This story begins on one day in the year 1970, when my uncle, John Brown, found some captivating information about his great, great, great, great grandfather. Through countless hours of research and much exploring around the state of North Carolina, John finally was able to put most of the story together. This story contains the [...]

In 1940, the most famous address in America was 79 Wistful Vista–the fictional home of Fibber McGee and Molly, who, for 24 years, would amuse radio listeners with their nonsensical banter and exploits. Most broadcast experts credit the program with being the true prototype for today’s sitcoms. Fibber played the blowhard, sometimes hare-brained husband to [...]

It is mid-summer 1966 and I am seated at my desk as Director of News and Public Affairs for the ABC-TV flagship station, WABC-TV in New York City. My intercom rings and my secretary informs me that a Mr. Lowell Thomas is on the line. Could this be the legendary newscaster, so closely identified all [...]

It is a bright, fall day in New York City in 1948. I stroll down Broadway for a meeting with former heavyweight boxing champion, Jack Dempsey, at his tourist attraction restaurant named, what else – “Jack Dempsey’s.” No slouch at P.R, the ol’ “Manassa Mauler” is seated at a window-side table working on some invoices, [...]

Harry Truman was a different kind of President. He probably made as many or more important decisions regarding our nation’s history as any of the other 31 Presidents preceding him. However, a measure of his greatness may rest on what he did after he left the White House. The only asset he had when he [...]

A pall has fallen over the world of broadcasting with the announcement this week of the passing of Norman Corwin at the age of 101, one of the true giants of the broadcast industry, and a great American. I have a story to tell about Mr. Corwin and it is a very personal one. And [...]

Editor’s Note: Allan Jefferys wrote 18 articles that have been published on The Voice of North Carolina website. Together, they provide glimpses into the essence of the man – his passions, beliefs, values, life experiences and lessons learned – valuable reading all. They may be accessed by clicking on his name in the left sidebar. [...]

Note: All photos in this story by Ed Silverman from video tape. It is mid-September, 1996, and Rhoda Alben-Aronson, the light of my life, and I have just landed in Bergen, Norway to join a small group of only 12 persons for a combined land and sea tour of Norway which will keep us occupied [...]