I attended junion college in Decatur, Mississippi before I ended up at the University of Tennessee. I stayed in the Athletic dorm due to playing on the tennis team which I played a mediocre game.

A group of us use to (30-40) go to a fish camp close to Newton Mississippi where they had a all you can eat for a $1.00. This was in 1961. I was much smaller then, but the football guys could easily down several pounds of the river tasty morsel. They were served with cole slaw, hushpuppies and fries as they are now. The only difference was they were not farm raised. In my opinion, farm raised are much better. At that time, I did not know the difference and the taste was delicous. The owner would occasionally get upset with us because of the huge consumption required.

After the feast, we would return to Decatur and go to Pearl’s cafe to consume her delicous Pecan Pie.

I recently returned to Decatur and I visited the school that I had attended 42 years ago. School was bigger and better, however Pearl’s cafe which had great pecan pie and the fish camp were no longer there.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN