He served in the Marine Corp. From 1942 to 1946, the 2nd Battalion, 8th Regiment, 2nd Division E Company and was stationed in California, Hawaii, Sipan, Tipan, and Okiniwa. He received a Purple Heart for shrapnel wound in the back of the head in Sipan and two or three Battle ribbons also. Upon his return to the States, he went for a 24-month mechanic course at Alex Trade School which he graduated in 18 months at the top of his class with a letter of recommendation from his instructor (and he only had a ninth grade education). He went on to work at Welch Motor Co. for 17 years starting in 1952. Meanwhile, he was married in June 1946 to Ivalere White and had four children: one son, Ray Dotson, and three daughters, Shirley Fleming, Sybil Hughart, and Linda Wilson. He was also an oilfield contractor for Ted Trichel and Sam Wilbanks for eight years, which included various duties. Bob Owens called from Welch Motor Company and hired him as a mechanic. He also worked one year in Jonesville at Purvis Chevrolet. Since 1977, Columbus and his wife delivered the Alexandria Town Talk to the Jena area and was given the nickname "Dot" for the C.B. Every morning for 17 years, he delivered the daily news to approximately 500 sleeping customers, never missing a day. He also distributed The Jena Times Olla-Tullos Signal to local businesses and merchants every Wednesday for eight years. Since then, he has so-called retired. He has worked hard all of his life to make an easy living. In the past year he has been interviewed for a new book that was published recently called: "World War II: Speaking From the Hear" by author Dr. Pat Barber. Dr. Barber sat and talked with Dotson for an hour or so and he remembered every little detail. She was amazed after interviewing so many veterans she said he had the most vivid memory of them all. "Dotson" now has eight grandchildren and six great grandsons. "I've called many of his neighbors, co-workers and friends and I haven't received not one negative comment about him or his life. He has led a fulfilling life, maybe not in riches or fancy houses or cars, but in life itself. He's a very simple man, good with his hands and if he had borrowed something from you, when he brought it back to you it was usually in better shape than it was before he used it," stated Jennifer Whatley, a granddaughter. He was honored on his 74th birthday last Wednesday with a plaque presented to him from his family by Mayor Dale Willis of Jena for being an outstanding citizen and role model for so many people whose life he has touched and from his family to thank him for being just a simple man, for loving us and showing us how to love. "He is a man of few words when it comes to his life but he is the best storyteller I know. I've learned a lot from him over the years and the most important is values. A family must have: love, friendship and strong family values. Even though he hasn't realized it, he's taught three new generations about life and we love him dearly for it," Jennifer stated. "Thank you for being a simple man." Comments From Friends "Columbus is a good fellow — good to get along with and a fine worker." --Taft Jackson. "C.C. is a fine man. His family has lived in this community for a long time and he is a good fellow to know." --Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Tingle. "He kept my bus running for years. I am kin to the family and he's been a great friend of mine for as long as I can remember." --Ike Collins "A dear friend. I cut his hair for 30-40 years. He brought me my paper every morning right on time. One tine, he even brought me a deer I was hunting in the Olla oilfield for a week and Columbus went just one day and killed it and then stopped by to tell me."--Ronald Andrews. "Dotson was a good paper carrier; very dependable; all the problems were taken care of and you could set your watch by him."--Robert Brodnax "He's like no man I've ever met. I've known him since the 50s. He will help anyone day or night and give you the shirt off of his back. He is a fine man."--Marshall Robbins. "Everything I know about him is good. He has a fine family. His standards of living is the finest in the world. Fantastic mechanic and family man. Glad to call him my friend. His word is as good as gold."--Olan Poole. "He was always there as a close friend and always there for our children and the community."--G. C. Brooks. "I've known him 52 years and he's been a good neighbor and has never bothered anyone. If you need him all you have to do is ask."--Glen Dale Ganey. "Good neighbor, good person to work with."--Bobbie Joe Ganey. "I've known him since we worked the Belah Rodeo arena. He's fine to work with and always helping out where he was needed."--Ronnie Cockerham. "A very good neighbor, always friendly."--Carl Craig "The most reliable person I have ever met. He was always happy to be at work. He never missed a morning that I knew of the whole time he worked for the Town Talk."--Betty Miles. "Always good natured and friendly. We got along just fine. After I got the press rolling, we would have coffee and talk while he waited on the Jena Times Olla-Tullos Signal to be prointed."--Raymond Carpenter, Pressman at Winnfield Enterprise. "I worked with him at Trichel and he was a hard worker. I've known him most of my life."--Willie Price. "Mr. Dotson was one of the most dependable delivery person I've ever had and he never complained even when we ran late or had delays. He was very quiet while working and I have a great deal of respect for him and the life he led for his family and community."--Sammy J. Franklin. "A fine fellow in the community. I've heard good thing about him all of my life."--Reginald Foley. "I've known Columbus since I was little kid. I remember him always taking me along when they went somewhere. I grew up with his son, Ray, and you can't ask for a better man to be around."--Eddie Gene Brooks. "I was a teenager when I remember going hunting and to church with him and his family."--Keith Collins. A Simple Man... Grandpa was not a world leader or a famous doctor or a war hero or business tycoon and you would never see his name in the financial pages. But he is one of the greatest men that has ever lived. He is my grandpa. I guess you might say he is a person who was never interested in getting credit or receiving honors. He's always done the unheard of stuff like paying his bills on time or taking kids from the neighborhood hunting and fishing, taking them to their ball games on Friday nights and cheering them on. He enjoys the simple things life has to offer, summer showers, cool breezes, country music, raising a garden, sitting on the creek bank waiting on a bite. He's never owned a tuxedo or tasted caviar, but he's rich - the richest man in the world - just from enjoying life and understanding it. I don't want to think of a day without him. I hope that one day I can say that my life was fulfilled by the simple things and that I was a great success as he is in his families eyes. I love you Paw-Paw and thank you for just being you. Love always, Jennifer Whatley June 2, 1999 Caption under photo: Jena Mayor Dale Willis, left, presented C.C. Dotson of Belah a plaque last Wednesday on behalf of Dotson's family in recognition of his contribution to his family and community and in celebration of his 74th birthday. Dotson is the subject of a new feature which starts in this edition of The Times-Signal.