Area fans will be thrilled to learn that football standout Chad Clifton has been selected as this year’s grand marshal of the Tennessee Iris Festival Parade, scheduled to take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 7, on the square in downtown Dresden.
Jeffrey Chad Clifton was born June 26, 1976, the youngest of five children, and lived the first year of his life in Trezevant. Chad’s first birthday was spent in Trezevant, but soon afterward, his family moved back to Martin.
Chad, nicknamed ‘Big Cliff’, played football and basketball in both jr. high and high school, but concentrated totally on football his senior year at Westview High School, where he was nominated for and received the “Mr. Football Award.” He also earned All-America honors from Parade and Scholastic Coach as a senior at Westview High School in Martin.
After being recruited by many colleges, Chad chose the University of Tennessee to further his football career. At Tennessee, Chad was a four-year starter and played in two national championship games, including the Fiesta Bowl victory over Florida State to culminate an undefeated 1998 season. During the 1999 season, he was given the honor of being named a team co-captain.
Chad was picked in the second round of the 2000 Draft by the Green Bay Packers and moved into the starting lineup at left tackle in the seventh game of his rookie season. He played so well down the stretch against some of the NFL’s best pass rushers that he drew serious consideration for all-rookie honors.
On Nov. 24, 2002, Chad had his year come to an abrupt end when he was blindsided by an unnecessary block during a third-quarter interception return at Tampa Bay. The bones of his pelvis were so severely sprained that he was hospitalized for nearly a week (in both Tampa and Green Bay) and was unable to walk on his own for roughly another six weeks, before beginning a full off-season of rehabilitation.
Chad made a spectacular comeback and in 2003, was the only Packers lineman to play all 1,032 offensive snaps. Chad played a pivotal role by shutting out Pro Bowl defensive end Simeon Rice, when Green Bay snapped the Buccaneers’ 69-game streak with at least one sack in a 20-13 triumph at Tampa Bay on Nov. 16, 2003. Ironically, that game marked his return to the same Raymond Jones Stadium field, where he suffered a season-ending pelvic injury roughly a year earlier. He parlayed his standout 2003 season into a lucrative, six-year contract extension (through March 2, 2009) with Green Bay on March 2, and only days earlier had been designated as the Packer’s “franchise” player.
The 330 lb. lineman, who is now 28, completed his 2004 season with no major injuries. Chad and his wife, Candy, who passed the Wisconsin bar exam in 2003, are enjoying the off-season on their farm in the Nashville area and looking forward to the birth of their first child (a boy) around the first of August.
Chad’s superior size and athletic abilities mark him as one of the best pass blockers in the National Football League today. As the Packers’ left tackle, he routinely shuts down many of the game’s top pass rushers, often with little or no assistance from teammates.
Everyone is invited to come on out to this year’s Iris Festival Parade and help honor local football hero, Chad Clifton, for the recognition he brings to his home State of Tennessee, as well as his old “stomping grounds” in Weakley County.

A rural Weakley County woman perished in a house fire over the weekend, with the cause of the blaze yet to be determined.
At approximately 11:46 p.m. Friday, the Gleason Fire Department received a fire call on the home of 72-year-old Joyce Fuller of 1472 Brawner’s Levee Road, located near the intersection of Wright Road, just south of Gleason. And firefighters utilizing a fire engine, tanker and rescue van, were dispatched to the scene.
A report filed by Gleason Fire Chief Jerry Connell indicates that the fire appeared to have been burning for 30 or more minutes before being reported to a Weakley County 911 dispatcher by a passerby, who called in the emergency. Chief Connell states that mutual aid was requested from McKenzie to supply water, and they supplied three firefighters and a tanker.
According to Gleason Fire Captain James R. Terrell, when he arrived at the scene at approximately 11:46 p.m., the wood frame home was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived at the scene and the roof had already collapsed. A neighbor informed the firefighters that the occupant was still in the house. Captain Terrell states that the victim’s car was parked next to the front of the house, and a natural gas line, located on the front-right corner of the house was ruptured. The front-right corner and right side of the home were completely consumed in the blaze, with just the floor area and a few studs, approximately 4 to 5 feet in length remaining. Only the wall on the middle and left side of the house were still standing. The electric line, which entered the house on the left side, had already fallen on the ground. Weakley County Electric Service was called to the scene to disconnect the live wires, and the gas company to shut off the spewing gas. Also, the outbuilding, located approximately 15 feet behind the house, was burning and the roof had collapsed. Terrell added that fire had not spread from the house into the adjoining yard due to recent heavy rains. The blaze was extinguished at 5:45 a.m. Saturday.
Chief Connell states that the State Fire Marshall’s Office and Weakley County Sheriff’s Department were called to the scene and that the elderly lady was found inside of her home, which was a total loss. Connell notes that the fire apparently started in the kitchen area.
Weakley County Sheriff’s Investigator Candice Floyd stated Tuesday afternoon that the investigation reveals that the fire most likely started on the stove, where a cooking pot was found welded to the stove eye.
The fire marshal states that he does not suspect arson in the case. But the cause of the fire remains under investigation. The victim’s body was sent to Nashville for an autopsy.
Gallimore Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

(Read the rest of this story in this week's print edition of the Dresden Enterprise.)

The authors of a book about the early years of Elvis Presley entitled, Sergeant Presley: Our untold story of Elvis’ Missing Years, have just released a new DVD about Elvis Presley, featuring U.S. Army archives promotional films taken during the singer’s military career. The DVD shows everything from Elvis’ induction in the Army to his discharge and return home to Graceland, and a lot in between.
Former Palmersville native Rex Mansfield and his wife, Elisabeth Stefaniak Mansfield, co-authored the book about the king of rock & roll, which they released in 2002.
The book focuses on the years Elvis spent in the Army - years that until the release of this book - remained largely unaccounted for.
Elvis’ fellow soldier and friend, Rex Mansfield, along with his wife Elisabeth - with whom Elvis was once romantically involved - recount the story about their association with the famous performer.
Together, the couple gained insights into Elvis’ life that few others ever had the chance to see, and reveal a fascinating portrait of young Elvis the soldier.
Tales of Elvis and Rex’s induction on the same day in Memphis, their basic training in Texas, and travel to Germany are recounted. The reader learns about the genesis of Elvis’ addiction to prescription drugs, his initial meeting with Priscilla Beaulieu, and his daily life on base and at home with his family and friends. Both Rex and Elisabeth tell their inside stories for the first time to an American audience.

(Read the rest of this story and much more new in the April 27th edition of the Dresden Enterprise.)