Walt Grayson, well known Mississippi television personality, will be the featured speaker for the next monthly meeting of the Natchez Historical Society. The meeting is set for Tuesday, April 26, at the Historic Natchez Foundation, 108 South Commerce St.

A native of Greenville, Walt began his broadcasting career at a radio station in Greenville while he was still in high school. Employed at WLBT in Jackson since 1984, Walt serves as host of a weekly feature titled “Look Around Mississippi.” In addition to being an occasional pinch hitter in the WLBT Weather Center, Walt also produces and hosts “Mississippi Roads”, a production of Mississippi Public Broadcasting.

Writing is another interest of Walt’s. He writes a monthly article for Today in Mississippi, a newspaper published by the Electric Power Association. Walt is the author of four books: “Jackson the Good Life,” “Looking Around Mississippi with Walt Grayson,” “Looking Around Mississippi Some More! With Walt Grayson” (awarded the Nonfiction Book of the Year in 2008 by the Mississippi Library Association), and “Oh! That Reminds Me, More Homegrown Mississippi Stories with Walt Grayson.” Walt is a member of the Associated Press Mississippi Broadcasters Hall of Fame. In addition to writing, Walt’s other hobbies are photography and restoring old tube-type radios. He is married to his junior high school sweetheart, “Miz” Jo.

Although he works primarily in Jackson and lives in the Jackson area, Walt is particularly fond of Natchez. He usually makes several trips a year to Natchez, either filming a special television production or strictly for rest and relaxation. He has been invited to Natchez for social functions and also as a special participant in the city’s Mardi Gras and St. Patrick’s Day Parades.

A social hour will begin at 6:30 p.m., and the meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m. The meeting is free and open to the public. For more information or if you wish to become a member of the Natchez Historical Society, call President Charlie Vess at 601-446-6461. If you have never met Walt, you are in for a treat. He loves people and never meets a stranger. Come out and visit with Walt on Tuesday, April 26 at 108 South Commerce St. Who knows – you might learn something new about Natchez or Mississippi, or you may even find yourself or someone you know as a character in one of Walt’s stories!

 

Kathy King is the Natchez Historical Society publicity chair