A Grove Tradition Began When The Guys Wore Ties and The Girls Wore Pearls

Danny Dickey is a HottyToddy.com contributing photographer who often takes photos of Ole Miss sporting events and other subjects. Although an amazing photographer, Dickey reflects here on his years of Ole Miss tailgating and shares some photos of he and his family from the other side of the lens.

In 1984, “Before Tents” as Dickey said, Billy Brewer was head coach, the stadium capacity was 42,000, there were no TVs and cars were allowed to park in the Grove.

Dickey said, that’s when “guys wore ties and girls wore pearls.”

Dickey and his wife, Betty, in the Grove in October, 1984.

“We began our family tailgating days in the early 90’s at Ole Miss from our van parked in the old Law School parking lot with our neighbors and good Tupelo friends, the Kahlstorfs,” Dickey said. “From there, we moved to the Grove for the time our three children were in their high school and college years, and then migrated to the Circle. With children moving and beginning careers and families, we ‘retired’ from our Grove/Circle years, but always remember the special Saturdays in Oxford with our family and friends.”

Dickey and his daughter Alison in September, 1997.

The Dickeys: Danny, Drew, Betty, granddaughter Callie Grace (who is now a 12-year-old 7th grade cheerleader at Oxford Middle School), Alison, Jody and Adrian…it was election year, October 30, 2004.

Danny, Adrian and Betty September, 2003.

“We celebrated Alison’s and Jody’s September engagement, 1999”

The Dickey family: Drew, Alison, Betty, Adrian and Danny. Fall, 1998.

Alison and Betty Dickey in November, 1998.

Randall Haley is the managing editor of HottyToddy.com. She can be reached at randall.haley@hottytoddy.com.