Daniel P. Szparaga [letters, July 1] said that former Georgia governor Lester Maddox "had an effect on the lives of at least a few people."
That is true. During the Maddox era in Georgia, I was driving through that state with my wife and two of our sons. We stopped at a diner for lunch.
At the entrance, the waitress ignored us, so we thought it was local practice to seat ourselves. We did, and we sat and sat. I finally summoned the waitress and asked whether we could order. She pointed to one of our sons and said, "Not with that n----- here." (Our son had a very dark tan.)
I asked the waitress to send over the manager. He came, carrying a Maddox ax handle that he banged on the table while repeating what the waitress had said.
We left quickly. I was not about to argue with a man swinging a Maddox ax handle, a symbol of the prejudice of that time.
Obviously, Mr. Maddox had an effect on the lives of my family.
LEONARD NADLER
Silver Spring
Well, those days are gone. Right?