Jerry Summers: Herman Brown Yap Killian (1921-2007) Wednesday, December 16, 2020 - by Jerry Summers
Jerry Summers
If you asked anyone from South Pittsburg or Marion County in Tennessee if they or any of their relatives ever knew or heard of the above-named individual the answer would probably be “No!”
However, if you asked them if they were familiar with the name of “Yap” Killian the recognition signals would immediately bring into play many interesting, colorful and often humorous stories of how things were done in the rural area during the period of his life from 1921-2007.
The origin of his nickname “Yap” as provided by one of his sons is alleged to have been given to young Herman Brown at an early age due to his propensity to talk with a “gift of gab”.
What a run the Union High football team had to reach the Class 4 state semifinals.
The Wildcats gave fans memories that will last years, at a time when everyone could use some happy thoughts. For me, it was particularly fun because of the opponents Union faced.
You see, Iâm the kind of person who, whenever I hear about a high school, I have to go to Wikipedia to see who its ânotable alumniâ are. Iâll even drive by a school in a major city and ask my wife to immediately look up who went there.
And the former students at the schools the Wildcats faced made up a whoâs who of well-known people from the St. Louis area.