The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1959-01-16
BIGGEST TURNOUT OF
THE N. G. SOCIETY
FOR ANDY GRIFFITH
Four Hundred CaroIinians Do
Honor to a Native Son in
Washington Saturday

North Carolina Society in Wash
ington, d. C. was the dinner and
dance attended by 400 in honor of
Andy and Barbara Griffith, on
Saturday night, Jan. 10th in the
Mayflower Hotel. Long after the
allotted number of dinner tickets
were sold out, appeals We're made
to obtain others.
Ex-President Harry Truman
was one of the notables who
came to the party held in the
Pan-American Room prior to the
dinner, and with him was National
Democratic Chairman Paul Butler.
Several United States Senators at
tended, including Senator John
Mcclellan of Arkansas, who is
chairman of the much-famed COM
'mittee investigating racketeers
among labor unions. Senators Err
vim and Jordan of North Carolina,
and just about all the States Con-
gressmen attended, with their
wives.
Mrs. Emma Neal Morrison, the
President of the North Carolina
Society, arranged the party, and
it was no small triumph for her
as the first event at the beginning
of her term of office that the So
ciety has held. The society each
year holds a reception or dinner
in honor of distinguished North
Carolinian. Andy Griffith, a sue
cessful screen and television star,
is currently rehearsing a Broad
way musical. He flew down from
New York Friday night, while
Mrs. Griffith drove up from their
home near Manteo.
Mrs. Morrison is the wife of
DR.. Fred w. Morrison and are
well known in Dare County where
they spend their summers in their
beach home in Kill Devil Hills.
DIR. Morrison is head of the big
Washington law firm which was
founded by himself and the late
former Governor Max Gardner of
N. C. Mrs. Gardner was one of
the guests at the dinner.
The N. C. Society is composed
of North Carolinians now tempo
rarily or permanently residing in
the nations capital. 1t, has many
distinguished members, and it's
dinners bring notable resident
North Carolinians to participate.
Among the visitors present Satur-
day night was State Treasurer Ed
win Gill who is prominently men,
toned for the Governorship in
1860 and numerous others in pub
lie life across the state.
Others included Mr.. and Mrs.
Louis v. Sutton, Mr.. and Mrs.
Carl Goerch of Raleigh. Attend
ing the event from Manteo were
Mr.. and Mrs. Victor Meekins.
David Brinkley, NBC news COM
mentator of Wilmington, N. c.
was master of ceremonies.
Plans for entertaining the 80
year-old Andy began last fall
when Mrs. Morrison visited the
Griffiths at their home on Roanoke
Island. Some difficulty in arrang-
ing the program showed up until
the actor learned whether he
would be in the east instead of
on the west coast at this time of
the new year.
AS usual in making these APP
pearances, Andy paid tribute to
Roanoke Island, his homeplace
which he and his wife both prefer
to Hollywood. He told the dinner
that he loves the Outer Banks
and its wonderful people.
Griffith himself was tremen-
dous success Saturday night when
he did several numbers for the
occasion, and he and Barbara won
tremendous ovations. They were
married at Fort Raleigh during
the time they appeared in the
cast of the Lost Colony, period
of several years. Barbara played
the leading role, Eleanor Dare, in
the Lost Colony. She is from Troy,
N. C. and Andy from Mt. Airy,
but they always wanted to make
their home here, and some three
years ago, they bought the 3D.
acre tract and home of the late
DR.. Joseph Barach of Pittsburgh.
Among the numbers rendered by
Andy Saturday night was the rich
monologue he did several years
ago: "What it was was football"
sosuthern deacon's reaction to
his first football game, which was
widely and successfully used as a
recording throughout the country.
See N. c. SOCIETY, Page Eight
Saturday night he was accom-
panied by Dave McWilliam's or
chestra which played for the dance
in the Mayflower Ballroom. One
Of his group of singers is Miss
Anne Morrison, a niece of, DR..
Fred, Morrison. Assisting Mrs.
Morrison is, arranging the event
were Mrs. w. Harold Williamson,
Charlotte, Chairman of Hospital
itv. Mrs. r. Braxton Jones Of