Ann's Column: How many famous people came to town quietly?

Recently, there’s been a lot of exciting talk about the day Elvis Came to Town! Makes one wonder how many other famous people have been here. Certainly Buffalo Bill and Annie Oakley whose train wrecked in Linwood, and obviously politicians of both parties have been in the county over the years. The local newspaper usually had big headlines about their presence.

However, there are sometimes silent visits. One such under the radar visit happened at DCCC in the early 1970”s. Steve Martin, yes the comedian, came quietly to a journalism class at the Community College. He was already famous, and known especially for his Johnny Carson appearances. He came without fanfare, without publicity. He came simply because a student at DCCC asked him to. There are no written records of his visit. There is simply the account of the Journalism Instructor. Martin could not tell any jokes because of the Union he belonged to, but what he could tell was his life, and about the impact his career had on him. Quietly he came to Davidson County Community College, quietly he spoke, and loudly he showed what being an honest, hard -working, thoughtful, caring human being meant. Only the 10 or 15 people in that room know about his visit that day, but all were probably changed.

Fame usually isn’t silent, but it can be very loud when it is. Perhaps others in Davidson County know of other such visits that didn’t have glitter or headlines. No hoopla. Let us know, especially if there is anyone who was in that journalism class so long ago.