A Virginia Journalist Reflects On the Moonshine Capital of the World

I met Morris Stephenson during a short stint I did writing human-interest stories for the Franklin News-Post. His charismatic and friendly nature reflects the essence of the bucolic area where I now live, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Here are excerpts from an interview I did with him.

Q: What influenced you to become a journalist?

A: The fact that my grandfather, Gil Stephenson, was owner of "The Marion Democrat" back in the days of hot hand set type was an inspiration. My uncle, Joe Stephenson, was in the newspaper business when I got out of college in 1956. He encouraged the owner of "The Smyth County News" to hire me as sports editor. Being a former high school athlete, it was a perfect fit. That gave me my start in the business.

Q: What are some of the highlights of your NASCAR racing experiences?

A: While working for a weekly NASCAR sanctioned racetrack (then called Pulaski County Speedway), I had the opportunity to meet and work with some of NASCARS's future stars, who were just starting out in what was then the Busch Grand National Series. I once told my sister that Jeff Gordon would never make it in the sport after he ran his first race at our track. I also got to know some of the great Winston Cup drivers who came to the track, including Dale Earnhardt, Bill Elliot, Harry Gant and many others. Dayton 500 winner Ward Burton and I remain good friends after all these years.

Q: I understand many drivers learned their skills that got them a start in NASCAR by running moonshine.

A: You got that right. In fact, President Reagan gave a pardon to Junior Johnson, the hall of fame driver who was convicted on a felony for making the white stuff. My friend Wendell Scott got started when promoters where looking for a black race car driver, and the police in Danville recommended him because he'd always out run them with a load of liquor. He was a success on the circuit for about fifteen years. He was also the subject of the book "Hard Driving" by Brian Donoval who won the big Pulitzer Prize twice.

Q: Do you think it's odd that the Moonshine Express Bus Tours here in Rocky Mount attract so many people?

A: The bus tours the historical society do annually is an attraction that will continue to grow because of the long history Franklin County has for making moonshine. The county continues to attract new residents from northern areas of the nation. Almost all the new residents get caught up in the history and the stories that still circulate. There seems to be a romance with moonshine, especially from newcomers in the area.

Q: How many stories have you covered during your busiest day?

A: In the newspaper business, a reporter/photographer never knows when the day begins what will happen next. On a busy day, I have covered and written up to twenty stories, some big and some small. The more I cover and "crank out", the happier I am. I like working under pressure and meeting deadlines. "The Franklin News-Post" publishes on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and this schedule suits me much better than a weekly publication.

Q: What is the most bazaar story you ever covered?

A: One of the Air Force's top fighter jets crashed ten miles from Rocky Mount in a rural area known as Callaway. The two pilots ejected and landed unharmed. The plane was destroyed when it hit the ground about 150 yards from a house. Only a few small parts hit the house and no one was injured. That story never made the national news. Later in the year, a 350-pound black bear wandered into the Rocky Mount hospital one night, thanks to automatic opening doors. A security guard closed off the bear after it entered an office. A deputy sheriff later shot the bear when large enough doses of tranquilizers could not be found to sedate the bear. The story made international news, and I sent a copy of it to the daily newspaper in Stockholm, Sweden.

Q: Are there any local heroes or noted personalities you can tell us about?

A: I'm sure there are many heroes in the county if it comes to war classifications. I couldn't even begin to identify all of them. Among the noted personalities, I would place the late T. Keister Greer at the top of my list. The outstanding attorney devoted 20 years of his life researching his 800-plus page book, "The Great Moonshine Conspiracy of 1935", a book dealing with the trial of many local residents who were caught in the manufacturing of illicit white lightin'. There are also many well-known personalities who made a name for themselves in the stock car racing profession. And there are several well-known bluegrass/country musicians, past and present. In fact, Junior Sisk and his band, Rambler's Choice, have the number one bluegrass CD in the nation. On one of the charts, they have the number one song.

Q: Did the shooting rampage at Virginia Tech that took place a few years back touch your life?

A: The shooting had my heart in my throat for a while. My son, Kurt, is a professor at Tech and was in the building next to the one where the first two shooting deaths occurred. He got the word of the lock down on the campus and safely remained in his office until the tragedy came to an end. Like everyone else, my ears were glued to the radio and I was watching TV every chance I had. Knowing he was in lock down was a little relief, but not knowing what was going on minute-to-minute caused tension and concern to continue to mount.

Q: What do you think of Franklin County as a place to live?

A: Franklin County is, without a doubt, the best place in the world to live and raise a family. The county has everything to offer, including a commercial lake on the eastern border and a very secluded lake on the western side. There are plenty of mountains for hiking. Hunting and fishing opportunities are excellent. However, more so than the natural setting, it's the good breed of people who live here that makes the difference. They are very friendly and willing to help in any way possible. It has been my home for 45 years. I came here to get experience in the newspaper business. When I had the opportunity for advancement with a daily, I turned it down to stay in Franklin County.

Q: I imagine your love of the outdoors, especially canoeing, had a lot to do with that decision.

A: This is true. I was one of the first people to canoe the county's two rivers, the Blackwater and the Pigg. I've been paddling for nearly 30 years. We now have a paddling club entering its third year with approximately 350 members, ranging in age from four to seventy-five.

Q: How do you view the future of Franklin County?

A: Franklin County, perhaps, has the brightest future of any county in Virginia. It's far enough away from the big cities and the rural areas of the state to make it a perfect fit for young couples with families. Franklin County has one of the best, if not the best, educational system in the state. It is also the home of Ferrum College, a growing four-year Methodist institution of learning. There are also two nearby community colleges and several outstanding universities within a reasonable driving distance. The tax base is one of the lowest in the state. The county has worked with new industries for successful relocations. The county's recreations opportunities, beauty and life style will continue to attract industries and members of the younger generation. .

Q: Is there anything else you would like to add to this interview?

A: I've often told people Franklin County is all about what I am and I am about what Franklin County is and represents. I would bet anything that if someone comes to Franklin County and lives for a year the will never leave. If I had my life to do over, I wouldn't change a thing. I would be right here in Franklin County doing what I love to do, write stories and meet new people.