A Wizard with Words

It’s week 6 of the #52ancestors challenge by Amy Johnson Crow, and our theme is “Social Media.” Here’s our prompt:

Social media can connect us to people we otherwise wouldn’t have encountered. Have you made a family history discovery via social media? (What about in the social column of their newspaper — that was basically their Facebook!) Have you ever imagined how an ancestor would have used social media? Write about it this week.

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Myrna McCorcle Smith

A native of Tipton, Oklahoma and a daughter of Tillman County Sheriff Jinks McCorcle, Myrna Smith (aka Mimi) had a colorful newspaper career. She worked in various capacities during her 25+ years in the industry, including a little bit of everything when she and Buster, her husband and my great grandfather, ran their own newspaper.

Myrna joined the Plainview Daily Herald in 1959. As the Society News-Lifestyle Editor for two decades (1963-1985), she produced a large amount of copy, wrote features, and had her own column called “Potpourri.” In this column, she didn’t hesitate to discuss her life, perspective on society, and other musings. 

To my delight, this gives me a window into her world from her own perspective, long before the proliferation of social media made “sharing” ordinary. It also makes me wonder about the longevity of everything we write and post on our social media pages. Are we creating some sort of legacy through the things we share online? Will our online presence age well? Are we interesting? Authentic? 

One of many tributes to Myrna:

“Myrna Smith is a well-known wizard with words. Readers of the Daily Herald’s column, Potpourri, are intimately acquainted with the newspaper’s Woman’s Editor, whose crisp writing style is unmistakable.”

The Plainview Daily Herald

I’ll resist the temptation to claim Myrna as my favorite ancestor because I’m sure I would be just as fond of the others given the opportunity chance to “know” as much about them, but I sure love learning about her life and experiences. This #52ancestors challenge has prompted me to read her column and other material she wrote again, and it’s even better than I remembered. She’s thought-provoking and wise with a semi-dry sense of humor. Don’t take my word for it— you can see for yourself! I’m going to share articles from her Potpourri column on my Instagram and blog on a regular basis. 

Thanks for the inspiration, Amy Johnson Crow!

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