Page 48 - some-stuff-i-wrote-and-some-stuff-i-didn't-(2011)-h-morris-williams

Some Stuff I Wrote (2001) H. Morris Williams

whatever profession he might choose to follow.
th
One Friday afternoon Bill finished his classes at UF and walked to NW 13 Street (also
Highway 441) to hitchhike home for the weekend. Hitchhiking was safer back then and a common
practice, so very soon Bill caught a ride with a Jasper man. It turned out to be Bill’s last ride. As
they rode toward Lake City, an animal suddenly darted out on to the highway. The driver, acting

instinctively, swerved off the road to miss the animal, but smashed into a tree. Bill Bradshaw was

killed instantly. The driver survived but never was able to forgive himself for his part in Bill’s
sudden death, though nobody else ever blamed him.
We will never know what great things Bill Bradshaw might have accomplished but we do

know something of the successes of Bill’s youngest brother Charles. Charles grew up to be the
founder of both Quincy’s and Hardee’s Restaurants and he headed several major boards of directors,

including Trans World Airlines.
Burr Cox (CHS, 1954, if he had lived) was a strong Tiger running back in his junior year

in high school. He was beginning to hit his stride and got better every game. Burr was a quiet, hard­
working player and his teammates liked to block for him. CHS Head Football Coach Jim Reeves

was counting on Burr Cox, along with captain Robert Pearce, to give CHS a potent running attack
the next season.

Then, one afternoon late in his junior year, Burr and some friends decided to take advantage
of the pretty weather and go for a swim. They headed for the old Navy air base to swim in a small

pond there. The waler looked inviting so Burr dived in, but the water was too shallow.
Burr’s neck was broken. He was dead on arrival at the hospital. Burr’s death stunned the

school and community. His family went into shock. Burr was so popular that many of his friends
have never fully recovered from the profound depression caused by his death.

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