The handsome young man approached me as I pumped gasoline into his car. "Here, please take one of these and vote for me," he said, handing me a political flyer.

"Sorry, sir," I replied. "I'm not old enough to vote."

"Well, then, tell your folks, please. I'm WIlliam B. Hartsfield, and I'm running for Mayor."

I thanked him and said I would.  He was elected and served in that position for a number of years, building a great legacy  for the city of Atlanta.

"Fast-forward", as they say, to 1967. I was by then a well-known TV personality in Atlanta and other locales, and was selected by MGM to act as Master of Ceremonies for the 70 milimeter version of "Gone With The Wind" which had its premier at Loew's Grand Theater, the site of its original premier in 1939.  Also handling hosting duties was by then ex-Mayor Hartsfield. He was a most charming gentleman and thrilled to be meeting the movie stars. I never spoke to him during that event, because I doubt that he would have remembered me, although he probably would have acted as though he did.

At some point the Atlanta airport was renamed Hartsfield International, having been known as Candler Field after Asa G. Candler, the Coca Cola magnet. One day I stood behind the Mayor at the ticket counter at the airport as the agent asked him for some identification. I stepped up beside him and told her, "Look behind  you." There on the wall was about a 10 foot high portrait of Mayor Hartsfield. I said, "That's all the identification he will need."  We all had a good laugh.