Page 179 - some-stuff-i-wrote-and-some-stuff-i-didn't-(2011)-h-morris-williams

Some Stuff I Wrote and Some Stuff I Didn't (2011) H. Morris Williams

director-coach Ed Spring of DeLand High in a Sept. 30 letter to the
FHSAA, and it didn’t take much urging to spur Buchholz into action.

As part of his investigation, Buchholz dropped in unannounced on the
Carter household, which he determined was in Georgia by 10 feet. He

added age charges to those of non-residency, claiming Carter had
registered in the last election in Statenville, Ga.

Executive Secretary Buchholz took his findings to fellow members W.

B. Treloar, Vivian Gaither and T. J. Poppell of the executive committee

and a one-semester suspension was ordered.

The impact was far reaching, not only depriving athletes of a season, but

to the economy of Lake City and the towns of scheduled opponents in
the midst of the Depression.

Lake City businesses often closed down on Friday afternoons to allow

employees to attend games, knowing that most teams stayed in town
after the games to eat and spend whatever money they had.

The canceled games included home matches against Tallahassee,
Monticello, Ocala and Live Oak.

Led by family patriarch Ivey Carter, Lake City swung into action.

At an executive committee meeting, the Carter family claimed Buchholz

did not state who he was or his intentions when he came to their home.
Furthermore, the Carter family owned tens of thousands of acres in

Florida and Georgia and the location of the state line was arbitrary at
best.

The family provided a Bible entry that said their son’s date of birth was
Oct. 17,1918.

Columbia Supervisor of Registration Fred “Fishhook” Johnson verified
that Ivey Carter was registered to vote in Columbia County and former

Superintendent of Schools J. W. Bums said members of the Carter
family had attended Deep Creek schools in the county.

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