Memphis State University - DeSoto Yearbook (Memphis, TN)

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He was the greatest friend I ever had, the most generous person I have ever known and he never forgot his friends. — George Klein Vernon moved his family to Memphis in 1948. Sporting a ducktail in the land of crewcuts, Elvis enrolled in Humes High School. He became a popular figure after appearing in a Humes talent show, where he again daz- zled an unsuspecting audience. Sam Phillips of Sun Record Company once said if he could find a white man who had the Negro sound he could make a billion dollars. Little did he know that man was about to make his debut. Elvis, on a lunch break from his job as a truck driver, went to Memphis Recording Ser- vice to record his mother ' s birth- day present. From then on, nothing stood in his way. Elvis Presley made 45 records that sold more than one million copies. Tunes like Jailhouse Rock, Heartbreak Hotel, Don ' t Be Cruel and Are You Lonesome Tonight? established Elvis as the King of Rock and Roll. His movies were equally suc- cessful. There were 33 in all, beginning with Love Me Ten- der in 1956. Throughout the semester, stu- dents were constantly reminded of the singer ' s death. Controversies surrounding the cause of death and even an attempt to steal his body kept Elvis ' name in the news. The bodies of the late singer and his mother were moved to Graceland and the gravesites were opened to the public. For Elvis ' adoring fans, the summer of 1977 would be remem- bered as a sad one. Although Elvis was out of sight, he would never be out of mind. The memories created by his music would never be forgotten. 22 Limelight M J • • •••■■■ ■ . 1 |.; v JP % Je ' ■fek • TB i , 11 n m m « » , 1 M m A . —. m ■ Top: Elvis demonstrates how he earned the nickname Elvis the Pelvis. Above: Elvis points to the sky after his moving version of Dixie.

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And now, the end is near, And so I face the final curtain. My friend, I say it clear, I state my case of which I ' m certain. I ' ve lived a life that ' s full; I ' ve traveled each and every highway. But more, much more than this, I did it my way. Regrets, I ' ve had a few, But then again, too few to mention. I did what I had to do, And so it proved, without exception. I planned each chartered course and careful step along the bi-way. And more, much more than this, I did it my way. Yes, there were times, I ' m sure you knew When I bit off more than I could chew; But through it all and every doubt, I ate it up and spit it out. I faced it all, and I stood tall And did it my way. I ' ve loved; I ' ve laughed and cried; I ' ve had my fill, my share of losing. And now as tears subside, I find it all so amusing. To think I did all that, And let me say, not in a shy way But more, much more than that, I did it my way. My Way Elvis Presley 1935-1977 Limelight 21

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Top: Two of Elvis ' adoring fans join the crowd of shocked mourners at Forest Hill Cemetery. Above: The serene beauty of the cemetery is a sharp contrast to the tearful scene inside the mausoleum where Elvis ' s body was first laid to rest. Left: Elvis assumes a familiar stance as he prepares to sing Fever. Limelight 23