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"UNCLE CHAR REMINISCI < Head Cook At Mess Hall Started As Waiter Twenty-One Years Ago MANY STUDENT FRIENDS Native Of Orangeburg Has Long And Varied Life And Career Twenty-one years ago, a young colored boy left his native town of Orangeburg and made, what was then considered, a long journey to the Capital City of South Carolina to seek that elusive fortune. He stayed here many days working a* odd jobs about the city and finally landed a steady job at Steward's Hall the dining room of* the University of South Carolina. He was employed as a waiter. Seven years previous to that he had served as head butler for, the late, Judge James F. Izler of Orangeburg. For twenty-one consecutive years he has remained at the mess hall where he was promoted to the position of cook. This man is Charles Ford, familiarly known as "Uncle Charley." Charles Ford was born in Orangeburg County, Aug. 12, 1882. Brought up in an humble, Christian family, "Uncle Charley" has lived a good, clean life ever since. * He was employed at the mess hall by Mrs. S. L. Latimer, who firmly believes that he is the btct cook that she has ever known. "Uncle Charley" was promoted to head cook in 1914 and he still has charge of the hundreds of meals prepared daily at the mess hall. He has many friends among the students and alumni, friendships which are fostered by a personality, worthy of one of greater rank, and a faithfulness which seems hard to duplicate. One never forgets the kindly smile and the cheery words of "Uncle Charley," after coming in contact with him. |o Charles Ford took unto himself a 5^ wife, in 1907.^ By this first marriage jE? he has one child, living. Several years g ago his wife died, and in 1928 he re_ married. His second wife is still living. 9 Uncle Charley has many reminish cences which seem startling to a boy 3 of today. After being prevailed upon a he "thawed out" and told some stories 3 which were morbid with adventure. 5 Charley's father owned an old gray g mule. This particular mule had a sore m on its back. Charley, one morning, ; decided on some good healthful exer3. cise in the form of a mule-ride. He mounted the old mule, and before he was "on good" the mule showed distaste for the fun. "De nex' thing I knew," says "Uncle Charley," "wuz dat I wuz layin' on my back lookin' up at de sky an' dat ole mule was jista standin' up dere a-lookin' down at me." Uncle Charley still suffers with the pain in his neck contracted that morning, whenever the humidity is high. The pain grows worse as his age increases. This is just one of the many stories that "Uncle Charley" can tell you if you will just take the time to look him up. He says that he is fond of talking to the boys and they are always welcome in his kitchen when he is not busy cooking their food. "I'm still here at de University mess hall under a new manager, I'm doin' my bes' to stren'then de bodies of de young folks who are buildin' up deir hearts, min's, an' souls. I'm doin' de bes' I can to he'p humanity alonf? in spite o' race, color, or creed." This is Uncle Charley's philosophy and he is quite a philosopher, according to humanitarian lights. He sings in the choir of his church, the Wesley Methodist Church, at the corner of Gervais and Sumter streets here in Columbia. He is a leader in stewardship, and among the colored organizations to which he belongs are the York Rite Masons and the order of Elks. "Uncle Charley" is an outstanding landmark of the old South and he is an exponent of its aged traditions, tr.B.c. No matter how rich a Yale student may be he is always willing to retrieve the dime which has slipped down a pretty girl's back?Rutgers Chanticleer. The main difference between a cigarette lighter and a city employe is that the lighter works sometimes!? . Tempest Owl. "Why do blushes creep over girls' faces?" "Because if they ran, they would kick up too much dust."?State Lion. Him: Men of my type are not running loose. Her: Of course not, that is what the police department is for.?Green Goat. Jack: This gear shift won't work, something's wrong. Jill: That's not the gear shift, Jack, it s my knee. , LEY" FORD SS FOR PRESS MRS. LATIMER RESIGNS POST SERVED TWENTY-ONE YEARS Mrs. S. P. Henning Has Succeeded Retiring Head Of Stewards HaU Mrs. S. C. Latimer, manager of Steward's Hall, the campus cafeteria, for the past twenty-one years, no longer greets hungry students in the long line filing into the cafeteria with her accustomed nod and smile. After her extended period of service to the State University during which time seven presidents have occupied the University's executive chair. Mrs. Latimer has retired to live with her family in Shandon, suburb of Columbia. A formal resignation was sent Dr. D. M. Douglas last March, but the president requested Mrs. Latimer to remain in office until a successor had been named, and urged her to continue the work if possible. Upon the selection of Mrs. Henning, of , to manage the^cafeteria, Mrs. Latimer withdrew from the field in which she had been active so successfully' for more than two decades. Since the mess hall came under Mrs. Latimer's management in 11)08, many additions have been made to accomodate the great increase in boarders. The dining room has been doubled in size, the kitchen expanded to feed more mouths, and a large sun parlor added, which is now used as an entry hall. Major Benjamin Sloan was president at the time when Mrs. Latimer first assumed the duties relinquished this month after twenty-one years of fulfillment. She served while the late Dr. A. C. Moore was acting president, during Dr. S. C. Mitchell's presidency, and later, when Dr. Moore was again acting president, under Dr. W. S. Currell's administration, while Dr. W. D. Melton was president, and during Dean L. T. Baker's acting presidency. Mrs. Latimer continued in charge of the mess hall during the past two years, under the administration of Dr. Douglas, until she felt the desire to retire. Several progressive steps were taken during Mrs. Latimer's management of the mess hall. Student help was substituted for negro service in the dining room, and many young men enabled to get meals for lack of which they would have been compelled to leave the University. The present cafeteria style was found more in keeping with the modern demand for haste, and in 1921 it superseded the old system, under which meals were served to groups at the tables regularly assigned them. Henning, a veteran caterer of long experience, falls heiress to a staff of experts in all culinary matters. Miss Annie \Vitherspoon, Mrs. Latimer's sister and "right hand helper" for twenty years, remains as assistant manager. Charlie Ford, head cook, has been attached to the mess hall twenty years. He began as waiter, became pantry man, rose to be assistant cook, and has held his present position for the past ten years. Ford's record was equalled by that of another negro, William Henry, cook who quit last year to draw federal pay as a post office employee, and most of the other servants have worked at the mess hall several years. u. s. c. CAMPPUS IS NO LONGER IN DARK TWENTY NEW LIGHTS SHINE Prof. Coker Says That The New Lights Were Chosen For Beauty Many improvements have been made about the campus this summer, foremost among which is the installation of twenty new lights around the front campus. These lights were erected on the strength of an appropriation by the legislature last year. Prof. E. C. Coker is chairman of the campus committee. In an interview he stated that the new lights had cost approximately two thousand dollars. These lights are of the old-fashioned London type, but very powerful. Prof. Coker informs us that they were chosen due to the simplicity and distinction. The inefficiency of the old lights provided a stimulus for the erection of the new ones. The present lights will add beauty to the campus. u.s.o. Sam: How long have you been working here? Rastus: Ever since the boss threatened to fire me. ?mmmammmmmm Prof. Overcash: Now how do bee? dispose of their honey? Hogan: Why, they cell it, sir. Note to Underclassmen Don't refuse a Senior any service you may never have the honor o being noticed again. Passenger: "Have I time to saj good-bye to my wife?" Conductor: "I don't know. How long have you been married?" It's the littlest things in life thai tell," said Dora, as she dragged bei kid brother out from underneath th< sofa. Henry Peck: "Do you think you can make a good portrait of my wife?' Ariist Schram: "My friend, I car make it so life like you'll jump everj time you see it." He: Do you love me? She: Surely, why should you be any exception? 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