define hillbilly??? (Springfield, Ozark, Branson: home, luxury, live)

[onjicamnden]

I thought that scince the "define redneck" thread is getting a big response that maybe this would also be interesting. So who would be considered a hillabilly, just anyone that lives in the hills or mountains? Whats your opinion?

[seashelly]

lol - A HillBilly is someone that is not as refined as a HillWilliam.

[Ozarks21]

I thought about this when the redneck thread was running hot.

In my mind, a hillbilly is poor, rural, somewhat reclusive and lives in an area that isn't any good for most farming. Of course, due to the boom in Branson, there are several very wealthy hillbillies in the area, so I may have to rethink my definition.

[Indy4570]

what ever a "hillbilly" is I'm a fixin ta be one soon as I kin git mah possibles situated on mah hill!

[christina0001]

A hillbilly is resourceful - he grows his own tobacca and makes moonshine. lol

[danbomo]

Going to see if I can find and email I received after I first moved to
the Ozarks. It was really good everyone will get a big kick out of it.
You will get the answer to what a hillbilly is. When I managed a restaurant
here in town we had a couple and four of their daughter's with them.
The mother asked me, do you know if there are any hillbilly's in here now.
I told her sure there is. Then she wanted to know if they would be
willing to get their picture's made with their daughters so they could take
it back home with them. Four of my regular customers volunteered, just
so happened they were in their over-all's and had either a ball cap or
a straw hat on. Believe me they really made a big deal out of getting
this picture made for these kids. What little these people knew but one
owned a great big farm, one was in property sales, not really sure what
the others did, I always assumed farming. But anyway we all have big
hearts and like to have fun.

[Indy4570]

after reading this I had to share it. It is from a book that is free online so I am going to place it here. I must agree with what it says about the term "Hillbilly"

THE HILLBILLY





IN 1960 the Springfield, Missouri, Court of Appeals ruled on a divorce case involving the use of the term "hillbilly."� Judge Justin Ruark, in the case Moore v. Moore (337 S.W. 2d 781) made the following statement in his decision:



In respect to plaintiff's evidence that Minnie once referred to relatives of the plaintiff as hillbillies: We suggest that to refer to a person as a "hillbilly," or any other name, for that matter, might or might not be an insult, depending upon the meaning intended to be conveyed, the manner of utterance, and the place where the words are spoken.� Webster's New International Dictionary says that a hillbilly is "a backwoods man or mountaineer of the southern United States;-often used contemptuously."� But without the added implication or inflection which indicates an intention to belittle, we would say that, here in Southern Missouri, the term is often given and accepted as a complimentary expression.� An Ozark hillbilly is an individual who has learned the real luxury of doing without the entangling complications of things which the dependent and over-pressured city dweller is required to consider as necessities.� The hillbilly forgoes the hard grandeur of high buildings and canyon streets in exchange for wooded hills and verdant valleys.� In place of creeping traffic he accepts the rippling flow of the wandering stream. He does not hear the snarl of exhaust, the raucous braying of horns, and the sharp, strident babble of many tense voices.� For him instead is the measured beat of the katydid, the lonesome, far-off complaining of the whippoorwill, perhaps even the sound of a falling acorn in the infinite peace of the quiet woods.� The hillbilly is often not familiar with new models, soirees, and office politics.� But he does have the time and surroundings conducive to sober reflection and honest thought, the opportunity to get closer to his God.� No, in Southern Missouri the appellation "hillbilly" is not generally an insult or an indignity; it is an expression of envy.



A debt is owed to Messrs. Randy and Mel Carnahan for tracking down this citation.� Any attempts to expand or improve on it would be comparable to polishing up Beethoven�s Ninth Symphony.

This is from a book by Tom Beveridge called; OZARKS I found it on a site called Conor Watkins ozark experience, this site has many wonderful links and info about the Ozarks Enjoy!

[onjicamnden]

Wow, Indy that is a great description. Thanks! Well..guess that about answers that question.

[danbomo]

Thanks Indy, that was great.

[twogun]

If your halloween pumpkin has more teeth than you do, you're probably a hillbilly.