I rec'd a news article in the mail fr a Cuz Smeathers and want to share it with you as it relates to the Smothers Bros, so ironic bec I had no idea I was receiving it and too coincidental to receive it when this discussion is going on. [There is no date on it, so I do not know when this was in the paper, maybe cuz can clue us in when she reads this]. Interesting many of us have had some connection to them bef we ever thought abt genealogy. "FAMILY UNITED" BY Marvelle Smeathers Mueller, Monroe WI "We corresponded by mail and phone for four months on our family tree before I met them for the first time. Tom sent us free tickets to see their show at the Capitol Civic Center in Manitowac WI where past famous movie stars traveled by train from Calif. to entertain. We were escorted back stage by three guards to meet Tom and Dick. I was shocked to see how much Tom & Dick looked like my dec'd brothers Norman & Raymond. I showed Tom a picture of my brother & Tom said, "Look Dick, he looks just like us, he has our big ears!" My maiden name is Smeathers and Tom & Dick are Smothers. Our late past 5th generation grandfather changed our name. The real name is Smothers. [??] Dick has a son who is a professional singer and so is my daughter Teri & my son Steve is a singer & drummer." Under this is a picture of Marvelle's brother, Raymond, in a side view [I guess to show the profile & ears] and a picture of Tom is on the other side. [they certainly do look like brothers!] Under these 2 are 3 pictures, Marvelle is in the center with Tom and Dick on each side of her. [I see much resemblence for sure.] They are standing behind probably a big poster or sign that is a replica of the Sign that is at the William Smeathers Park in Owensboro KY. It says: "Bill Smothers Park". Site of home of William Smeathers [Bill Smothers] who in 1797-98 made first permanent settlement at Yellow Banks, now Owensboro. Officer in Kentucky "Corn Stalk" Militia in 1803 and on expedition up the Wabash River against the Indians; in the War of 1812 under General Samuel Hopkins. [notice nothing abt being in Rev War]. He then went to Texas as an Indian Hunter and guide. He died there 1837." Many yrs ago when I still lived in Tx and bef genealogy, my aunt, my father's sister told me she had made a trip to Richmond VA to do some research on our Smothers. She had these long narrow tubes with brittle parchment like paper in them and told me she had found out we were related to the Smothers Brothers. She eventually gave the tubes to me and for yrs I have tried to find them, without any luck-[I dont know what happened to them, unless they got lost in my moving fr Tx to Wa in 1973-Nena] Fr cuz of our Smeathers line:-this is so interesting. When I was five we lived in California for only one year. I remember very clearly my father talking about the Smothers Brothers and they were performing there (nobody knew about them back then --this would have been 1957) and he said they were our cousins. Wouldn't that be great if they did the DNA. I have always wondered "how" we were cousins. It wasn't something my father would say unless he was sure about it --and he was specific in telling us because nobody knew who they were and he and my mother went to see them perform as I recall. Not something they would just ordinarily do either. Also, I'm really curious as to the ship their dad was on and if it might possibly been the same one Dwight Butler was on as well. A terrible tragedy. My husband's uncle D Butler (my son is named after him) was at the Bataan March and on a Japanese prisoner of war ship and it was actually (and most unfortunately) attacked by the U.S. as it was not marked. John's uncle died on that ship and I'm wondering if there is any possibility it was the same one of the Smothers' Brothers.So sad. Also--another tidbit. One of my customers owned a hotel in Houston by the name of Tidelands. It was sort of the first in Houston to bring in some unknown entertainers that then became famous--The Smothers Brothers were a couple that he had there. Last tidbit--when I was competing in racquetball many years ago,I recall reading that The Smothers' Brothers were both avid racquetball players. I didn't see any mention of that. [I saw this but did not list it!] Think I told you Mom visited with the Smother's brothers when here at Tacoma years ago--she was invited down to the ranch they had at that time in Calif. She has the program for that show and it is signed by Dick Smothers---Coop _________________________________________________________________ STOP MORE SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail