{"id":2741,"date":"2015-03-25T14:29:22","date_gmt":"2015-03-25T19:29:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bestofswla.com\/?p=2741"},"modified":"2015-09-02T11:14:59","modified_gmt":"2015-09-02T16:14:59","slug":"from-military-man-to-master-gardener-the-story-of-maj-gen-erbon-wise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bestofswla.com\/2015\/03\/25\/from-military-man-to-master-gardener-the-story-of-maj-gen-erbon-wise\/","title":{"rendered":"FROM MILITARY MAN TO MASTER GARDENER: THE STORY OF MAJ. GEN. ERBON WISE"},"content":{"rendered":"

Story and color photos by Angie Kay Dilmore<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Gen.<\/a><\/p>\n

In Southwest Louisiana, a treasure can be found around every turn of the road. One of these treasures is the Tall Pines Ranch \u2014 a 40-acre piece of paradise tucked away four miles north of Sulphur.<\/p>\n

The real treasure here isn\u2019t only the property. It\u2019s also the man who lives there. At nearly 95, Gen. Erbon Wise enjoys sharing the stories of his fascinating life, both through spoken tales and the many books he\u2019s written.<\/p>\n

Wise was born in a log home in Claiborne Parish, La., in 1920. He spent his youth in Leesville, the son of a farmer.<\/p>\n

At the Louisiana State Normal College (now Northwestern State University), he majored in agriculture. He spent much of his time working on the school newspaper and writing stories for the local Natchitoches papers.<\/p>\n

This was his first taste of journalism, and the experience would serve him well after service in World War II.<\/p>\n

\"WISE<\/a><\/p>\n

His Military Years\u00a0(1941-1969)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Wise graduated from college in 1941. He worked briefly as a high school teacher in Avoyelles Parish. Then on Dec. 7, 1941, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. Like so many men at that time, Wise immediately joined the military. Before he headed off to war, he married his college sweetheart, Marie Norris.<\/p>\n

Wise joined the Army Air Corps. He was among the first American troops sent to England in 1942. He was in the 91st B-17 Heavy Bombardment Group of \u201cMemphis Belle\u201d fame.<\/p>\n

Wise participated in the Normandy Invasion in June, 1944, landing at Utah Beach in an assault craft. He remembers enough military stories to fill an entire book (and he did just that). During his three years in Europe, he met several prominent leaders and celebrities. He recalls his encounter with Winston Churchill.<\/p>\n

Wise reminded me that it is well documented that Churchill was eager to participate in the Normandy Invasion. However, Eisenhower and King George tried hard to dissuade him.<\/p>\n

One day, Wise happened to be riding his bicycle on an airstrip not far from battle lines. He saw a small English plane, escorted by two Spitfire fighters, preparing to land. Wise rode over to the plane to investigate. He helped open the plane door, and \u201cout stepped Sir Winston, chomping on a cigar. He said, \u2018Take me to the front lines!\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, all I had was my bicycle, and he was a big man. I considered putting him on the handlebars, but I knew that wouldn\u2019t work. Then a jeep came by. I commandeered it and drove him over a hill about a mile from the front lines where we had some artillery firing.\u00a0\"wise<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cChurchill stood there and watched a few moments, then said, \u2018Take me back to my plane.\u2019 He was determined to participate in the invasion.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wise met Fred Astaire in France. The general had settled in for the evening. After Astaire finished his USO show, he stopped by Wise\u2019s tent. \u201cHe came into my place with a bottle of Scotch and had nowhere else to go, so we sat there all night drinking Scotch,\u201d says Wise.<\/p>\n

After the war ended in 1945, Wise returned to Louisiana and began a career in newspaper publishing. But he remained in the Army Reserves and commanded a reserve unit in Lake Charles.<\/p>\n

In 1964, Maj. Gen. Wise returned to active service as the adjutant general of the state of Louisiana in charge of the state militia during the Vietnam War. He and Marie moved to New Orleans and lived at Jackson Barracks from 1964 to 1968.<\/p>\n

During this time, he also served as state director of the Selective Service and was responsible for the state Civil Defense.<\/p>\n

He retired from the military in 1969, after 29 years of active and reserve service.<\/p>\n

\"Two<\/a><\/p>\n

Savvy Newspaper Publisher \u00a0(1945-1998)<\/strong><\/p>\n

In college, Wise worked on the school newspaper and wrote feature stories for small Natchitoches newspapers to help pay for college expenses.<\/p>\n

After the war ended in 1945, he returned to Natchitoches, determined to enter the newspaper business. He met unexpected resistance, which only made him even more determined.<\/p>\n

Wise refused to be intimidated. His dream was to buy The Natchitoches Times, but the owner wouldn\u2019t sell. So Wise started his own paper, The Natchitoches Chief. It soon became the most popular paper in town.\u00a0\"The<\/a><\/p>\n

Despite their success, Erbon and Marie didn\u2019t see a prosperous future for their newspaper in Natchitoches, so they bought The Maplewood Star and moved into a home on Parish Road in Maplewood. The newspaper office, as well as a meeting room where Wise commanded an Army Reserve unit, was located on the couple\u2019s property.<\/p>\n

After realizing success with the Maplewood paper, Wise bought the Sulphur newspaper, called The Southwest Builder at the time. Wise added to his periodical collection with papers in DeRidder and Leesville. Eventually, he owned newspapers in communities all across Louisiana and Texas.<\/p>\n

He retired from newspaper publishing in 1998.<\/p>\n

\"Greenhouse\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Preserving History By\u00a0Writing Books \u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>(1960-Present)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gen. Wise has written 24 books, including autobiographies that focus on his adventures in the military and his years in the newspaper business. He\u2019s also written about local history and genealogy. And he\u2019s composed travel and hunting memoirs.<\/p>\n

He has never owned a computer, and has written all his books on his collection of vintage Underwood manual typewriters.<\/p>\n

Between his travels with the military and vacations with his wife and family, Wise has been to 85 countries. In his home office, he has an impressive map of the world with a pushpin on every country he\u2019s visited.<\/p>\n

Wise continues to be an avid hunter and fisherman. His living room is a taxidermic testament to his prowess, with numerous antlered deer and moose heads mounted on the walls, and two large bearskin rugs near the fireplace.<\/p>\n

\"Azaleas\"<\/a><\/p>\n

A Passion For Gardening<\/strong><\/p>\n

In 1960, Wise bought 900 acres of land north of Sulphur. He lives on a 40-acre plot and leases the rest to cattle farmers and deer clubs. He also sells stands of timber.<\/p>\n

Over the years, Wise has transformed those 40 acres into a paradise, resplendent with hundreds of camellias and azaleas. He planted a citrus grove with 40 trees \u2014 satsumas, grapefruit, lemons, limes, kumquats, and several varieties of oranges. He has numerous fig trees, mayhaws, blueberries, and blackberries. In his greenhouse, he nurtures amaryllis, bougainvillea and Boston ferns, and tends to vegetable seedlings that will soon grow in his garden.<\/p>\n

His home is surrounded on three sides by a well-stocked pond. The property is so lovely, it has become a destination for portrait photographers. Bridal parties, prom dates, groups of graduates and Mardi Gras Krewes all\u00a0 flock to Tall Pines Ranch for photo shoots. Several footbridges provide popular backdrops.\u00a0\"More<\/a><\/p>\n

At the peak of azalea season, lines of people in cars drive through the grounds to admire the work of Wise\u2019s green thumb. Wise makes everyone feel welcome. He\u2019s happy to share his property with the public. \u201cIt\u2019s a pleasure,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Across the pond from his home, Wise built a lodge. It originally served as a guesthouse for his children. Now the facility is used for weddings, retreats, club meetings, family reunions and other events.<\/p>\n

How did Wise become so interested in gardening? \u201cWell, I grew up on a farm,\u201d he says. \u201cWhen I got ready to go to college, I didn\u2019t know what I wanted to study. I asked Daddy. He said, \u2018We\u2019re farmers. Study agriculture!\u2019 I got a degree in agriculture. But my heart wasn\u2019t in it. It\u2019s a hard life.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow it\u2019s coming out. I enjoy growing things. I generally get up and work outside two or three hours.\u201d<\/p>\n

When Wise strolls through his gardens, he cuts flowers to take into Marie\u2019s room. His beloved wife had a stroke 10 years ago and is bedridden. He cares for her, and also has around-the-clock nurses to help him.<\/p>\n

The couple has four children: a daughter Bonnie (Wise) Everett in Sulphur, Eddie Wise and his wife Inessa in Leesville, Ann Wise in Baton Rouge, and Larry Wise and his wife, Dr. Myra Wise. Larry lives on the property and owns Wise Publishing.<\/p>\n

Erbon and Marie have nine grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.<\/p>\n

At this time in his life, Wise prefers his simple lifestyle. \u201cI\u2019m trying to take it easy, but there\u2019s always plenty to do around here,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

\u201cI try to lead a quiet life. I spent so much time in the political field and the newspaper field, and running around … I just enjoy staying home.\u201d Fortunately for him, home is his own personal paradise.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Story and color photos by Angie Kay Dilmore In Southwest Louisiana, a treasure can be found around every turn of the road. One of these treasures is the Tall Pines Ranch \u2014 a 40-acre piece of paradise tucked away four miles north of Sulphur. The real treasure here isn\u2019t only the property. It\u2019s also the [&hellip<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":2742,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[173,733,4],"yoast_head":"\nFROM MILITARY MAN TO MASTER GARDENER: THE STORY OF MAJ. GEN. 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