Alphabet File page 10
Ambrose said that the nation still hasn’t heard the last of Nixon. “I don’t think he’s got any ambitions left. He’s 80 years old. But in 1992, this man, who has not had his name mentioned at a Republican convention in ‘76, ‘80, ‘84 or ‘88- this man who has run for national office five times, will appear at the 1992 Republican convention. He’ll give a major address, and they’ll take the roof off the Astrodome. Strong men will weep. And that will be the culmination.”
(Times Picayune 11/24/91) (Susan Larson, Book editor)
AMBROSE remembered 1936 - 2002
He wasn’t really ours, but we claimed him anyway. Having such a talented person in the community seemed to make us all feel just a little more special. When cancer took the life of famed historian and author Stephen Ambrose on Sunday, Bay St. Louis lost one of its most illustrious citizens. Ambrose was laid to rest at a private ceremony attended by family and close friends, on Wednesday morning.
Ambrose began a career following after his father’s footsteps – as a medical student at the University of Wisconsin, but soon found that he had an affinity for storytelling. And what makes better stories than history, as he learned from a professor at the university, who turned from a professor at university, who turned history lessons into fascinating stories.
He became part of the pioneer faculty of what was then Louisiana State University at New Orleans when it opened on the grounds of an abandoned air station in buildings that used to serve as barracks. He taught there for 30 years, becoming the most famous and influential faculty member at the school, a colleague said yesterday.
“I remember vividly when he came to the university as a young teacher of history,” said colleague Homer Hitt, himself a founding chancellor at LSUNO. “I remember him as a young professor with long hair that at times he wore braided. He walked around campus with a dog following. Often, he would wear a leather jacket.”
After a couple of years, Ambrose earned his doctorate from the University of Wisconsin and soon after, began to write.
“He began to be published right away.” Said Hitt. “And moved to prominence quickly. Along the way, he was transformed into a conservative professor with a regular appearance.”
Ambrose found widespread recognition in 1994 with his first bestseller, D-Day June 6, 1944: The Climatic Battle of World War II. Several more bestsellers, including Band of Brothers, later made into a television series, propelled Ambrose’s career to the top.
He rubbed elbows with the rich and famous, but is remembered locally as a man who rode his bicycle around town, often with his sand-colored yellow Labrador retriever Pomp in tow.
“He was a regular member and came to work out as often as he could when he wasn’t traveling,” said J.E. Lociacano , owner of Loiccano Health Club, and whose daughter is married to Ambrose’s son. “He was interested in health and came here regularly until about a month before he vecame very ill. He would many times ride his bike over in the mornings and bring his dog Pomp along.” “He will be missed… not just here but all over the country,” said Loiacanl. “He did so much as a historian and was very much olved by family and friends. It was amazing to see how much he was loved as family and friends spoke at the service saying so many wonderful things.”
Ambrose worked in his office above the garage of the Beach Blvd. Home that he and his wife Moira shared. It was a place of creativity, somewhat cluttered, furnished plainly, with various memorabilia scattered throughout. He and Moira often rode their bicycles along the beach with Pomp, sometimes stopping at Da Beach House.
“There’s so much I remember,” sasid owner Colleen Read. “His coming here to lunch on a regular basis with Moira… he was always a joy to see and very supportive of our efforts. When we were designing the outside of our building he came by and wrote down his name and phone umber on the design pkans, saying he wanted to be the first to sign up to help. “We met under rather funny circumstandes. We had just moved back here from Hawaii and were driving down the beach. I had a lab who was ready to breed and I saw this beautiful lab running down the beach with a couple riding on bicycles. I stopped and asked if Pomp was available to be a father. He wasn't, but we talked and afterward we would see Stephen and Moira riding by and we would all wave."
Later, Ambrose kept a date to speak at Da Beach House, though he had already learned of his illness. "It was amazing to see him in such a small town place reading from his books and talking," said Reed. "He commanded respect; it was an aura about him, though he knew about his illness, he came with great stature and carried on. I loved his humanity and was honored to be a part of it. When you looked out and saw him ride by you somehow knew it was good to be here ... he loved it here ... a man who could have lived anywhere in the world he wanted, but he choose to be here." (SCE 2002)
Ambrose, S. E. 977 S. Beach (Ph 86 - 95)
Ames, Adelbert, Gov.
Letter from U.S. Gen Adelbert Ames to his wife, Blanche Butler Ames spending the summer At Massachusetts Bay near Lowell and Boston, - August 11, 1873, from Shieldsboro, Miss.:
I came out here yesterday from New Orleans. Riding out on the cars yesterday afternoon I watched for alligators in the water in the excavations by the track. I saw half a dozen or so.
Just before reaching this station we passed Montgomery Station and saw the ground on which Cooley and Rhett fought a duel a month ago, in which Cooley was killed.
Everybody lives on oysters and fish here. Such, at least, has been my diet last night at supper and this morning at breakfast. There is to be a regatta today. The place is crowded. I occupied one of five beds in the same room last night. I have protested this morning, and will get one by myself today. I send to my beautiful wife love, which she will share with our babies (son Butler and daughter Edith). (MJS X 04574).
Letter from U.S. Gen Adelbert Ames to his wife, Blanche Butler Ames spending the summer At Massachusetts Bay near Lowell and Boston, - August 12, 1873. from Shieldsboro, Miss.:
Yesterday we had a boat race here, which proved quite interesting. We took our stand on board a Revenue Cutter which was lying at one of the piers. Just as the boats were to start a rain squall came up.
The starte was delayed, but two boats at different times tried to move about (under sail) and were capsized, but no one was hurt.
Finally the boats which had met with no accident started. The contest was between a New York built boat and a fleet of boats built here. The N.Y. boat took the lead and kept it for four or five miles, when she capsized in a squall, nobody hurt.
The race was finally won by a boat built at this place.
This is my second day here, and I rather enjoy this quiet. The people are mainly from the south of Europe and French. You hear a foreign language spoken everywhere.
It is very unlike Mississippi. Down here on the coast they do not seem to care or even know much of Mississippi or any other kind of politics. In this particular it is more pleasant than up country where every Democrat looks upon you and treats you as an enemy.
The weather, save the heavy rain yesterday, has been very pleasant and comfortable. ( Incomplete. (MJS X 04574) )