RHS Class Of 39.

Rockport-Class of 1939.

The Following Write-Up Is From Information Published in the Messenger, Beaver Dam, KY, Oct 4, 1989.. Thanks Bobby and Betty for the information.

This snapshot was made for a Rockport group a top Lookout Mountain, Tennessee by Hazel Elmore.

(Kneeling left to right) James D. Maddox, Beverly Dale Stewart, and Neal Cooper.

Middle row; Ruby Mae Carden, Mildred Jane Elmore, teacher Wilma Kirtley, Mary Elizabeth Wilson, and Joan Peer Malloy. (The camera Joan is holding is similar to the one used to take this picture.)

Top row: Flossie Wilson, Willie Marie Jessie ( the previous day Willie was given the school's citizenship award) James Anderson Park, and James Lavern Barnard.

Members of the class not in the photo were: Kathleen Bevil, Robert Hildred Fulkerson, and Ruby Myrtle Maple. Early classmates with this group were: Sammy Maple, Lee Iler, Margaret Barnes, Verbal Burden, and Rossie Bratcher. The picture was made May 12, 1939- a day of Spring before the beginning of World War 2. Some older locals remember the time because of two tragic happenings: Albert Lee Maddox, ten years old was struck by a car on Highway 62, near the school on the day the H.S. Baccalaureate service, and died later that evening at the Owensboro Hospital; on May 15th, a coffer-dam broke at the Green River construction site of the highway bridge being built, nearly entrapping six workers. The framework was crunched by a riverbank slide at six am., causing an estimated loss of $10,000.

The graduation class for this year presented their Senior play. The Empty House, on April 6th. They had selected royal blue and old gold as their class colors, and decorated for the Baccalaureate program on May 7th accordingly. The hand bill reads: processional- Mrs. Ione Duke, scripture and prayer Rev.T.T. Moore Baptist Minister, song Jr H.S. Chorus Vocal solo Miss Mary Brown with the program concluded by a song from the H.S. Chorus.

A class day program was given on the following Tuesday. The planning sheet in the handwriting of D. B. Lutz, Principal, reveals: presiding - Park, census-Wilson, poet-Carden, statistics-Fulkerson, humorist,-Stewart, prophecy-Jessie, duet- Elmore and Molloy, grumbler-Cooper, artist-Barnard, presentation of key to Junior Class-Bevil, historian-Maple, and class will-Maddox.

The graduation program for Thursday states: processional- Mrs. Edward Duke, Invocation- Rev. J.L. Averitte, Methodist Minister, Salutatory address --Park, song ----Freshman girl trio, Valedictory address - Ruby Carden, Faith of our Fathers--Junior High Choir. The main speaker was T.O. Hall Superintendent of Greenville Schools. His remarks were followed by Johnnie O'Brien singing Purcell's Passing By, and the presentation of diplomas by D. B. Lutz. The benediction was by Dave Sneddon.

Anderson's in Owensboro gave a 10 percent discount to the 165 Ohio County graduates. The discount mentions 1939 as the 50th year for the Anderson store.

The accompanying photograph was made while the group waited to take the trolley incline down the mountain side. Note Mildred's souvenir Robin Hood Hat.

Lavern Barnard.

I did not know Lavern Barnard, but will leave this space open if other information becomes available.

Kathleen Bevil.

I did not know Kathleen Bevil, but will leave this space open if other information becomes available.

Ruby Carden.

After graduation Ruby married a Westerfield and moved to Owensboro. That is about the extent of my knowledge of Ruby Carden. If other information becomes available, I will update this file with the new material.

Neal Cooper
Neal Cooper entered the Army after graduating from Rockport High School in 1939. He picked up the furnished equipment from Uncle Sam and went to war. After the war, he returned, raised a family and retired to live in Hartford.

Aderian Neal Cooper was the son of Oval and Edith Fulkerson (Mary Jane Stewart's sister)Cooper. His mother died in 1921. Neal and his sister were raised by Jim Dow and Ester Milner Fulkerson, their Grandparents. 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.

Mildred Elmore

I did not know Mildred Elmore, but will leave this space open if other information becomes available.

Hildred Fulkerson

I have known of Hildred Fulkerson for most of my life. I never knew him personally. Did see him a time or two and his name would be mentioned. Like others in his time, he served in the military and returned after the war. He had to leave the local area to find work and ended up in Michigan. He married Anna Rae Burden and they raised their family in Michigan.

After retirement Hildred and Anna Rae return to Echols and were very active in Pond Run Church until his death a few years ago.

Willie Marie Jessie.

I am thinking that Jessie married Barney Williams. The thought process continues with Barney working at Peabody Coal Company, Ken Mine. Need some help here.

James D. Maddox

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.

Ruby Maple

I can vaguely remember Ruby Maple. She married and left Rockport before I entered school. Her son, Larry, was kind enough to supply the following information. Thanks Larry, for you info.

Update on 10/16/09.

Ruby is the daughter of the late Myrtle and Rube Maple. Ruby was born and raised in Rockport, KY and her father was a coal miner. Rube had three brothers, Claude, Midge and Joe. Ruby married Paul A. Westerfield and they moved to Owensboro soon after their marriage and raised 2 sons, James A. Westerfield and Larry C. Westerfield. Her husband Paul, worked for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife, serving 26 years as a State and Federal Game Warden. He passed away in 1984. Ruby retired from General Electric in 1980. Her oldest son James, retired from Green River Steel after 27 years . James passed in 2004. Larry was a firefighter with the Daviess County Fire Department for 34 years, serving the last 24 years as Fire Chief and retired in 1996. Ruby had 2 sisters, Naomi and Pauline. Naomi passed away in 2008 and Pauline is living with her daughter Brenda in Louisville, KY. Ruby is the first cousin to Durwood, Neal and Glen Dale Maple. Ruby is living with her son, Larry and his wife Dora in Owensboro, KY.

Joan Malloy

Joan lives in California. That is just about the extent of my knowledge about Joan. I will leave this space open and update if other information becomes available.

James Park

Mr. James Park is a retired school teacher. He received his college degree in education and taught at Rockport for a few years before moving on to teach in St. Louis. I can remember James Park coming to Rockport on visits and I have heard of him most of my life. His retirement life is back home in Rockport where he is active in about any cause that would benefit the local and state levels of our country. His retirement home is in the old Park Place on Main Street. Retirement life is good for James.

Update on 1/24/10

James A. Park

BEAVER DAM -- James A. Park, 89, of Rockport, Ky., died Saturday, Jan. 2, 2010, at his home. He was born July 19, 1921, to the late Dr. A.D. Park and Ida Smith in Rockport. He was a World War II veteran in the Army Air Corps, and a Purple Heart winner, flying with "The Memphis Belle" squadron as a gunner and radio operator in 1942 to 1943. He retired as a schoolteacher from Central City, St. Louis and Florida school districts.

Survivors include his brother, Edmund Park of Owensboro; his sister, Dorothy Park of Rockport; and his sister-in-law, Juanita Park of Rockport.

Funeral services will be held at noon Tuesday at William L. Danks Funeral Home in Beaver Dam, with the Rev. Lawrence Isakson officiating. Burial will be in Mason Cemetery in Rockport. Visitation will be after 10 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Mason Cemetery in Rockport, with military rites conducted by the Wesley Phelps Honor Guard. Online messages of condolence can be made at www.danksfuneralhome.com.

Beverly Stewart

Beverly Stewart married Charlene Hicks soon after graduating from high school. He was able to find a good job with the Illinois Central Railroad Company and worked up to a flagman when he was killed by a fall from a boxcar. He died in 1948 and was survived by his wife, Charlene and two children, a boy and a girl. Beverly and Charlene had bought a house in Rockport and were living there when he died.

Mary C. Wilson

I did not know Mary C. Wilson, but will leave this space open if other information becomes available.