Doves......

[Frank Childrey]

Charlie, I was born and raised in Richmond, VA where I now reside. I lived in Oxford, MS while attending graduate school at Ole Miss. The university hired me as an English instructor and senior staff writer for the Center for the Study of Southern Culture. In my eighteen years in the Magnolia State, I had many friends in the Mississippi delta; we had spectacular dove hunts in Stovall, Itta Bena, and Clarksdale. As you well know, the state has gotten a bum rap down through the years; I'll say this: the good people are as nice as one will find anywhere on earth, the food's great, and, Lord have mercy, but it sure has some pretty women! I thank you for asking. With kindest regards, Frank
PS: While teaching at Ole Miss, a student, Bob Kirk, approached me after class and asked if I would like to meet his grandfather, John P. Bailey, of Coffeeville, MS. Flabbergasted, I asked, "Do you mean THE John P. Bailey of Coffeeville, Nash Buckingham's dear friend?" "Yep, that's the one." Through that, I got to know and hunt with Mr. Bailey at Quail Hills--mounted quail hunts over first-rate pointers. Mr. Bailey usually shot a Model 3 Ithaca 16, though on our first hunt he shot an A grade Parker 16; the gun and the 2,000 acres that comprised Quail Hills were left to him by Tom and Jerry Webber of Detroit. Mr. Bailey had served as their guide when they brought their private railroad cars to Coffeeville to serve as their headquarters during their annual hunts.