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Elvis
Presley and a band called the Blue Notes performed on the stage
of the Humble Oil Company’s recreation building in Hawkins one evening
in January, 1955. The group had been denied permission to perform
in the school’s auditorium; the superintendent of the Hawkins School,
known as “Professor” Smith, vowed that Elvis would never perform
on the campus. An employee of the Humble Oil Company volunteered
the use of the recreation building on the Humble lease.
Years later
I learned that Elvis and the band performed several concerts that
winter in the East Texas
area. They traveled from their base in Shreveport, where Elvis had
a one-year contract with the Saturday evening radio show Louisiana
Hayride . Before the concert, I had no knowledge of Elvis Presley,
and when I heard his name the next day at the Big Sandy High School
where I was employed as an English teacher, I would never have guessed
how often I would hear it in the years to come.
I began my
teaching career at the Big Sandy school, five miles from Hawkins.
One of the classes I taught was an English literature class for
seniors. One morning in January when the students began arriving
for the class, I was expecting to begin immediately to discuss the
“Prologue” to Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales. Though it was not
unusual for me to call the class to order three or four times before
I could begin to present the lesson, that morning it took longer
for the students to give me their attention. One student in particular,
Sue Stewart, was enjoying the attention of several boys and girls
seated near her. Sue was an attractive blonde cheerleader and a
B student.
I learned later
that Sue was telling the other students about having gone to an
event in Hawkins the evening before. I learned later that she and
several other students had gone to hear Elvis and the Blue Notes.
Eventually, Sue turned toward me. Now maybe we can begin the lesson,
I thought to myself.
“Mr. Cowser,
I wish Elvis was our English teacher instead of you,” Sue blurted
out.
I wish I could
report that I had a witty retort, but all I did was remind her and
other students of the business at hand—Chaucer’s “Prologue.” I might
have asked Sue what Elvis’ qualifications were for teaching English
literature, but at that stage of her life I do not believe she was
concerned about college degrees or what they entitled their holders.
Following Elvis and the Blue Notes on the morning after Elvis’ captivating
performance in Hawkins the night before was as hard for me as following
children or dog shows was for vaudeville performers.
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