The Greenville News from Greenville, South Carolina • Page 20

DtjWDL Downtown City View Suburban Greenville Taylors Berea West Greenville Eastside Southside 2C Monday, June 13, 1983 Gordon MacRae describes horror of alcoholism, a disease he defeated If itef a my i i imi i nmmjiuM wi.mumwm "nn im'mm Pi i f-rit 4 4ft we' i 4 i A "broken-down actor" named Gordon MacRae returned to Greenville Sunday, describing alcoholism as a "creeping, cunning, dastardly, powerful disease" that would have killed him if he hadn't sought help. "Oh, it was terrible, the things that you do when you are a drunk, the booze that you try to hide, but always get caught," said the 62-year-old actor, who credited an embarrassing Greenville performance in 1978 with prompting him to undergo alcoholism treatment. MacRae sang "Oh What a Beautiful Morning" from the musical "Oklahoma" for about 600 people who attended Homecoming '83 for the North Greenville Hospital Alcoholism Treatment Program. A large number of the audience at Fur-man University were alumni and patients of the program, while the rest were family members, friends and local residents who' wanted to get a glimpse of the silver-haired and tanned MacRae, who starred in the movie versions of "Oklahoma" and "Carousel" in the 1950s. "I'm.

glad to be here to be able to sing that song, and it's all because of Greenville, South Carolina, that I'm still able to do it because four years and seven months ago, if I had kept going the way I was going, I wouldn't be here today," he said. "I'd be in some crazy house or I'd be long gone," said MacRae, whose left arm remains in a sling from a stroke he suffered last year. "I'd be dead. "How does one become an alcoholic? No one knows for certain, but I think at least in my case it was my big my ego, e-g-o, which means to me 'easing God "It's sorta like an old song I sang. When you try to play God you 'want what I want when I want it.

That's all that makes life downhill," MacRae said. "He caught me just before I hit bottom here in Greenville. Coincidentally, MacRae said, 23 years to the day before the 1978 concert he received a "driving while intoxicated" ticket when he caused a four-car accident. Just shortly before, he had been nominated for an Academy Award for his performance in "Oklahoma." A newspaper photographer arrived at the scene while the actor was taking a sobriety test, so "instead of my picture and my name being up for an Academy Award, on the morning of Oct. 26, 1955, here's a picture of Gordon MacRae, that Ail-American kid, holding his finger in front of his nose trying to walk a straight line down a highway," he said.

Three days after the Greenville concert, MacRae said he still had not recovered and missed the departure of the cruise ship Rotterdam on which he was scheduled to perform. Then his second wife, Elizabeth, forced him to enter an alcoholism treatment program in Lincoln, where the couple lives. MacRae said he completed the program, similiar to the one offered at North Greenville Hospital, and he has not had a drink since. But MacRae, honorary chairman of the National Council on Alcoholism, acknowledged that the bottle nearly ruined his life. "I got so bad that I couldn't get "up in the" morning without throwing up, and I wouldn't make my coffee without having my drink first.

"I was very proud of the fact that I could outdrink champions like Phil Harris, George Gobel, Toots Shor and Dean Martin. One time I even stepped over Jackie Gleason lying on the floor of a fancy, hard- f'' Treatment program director LaFoye MacRae sought help for alcoholism In drinking Easfside New York restaurant," he "Now wasn't that something to be proud of? "I could drink socially, but gradually social drinking ends, and hard drinking takes he said. "At first you enjoy it; I know I did. You think it does things for you; it eases your pangs of guilt, makes you think you're having a good time. "Then you gradually feel it taking over," The Newt Danvll Hoemann Savot talks to Gordon MacRae 1978 he said.

"You can't live without it. You chase it, you sweat, and you have the dry heaves and sometimes the not-so-dry heaves. "Then you learn that you can believe in a higher power that can restore your sanity, and you can come to the belief that you can turn your life and your will over to God as you understand him, and you can start a new life," he said. Girl, 14, dies as motorcycle she was riding runs into truck A 14-year-old Greenville County girl died. Sunday evening after the small motorcycle she was riding left the road and struck a parked pickup truck, Greenville County Deputy Coroner Lee Bamett said.

Coretta Lashaun Kilgore, of Laurel Drive south of Greenville, had been riding a friend's motorcycle around the block when she left the roadway, ran through a flower bed, and struck the truck, he said. No one saw the accident, which occurred at about 6 p.m. Sunday, Bamett said. He said he believes the girl lost control of the motorcycle on a curve in the road. Miss Kilgore was not wearing a helmet, and was too young to legally ride a motorcycle on a public road, Bamett said.

An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death, he said. The death will be ruled an accident, he said. I kp I Comic intensity Greer Pyron, 10, of Miami, finds a comfortable resting place to read the Sunday morning comics while waiting for the Woman's Club building to be moved to its new location. Th Newt Darrell Hoemann By Chris Burritt the Now staff writer he said. "Well, my life didn't become worthwhile.

It began to stink," he said. "I lost Sheila, my dear wife of 26 years, by divorce; I lost the respect of my four beautiful children; I lost the respect of the fellows I tried to impress; I lost my self-respect and barely missed losing the respect of all the fans I had all over the world. "Anybody can be an alcoholic who drinks long enough and hard enough," he said. "Your doctor, your lawyer, your priest, your rabbi or your preacher can become an alcoholic or a broken-down actor like me who starred in such wonderful pictures like 'Carousel' But MacRae told the audience, VThe great thing is that it (alcoholism) is a disease, and it can be treated. I am alive, and I am well, and I am happy, and I am sharing with you my experiences in hopes that maybe you can go out and help others." MacRae said he realized during his October 25, 1978 Greenville Community Concert Series performance that, "I was powerless to this disease called alcoholism and I had to do something about it." During the concert, he forgot lyrics and sang out of tune because he was intoxicated, and had to be led off the stage.

"Well, God was right there, and he made me see where I was going. It was strictly mfmmmmma 'jhe White and Terry Has-kins. Both incoming council members were elected during the May 3 general elections. White will complete Workman's two-year unexpired at-large term. Workman resigned his council position to run for mayor in the beginning of the year.

Has-kins will represent Hasklns District 1. Councilmen Joe Mathis and David Thomas will be inaugurated to their second four-year term in office. Mathis represents District 3 and Thomas is an at-large representative. Council members Lillian Brock Flem-ming's and James Snyder's terms will not expire until 1985. Mrs.

Flemming represents District 2 and Snyder represents District! In addition, Vardry Ramseur will be sworn in as the commissioner of public works. The inauguration will be held at 6 p.m. on City Hall Plaza. If the weather is bad, the ceremonies will be transferred to the Hyatt. And at 7:30 p.m.

a formal meeting of the new council will be held, where the mayor pro tern and vice mayor pro tern will be elected. Workman told the group that gathered last week that everything from improving roads and streets to providing fire and police protection will affect the city's efforts, to improve the local economy. "If we don't have ourselves -v tW itaraets mac die aypi'-eiec velop'tnen1 Mayor to step down Monday after vote on Jobs Bill money ecooo Workman we're not doing what we're elected or paid to do," he said. Besides improving services offered by the city, another method of improving the economy is for the city to try to capitalize on young professionals who pass through the area for personal or professional reasons by enhancing the city's strong points, he said. "This town is full of people on the move," he said.

"It can work to our advantage. "I want to get some of that pass-through money to come around here and stay. Openness, warmth and acceptance of new people coming in translates to dollars." Greenville's cultural environment, transportation facilities and location are assets for the city, he said. He expressed displeasure that the accommodations tax discussed by the state legislators this year did not pass. The tax would have allowed local governments to levy a user fee on hotels and motels.

Workman said the additional money would have increased the city's coffers. Many areas he visits throughout the try have accommodations taxes, he said. White Greenville's incoming City Council has a lot of work to do to make the city a leader in economic development, said Mayor-elect Bill Workman. "The primary thing we have to focus on is economic development," he told city offi By Claudette James unt nrus stan writer cials, current council members and incoming council members last week. "Everything we control, we're going to improve in an effort to cause good economic growth to take place." For economic growth to continue, Workman said, the council will have to be receptive to new and innovative ideas.

Things that work in the city will continue, but those that don't will have to change, he said. "We're ahead now," he said. "But we've got a lot to do." Workman praised former mayors Max Heller and Jesse Helms for laying the groundwork for economic expansion in the city during an orientation session. Current council members attended the orientation to review policies and procedures of the city and incoming council members were briefed on the city's operation. Even though Workman will not be inaugurated until Monday evening, he began his role as mayor last week during the sessions which he headed.

Also to be sworn in at the inauguration are council newcomers Knox if leave City Hall, but he plans to remain active in local committees and projects. He would not commit himself to run again for mayor. "I have not decided exactly what I will do after June 13," said Luthi, a real estate investor who was Luthi elected to serve on the council twice and stepped into the mayor's position after the Nov. 8, 1982, death of Jesse Helms. At the time of Helms' death, Luthi was mayor pro tem.

"But I know I will remain involved in the community. I want to serve on committees and probably volunteer to work in the human service area," he said. Luthi will be honored June 20 at a $25 reception at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. The county Republican Party will hosting the reception, which also will honor "Greenville's New Leadership Team." Republican Mayor Bill Workman and City Council members Knox White, David Thomas, Terry Haskins and James Snyder are on the invitation list. Greenville Mayor Harry Luthi will finish a chapter in his book of City Council service Monday, after eight years of attending meetings in the council cham-.

bers. On his last day in office before Mayor-elect Bill Workman is sworn in, Luthi will preside at a noon meeting of the council where a vote is scheduled on proposals for spending $750,000 in federal Jobs Bill money. Luthi has said he favored using the money to create jobs for Greenville's unemployed. "We have good proposals," Luthi-said after a city Community Development Advisory Committee meeting. "The ones I like will create jobs.

We have millions of dollars worth of drainage problems in the city. But we need to reach the people. This is not a city bill. It's a jobs bill." The city staff is recommending the funds be used to rebuild part of Broad Street and pay for six local agency projects. The advisory committee is recommending approval of the proposals.

Luthi could not be reached Sunday to comment on the city staff proposals. After the meeting, Luthi is scheduled to attend the inauguration of the mayor-elect and new council at 6 p.m. He is to make a statement before stepping down as mayor. Luthi has said he regrets having to 1.