For many years Bonnie used a reliable, steady, approach for marketing The Pioneer House Restaurant. She wrote these pieces using dry wit and her alter-ego Mammy. Locals knew and loved The Pioneer House but Bonnie advertised to reach new customers and visitors to the area. And since many visitors were getting off of airplanes just a little bit down Alcoa Highway, Bonnie appealed directly to them through the Knoxville's Visitors Guide, Panorama (my magazine) that was distributed all around the airport and in the area hotels.

Bonnie recognized the mass appeal to tourists of home cooking and our hillbilly culture. So, like Granny in the popular Beverly Hillbillies tv show, she too was gregarious, head-strong, wise, and lovable in her own cranky way.

She always had THE prime location in Panorama - the front inside cover. And over the years, every big restaurant in town requested that spot and was willing to pay a premium price. And everytime I meekly suggested she had something that everyone wanted, she let me know -- "You better not be thinking about raising my ad rate!" -- and I never did.

Attached is just one example of her genius marketing mind - you can read more in the photo gallery;