The Secret Service Agent and the Secretary

 

Clint Hill, the Secret Service agent who dramatically tried, but failed, to stop the assassination of John Kennedy in Dallas, died on February 21st, at the age of 93. His passing brought to mind that six months earlier in 1963, some of Hill’s fellow agents had been in Muscle Shoals.

Kennedy was scheduled to speak at the TVA Fertilizer Development Center on May 18th. His visit was preceded by a group of Secret Service agents who personally scanned and mapped every inch of the facility’s administrative offices and the surrounding areas.

TVA employees with established security clearances were assigned to assist these agents who were characterized as young, more bucks than Turks. One such agent soon took an interest in the secretary designated to assist him.

It seemingly didn’t deter the young agent that his assigned companion, described as an Olivia de Haviland lookalike, was four years married. The agent vigorously pursued the secretary who was said to have expertly deflected his attentions.

At one point, the agent asked the native Alabamian the name of the State capitol. The young woman quickly replied, “Montgomery.”

The agent laughingly admitted that he was disappointed. His knowledge of the state was not broad, and he had so wanted to hear his would-be lady love say “Birmenham.”

After Kennedy’s speech, the Secret Service agents quickly left TVA. The secretary later related that she did see her admirer one last time. Television news showed the young man walking silently by Kennedy’s horse-drawn caisson on November 25th.




Bette F. Terry holds a B.A. in history from UAH

The Frank Perry Nurses Home

 

It wasn’t long after Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital moved to its new home on Alabama Street in 1943 that Florence businessman Frank Perry donated $65,000.00 for a nurses’ home, an amount equal to approximately $1,186,000.00 in today’s dollars. The mid-century moderne structure was erected near a segment of the original Jackson Military Road on property adjoining the hospital and included a grand staircase and a sunroom.

In that era, homes for nurses were often built near hospitals for several practical reasons:

Immediate Access to Patients: Proximity to the hospital allowed nurses to respond quickly to patient needs, especially during emergencies.

Clinical Experience: Being close to the hospital provided ample opportunities for hands-on clinical experience and observation. Nurses could easily assist with patient care, learn from experienced doctors and nurses, and gain practical skills.

Supervision and Mentorship: Close proximity facilitated close supervision and mentorship from hospital staff. Experienced doctors and nurses could readily guide and instruct the trainee nurses.

Efficiency: Having nurses reside near the hospital streamlined patient care and improved communication between hospital staff and the nursing trainees.

The end of World War II and rationing brought gaiety and galas to the facility, and in February 1946, residents of the home hosted a Valentine’s Day party for hospital staff. Specifically mentioned in news accounts were single nurses Judy Kelly, Ardelle Thompson, Sue Posey, Mary Ann Wolf, Celeste Mrozin, Mary Jane Collins, Hazel McCaghren, and Maxine Cox. Over the years, the elegant facility also housed quarterly meetings of the District 13 Alabama State Nurses Association, as well as providing a venue for various other social functions.

As transportation became more readily available, the need for a nurses’ dormitory lessened. By the turn of the 21st Century, the Frank Perry Nurses Home was utilized mainly by the hospital’s radiology department.

After the opening of North Alabama Medical Center, the City of Florence made the controversial decision to raze most of the old hospital campus, including the nurses home. The plans were rapidly implemented before most citizens knew that the beautiful structure was to be lost forever. One hasty effort at preservation was barely underway before the bulldozers began to level the facility in March 2019.

ECM Hospital c. 1943

The property where Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital and Frank Perry Nurses Home once stood was quickly sold to Joel Anderson Jr. for construction of a mixed-use development. As of February 2025, the land is dotted with preparations for new infrastructure.

It’s sad to reflect that no one had the vision to incorporate such a beautiful structure from the past into a design of the city’s future.

Photo Courtesy of Kaytrina P. Simmons

Bette Favor Terry holds a B.A. in History