The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-18
M E N, W o M EN
 A ND THIN GS

ernmen's Cattle association about a year
 ago. and met William A Burnett. At the
 time l never paid much attention to the
 introduction as was meeting live stock
 men from all over the country. l
 1 recall that he was boosting the Nash Vile Fat Cattle show. but l thought he was bit previous in his advertising cam paign, and never took it or him seriously in spite of the fact that Harry Snow, the traffic manager of the local stock yards Tn Montgomery, stood sponsor for him. 1
 l It's rarely I overlook a bet when it comes to putting my money on a man. ibut somehow I never gave Bill" as now know him, full credit for all that is in his makeup. He himself will admit that he is no matinee idol" when it comes to looks. He is just a good run ming mate to my good friend, Frank Derby, when it comes to manly beauty. Both are bit undersized, but my the energy and vim of the two would be enough to make any cattle show or sale a success.
 
 town, for the Rotarians do not pick scrubs, and as soon as he found out we were brother Rotes' we just naturally began to calling one another Frank" and Bill" as though we had been raised , neighbor boys. The first thing he did when I landed in Nashville was to rush me to the Rotary lunch. but that is an- other story.
 l arrived with Capt. Jack Phillips the day before the show Bill" was in his ordinary business suit, but one of the boys in the office tipped me off that if l wanted to see real classy dresser, just wait until the morrow. l did, and believe me, William A. Burnett, in his checker board suit, could easily have taken the prize in any cakewalk. It just cried aloud for notice, and 1t got it.
 It wasn't the suit; it wasn't the sporty hat; it wasn't the loud vest; 1t wasn't the patent leather shoes; but it was the cravat that first caught the eye and held the attention after the altogether had been assimilated and forgotten. It was of the same pattern and color that J. Mercer Barnett wore here at the Inter national Kiwanis meet and made him such marked man that his election to the presidency was cinch. for the braves all over the land knew that any man who had the nerve to appear in such necktie in public had sufficient courage to be the big chief.
 Now, anybody can wear a red necktie. put one in my valise when I went to Nashville, but it remained in obscurity, as I had no idea of putting it in com petition with "Bilrs," for I know when am outclassed. I recall that Dr. Gun saulus told how on leaving Chicago on his vacation he celebrated by putting on a red cravat; and on being held up. said to the bandit: You wouldn't rob a preacher, would your" The highwayman looked him over and replied with sar- casm: Red necktie, preacher, the devil! You must think am not a church mem Der. Shell out!'' "Bilrs' was a cerise creation, which would have dinmed the monday sun.
 But do not get the idea that "Bilr' re- lied on his spectacular outfit to put the Fat Cattle show over. Not by jug full for he has been everlastingly at it ever since he told the Louisvillians good- by and joined forces with the Nashvil- Hans. For a quarter of a century he camped on the bank of the Ohio and stood by the cattle industry in his home town in prosperity and in diversity. Then he got a vision, and from what I was able to learn.sthe crowd he was hitched up with classed him as a visionary.
 Let fellow like Bill" have a dream and he will wake right up and never go fast asleep again until he ses it real ized. He got in touch with the right par ties in the Rock City" and almost be- fore his old pals knew what was hap pening he signed up. They woke up too late, for before they realized just what had taken place he had sold out. packed up and moved away. The Louis vile bunch at the Nashville show made no bones about it, but stated with feel ing that when "Bin flew the coop it gave sheir sister city a chance to crow. When "Bill' lit in Nashville he did not announce to the city that he had arrived, and would be glad if it would Kick in, but he made it his business day by day, week by week. month by month--yes, year by year-to lee the the mayor, the chamber of commerce and other civic and social clubs know that he expected them to kick in and hSlp him make his adopted home the best cat tie market in the south. It wasn't any easy job, for the Nashyillians are con- servative bunch and for quite awhile refused to be hustled.
 mans title may be misleading. 'Bnr' sports after his name on the letter heads of the Nashville Union Stock Yards, Inc. the simple words. Traffic Manager" but under his manipulation 1t becomes practically Assistant Secretary of the i Chamber of Commerce." as well as Pub licity Agent Oh, he never overlooks any bet when it comes to using every agency l to boost the thing unto which he gives his heart, his mind and his time. Early 1 in the game he got the Tennessean and the Banner to back the enterprise, and they have not been stingy with their space, bat have opened their columns ! freley to him.
 l A fellow may be energetic. brainy and resourceful and yet fail to make how'll ;pc c,,ccorc if ayfhrSiacv1 ho lacrip