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Posted By: Reid Bruce

Just a little background and tooting of my own horn...Sullivan fought and beat Paddy Ryan in Mississippi City in 1882 under an enormous oak tree which was beside the old Mississipi City courthouse and jail. The fight is referred to on the back of the T220 Sullivan. (Incidentally, Jefferson Davis, ousted President of the Confederacy, also gave his last speech under the same oak tree.)

In 1986, the American Legion wanted to tear down the courthouse and tree to build a parking lot. (No Joni Mitchell jokes please). At any rate, as a ten year old nerdy history minded kid, the idea of tearing down the beautiful beachside property where the Sullivan Ryan fight occurred really got me hot. I started a petition drive, got alot of press and donations and saved the old courthouse and tree (Now located in Gulfport, Mississippi and operating as the tourist information center). I'm trying to get two copies of both of the Sullivan cards to put in my law office, one to display the front and one for the back of each card.