Adrian Neal Cooper.

Neal Cooper was a 1939 graduate of Rockport High School. Soon after graduation he raised his right hand when Uncle Sam said that he was needed. He picked up the furnished equipment from Uncle Sam and went to war.

After service to his country, Neal married Rudel Ward of Hartford and raised two children. Neal went to work for General Electric in Owensboro and stayed there until retirement.

William Lawrence Tooley.

William L. "Bill" Tooley was a 1935 graduate of Rockport High School. He joined the United States Army serving seven years both in the states and in Iceland. He attended Western Kentucky University for three years. After teaching school, Bill operated a restaurant in Rockport.

Bill was married to Irene Flener. They had four children and twelve grandchildren. He departed this life in 1977.

Write-up on Bill was done by Bette Curtis. Thanks Bette.

The Barnard Sisters in 2006.

The pictured "Sisters" are part of a family of Mr. and Mrs. Richard (Dick) Barnard. Mr. and Mrs. Barnard raised a large family and tried to insure that each of their children graduated from Rockport High School. They not only graduated, all of the sisters settled in the area and all tried to make this county a better place to live.

Going to school in the thirties was not the "Piece Of Cake" that it is today. None of the Barnard's could just jump in their personal vehicle and drive to and from school. Even riding a school bus was not a promised and guaranteed means of arriving at school. At best, a student may not have to walk but a few miles to catch a bus and walking to school in inclement weather was not out of the question. Just to get to and from school, in those days, would boggle the modern day student's mind. Now, when a student ends a school day, they can play, roam, meet up with friends and countless other things that the modern student will do in an afternoon of fun and games. The student of the thirties would get home, only to find chores that had to be done. Forget play time, there was work to be done. Mr. and Mrs. Dick Barnard, like countless other families in those days, had to work hard to make ends meet. Dick was a coal miner, but work was not steady and the miners in those days did not get the forty hour work week nor the benefits the modern miner is used to having, thus a supplemental income was a normal event. Farm life could add to a joy and fulfillment to the family of the times prior to the sixties. Farm life also meant the chores would be there when a student came home from school and most farms were not located in a small town or next to a main highway, thus a walk to and from a school bus boarding was just a normal event.

Ester Barnard Brown and Martha Barnard James graduated from Rockport in 1935. This may have been the first class to graduate from the new High School that was completed in the first part of 1935. Martha is picture on the left and Ester is pictured third from left in a black top.

Electa Barnard Chinn graduated from Rockport in 1938. Electa is pictured next to Ester and in a purple top.

Ada Barnard Raymond graduated from Rockport in 1940.

There was a gap of a few years between the next set of siblings. In the period of history of the thirties and forties, it was not uncommon for a husband and wife to raise a few children, take a few years break without any children and then start a new family, so to speak. Jimmy, Ann, and Betty were the results of this "Second Family". Jimmy graduated in 1948, Ann in 1949 and Betty in 1954. In the above picture, Ann is on the right and Betty next to her.

Thanks to Betty for supplying picture and graduation dates. Wishing you all a great day.

See you......
jrd

Walter Bruce "Pete" Mason graduated from Rockport High School in 1931. It was his class that chose the school colors--purple and gold, and the mascot--The Tiger! He served our country in the army during W W II having been stationed in the China, Burma, India theater of war. He married Thelma Tooley and they had one daughter and one granddaughter. The two worked together in the family grocery store in Rockport from the late 1940's until their retirement. Pete was active in his church and the Masonic Lodge, and is a Kentucky Colonel. He remains an avid sports fan-UK football and basketball in particular.

Thanks to Pete's daughter, Suzanne, for the picture and the write-up.

Note: This original works on Pete Mason was assembled and sent out early in August of 2006. Pete passed away on Monday, August 21, 2006. Rockport has lost another ambassador. He was certainly one of Rockport's, more informed, historians. Pete will sadly be missed by all.

Thelma Marguerite (Tooley) Mason graduated from Rockport High School in 1933. She married Walter Bruce "Pete" Mason and they had one daughter and one granddaughter. The two worked together in the family grocery store in Rockport from soon after W W II until retirement. Thelma was active in her church, homemakers club, and the Democratic Political Party. She enjoyed traveling and was very talented in cooking and baking. She departed this life in November 2001.

Thanks to Thelma's daughter, Suzanne, for the picture and the write-up.

James Maddox.

Picture of James D. Maddox was taken at the 2006 Rockport Reunion by jrd.

The following information was submitted by James. Thanks James.

James D. Maddox Rockport High School class of 1939, Military Service World War II 1941- 1945, B S Degree Western Kentucky Teachers College 1948, Teacher of Vocational Agriculture R E Butler High School Princeton, Ky. 1948 - 1954, Director of Kentucky F F A leadership Training Center at Hardinsburg, Kentucky and Supervisor of High School Vocational Agricultural Education programs in the North Central District 1954 - 1972, M S Degree University of Kentucky 1960, Assistant Director of Agricultural Education in Frankfort Office 1972, Retired Department of Education 1984 Now living in Frankfort, Kentucky. Have attended the last four or five Rockport Reunions.

Played basketball at RHS for four years some other members of the teams were James Park, Forest Elder,Beverley Stewart, Neal Cooper, Baun Everly, Lavern Barnard and others I do not recall at this time. It was during those years that the gymnasium was completed and we no longer had to go to McHenry to practice and play home games.

The Rockport High School is pictured above. It was called a High School, although it was for elementary students as well as High School Students. Imagine, if you will, a school with all grades represented. Guess that process of having elementary students going to the same school as high school students is a thing of the past. It seemed to work as far as most were concerned. Imagine also, each small town having a school. Another "Thing Of The Past".

This school building was built by the government in the early thirties. The "Work Projects Administration", a former federal agency, was responsible for the erection of this fine school building. At the time of construction, it was one of the finest school buildings in the area. Prior to the opening of the new school, student were being taught in the local churches. From what I can ascertain, Rockport High School opened in February of 1935. Rockport needed a school building, as the old school, located at the end of Bluff Street burned. This was the second time that Rockport lost a school building at this location. The new school was built on property sold to the town of Rockport and located on Highway 62.

The 1931 Class of Rockport High School selected the Tiger to represent Rockport High as a mascot. That same class picked out Purple and Gold to be the school colors. Long live the Tiger and long live the colors of Purple and Gold. Thanks class of 1931.

The picture above is of a sign that sits on the property where the Rockport High School Building was located. The Town of Rockport, realizing that chances of another school building was not in the offering, made use of the land. It has been converted into a playground with a concession stand and restrooms. The ball field is used by the numerous baseball and softball teams. A tennis court is located next to the highway and is available for use by any of the residents. The Rockport Days celebration is held on this property. It is large enough for all of the events as well as the numerous shows. A playground for the little ones is located between the tennis court and the ball field. A covered picnic table sits next to the playground. Ballpark seating with home and visitors stands and a dugout area for each team just seems to add to this nice playground. Lead on Rockport...