By Staff
From staff reports
Feb. 23, 2001
Meridian music and broadcasting legend Carl Fitzgerald takes to the airwaves Saturday with the 18th anniversary show of "Remember When," his long-running tribute to Meridian's past.
And, by spotlighting the past, Fitzgerald hopes his listeners understand more of the present.
In Saturday's show (WMER, AM-1390; 10 a.m.-1 p.m.), Fitzgerald highlights Owen Brothers Packing Company makers of the famed "Dixiana" meat products which operated in Meridian from 1945-77. Owen Brothers produced and packaged steaks, hams, sausage, bacon, wieners and other meat products that were widely distributed across the South.
In the show, Fitzgerald interviews three former Owen Brothers employees K. Donald Bynum and Perk "Cannonball" Cannon, of Meridian, and Parker Chancellor, of Enterprise.
Fitzgerald said Saturday's anniversary show will also feature a mini-memorial tribute to the late Louisiana Gov. Jimmie Davis (who penned the popular tune "You Are My Sunshine") and the late Marty Collins, a local radio personality who died Nov. 5, 2000.
Since his first "Remember When" aired in 1983, Fitzgerald has presented programs that lend perspective to the Meridian area's past. Saturday's show will be what he calls "Chapter No. 149" in the continuing series.