REMEMBERING JOHNNY MULLINS

I bought a music CD recently featuring Emmy Lou Harris but didn't look at the songs on the CD until I got home. The first song was "Blue Kentucky Girl" which brought back a flood of memories of a meek elementary school custodian turned song writer who I had the pleasure of knowing. The song was written by Johnny Mullins with whom I had frequent contact during my years working for the Springfield, Missouri, Public Schools. In his spare time Johnny had written several country songs, "Success" and "Company's Comin" that had done well on the charts but it was Emmy Lou Harris's release of "Blue Kentucky Girl" that brought him the most fame. In 1980 he was nominated for a Grammy as the song's composer and Johnny Mullins put on his best "bib and tucker"and flew to the awards ceremony. He didn't win, even though hundreds of Wilder Elementary School students and parents were rooting for him. Emmy Lou Harris did win as the best female country singer. Johnny had the tine of this life, one he could share with his multitude of young friends. I was lucky to be present on the day in 1982 when the students honored his service as a custodian and friend. I ran into Johnny Mullins several times after his retirement but was saddened when I found out that he was being controlled by the evil Alzheimers disease. I will always remember Johnny as a meek, loving person and think of him always when I hear "Blue Kentucky Girl".