It came about because of a bet in 1948.
In the Democratic gubernatorial primary of that year, Herman Talmadge challenged the incumbent governor, M. E. Thompson. Cullen Grant was convinced that Thompson would win the primary and hence become governor again, as Republicans in those days represented no serious challenge to the Democratic nominees. E. D. (Red) Abercrombie, who worked for Grant, was equally sure that Talmadge would win.
Grant said that he had no money to wager, but he did have access to a wheelbarrow, so the two men made a bet that the supporter of the loser in the primary would push the supporter of the winner to Macon in a wheelbarrow.
With Talmadge’s victory in the primary, Cullen Grant lost the bet, and so on Saturday morning, September 11, 1948 at 5:00 he began pushing the wheelbarrow with Abercrombie in it the twenty-five miles to Macon.
For the trip, Abercrombie wore his Talmadge tie and red suspenders. Grant wore a sign proclaiming “Forsyth to Macon. 25 miles. I bet on Thompson.”
Enroute Abercrombie became uncomfortable and asked for a pillow. “You ain’t getting no pillow,” replied Grant–and Abercrombie didn’t.
In Bibb County two deputies gave Grant a “warning ticket” for operating a vehicle without a license and for “reckless walking.” They also checked him for weaving but found that he was weaving from the effects of the journey and not from any alcohol. When the Monroe County pair arrived at the Macon city limits, the chief of police, Ben T. Watkins, a native of Monroe county, provided a motorcycle escort.
The feet of the 236-pound Grant were quite swollen when they got to Macon, and Abercrombie had some raw skin, not having had the cushioning of a pillow during this twenty-five mile trip in a wheelbarrow.
