The first Coffee Call of 2012 was just as busy as the last!
With 140 guests attending, it was a full house with lots of
friends. This month’s Coffee was sponsored by the family of
Maurice Nichols. January 7th would have been Nichols' 94th birthday, it was a
wonderful way to celebrate since he loved the museum and he was
an original board member. Maurice Nichols also served as the
Mayor of Athens from
1984-88.
Nichols was born January 7th, 1918, to Harry Lee and Ora Starkey
Nichols in Salem in northwest Limestone County. Upon
graduation from Athens High School in 1936, he enlisted in
the Army with a career of 28 years, retiring as a major.
He served in World War II, the Korean War and the
Vietnam War in the Army Medical Corps. During World War II
he served in the 2nd and 10th Armored Divisions, he was
awarded two Purple Hearts, The Bronze Star, and Grand Cross
of Homage Medal by the Military Order of the Ardennes for
his participation in the Battle of the Bulge, and the Combat
Medical Badge. He was also awarded the Alabama Korean War
Legion of Honor.
Nichols married Annie L. “Lou” Warren Nichols where they had
two sons, Michael E. Nichols and Mark D. Nichols and three
daughters, Cheryl Watrous and husband, Jim; Lu Bryan and
husband, Jimmy, and Cathy Todd and husband, Andy.
Margret Mefford, who volunteers at the Museum each week, was
proud to announce the release of her first book, “Journey to
Freedom”. Margret and her co author, Jim Ehl, were on site
for a book signing.
Museum Director Sandy Thompson said, “Journey to Freedom” is
a matter of fact account of life in World War II Germany as
remembered and told by the children who endured the chaos
and hardship brought to their homes by the war.”
You can purchase “Journey to Freedom” at the Veterans Museum
for $22 and Margret will be happy to sign it for you.
Teresa Todd
AthensPlus.com
January 7th, 2012
