Arie den Dulk: A retiree residing in The Hague, The Netherlands, and president of the Jim Reeves Fan Club since 1975, Arie has shared with me many insights, tips and leads from his personal knowledge, archives, travels, Country music collection and extensive network.
Carolyn Babin*: Retired in Waskom, Texas, from her radio career, Carolyn shared many valuable memories for this website until she passed away several years ago. She gave me the portrait of Jewell that’s on this website’s home page. I’d never seen the portrait. Mother had given it to her when Carolyn was in Texarkana with Tommy Trent in 1952 to visit mom.
Bruce Raben: With a burst of motivation that can come only from a friend and top sports journalist-turned-advertising/PR consultant (owns ADvice in Fort Worth, Tex.), Bruce inspired me in the spring of 2011 to finally begin research into mother’s Country music career, making this website possible.
Alton Warwick: Owner with his wife, Maggie, of the Louisiana Hayride and loved by artists and fans around the world, Alton has been gracious and generous with his availability to help me with my research efforts from his office in Shreveport, La., sharing his network and resources in welcoming ways.
And with deep appreciation to …
American Trademark Publishing
Billboard
BMI
Gene Carpenter, Genoa, Ark.
Lucille Collins, Texarkana
Bill Crane, Alpharetta, Ga.
Pat Cupp, Texarkana
Andi Darby, townsquaremedia, Texarkana
Edie Foy, Shreveport
Virginia Franks, Shreveport
Scott Gray, Texarkana
Gerald Guffey, Ashdown, Ark.
Chuck Hancock, Sandersville, Ga.
Tammy Helm, UMPG
*Jeanette Hicks, Texarkana
Pat Higdon, Nashville
Wayne Hill, Madison, Ga.
Jonathan Holt, Sony/ATV
Shirley Jinkins, Fort Worth (Texas) Star-Telegram
Ellen Johnston, Georgia State University
Red Jones, Georgia Radio Hall of Fame
*Claude King, Shreveport
Michael Kosser, author
Tracey Laird, author
Michael Luster, Mammoth Springs
Nita Lynn, Shreveport
Marty Martel, Nashville
Dru-Ann Merriman, Texarkana College
Miller County Clerk’s Office, Texarkana
Les Minor, Texarkana Gazette
Roy and Sally Murphy, Shreveport
Dominique Anglares: An untiring source of information and documentation, Dominque, an accountant who resides near Paris, France, has shared with me many details from his personal archives, his encyclopedic knowledge of Country music and music collections.
Special Thanks
Don Davis, Shreveport
Doug Davis, Texarkana
Tim Davis, CMHF
Jimmy & Mona Dickens, Nashville
Jess Draper, ASCAP
Elaine Etheridge, KWKH
Brian and Mary Fels, Arlington, TX
Mark Ford, NSAI
Robert Oermann, author
*Frank Page, Shreveport
Gerilynn Pearce, UMPG, Nashville
*Tom Perryman, KKUS, Tyler
Robert Philpot, Star-Telegram
Jim Presley, author
Felton Pruitt, Shreveport
John Rex Reeves, Houston area
Carrie Moore-Reed, Third Coast Talent
Jay Riley * and Jetta Riley, Sacramento
Peter Roberts, Georgia State University
John Rumble, CMHF
Maxine Brown Russell, Nashville
Larry Shannon, Texas Radio Hall of Fame
Dave Sichak, Modesto
*Bob Sullivan, Oklahoma
PAOLO
Paul Sturiale, Kameshia Massey
Sonny Trammel, Shreveport
*Al Turnage, Texarkana
Tina Wright, CMHF
*Deceased
Jim Evans*: A fellow Texarkana native, Jim shared a wealth of memories from vast experience as a steel guitarist for the Louisiana Hayride and many artists and from his development of the famed Evans amplifier. He knew mother well, serving as my No. 1 source for much of what I’ve learned about her until his death.
Don Logan: Retired from radio, including stints at KEEL in Shreveport and KCUL in Fort Worth, Don provided many perspectives. Formerly Paula Records’ vice president/national sales, he resides in Bossier City, La. With his help, I was able to tour the fabled Municipal Auditorium, backstage and onstage – places my mother knew well.
Ricky House: My brother, found the few remaining documents that mother had not burned, including some lyrics, song contracts and other materials. He has shared them, personal memories and guidance for this website. Ricky resides in San Jose, Calif., with his wife, Cheryl, and her daughter, Jenny Handa.
Andra Bennett: My wife, soulmate and fellow journalist (OK, she’s an accredited PR practitioner, but she thinks like journalists and would’ve been a great one). I couldn’t have taken on this project without her encouragement, patience, understanding and appreciation of how important it is to care about family.