A TRIBUTE TO THE “FEARLESS”
BY ELBERT FORESTER
MAY21, 1945
FROM THE “WILDS” OF WILDWOOD, GEORGIA
IN HISTORIC “STATE OF DADE,”
HAILS A MAN WE CALL THE “FEARLESS”—
THE MOST FEARLESS GOD HATH MADE.
IN THE SHADOW OF LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN,
THIS SON FIRST CAME TO LIGHT
AND THROUGHOUT HIS EARLY CHILDHOOD
HE HAS BEEN A MAN OF MIGHT.
FROM THE BIRTH OF THIS YOUNG SAGER
UNTIL THE PRESENT DATE
HE’S TOPS IN ALL HIS WORK AND PLAY
AND RARELY MEETS HIS MATE.
THIS CRIMSON-HEADED YOUNGSTER—
THE PRIDE NO DOUBT OF MOTHER’S,
WENT TO SCHOOL BUT VERY LITTLE
BUT WAS ADMIRED BY ALL THE OTHERS.
CARRYING LETTERS FOR “UNCLE SAMUEL,”
HE PAID THE LAW SCHOOL FEE
AND ON THE DAY OF GRADUATION,
A GALLANT LEADER PUT OUT TO SEA.
ON THE BASEBALL FIELD ‘TIL LATER TEENS,
EVERYONE HAS ALWAYS SAID—
NO ONE COULD SHOW THE GRACE AND STYLE
AS THAT DISPLAYED BY “RED.”
HE STARTED EARLY AS AN ATHLETE
AND WORKED FROM DAWN ‘TIL LATE—
OUR CLEAN-CUT FRIEND WAS GOING STRONG
UNTIL STRICKEN DOWN BY FATE.
IT HAPPENED AT NEW ENGLAND, GEORGIA
IN A TOUGH AND JAM-UP GAME—
HE THREW THE BALL FROM SECOND BASE…
THE THROW THAT LEFT HIM LAME.
HE PLAYED NO MORE, THIS FRIEND OR OURS,
HIS BASEBALL DAYS WERE DONE…
ON THE SIDELINES HE TOOK HIS PLACE—
THE BASES NO MORE COULD RUN.
IN THE COURT ROOM “RED” NEXT APPEARED—
A LAWYER OF GREAT SKILL,
A PROMINENT PLACE IN THIS PROFESSION
THIS YOUNG MAN SOUGHT TO FILL.
THIS HE DID IN ALL TECHNIQUE…
WAS HARD TO LICK IN ALL HIS FIGHTS—
THE PEOPLE FOUND BEYOND A DOUBT
THIS WAS THE MAN TO DEFEND THEIR RIGHTS.
UP IN THE HALLS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
WE FIND OUR SUBJECT LATER—
OF ALL THINGS NOT DEMOCRATIC,
HE TRULY WAS A HATER.
HIS SPEECHES THERE WERE LONG AND LOUD
IN DEFENDING WHAT WAS RIGHT…
TO THIS END AND NOTHING ELSE
HE FOUGHT WITH ALL HIS MIGHT.
FROM THE HILLS OF VALLEY JUNCTION
TO THE SLIMY SWAMPS OF WARE,
THIS YOUNG MAN WON COUNTLESS THOUSANDS
WON THEIR FRIENDSHIP, RICH AND RARE.
DAN CUPID CAME ALONG ONE DAY
AND SWEPT “RED” RIGHT OFF HIS FEET—
THE FAIREST MAIDEN OF THEM ALL…
MIS EVA FRYER HE CHANCED TO MEET.
THIS SWEET GIRL AND CHARMING LADY
WHO THEN BECAME HIS WIFE,
WAS TRULY GOD’S OWN BLESSING
ADDED TO OUR YOUNG FRIEND’S LIFE.
IN THEIR HAPPY HOME YOU’LL FIND
AMONG ALL THE OTHER JOYS—
JOHNNY MAC AND ALLEN FRANKLIN
TWO FINE AND HANDSOME BOYS.
FAIR TO ALL BOTH FRIEND AND FOE
CAN EVER BE TRUTHFULLY SAID,
ON THE ONE ABOUT WHOM WE’RE WRITING—
THIS BOY WE ALL CALL “RED.”
NOW “RED” SITS UPON THE JUDGE’S BENCH—
HIS LIFE-LONG ASPIRATION;
HE RULES HIS COURT WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOR
AND LEAVES NO ONE IN DESPERATION.
WHO IS THIS MAN WE’RE CALLING “RED”—
THE MOST FEARLESS FROM UP IN DADE…
NOT JUST FROM DADE BUT EVERYWHERE,
THE MOST FEARLESS GOD HATH MADE?
JOHNSON MURPHY CLAGGETT TOWNSEND,
IS THIS YOUNG JUDGE’S NAME
AND WHEN I SAY I ADMIRE THIS BOY,
ALL OTHERS WILL SAY THE SAME.
“RED,” I PASS THESE LINES TO YOU
BECAUSE I’VE KNOWN YOU SINCE A LAD,
AND BECAUSE, MY TRUE AND FAITHFUL FRIEND
YOU’RE THE BEST FRIEND I’VE EVER HAD.
“A TRIBUTE TO THE FEARLESS” WAS WRITTEN BY ELBERT FORESTER TO JUDGE J.M.C. “RED” TOWNSEND, WHO WAS A JUDGE OF THE GEORGIA COURT OF APPEALS.
(Used by permission HISTORY OF DADE COUNTY GEORGIA, Retired Senior Volunteer Program, 1981.)
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