Robert Martin, Mason County Educator

ROBERT RICHARD MARTIN
A Biographical Sketch

The first alumnus to serve as President of Eastern Kentucky University, Robert Richard Martin presided over a period of unprecedented growth for is Alma Mater. In Martin's sixteen year tenure, the University grew from an institution devoted mainly to teacher training to a multi-purpose educational complex serving over four times the number of students who had been enrolled when Martin was inaugurated.

Born on December 26, 1910, near McKinney in Lincoln County, Martin was one of eight children in the family of Frank and Annie Peek Martin. He matriculated to Eastern in 1930, paying his way through the then-Teachers College by raising tobacco crops and working in a dormitory. A history and geography major, Martin received his first taste of an Eastern presidency when his fellow seniors chose him to head the Class of 1934.

A teaching position in history took him to Sardis High School in Mason County following his graduation. In subsequent years he served as principal of Sardis Elementary School and the Mason County schools of Orangeburg High and Woodleigh Junior High. Martin used his summers to attend the University of Kentucky, where he earned the M.A. degree just prior to the outbreak of World War II.

Maysville Born Medal of Honor Winner

JOHN S. DARROUGH

Rank and Organization: Sergeant, Company F, 113th Illinois Infantry. Place and Date: At Eastport, Miss., 10 October 1864. Entered Service At: Concord, Morgan County, Ill. Birth: Maysville, Kentucky. Date of Issue: 5 February 1895.

Citation:

Saved the life of a captain.

Mason County Deaths In World War One

The Integration Year and Basketball

The Integration Year and Basketball

The start of the 1956-57 school year in Maysville Kentucky was unlike any other in the 92 year history of the Maysville school system. The U.S. Supreme court
in the 1954 case of Brown vs. The Board of Education of Topeka had ruled that segregation was unconstitutional and decreed that public schools be integrated. In Clinton, Tennessee and Little Rock, Arkansas integration was met with violence. In Sturgis, Kentucky ten black students attempted to attend an all white school. Turned back by a jeering mob, they appealed to Governor A.B. “ Happy “ Chandler who called out the National Guard. The Guard held back the crowd the next morning as the students entered the school.

It was quite different in Maysville, Kentucky. Maysville had two school systems. The Maysville public school system for whites and the John G. Fee school for blacks. Fee High was named for the Reverend John G. Fee ( 1816 – 1901 ) founder of Berea College who was an abolitionist and started the first racially integrated school in Kentucky.

The spring and summer of 1956 was a period of uncertainty in Maysville as school officials, parents, children and the community in general, of both races, wrestled with years of bigotry and prejudice that had permeated the community.

There was common ground. Basketball !

For years both schools had excelled in high school basketball in spite of the small number of students at both schools. The black high schools were not allowed to participate in the Kentucky High School Athletic Association's ( KHSAA ) tournament. The KHSAA, established in 1917, only allowed white schools. Consequently in 1932 leading African-American educators formed the Kentucky High School Athletic League. John G. Fee High School was state runner-up in 1932, 1933 and 1952. Maysville High School played in the KHSAA tournament finishing as state runner ups in 1938 and 1948 and winning the state title in 1947. The Maysville's girls basketball team won the state title in 1926.

In 1955-1956 Fee High had had a really successful season and some quality players would be returning. Maysville High School ( MHS ), under legendary coach Woodrow “ Woodie “ Crum, had won the 10th region and participated in the State Tournament. Most of that team would be returning for the 1956-1957 season. Anticipation of combining the two teams ran high through out the community.



School started on Tuesday September the 3rd and so did basketball practice.
It was apparent within a few days that this group had plenty of talent. In a short period of time the chemistry begin to form both in and out of the gym.

Fee High School dropped varsity basketball after the 1955-1956 season. All the returning players would be allowed to play on the MHS team while only the seniors would go to school at Maysville High. The Fee High players were: Seniors Bobby Jones and Gene Peters; Sophomores Charley Stewart, Harry Jones and Ulysses Green. The returning MHS players were: Seniors Dickie Breeze, Kenny Downing and David Curtis; Juniors Allen Smith, Jackie Allison, Bobby Reetz, Chuck Hayslip and Bobby Hutchison; Sophomores Roy Gilbert and Philip Hutchison.

This group of Maysville Bulldogs would have one of the most successful seasons in Maysville High School history. They won 34 games and lost only 2.
They were 16 and 0 at home and 18 and 2 on the road.

The two losses were 80-79 to the Ashland Tomcats in the finals of the Ashland Invitational tournament. Fourteen days later Ashland would travel to Maysville where the Bulldogs prevailed 74 to 55. The second loss was to Nicholas County in the finals of the 10th region tournament by the score of 62-60. The two teams played 2 other times during the year with the Bulldogs winning 58 to 53 at home and 63 to 53 at Carl isle.

Bobby Jones ( 6 ft 3 in & 215 lbs ) led the team in scoring with a 24.2 average. He was the first African-American high school player to be named to the KHSAA All State team. Allen Smith ( deceased ) averaged 12.8 points. In 1958 Smith would pitch MHS to the Kentucky high school baseball championship. He would go on and later enjoy an All American baseball career at LSU. Gene Peters averaged 9.5 points per game; Jackie Allison averaged 9.1; Charlie Stewart averaged 7.6; Dickie Breeze averaged 7.2; Kenny Downing averaged 6.5

Following are the Maysville High School records established by this group
Most Wins In A Season = 34
Fewest Losses in A Season = 2
Highest Winning Percentage = 94.4
Longest Winning Streak = 23
Most Points In A Season = 2,680
Highest Average Per Game = 74.4
Highest Winning Margin = 20.7


Author's Comments
I am proud and grateful that I was a part of this group of guys and gals. Bobby Jones and Gene Peters are still my friends after all these years. I also need to say there were four Fee High School girls in our senior class. Norma Randolph ( deceased ) Peggy Bennett, Beulah Scott and Frances Kirk who was elected secretary of the class. It was a magical year played out in the middle of troubling times. The Maysville High School gym, on third street, was standing room only on game nights. Lots of people followed the team on the road.

I recall one notable incident of racism. We traveled to Ashland on December 27, 1956 to participate in the Ashland Invitational tournament. We were to check into an Ashland hotel. We were told that the black kids were not welcome. Earle D. Jones, the legendary coach and Kentucky Basketball Hall of Famer, was superintendent of Maysville schools. Coach Jones made it clear to Ashland school officials that if the entire team could not stay in the hotel then he would take the Maysville team and go home. Everyone stayed.

I also recall that one of my African American team mates ( who shall remain unnamed ) spent a considerable amount of time on the elevator. Maybe it was because the elevator operator was a very cute African American girl

This article is a labor of love. I apologize for any mistakes or omissions.

Ken Downing
6 Nicole Court
Swedesboro, NJ 08085

They Came By The Thousands

From the tenth of October 1786, until the 12th of May 1787, 127 boats, 2,689 souls, 1,333 horses, 756 cattle and 102 wagons passed Muskingum bound for Limestone (Maysville, Ky.). An average of 3000 flatboats descended the Ohio River every year between 1810 and 1820 At Limestone the boats became so numerous that they frequently were set adrift in order to make room for others. During that 10 year period over 30,000 souls came through Limestone.

Rescue The Russell

Help Rescue The Russell Theatre. Click title to read

Death Of General Grant's Teacher

December 30, 1888, Wednesday

A telegram was received in Richmond yesterday announcing the death, in Maysville, Ky., of Mr. W.W. Richeson. He was a native of King William County, Va., graduated at the University of Virginia, and was engaged in teaching at the academy in Maysville,Kentucky.

Another Local Who Served His Country

Winchester Bryon Rudy was born March 27, 1840 in Maysville, Mason County, Kentucky. He enlisted in Company "C" of the 16th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry on August 10, 1861 and served in the army until January 27, 1865 when he was discharged. The 16th Kentucky Volunteer regiment was mustered-into U.S. service on January 27, 1862. In January 1864 Rudy was reassigned to the 13th Kentucky, 23rd Army Corps for which he served in a Division headquarters’ position until his discharge. He then returned to Maysville where he lived until his death on February 27, 1920. He is buried in the Maysville and Mason County Cemetery.

Tex McDonald, Former Mayor of Maysville

Since 1990, on Memorial Day the person I think of first is Tex McDonald. Tex is short for Texas and , yes, that is his given name. In 1990, my wife and I rented a house from Tex and his wife, Olive, and stayed for two years. The house was next door to Tex's residence. When I paid rent I simply walked next door and handed Tex the check.

Being the friendly sort Tex and Olive would always invite me in for a chat. Being the friendly sort myself, I always accepted the invitation. Almost every visit included Tex relating his experiences as a infrantyman in World War II. Although I was nearly 40 when I first met Tex, I never had any real understanding of the experiences of war.

Serving in North Africa under Patton, Tex saw his buddies ground into the sand my German tanks that would stop over a foxhole, reverse one tread and spin in place until it had ground the soldiers in the foxhole into the dirt. He said he could still hear his fellow soldiers screams. From the inflection of Tex's voice, I knew he did.

Tex fought in many battles and eventually lost half of a leg in the Battle of Monte Cassino at the Rapido River in Italy. This was especially difficult injury for Tex as he had been a star basketball player in high school. Coincidentally, one of my sister's father-in-law was captured by the Germans in the same battle.

Tex died a few years ago. He had survived to be mayor of the small town where he lived. A street now bears the name "McDonald." But his memory, although I only knew him for a short time, lives on in the stories he told me. Greater than the actual details of battles and events was the emotion in his voice. His experiences as a soldier left an impact still visible after nearly 50 years.

From the blog of DADvocate

Modern Day Maysville

< The Sun Baltimore
Tuesday Morning
December 15, 1898

DR. CHARLES G. LINTHICUM
Dr. Chas. G. Linthicum, the well-known veterinary surgeon, died at his residence, 509 South Paca Street, at 10 o'clock yesterday morning of acute pneumonia. Dr. Linthicum, who was seventy-eight years of age, was in robust health until about a week ago, when he got a heavy cold, which developed into pneumonia. He was attended by Dr. D. C. Bartley. Monday night his condition became alarming, and he never rallied. For over fifty years Dr. Linthicum was prominent as a veterinarian in this city. He was born in Maysville, Ky. He leaves a widow and seven children. The sons are Charles K. and William B. Linthicum, and the daughters are Mrs. D. H. Warfield, Mrs. William Wright, Mrs. C. N. Forrest, and misses Maggie and Katie Linthicum.

Born & Educated In Maysville, KY

WALTER N. HALDEMAN, president of the Courier-Journal Company, was born in Maysville, Ky., April 27, 1821, and was educated at Maysville Academy along with U. S. Grant, W. H. Wadsworth, T. H. Nelson, R. H. Collins, and others who afterward attained to prominence.He removed to Louisville, when but sixteen years of age, and entered upon a career remarkable for activity and success. In December, 1843, he purchased from an association of printers a newspaper called the Daily Dime, which he afterward converted
into the Morning Courier. The establishment of this paper was
problematical. Louisville had been the graveyard of newspapers--the
Journal, conducted by the brilliant Prentice, only surviving the general mortality. At that day politics almost exclusively engrossed the attention of the people and the talent of the press. Mr. Haldeman determined to strike out on a new line. He made news the chief feature of his paper, and its success and permanent establishment followed, as the fruits of his enterprise and sagacity. The Courier thenceforth became a power in the State. Before the civil war was precipitated upon the country, the Courier
denounced the coercive policy of the Federal government, and as a State's rights journal espoused the cause of the South. When the Federal troops entered Louisville, in September 1861, the Courier was suppressed by orders from Washington. Mr. Haldeman learned of his intended arrest in time to flee for safety. He reached Nashville, and promptly re-established the Courier, which was printed until that city was captured by Federals.He removed with the army and published it at several points, or "published it
on wheels" as his friends were wont to say. Mr. Haldeman remained in the South during the war, and on the cessation of hostilities again repaired to his Louisville home. Although broken in fortune, and half awed by the enormous advance in paper and printing material growing out of the war and a depreciated currency, he could not resist the earnest popular demand for the
re-establishment of the Courier. The day it re-appeared, December 5,1865, it was an evident success. The prestige of the old Courier was in its favor, and irresistible. To make assurance double sure "Mr. Haldeman determined the new paper should deserve success. Regardless of the outlay, he arranged as rapidly as possible for special telegraphic and other correspondence from all parts of the country. It was a new era in journalism in Louisville. Within six months, the lively and enterprising
Courier so far outstripped its local contemporaries, that the latter in spite of editorial strength came to be regarded as second rate-journals.These years later Mr. Haldeman conceived the bold project of consolidating the Journal and Democrat, the only other dailies in Louisville, with his Courier. His purpose was accomplished, and the leading political and newspaper of the West and South-west, the Louisville Courier-Journal, of which he is the controlling spirit, is the offspring of that union. Perseverance, energy and enterprise is the secret of Mr. Haldeman's success in life. But besides this, his whole career has been marked by a
strong common sense and a comprehensiveness of mind, which mad him
far-reaching and far-seeing in his aims. When to these qualities are added his genial manners, his diligence, and fidelity to laborious duty, it is by no means strange that he has gathered in the rich fruits of success. There is scarcely one of the profession in the country better known than Mr. Haldeman. What Bennett with the Herald, and Greely with the Tribune, were to the North and East, Haldeman with his Courier-Journal is to the South and South-west. He is the oldest member of the daily newspaper press in Kentucky, and one of the oldest in the country. He is
an able financier, and as much to this as to its brilliant editorial
management may be attributed the phenomenal success of the Courier-Journal.

The Island Queen & Coney Island

In the 1880's, a farmer named James Parker lived a few miles east of Cincinnati, Ohio. He came to realize that his apple orchard, in a scenic spot on the riverbank, earned more money when he rented it out for church picnics and other excursions that it ever could by growing apples. So in 1886 he sold the land to a riverboat company, who opened it as "Ohio Grove, the Coney Island of the West." An advertsing poster from that year boasted that the grounds were lighted by electricity, and proclaimed it "The Most Beautiful All-Day Summer Resort in America." The steamboat company ran four round trips a day between Cincinnati and "Coney Island," as the park came to be known. The total price (in 1886) was 50 cents, including admission to the grounds AND round-trip steamboat transportation. Coney Island finally closed its gates in 1971, to be replaced by the more modern Kings Island amusement park the following season.

The Island Queen and Coney Island were both part of Ohio valley lore

Time - May 31, 1943

Last July, when the steaming heat lay stifling across northeast India, a perky, pint-sized, hickory-tough U.S. Army officer slung a sack of dollar watches over his shoulder and set out on foot through one of the world's wildest jungles. He was armed only with a stout Kentucky hunting knife. His escort was a file of stocky, semicivilized native bearers.

Last week his American friends finally learned what 47-year-old Captain James Arthur Kehoe, peacetime tobacco farmer, stove manufacturer and general trader of Maysville, Ky., had been up to. He had been surveying the jungle, dickering with the savage Naga headhunters of the region, and setting up a series of vital military outposts in the trackless country between the U.S. air bases in northern Assam and Jap advance lines in Burma.

Kehoe had volunteered for the job. A West Pointer of the class of 1918, he resigned from the Army soon after World War I, asked for active service again after Pearl Harbor. British officials, whose effective administration stops short at Nagaland, soberly advised against his mission; but after a thorough aerial reconnaissance of the saw-toothed, jungle-matted mountain ranges, Trader Kehoe jumped off with their qualified blessings.

Mostly by "Hookum." In the months that followed Kehoe hardened himself to do five miles a day in the incredibly difficult region. He fought off attacks of malaria and dysentery, made friends with the main Naga tribes. He hiked 500 miles before getting his first two outposts established; after that it was easier.

His standard method, when he located a prospective site, was to find the local chief and begin negotiations by dangling a dollar watch before the potentate's eyes, meanwhile exclaiming "American hookum!" In Naga talk, "hookum" means magic.

Once relations were established (and the chief had his watch), Kehoe could usually get several hundred workmen under a "dobashie," or native foreman, to clear the site and set up native huts. He paid them off in silver rupees. Some posts are several weeks' trek from Assam, and food and supplies are sent out by plane.

The Tiger's Tooth. Kehoe has become uneasily fond of the Nagas, but grins if anyone refers to their head-hunting as an old, forgotten custom. He has attended two head-hunting trials (involving the harvesting of 13 heads) in the border area where British law still reaches. Witnesses took oath by biting on a tiger's tooth (to prove they were stronger than tigers). The courts, baffled by native blandness, could do nothing but levy a general fine of 1,000 rupees each on the villages involved.

Some 200,000 Nagas live in an area of about 4,000 sq. mi. They live a communal existence, share food and work (although males usually retire at the age of eight and thereafter devote themselves to mastering and using the spear, crossbow and dah, a wicked knife). They are capable though casual farmers. Some raise pigs for trade, but for eating they prefer the dog, which is bred for the Naga table.

George and Renee In Maysville