Richard McGibony stands Sunday, March 26, 2017 near a tree that will be taken down soon because it interferes with power lines. McGibony remembers sitting by the tree when he was a boy, watching the train carrying President Franklin D. Roosevelt.The towering, century-old oak in Richard McGibony's front yard is more than just a tree to the 82-year-old Rossville, Ga., resident.
It's the site of one of his fondest childhood memories.
Soon, it will be a sign of how things change.
The tree is marked with a large red 'X,' to show that it will be chopped down this week so its branches won't interfere with the nearby power lines.
"It's progress," McGibony said Sunday, gesturing towards the old oak that overlooks Mission Ridge Road. "And it's time. Time rolls on. But it's a part of history."
McGibony stood under the tree 74 years ago as President Franklin Roosevelt rolled by on a train during the height of World War II. The president was visiting Fort Oglethorpe, and a young McGibony understood the significance of the occasion.
The train tracks are right across the street from the well-maintained house where McGibony still lives. He recalled soldiers lining the tracks as far as his eye could see while Roosevelt's train rolled slowly by on that momentous occasion for Northwest Georgia.
He recalls the day fondly, but McGibony said he's OK with the tree coming down.
"I knew they were doing it, and I talked to the ol' boy from the power company," McGibony said. "They were going to trim everything off the side, and I just told them to take it down."
Roosevelt's train ride past his house sticks out to McGibony as a memory from his childhood. It was far from his last interaction with trains, however. He retired in 1999 after working 40 years for a railroad company and has long been a singer with local bands. He still records music in a home studio while enjoying life with his wife, Gene.
"My time is limited anyway, but I've been blessed," he said. "You're allowed so much time, and I've about used mine up. The tree will go, then I'll go and that'll be it. It's lived its life and it's a part of history."
Some may recognize McGibony's name for the songs he's written.
Among the most noteworthy, he wrote "Monteagle Mountain," a tune popularized by Johnny Cash. McGibony still enjoys writing music.
Will he write a song about the tree?
"I haven't yet," he said.
"But," Gene chimed in, "he will."
Contact staff writer David Cobb at dcobb@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6249.