Hank Jr. knocks down race rumors

Memphis Commerical Appeal ^ | 3 18 06

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Hank Jr. knocks down race rumors

No special requests made on care for daughters, says Med

By Pamela Perkins
Contact
March 18, 2006

Country music legend Hank Williams Jr. and officials at the Regional Medical Center at Memphis held a press conference Friday to dispel rumors -- rampant in local broadcast media -- accusing him of requesting racially motivated changes in the staff members caring for his two daughters.

"My blood pressure went up 50 points" upon learning of the rumor, Williams said. "I challenge you to interview anyone in this hospital about what they think about Randall Hank Williams Jr. and what he thinks about folks."

Holly Williams, 25, and Hilary Williams, 27, are recovering at The Med from injuries received after their car flipped over several times late Wednesday on U.S. 61 just north of Dundee, Miss., in Tunica County. They were en route to their grandfather's funeral in Louisiana.

Dr. Tim Fabian, chief of surgery at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, said Holly suffered a fractured wrist and multiple contusions and should soon be released.

Hilary is in critical condition having suffered right-hip, left-femur and right-ankle fractures and torn intestines. She has had two surgeries so far with more planned.

"We received no instructions from the Williams family as to who should care for (his daughters)," said Med president and CEO Dr. Bruce Steinhauer.

Theresa D. Alexander, a black trauma unit nurse assigned to care for his daughters, said the rumor could have begun internally after a change from a black staff member to a white one.

Alexander, a 20-year veteran of the unit, and hospital officials said staff changes are common and usually based on experience.

Williams said Holly "is recovering quite well" and could soon be released, but Hilary had life-threatening injuries.

"I've been upstairs with her this morning and she is doing well."

With a quaking voice, he said two black women found his daughters lying on the side of the road and one of them began praying over Hilary.

"The most important thing to me is my crushed and broken daughter upstairs," he said.

"It's been a long two days."

-- Pamela Perkins: 529-6514

Copyright 2006, commercialappeal.com - Memphis, TN. All Rights Reserved.

[Coldwater Creek]

Just last week, during the horrible storms that was in the Memphis area, a woman that was belted in hydroplaned and was ejected from her vehicle and killed.

[garyhope]

My dad installed seat belts in our car in 1956. In those days you had to put them in yourself. It wasn't easy, you had to drill holes in the floor and bolt them in, crawl under the car to install the nuts.

I feel uncomfortable driving without a seat belt.

I've got a friend that has been ticketed 4 or more times for driving without a belt, but she's one of those people that drives with the seat as far forward as it can go and is right on top of the steering wheel. She complains that the belt hurts her neck. She's one of the world's worst drivers.

[SouthernFreebird]

I'm 5'2 and I have to sit right up on the steering wheel to reach the pedals. The seat belt cuts into my neck all the time, I have to stick it under my arm. But I suspect the damn air bag will get me if I'm in a crash. My face is right there on it.

[GailA]

My boy friend and I survived a head on crash at mal-function junction here in Memphis last month with just some bruising and bumps, thanks to GOD and seat belts.

Prays up for these two young ladies.

[Sybeck1]

I heard Hank's rebuttal yesterday on the radio while on the interstate and was almost moved to tears. It was a very strong statement.

In Memphis TN, it all comes down to race, and I am sure this will covered by Andrew Clark Sr. here at

http://www.wrecradio.com/main.html

live from noon to 3pm central time, barring of course a Vol basketball game.

Andrew Clark Sr. is a black conservative independent, who drives the race baiters in that city crazy!

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I've listened to this station while visiting the Memphis area. Its vicimology, 24/7.

[vetvetdoug]

For anyone not acquainted with the Memphis area, the Memphis black community is the largest bunch of race baiters in the country and export their brand of victimization and poor mouthing to the entire country. Memphis is a cesspool and not a hospitable place for whites since Willie "Hump" Harrington became Mayor. The white flight from Memphis is without precedent and the cities within 100 miles of there are growing exponentially with the white influx. The city will be destroyed economically and physically if the current trend is endured.

[metalurgist]

On the other hand, a friend of ours went to sleep, rolled her car, and was walking around normally the next day because she was wearing her belt.

Then again, my friends 17 year old son was killed when the Olds Toronado he was riding in flipped over in an accident. Of the 5 passengers in the auto, he was the only one wearing a seat belt. The 4 boys not wearing seat belts were tossed around in the car and had some slight bruises, but walked away. My friends son Joey was held in place by the seat belt and his head was smashed when the Oldsmobile's roof crushed down.

Sometimes, when your numbers up there's nothing you can do.

[cva66snipe]

I may be wrong, but my guess is that the accident was made worse by lack of proper seat belt use, since they were found "lying by the side of the road". If that was the case, I wish Hank would, after the daughters get out of the hospital, take the opportunity to say a few words to his fans encouraging them to buckle up. Unfortunately here in the rural south, we read every day about people being thrown out of vehicles, often with fatal results. On the other hand, a friend of ours went to sleep, rolled her car, and was walking around normally the next day because she was wearing her belt.

Police Report in an earlier release said they were in fact wearing them and they did save their lives. The SUV rolled multiple times. I suspect either persons on scene got them out of the SUV due to potential fire risk or they got out themselves which is pretty common also.

[garyhope]

Small tip, they make these seat belt pads that wrap around the seat belt and fasten with Velcro.

OR,...as I gave a friend of mine, one of those small or medium binder or bulldog spring clip fasteners, the black ones with the 2 fold out handles.

You pull the belt out so it's not pulling on your neck and clip the belt next to where it comes out of the frame so it doesn't fully retract and it gives you some slack and is not rubbing on your neck. That way the belt will still look fastened (and the cops won't stop you for a no belt ticket) and you'll still have some protection.

[durasell]

Ironic since Hank Sr. was taught much of what he knew from a black man and was always grateful.

[cquiggy]

I'm sure the only special requests being made by Hank Jr. at a time like this. Are directed to the good lord above.

[zip]

You're right.

[MikeD]

"Love to spit some Beech-Nut in that dude's eye" Bocephus BUMP. He's raised some heck in his time, but he's a good guy...