Pencil annotation at top of page:

Oct. 19 — 1976 Hendersonville Times-News

Upper left clipping (WHKP Special Anniversary Edition, page 12):

A black-and-white photograph of an older man in glasses; caption beneath:

A RECENT PICTURE taken of Frank FitzSimons at his beloved Golden Glow Farm where he is now considering a sequel to his first book which will be released in early November.

Upper right clipping (Hendersonville Times-News):

Fitzsimons Book Coming!

‘On Banks Of Oklawaha’ To Be Released In Early November

For almost 25 years, the WHKP announcer would say, “The great Northwestern Bank with convenient neighborhood offices to serve you brings to you stories about Henderson County and our people with Mr. Frank L. FitzSimons.” And 5 minutes later, on more than 5,000 broadcasts Mr. FitzSimons would conclude, “until I speak to you again from the cool, crystal clear waters of the sparkling, bubbling, rippling Oklawaha.”

When Mr. FitzSimons retired several years ago, there was an instant clamor for the release in book form of some of the material contained in these broadcasts. FitzSimons had covered local history, had traced the trees of founding families, had recounted legends, anecdotes, and had featured visits with a mysterious “man on the mountain” who was wise to the ways of weather, and had little use for modern gadgets.

In the fall of 1975, unable to withstand the strong urgings from his family and hundreds of friends and local historical buffs, he finally agreed to go through all of his handwritten notes and “put it together if you don’t bother me with any headaches about getting a book printed.” His manuscript was completed this spring. It will be published and released in early November. It is being assembled and edited for the printer by Grady Edney, of Coral Springs, Florida, a retired executive of Storer Broadcasting corporation and former resident.

On November 29, 1975 the Northwestern Bank through a gift to honor Frank FitzSimons asked that a special section be established in the public library to be known as Henderson County History & Writer’s Section. The dedicatory plaque reads: “Renowned football coach; gifted and beloved educator; a successful and honorable politician; a tiller and lover of the soil; the dean of local raconteurs of his time; but most widely known for his love and dedication to local history and to the writers who either recorded it, or lived among us while writing.”

It’s good that this section will, in the future, contain a book by the very man it honored.

Lower left boxed advertisement:

AT LAST!

A BOOK WHICH TOOK 25 YEARS TO RESEARCH, WITH MATERIAL EXCERPTED FROM OVER 5,000 BROADCASTS.

“FRANK FITZSIMONS SPEAKS”

• FOUNDING FAMILIES
• FAMOUS DUELS
• MOON EYED PEOPLE
• KINGDOM OF HAPPY LAND
• BUSHWHACKERS
• EARLY POLITICAL BATTLES

PLUS: VISIT WITH THE OLD MAN ON THE MOUNTAIN.

TO RESERVE AN ADVANCE AUTOGRAPHED COPY PRIOR TO PUBLICATION, FILL IN COUPON & MAIL, WITH CHECK FOR $9.95 TO WHKP, P.O. BOX 2470, HENDERSONVILLE, N.C.

Lower right clipping (Hendersonville Times-News):

Bust Of FitzSimons Unveiled

Frank L. FitzSimons of Golden Glow Farm, retired teacher, banker, former register of deeds, raconteur and author, has joined the “Hall of Fame” in Henderson County Public Library.

A bust of FitzSimons, commissioned by the Hendersonville Art Museum Group and executed by James Killian Spratt of Mountain Home, was unveiled in a ceremony Saturday afternoon. Mrs. FitzSimons unveiled the portrait.

Mrs. Kaplan, chairman of the library board of trustees, who was master of ceremonies, told FitzSimons: "Welcome to the Henderson County Public Library Hall of Fame. You are in the library hosts of George Washington, General Lee, Lincoln, Carl Sandburg, Thomas Wolfe and Lord Byron — but you, Frank, are dearer to us than all of them, because you know all of us, you are a native of Henderson County, you are ‘Mr. Henderson County.’

“May God continue his blessings on you and Mrs. FitzSimons.”

Mrs. FitzSimons unveiled the bust.

In his short talk, FitzSimons recognized a number of others who attended the unveiling. Among them were Commissioners Don Michalove and Sam Mills, Mildred Barringer of the Henderson County Board of Commissioners; and the current members of the board of trustees, Frank FitzSimons Jr., Dan C. Gibson, Mrs. Frances Buchanan, secretary; William Prim, Mrs. Rowland Davis and Mrs. Barringer; and former members of the board, Al Chalmers, Ben Foster, Mrs. C. C. Oates, the former secretary; Gene Staton, Gen. John De F. Barker and Al Chalmers. FitzSimons is also a former member of the board.

Others attending were Kenneth Youngblood, director of the Art Museum Group, and Mr. and Mrs. Glenn C. Marlow. Marlow is superintendent of Henderson County Schools. Mrs. Buchanan presented a floral arrangement to Mrs. FitzSimons, and the FitzSimonses presented the library some roses from their farm.

More than 50 persons attended the unveiling.

Photograph caption beneath the lower-right clipping image:

FRANK L. FITZSIMONS AND MRS. JOHN BEZISZ [sic — actual sculptor is James Killian Spratt of Mountain Home per the body of the article; the caption may name the donor or Art Museum representative posed beside the bust.]