First, get your minds out of the gutter . . . Oxford homeboy (now Lake Orion resident) Dave Hicks (or as he likes to go by Hixx) is on a mission.
He wants to do something groovy.
He wants to do something nice.
He wants to do something, in his own words, ‘cool.?
What does he want to do? He wants to give Oxford a good licking with the most famous tongue in the universe — that tongue sticking out of those lips which, together, makes up the Rolling Stones? logo.
‘I just see that mouth with the tongue sticking out made of steel on a plaque in the park in downtown Oxford. It’d be so cool,? Dave has said — over and over this entire summer.
And, even though Oxford, Michigan is a ‘sister city? to Oxford, England, that is not why Dave wants to bring a part of the British Invasion home. Nope. Something a little nicer.
He wants to give a visual monument to Oxford in memory of Roydon Walter ‘Chuch? Magee. Chuch, who grew up in Oxford, was crew chief for the Stones when he died after a heart attack during the Rolling Stones? rehearsals in Toronto on July 18, 2002. Chuch was 54 years old when he died, and was with the Stones for 30 of those years.
‘Now I just need to get permission from town fathers and raise the funds,? the ever pragmatic Hicks said.
Hicks, in a way, is following in Magee’s shoes. He’s got a gig with the crew for musician Todd Snider. Hicks has worked with Hank Williams Jr., Jr. (also known as Hank the Third) and his dad Hank Williams, Jr., Sr. (simply known as HW, Jr.)and others down in Nashville, Tennessee. He’s long been into the entertainment business starting out with producing (and, dare I say, starring in) cable programs out of Oxford High School in the mid-1980s. When he’s not on the road, he djs at local watering holes.
Dave is, in a word, a balding, cheesy-bearded, non-pink Energizer Bunny. He’s enthusiastic and generally in a good mood. He smiles a lot and first heard of and admired Chuch Magee from Chuch’s brother — longtime Oxford barber, Jack.
Some in town even say Dave not only sorta-looks like Chuch, but is full of the same high-level energy, too.
Dave has spoken to Chuch’s widow and got the okay from her. He has not, as I stated, got an okay from local officials, nor from the Stones in regard to their lips/tongue being used. But, he’s getting the word out — trying to drum up support and find the faithful. David is, as Confucius said, on a long journey and he’s only taken the first steps.
Those with clout in Oxford who have thoughts on this, let me know. Those who want to help, let me know. As a matter of fact, let me know if you only have thoughts and/or suggestions.
It could be a cool thing.
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Another longtime Oxford resident (lifelong, 90-plus year resident) Margaret Stoddard also contacted me about monuments — in particular the deteriorating ones in the Oxford Township Cemetery on W. Burdick Street.
Margaret knew a lot of folks planted in them hills and she’d like to organize ‘a bee or something? to help bring the cemetery back to something a little more respectful.
I called Oxford Township Supervisor Bill Dunn who said, yep, it’s a big chore out there and yep, he’d welcome any additional support the community could muster. He gave me the phone number to the grounds maintenance man for all of the township cemeteries, Brian Duerden.
I met Brian at the cemetery and he gave me a tour — showed me what needs to be done. Walls taken out and rebuilt, stones and monuments repaired and straightened out, old and falling apart flower pots removed, hedge trimmed, drives re-graveled — mausoleums re-shingled. More than what he’s contracted to perform. He does what the township tells him to do — and if the township gives its approval, he would welcome the help. He’s got ideas, too.
So, want to get involved?
Know of a way to organize a ‘Friends of the Cemetery? type group? Does your service group need a community project to sink its teeth into? Let’s help Margaret, Bill and Brian bring back the cemetery. Give me a call at 248-628-4801 or e-mail at the address below.
Those who want to help Don help Dave, Margaret, Bill & Brian can e-mail dontrushmedon@charter.net