This New Year's Day will mark the 60th anniversary of the death of county music legend Hank Williams.

It also marks six decades since one local resident was involved in part of country music's history.

Floyd Douglas of Dandridge met and even helped Hanks Williams on his last night.

Douglas worked at the Andrew Johnson Hotel in Knoxville where Hank Williams was staying just before his untimely death.

"I was a student at UT at the time," said Douglas. "I also worked as a night auditor at the Andrew Johnson Hotel."

He recalled that he noticed Williams being helped to his vehicle when he checked out of the hotel.

For more details, please see the Tuesday edition of the Newport Plain Talk.