1. On companionship: “Never date someone who has more problems than you.”
—My father, Jake Green

2. On judging a person’s character: “If you are having dinner with someone, and they are nice to you but rude to the waiter, he is probably not a nice person.”
—My parents, Judy & Jake Green

3. On Self-Respect: “No one can make you feel inferior without your own consent.”
—Eleanor Roosevelt

4. On success: “Failing to prepare is like preparing to fail.”
—Coach John Wooten

5. On the measure of a man: “Seek to be a man of value, not success.”
—Albert Einstein

6. On differences of opinion: “It’s a thin piece of ham that don’t have two sides.”
—Old country saying

7. On who may be listening to you: “Never underestimate your circle of influence.”
—Barbara Lynn Howell

8. On self worth & ego: “Take what you do seriously. Try not to take yourself too seriously.”
—My parents

9. On being Heard: “If you want someone to listen to what you say, whisper in their ear; do not shout it at them.”
—My parents

10. On taking on a Difficult Job: “The juice
is worth the squeeze.”
—Mayor Kasim Reed

Photo by Andy Silvers

A lifelong Savannahian, Ernest Frazier served 14 years in the Army before taking over the front lines of Chatham County’s hallowed halls of justice. As a primary deputy (referred to as a bailiff in other circles) in the court of the Honorable John E. Morse Jr., Frazier has helped to command and ensure a safe environment for the court’s civil and criminal proceedings for the last 11 years.

The South magazine spoke with Frazier recently about the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth regarding life on the right side of the law.

The South magazine: How does your workday begin?

Ernest Frazier: The typical day for me begins at about 7 a.m. I want to make sure I have all the court documents, that I have a way to ensure that every inmate is in court once his name is called. With the personnel that’s assigned with me, I’ll search the courtroom for contraband. And I’ll go to the judge’s chambers for any additional instructions. Then I’ll open court for the judge, his staff and everyone in that courtroom.

TSM: How do you view your role within the judiciary?

EF: I play an important role in the community, giving the people of Chatham County and the judges a sense of safety. Providing the security for the judges and the citizens, that’s a very rewarding thing for me. I believe that I’m truly serving a purpose in the community.

TSM: What’s the most difficult courtroom situation you‘ve encountered?

EF: Once one of the guys came into court, and he basically had a razor blade in his mouth. Once he’d determined [what] the outcome of his case was going to be, he was going to use the razor blade. I discovered the razor blade myself and removed it from his mouth.

TSM: Any humorous or lighthearted stories?

EF: There’s a defendant that came to court for trial. After the jury’s guilty verdict, the defendant put the Bible in his hand and said, ‘God said, let’s get naked. Yeahhh-uhh.’ And he disrobed himself and exposed himself to the jury.

TSM: In open court?

EF: In open court, yes.

TSM: Oh, boy. What happened next?

EF: I had to subdue him and escort him out of the courtroom and into one of the secure lockup areas.

You’d be hard-pressed to find someone that speaks more fluently—or frequently—on Savannah’s storied history than Bob Register. As a tour guide with Old Savannah Tours for the last 15 years, he leads over 750 tours annually and has shaped the experiences of literally thousands of visitors with his genteel manners, erudite delivery and homespun Hostess City charm.

The South recently jumped on the trolley with the 65-year-old, fourth-generation Savannhian for a chat about being an ambassador for the city and having more Georgia on his mind than Ray Charles.

The South magazine: Does this job come naturally to you?

Bob Register: I’ve always been a salesman. So what I’m doing now is I’m selling Savannah. I’m still a salesman. My product has just changed.

TSM: How long did it take you to develop your style and approach on the tours?

BR: Oh, about 65 years! And it’s still a work in progress. I work at this every day, and I mean that literally.

TSM: You’re quite a student of Savannah’s history, aren’t you?

BR: When I was young, I didn’t pay a lot of attention to it because downtown was [just] a lot of old stuff. But as I got older, I developed a real insatiable thirst for knowledge about the city. That led ultimately into me becoming a tour guide.     > TSM: Savannah is a quirky place. Any strange experiences on your trolley to report?

BR: I had a lady ask me about three years ago—and this woman was in her mid-60s—she told me that she’d come to Savannah to go to Paula Deen’s restaurant. [She explained that] she’s a big fan, and she had a facelift before coming just in case she met Paula Deen.

TSM: What do you want to leave the tourists with?

BR: They’re not going to remember every last thing you’ve told them, but what they are going to remember is how they feel about their experience in Savannah and how they feel about the people. And I think the impression that I make upon these people and the way I present the city is going to determine their impression of the entire community. It gives me a great sense of pride and satisfaction to be part of these people’s lives O