Lee J. Greer,
who's legacy led to
the organization of
Take the Lake
Lee J. Greer, center, emerging from Lake Waccamaw after guiding swimmers.
The following is a 1982 resolution to honor Lee J. Greer, possibly on or near his retirement. It details his family and explains how he began encouraging children and adults to swim, and to even swim across Lake Waccamaw. The entire document is included verbatim, with some breaks and photos added. Poetry was inserted throughout the presentation, including the ending of the Alfred Tennyson poem "Ulysses."
A RESOLUTION OF THE COLUMBUS COUNTY
BAR ASSOCIATION, ENTITLED
"THE EARLIER LIFE AND TIMES OF LEE J. GREER"
BY R. H. BURNS, JR.
BAR ASSOCIATION, ENTITLED
"THE EARLIER LIFE AND TIMES OF LEE J. GREER"
BY R. H. BURNS, JR.
PREFACE
The primary purpose of the author is to give to the young people a picture to some.extent of the circumstances surrounding Lee Greer's earlier life. Even in that respect it is, of course, incomplete. Due to the limited purpose, no attempt has been made to cover Lee's family life or his activities in recent years, with which the younger generation is presumed to be familiar.
The primary purpose of the author is to give to the young people a picture to some.extent of the circumstances surrounding Lee Greer's earlier life. Even in that respect it is, of course, incomplete. Due to the limited purpose, no attempt has been made to cover Lee's family life or his activities in recent years, with which the younger generation is presumed to be familiar.
The old Confederate veteran,
We know him as he stands
And listens for the thunder
Of the far-off battle lands;
He hears the crash of musketry,
The smoke rolls like the sea,
For he tramped the fields with Stonewall,
And he climbed the heights with Lee.
And so it came to pass that, in the years following the War for Southern Independence, there was a man named Benjamin Greer; and he begat twin sons, and named one Jackson, who moved to Whiteville and became a lawyer, and he named the other Lee, who lived in Wilmington and became a photographer. And the lawyer who lived in Whiteville begat a son and named him Jackson Greer, Jr. And the photographer who lived in Wilmington begat a son and named him Lee Jackson Greer.
And in those days there was in Wilmington a wonderful place called the YMCA. An impressive building, it sat on the left hand side of Market Street, going North. There, among other things, a boy from Whiteville could buy a soft ball (Do you know what that was?). In the twentys, the YMCA, with its gymnasium and indoor swimming pool and organized program, was a significant factor in the lives of the boys of Wilmington, among whom was Lee Jackson Greer.
By the shores of Gitehee-goomee
By the shining big sea water,
No!
Not the shores of Gitchee-goomee,
But the shores of Waggamaw,
Slightly west of Weaver's bathhouse,
Also west of Mill Creek Run;
There the Y boys came to camp
By the shores of Waggamaw.
In the lazy summer days.
We know him as he stands
And listens for the thunder
Of the far-off battle lands;
He hears the crash of musketry,
The smoke rolls like the sea,
For he tramped the fields with Stonewall,
And he climbed the heights with Lee.
And so it came to pass that, in the years following the War for Southern Independence, there was a man named Benjamin Greer; and he begat twin sons, and named one Jackson, who moved to Whiteville and became a lawyer, and he named the other Lee, who lived in Wilmington and became a photographer. And the lawyer who lived in Whiteville begat a son and named him Jackson Greer, Jr. And the photographer who lived in Wilmington begat a son and named him Lee Jackson Greer.
And in those days there was in Wilmington a wonderful place called the YMCA. An impressive building, it sat on the left hand side of Market Street, going North. There, among other things, a boy from Whiteville could buy a soft ball (Do you know what that was?). In the twentys, the YMCA, with its gymnasium and indoor swimming pool and organized program, was a significant factor in the lives of the boys of Wilmington, among whom was Lee Jackson Greer.
By the shores of Gitehee-goomee
By the shining big sea water,
No!
Not the shores of Gitchee-goomee,
But the shores of Waggamaw,
Slightly west of Weaver's bathhouse,
Also west of Mill Creek Run;
There the Y boys came to camp
By the shores of Waggamaw.
In the lazy summer days.
In the year of 1927 a row of tents faced the lake. It was Camp Penton. A tent had two pairs of double-decker bunks on each side. Seven of the younger boys and one older boy, called the tent leader, occupied each tent.
Among the tent leaders were Bill Rankin, Fred Capps and Jurgen Haar. One of the tent leaders was also named Lee Jackson Greer.
About that time an American girl named Gertrude Ederle, made an unsuccessful attempt to be the first woman to swim the English Channel. Camp Penton, by the shining big sea water was buzzing with excitement. Lee Jackson Greer had become the first person to swim Lake Waccamaw.
Flow gently, sweet Afton, amang thy green braes
Flow gently I'll sing thee a song in thy praise.
The Cape Fear did not flow gently. When the ferry boats crossed the river at Market Street, the tide swept them far either up stream or down stream, depending on whether it was rising or falling. In 1929 the Wilmington Star and The News Reporter announced that Lee Greer, a relative of a family in Whiteville, would attempt to swim the distance between Wilmington and Southport. The Cape Fear proved to be too mighty and the newspapers reported a failure.
But there was practice daily in the YMCA pool. In 1933 the news was proclaimed that Greer had swum from Southport to Wilmington a distance of 30 miles, in 13 hours and 40 minutes.
In the late twenties the New Hanover High School Wildcats were perennial state football champions. Among their players were a great halfback, Shuney Britton, and fullback and captain Dick Bumett. Another player was an end. Lee J. Greer.
Among the tent leaders were Bill Rankin, Fred Capps and Jurgen Haar. One of the tent leaders was also named Lee Jackson Greer.
About that time an American girl named Gertrude Ederle, made an unsuccessful attempt to be the first woman to swim the English Channel. Camp Penton, by the shining big sea water was buzzing with excitement. Lee Jackson Greer had become the first person to swim Lake Waccamaw.
Flow gently, sweet Afton, amang thy green braes
Flow gently I'll sing thee a song in thy praise.
The Cape Fear did not flow gently. When the ferry boats crossed the river at Market Street, the tide swept them far either up stream or down stream, depending on whether it was rising or falling. In 1929 the Wilmington Star and The News Reporter announced that Lee Greer, a relative of a family in Whiteville, would attempt to swim the distance between Wilmington and Southport. The Cape Fear proved to be too mighty and the newspapers reported a failure.
But there was practice daily in the YMCA pool. In 1933 the news was proclaimed that Greer had swum from Southport to Wilmington a distance of 30 miles, in 13 hours and 40 minutes.
In the late twenties the New Hanover High School Wildcats were perennial state football champions. Among their players were a great halfback, Shuney Britton, and fullback and captain Dick Bumett. Another player was an end. Lee J. Greer.
In the early thirties very few people in Columbus County, young or old, knew how to swim. Those who could were confined to the dog-paddle or the human stroke. In June, 1933 two young men from Whiteville attended the American Red Cross Life Saving and First Aid Institute at Camp Carolina, near Brevard, North Carolina. They were awarded Senior Life Saving certificates and emblems.
Upon their return. Dr. Leamon Baggett provided a flat bed truck to transport a load of young people between Whiteville and Lake Waccamaw for two weeks of swimming lessons. Two of the transportees were Walter H. Poweii, Jr. and Catharine Powell. As the teachers had only Senior Life Saver certificates, they could not give the life saving tests.
Upon their return. Dr. Leamon Baggett provided a flat bed truck to transport a load of young people between Whiteville and Lake Waccamaw for two weeks of swimming lessons. Two of the transportees were Walter H. Poweii, Jr. and Catharine Powell. As the teachers had only Senior Life Saver certificates, they could not give the life saving tests.
Click image for a copy of the full article.
An issue of The News Reporter stated that on August 19, 1933, the following young people had passed tests conducted by a "licensed Red Cross examiner from Wilmington," and were awarded emblems. Senior Life Savers Test: Miriam Gault, Mabel Pittman, Elwood Weaver, Robert Ward, and Joe Wyche; Junior Life Savers Test: Mary Gault, Richard Maxweil, Locke Davis, Billy Eutsler, Fred Connor, C. J. Cook, and Morrison Formyduval." The young man who had arrived, wearing the square Life Saving Instructor's emblem, was Lee J. Greer. Swimming instructions in Columbus County had begun.
Now the life style of Lee J. Greer at the University of North Carolina during the thirties was not like that of J. B. Lee during the forties. J. B. Lee's attendance was in this wise. He roomed with one Clark Tothereau, later a commander in the United States Navy. J. B. and Commander Tothereau were co-partners in a business venture. They operated the dormitory canteen.
One night they borrowed two bicycles and rode from Chapel Hill to Durham. With the grand sum of 50 cents between them, they engaged a room at the Commercial Hotel, called the bell-boy, and caused a crowd of hopeful girls to be paraded through their room. On account of the shortage of money, nothing worthwhile was accomplished.
Not so was Lee J. Greer’s conduct at the University. He was a member of the wrestling team, belonged to the Order of the Grail, and he roomed with Francis Fairley, who became President of the North Carolina State Bar, Incorporated.
Now the life style of Lee J. Greer at the University of North Carolina during the thirties was not like that of J. B. Lee during the forties. J. B. Lee's attendance was in this wise. He roomed with one Clark Tothereau, later a commander in the United States Navy. J. B. and Commander Tothereau were co-partners in a business venture. They operated the dormitory canteen.
One night they borrowed two bicycles and rode from Chapel Hill to Durham. With the grand sum of 50 cents between them, they engaged a room at the Commercial Hotel, called the bell-boy, and caused a crowd of hopeful girls to be paraded through their room. On account of the shortage of money, nothing worthwhile was accomplished.
Not so was Lee J. Greer’s conduct at the University. He was a member of the wrestling team, belonged to the Order of the Grail, and he roomed with Francis Fairley, who became President of the North Carolina State Bar, Incorporated.
Swimming class at Weaver's first pier.
Who can remember the late thirties, when the only two motor boats near Weaver's pier at Lake Waccamaw belonged to J. B. Council and Milton McKenzie?
On a hot Sunday afternoon the pavilion in the pier was filled with people. Some wore bathing suits. Others were watching the young folks play in the water. The pier at Weaver's extended out to deep water. The pavilion (also known as the second landing) was located about half way between the shore and the end of the pier.
Every Sunday afternoon Milton McKenzie, wearing baggy black swim trunks, lugged a five gallon can of gasoline from the shore to his boat, moored at the. pavilion. Then he and Elwood Weaver sped back and forth on the lake.
But what is that pretty sight to the west? It is a green sail canoe which Lee Greer and some of this boys - from Camp Chicagami (old site of Camp Penton) are operating. Among the boys at Chicagami were Bill Lewis, Audrey Crowell, Alex Gregg, Marvin Wooten and Terry Sanford. During the week, they spent the long summer days walking around the lake and sitting under the sheltered front at Weaver's bathhouse. At night. Lee Greer told them stories about ghosts and the hairy monster, which most of them still remember.
In 1935, Lee J. Greer came to Whiteville. Among his possessions were a law license and a pair of moth-eaten wool wrestling tights.
He promptly organized between 60 and 100 boys into a "Boys Club", which met at the Methodist Church. I can still see them gathering on the steps of the old white wooden building, while they waited for Lee to arrive. Among the names I remember are John, Charles, and Hector McNeill, Polo Johnson, Rod Smith, Joe Smith, Joe Maultsby, Arthur Baldwin, Jr. They all became good citizens. Most of them served in World War II.
On a hot Sunday afternoon the pavilion in the pier was filled with people. Some wore bathing suits. Others were watching the young folks play in the water. The pier at Weaver's extended out to deep water. The pavilion (also known as the second landing) was located about half way between the shore and the end of the pier.
Every Sunday afternoon Milton McKenzie, wearing baggy black swim trunks, lugged a five gallon can of gasoline from the shore to his boat, moored at the. pavilion. Then he and Elwood Weaver sped back and forth on the lake.
But what is that pretty sight to the west? It is a green sail canoe which Lee Greer and some of this boys - from Camp Chicagami (old site of Camp Penton) are operating. Among the boys at Chicagami were Bill Lewis, Audrey Crowell, Alex Gregg, Marvin Wooten and Terry Sanford. During the week, they spent the long summer days walking around the lake and sitting under the sheltered front at Weaver's bathhouse. At night. Lee Greer told them stories about ghosts and the hairy monster, which most of them still remember.
In 1935, Lee J. Greer came to Whiteville. Among his possessions were a law license and a pair of moth-eaten wool wrestling tights.
He promptly organized between 60 and 100 boys into a "Boys Club", which met at the Methodist Church. I can still see them gathering on the steps of the old white wooden building, while they waited for Lee to arrive. Among the names I remember are John, Charles, and Hector McNeill, Polo Johnson, Rod Smith, Joe Smith, Joe Maultsby, Arthur Baldwin, Jr. They all became good citizens. Most of them served in World War II.
Camp Penton
He flew through the air with the greatest of ease
The daring young man on the flying trapeze.
How many of you knew that Lee Greer was a flyer with Sells Floto Circus? He could draw in his stomach until it went out of his back and probably still can. He could walk a tight rope, and probably still can. He could do a press-up from a bar with one hand and probably cannot still do it.
Scots, wha hae wi' Wallace bled
Scots hame Bruce hae often led
Did you know Lee's hair was red?
Well red it was, red, red, red.
In addition to the Boys Club, Lee organized a boxing team at Whiteville High School (which included grammar grades as well as high school). Lee's boxers trained during the summer as well as winter and they were hard, brown, and lean. In 1937 and 1938 Lee conducted Golden Gloves tournaments in Whiteville, in which teams from Tabor City, Hallsboro, Acme Delco, and Whiteville, participated.
In 1938, Lee took his team to Chapel Hill where five of his boxers. Jack Inman, Montieth Powell, Warren Cook, Morris Moskow, and David Barksdale, won state championships. His teams fought against Tabor City, Fairmont, Lumberton. North Carolina.
At West Charleston, South Carolina, they fought not only the boxing team, but also the spectators. Among the trophies won at West Charleston were a sugar bowl, two ash trays, and six tea spoons from the restaurant in which they ate.
In the late thirties Lee became Judge of Columbus County Recorder's Court. At that time Judge R. Hunt Parker (later Chief Justice) was on the Superior Court bench and presided in Whiteville. He began his charges to the jury like this: "Gentlemen of the jury, I hold in my hand a paper writing, purporting to be a bill of indictment which reads as follows:" When Lee Greer tried a case with a jury, he began his charge: "Gentlemen of the jury, I hold in my hand a paper writing, purporting to be a warrant, which reads as follows:".
The daring young man on the flying trapeze.
How many of you knew that Lee Greer was a flyer with Sells Floto Circus? He could draw in his stomach until it went out of his back and probably still can. He could walk a tight rope, and probably still can. He could do a press-up from a bar with one hand and probably cannot still do it.
Scots, wha hae wi' Wallace bled
Scots hame Bruce hae often led
Did you know Lee's hair was red?
Well red it was, red, red, red.
In addition to the Boys Club, Lee organized a boxing team at Whiteville High School (which included grammar grades as well as high school). Lee's boxers trained during the summer as well as winter and they were hard, brown, and lean. In 1937 and 1938 Lee conducted Golden Gloves tournaments in Whiteville, in which teams from Tabor City, Hallsboro, Acme Delco, and Whiteville, participated.
In 1938, Lee took his team to Chapel Hill where five of his boxers. Jack Inman, Montieth Powell, Warren Cook, Morris Moskow, and David Barksdale, won state championships. His teams fought against Tabor City, Fairmont, Lumberton. North Carolina.
At West Charleston, South Carolina, they fought not only the boxing team, but also the spectators. Among the trophies won at West Charleston were a sugar bowl, two ash trays, and six tea spoons from the restaurant in which they ate.
In the late thirties Lee became Judge of Columbus County Recorder's Court. At that time Judge R. Hunt Parker (later Chief Justice) was on the Superior Court bench and presided in Whiteville. He began his charges to the jury like this: "Gentlemen of the jury, I hold in my hand a paper writing, purporting to be a bill of indictment which reads as follows:" When Lee Greer tried a case with a jury, he began his charge: "Gentlemen of the jury, I hold in my hand a paper writing, purporting to be a warrant, which reads as follows:".
During World War II, Lee closed his law practice and served with the American Red Cross, teaching therapeutic and survivor swimming and stunt and recreational swimming as well as conventional swimming to service men in the Virgin Islands, the Ascension Islands, and the Caribbean area.
After World War II, Lee returned to his law practice in Whiteville. Upon the death of Lennox Gore in 1949, Judge John J. Bumey (Sr.) appointed Lee as Clerk of Superior Court. His offices consisted of a single room and the vault. The room which presently contains the copy machine was not included.
Lee held his juvenile hearings in the vault and attained considerable state-wide recognition as a juvenile judge. He also attained considerable local recognition as a poet and prankster.
At his desk, located at approximately the place where Jewell Thomas now works, he manufactured "buzzers," two paper clips and a rubber band in an envelope; composed poems, which were displayed on the bulletin board, and planned civic entertainment and aquatic projects for the people of the community. On one occasion, in a session of Superior Court, he cut the bottom out of one of the paper cups in the stack on the judge's bench.
During a trial, D. Frank McGougan, Jr. strolled over to the judge's bench, and poured a nice cup full of ice water. It went straight through to the floor. Lee has performed often as an entertainer and a public speaker. He is a memory expert. If necessary he could repeat the ages of every person in this room. He likes poetry and will recite Gungha Din without too much arm-twisting.
In 1946 Lee began giving swimming lessons to Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Cub Scouts at the lake. These ran about four weeks a summer and made instruction available to about 30 children a week.
After World War II, Lee returned to his law practice in Whiteville. Upon the death of Lennox Gore in 1949, Judge John J. Bumey (Sr.) appointed Lee as Clerk of Superior Court. His offices consisted of a single room and the vault. The room which presently contains the copy machine was not included.
Lee held his juvenile hearings in the vault and attained considerable state-wide recognition as a juvenile judge. He also attained considerable local recognition as a poet and prankster.
At his desk, located at approximately the place where Jewell Thomas now works, he manufactured "buzzers," two paper clips and a rubber band in an envelope; composed poems, which were displayed on the bulletin board, and planned civic entertainment and aquatic projects for the people of the community. On one occasion, in a session of Superior Court, he cut the bottom out of one of the paper cups in the stack on the judge's bench.
During a trial, D. Frank McGougan, Jr. strolled over to the judge's bench, and poured a nice cup full of ice water. It went straight through to the floor. Lee has performed often as an entertainer and a public speaker. He is a memory expert. If necessary he could repeat the ages of every person in this room. He likes poetry and will recite Gungha Din without too much arm-twisting.
In 1946 Lee began giving swimming lessons to Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Cub Scouts at the lake. These ran about four weeks a summer and made instruction available to about 30 children a week.
During this period of time, a mother with two small blond daughters, from the western part of the state, took a cottage on the canal. The daughters ran out to play in the lake and drowned in one of the deep holes that had been dug by the dragline which constructed the Lake Cove subdivision.
Lee Greer was called to the lake to give artificial respiration, but to no avail. The hearse came, the mother kissed the bodies of the two little girls, and they were taken away.
As a result of Lee's description of that disaster the Whiteville Civitan Club and the Columbus County Chapter of American Red Cross, took over joint sponsorship of the swimming classes.
The Civitan Club circulated a petition, which resulted in getting the State of North Carolina to fill the holes in the lake, and developed a novel system of using local people as instructors, until there were about 300 school teachers, housewives, physicians, nurses, insurance men, farmers, mechanics, optometrists, merchants, bankers, lawyers, realtors, florists, other business men, and even children from 13 years old and up who were teaching swimming.
The term "Big Swim" originally referred to this annual occasion, when about 600 children from the entire county would be taught at one time. * The Big Swim grew so big it became unwieldly. After hundreds of children had become aquainted with the water, teaching swimming was taken over by the private pools.
When the Whiteville Civitan Club was organized in 1938, Lee J. Greer was a charter member and read Joyce Kilmer's poem "Trees" at the first meeting.
Lee Greer was chairman of the Columbus County Boy Scout Court of Honor for many years, He has taught the Worthington Bible Class at the Whiteville United Methodist Church for many years. As his more recent activities, the Labor Day swim and the duties of District Attorney have been well publicized, I will not go into them.
Lee Greer was called to the lake to give artificial respiration, but to no avail. The hearse came, the mother kissed the bodies of the two little girls, and they were taken away.
As a result of Lee's description of that disaster the Whiteville Civitan Club and the Columbus County Chapter of American Red Cross, took over joint sponsorship of the swimming classes.
The Civitan Club circulated a petition, which resulted in getting the State of North Carolina to fill the holes in the lake, and developed a novel system of using local people as instructors, until there were about 300 school teachers, housewives, physicians, nurses, insurance men, farmers, mechanics, optometrists, merchants, bankers, lawyers, realtors, florists, other business men, and even children from 13 years old and up who were teaching swimming.
The term "Big Swim" originally referred to this annual occasion, when about 600 children from the entire county would be taught at one time. * The Big Swim grew so big it became unwieldly. After hundreds of children had become aquainted with the water, teaching swimming was taken over by the private pools.
When the Whiteville Civitan Club was organized in 1938, Lee J. Greer was a charter member and read Joyce Kilmer's poem "Trees" at the first meeting.
Lee Greer was chairman of the Columbus County Boy Scout Court of Honor for many years, He has taught the Worthington Bible Class at the Whiteville United Methodist Church for many years. As his more recent activities, the Labor Day swim and the duties of District Attorney have been well publicized, I will not go into them.
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that the Columbus County Bar Association on behalf of itself and the remainder of our citizenry expresses appreciation for the impact Lee Jackson Greer has had on the life of our community.
November 19, 1982
For the Columbus County Bar
November 19, 1982
For the Columbus County Bar
R. H. Burns, Jr.
C. Franklin Stanley, Jr., President Of the Columbus County Bar Association
Carlton F. Williamson, Secretary of the Columbus County Bar Association
Sankey W. Robinson, Chairman of Lee J. Greer Appreciation Committee
C. Franklin Stanley, Jr., President Of the Columbus County Bar Association
Carlton F. Williamson, Secretary of the Columbus County Bar Association
Sankey W. Robinson, Chairman of Lee J. Greer Appreciation Committee
Ulysses
There lies the port ; the vessel puffs her sail;
There gloom the dark broad seas. My mariners;
Souls that have toiled and wrought and thought with me,
That ever with a frolic welcome took
The thunder and the sunshine, and opposed
Free hearts, free foreheads, you and I are old.
Old age hath yer his honor and his toil.
Death closes all; but something ere the end,
Some work of noble note, may yet be done,
Not unbecoming men that strove with gods.
The lights begin to twinkle from the rocks;
The long day wanes ; the slow moon climbs; the deep
Moans round with many voices. Come, my friends,
'Tis not too late to seek a newer world;
Push off, and. sitting well in order, smite
The sounding furrows; for my purpose holds
To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths
Of all the western stars, until 1 die.
It may be that the gulfs will wash us down ;
It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles,
And see the great Achilles, whom we knew.
Though much is taken, much abides ; and though
We are not new that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are; we are:
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield,
TENNYSON
There gloom the dark broad seas. My mariners;
Souls that have toiled and wrought and thought with me,
That ever with a frolic welcome took
The thunder and the sunshine, and opposed
Free hearts, free foreheads, you and I are old.
Old age hath yer his honor and his toil.
Death closes all; but something ere the end,
Some work of noble note, may yet be done,
Not unbecoming men that strove with gods.
The lights begin to twinkle from the rocks;
The long day wanes ; the slow moon climbs; the deep
Moans round with many voices. Come, my friends,
'Tis not too late to seek a newer world;
Push off, and. sitting well in order, smite
The sounding furrows; for my purpose holds
To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths
Of all the western stars, until 1 die.
It may be that the gulfs will wash us down ;
It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles,
And see the great Achilles, whom we knew.
Though much is taken, much abides ; and though
We are not new that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are; we are:
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield,
TENNYSON