Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1955-07-09
MISSISSIPPI TOWNS GO ALL
OUT TO ENTERTAIN VISITORS

The tourist who got through
Mississippi last month without
receiving q royal welcome was q
rare individual.
With IS communities vyins
for his time during the "Hospi-
tally Month" observance, which
was held for the seventh year, It
was pretty tough for the traveller
on q schedule.
certainly made up in souvenirs,
pleasant m m es and new
found acquaintances. For during
June out-of-state visitors were
treated to everything from cokes
to clothes and from iced tea to
guided tours. 1t was an about
effort on the part of towns, large
and small, to show the world
that Mississippi is the most hos
pitable state of the forty-eight.
Many of the 88 communities
participating in the Hospitality
Month" program are competing
for honors and cash prizes in the
statewide Community Travel
Development Contest. which car
ries $500 in cash prizes for three
towns in Ger t / n population
classifications.
This years program is based
on community activities for the
past IL months. Last year five
OF the towns participating in this
contest were given speci
awards in the "America's Clean
est City" contest Only one other
state received as many awards.
Five communities in the large
state of Texas also got honorable
mention.
The sponsoring Agricultural
and Industrial Boards decision
to put the contest on a IL months
basis and give towns of COMPARE
lively equal size the same Oppor-
tunity to walk off with a prize
has generated the grea test
amount of interest yet witnessed
since the program was under
taken in 1919.
Many towns have organized
permanent committees to carry
out hospitality events and special
programs throughout the year
In practically every / n a n e
civic leaders report greatly i'm
proved community spirit where
community cooperation was ell
listed for the "Hosp
Month" observance.
Many communities in April,
May and June conducted Clean
up, Paint-up, Fix-up" campaigns.
and quite a few offered prizes
for the best job Of Identification
of both homes and storefronts.
The campaigns took on some of
the aspects of crusade in some
cities, with merchants pledging
support and specific days set
aside for the observance. News
papers in all cases threw their
support behind such ventures.
Tourists were being stopped in
scores Of cities and towns and
were welcomed by everyone from
the mayor to the service station
attendant Even Governor Hugh
White took time off while pass
ing through Brandon to stop at
welcome booth and help local
citizens welcome visitors.
Six hundred and forty-two
visitors from 32 states and three
foreign countries registered at
the Brandon hospitality booth in
in the first day of operation and
a good many Of those who stop
ped while the governor was there
prevailed upon him to pose with
them for pictures.
Briefly, here arc some Of the
activities of various other COM
munities during the first half of
the month:
Vicksburg, which operates a
permanent year-round "Hospitai-
ity House, formerly opened the
months activities by having pref
ty girls and Confederate Air
Force generals on hand to pre-
sent out-of-state visitors W h
deeds to mythical plantations in