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Of course, I went straight to McNeese State College Summer Session. My advice to all kindred: Take a break from high school to college.
McNeese at that time was a two (2) year Junior College. I think that in 1956 the school was accredited and became McNeese State College, a four-year college. While it was a 2-year junior college - one would have to finish at Louisiana State College (LSU) in Baton Rouge.
While I was attending McNeese I was hired by Mud Supply Company as a night dispatcher. Later, Mud Supply Company was bought out by Magcobar - which is short for Magnet Cove Barium Corporation which became world wide in use o Drilling Muds and Equipment. Magnet Cove, Arkansas is where Barium is mined, hence came the name Magnet Cove Barium Corporation. Barium is a High Density Ore (Rock), therefore, very heavy, used to make heavy weighted drilling fluid - commonly known as "mud." I later became a "Mud Engineer. I worked for Dresser Magcobar for 10 years. Dresser "world wide" bought out Magcobar. I owe my gratitude to my late brother, Julius Mark Dewey for getting me hired with Mud Supply Co. If it hadn't been for this, I wouldn't have been able to graduate from McNeese State College.
Most of my classmates do not know that I started to school in 1941. School started in September and I was 5 years, 6 months old. I went half a day; the other half I spent with my oldest sister, Opal. When I returned home that evening, I was told by my mother I wasn't going to school that year but I would go the next - point: look who I graduated with!
Grade school was just us growing up. All those grades are a blur. But I do remember the old basement, would have to go underground to go to the rest rooms - the old auditorium, especially the tall cement steps entering the rear of the building - the water fountains under the trees on the play grounds - the old water tank (schools don't have those anymore) - the home economics building (most of you don't remember, I took a course in Home Ec - learned how to embroider; only boy from the football team) - sure did get teased (didn't know the word "ridiculed" then). I remember the old Slaughter House (Agriculture Department) (what is the other name for the building?) Canning was done, hams were cured, etc, etc.
Remember the Belt Line! For boys only, this was initiation of freshmen. Mr. Heard allowed it until someone started using Belt Buckles.
Dear Mr. Heard, he was a great principal and I honor him. He was my idol. I remember, that for some reason, squirrel season started in the middle of the week (now it starts on the weekend) in October, and I would tell Mr. Heard, "Mr. Heard, squirrel season opens tomorrow and I won't be to school" All he said "OK, but bring me a squirrel. I started hunting by myself when I was 12 years old - every year I would tell Mr. Heard the same thing - because I was going to be in the woods on opening day. Remember the Black School - we were apart but we still grew up together. Oh! By the way, Professor Cross was the principal of the Black School and I would always run into him hunting squirrels the opening day! Once I slipped up on a squirrel cutting a hickory nut open; the under brush was heavy and everything was fully leaved. I started looking up the trunk of the hickory tree; he was on a small limb about 6 feet off the ground. Once I located the squirrel, I leveled Daddy's single barrel 16 gauge shotgun and pulled the trigger. When the gun went off you would have thought that a rhinoceros was charging me. It scared me to death but it was only Professor Cross. I wasn't but 3 feet from the log he was sitting on. He didn't know I was there until the gun went off. When he got his composure he said "Lawdsee Mercy Boy, you scared me half to death and I've been here foughty-five minutes waiting for that squirrel to move." He tried to trade me shotgun shells and everything for my squirrel. Professor Cross was a good man, too! Remember, he had a grist mill and everyone would bring their corn to have it ground into corn meal. No money was exchanged, only a percentage of your corn went to him - "Bartering," remember that.
I remember "Fair Day"; this was a wonderful time because school would be let out and the school buses would carry you to DeRidder, La - 20 miles away, for the Beauregard Parish Fair and Rodeo.
Mother would make us a brown lunch and give us 50 cents and we would have fun all day - Farris Wheel ride, Hobby Horses, Tilt-A-Whirl - and the Bullet.
Mary Lynn Conley was like a sister; she would ride our bus to the fair and once we arrived we would split up, girls and boys, but later in the day when my 50 cents was all spent (everything was a dime), Mary Lynn would come and find me and want me to ride the rides with her, she said she was a little afraid, but I knew she was just doing that because I didn't have any money left. Today she is still that sister-friend. Of course, we were just kids growing up - our families were from different background, some financially better than others - but that didn't make a difference with all of us.
I remember our town to be complete except for a Bank. But now there is not much left - the Train Depot was the first to go, then the telephone office - old time operators and all. Oh! I was just trying to remember what I wanted to remember. Our town was considered a Ghost Town - definition being that where a major Lumber Company once thrived and then moved off. This is what happened Kirby Lumber Company, trains, kilns and everything moved away leaving us without any industry, therefore, GHOST TOWN. Once we had 3 banks, 2 hotels, 4 grocery stores, dry cleaners, etc, etc. We didn't know that at the time we were going to old Merryville High School in Merryville, La. - through our 18-19 years, that we were living in a Ghost Town! I have a picture of Kirby's Employees in front of the old Commissary - better known as The Company Store. I think that the name Merryville came from the town's people once they knew that the location would become a town, the people were celebrating and were "Merry" so they all agreed to name the town Merryville. It sounds good anyway!
Then comes Jr. High and High School, 14 years of age and in the 8th grade. Life begins to move fast now - Remember I mentioned the "Belt Line" - 40 upper classmen with 40 belts, 20 on each side, you had better move fast and don't trip - you talk about Hazing (didn't know that word then either) and the belt welts went away in a few days, anyway.
Then came all the athletics - Softball (we didn't have hard ball), Football, Basketball; we even played a little bit of soccer. Also Band, 4-H, FFA and all the clubs to go and do different things. We all participated and did well. In fact, we did all this and the whole 1954 Class ended up with an overall Grade Point Average of 3.2! We've all went out into Life and have done well. We've taken Life's scars from the Downs but we all keep getting back up. All of our parents had good backgrounds and our Teachers were dedicated and good at what they were doing. I hope that in this genealogy that all their names will appear, thanks to Benny Frank Mertens.
Now we didn't have to Brown Bag it in the old Gymnasium, the oldest one in the Parish. Isn't it great to come from a parish instead of a county.
Back to High School. I wanted to take Band and I went home and told Mother and Dad I wanted to learn how to play the trumpet and that it only would cost a few hundred dollars. I'm sure they discussed it, but we couldn't afford the instrument. Anyway, it would have been hard to play all sports and be in the Band, too. Tito did! Reason, he only played football - And his mother ran the Hotel and Restaurant.
Basketball was my favorite sport. I did well enough to make first string in the 8th grade - so I was able to letter in Basketball 4 years. I was scouted by Coach Ward from McNeese State but there were too many more athletes within the region that were better than I was - Ruben Scarborough, Billy Ray Pelt, Bill Regal and many others from Iowa, Crowley, etc, etc. Bill Regal broke and set a new scoring record of over 1,000 points in a season at North Eastern (Monroe, La.). Ruben and Billy Ray were from Rosepine, La. And Merryville had a chance to play them one year. Well, to make a long story short, Billy Ray brought the ball in from under his goal - I was the post at center - our guards didn't go out to challenge him, so I left my center position and went out across the half court line about half way to the goal - well, Billy was good but I challenged him anyway. He did some fancy head movement and fancy feet work but I didn't watch all that. I had my eyes on the ball...He tried to go around me and I stole the ball from him. And the race was on for the goal. I knew he was a good defensive man, so instead of making an overhand lay up, I shot the ball up under his arms. Needlessly to say, I made him foul me and the ball went in for 2 points. I had a foul shot coming and I made that, also. I heard Coach Schiro let out a triumphant yell, because he spent lots of time with me in my basketball training. Of course, Rosepine went on in the game to beat us like 60 to 10 but anyway I had drawn a line. This all happened before any points were scored -*Merryville scored First*! Ruben and Billy Ray went on to play for McNeese State.
Football was next. I only played on the team 2 years for I was Manager for the first two years. We had a good team and would have won District our Senior year. That year we had to have a make up game and it was matched with Sacred Heart High School in Evangeline, Louisiana. These people hadn't lost any games. But we kept the game close. We were ahead 19 to 13 and we were forced to punt on fourth down. Benny Frank was the center and I, Edward was the punter. The play was called by Billy Crow, 99 on the center. We were on our 25 or 30 yard line. I was on or about the 15 yard line. I gave the signal for Benny to center the ball...when I saw it coming, I knew it was going to be over my head. I have always been 6 feet 2 inches to 6' 2 1/4 inches; with my arms extended way above my head, I jumped as high as I could, needlessly to say, the ball went over my out stretched arms. I ran back to get the football and as I looked up it looked like 8 charging elephants - the second time in my life I've been scared. Well, I didn't get the ball because that is why they call it the Pigskin. I was being hit from all sides, but the other team player was laying on the ground with the ball in his hand; he just pitched it up to his team mate which by this time all he had to do was to step across the goal line, in which he did. After the play was over, I argued with the referee that the ball had been made dead when the man on the ground pitched it up to the other player. The Ref didn't see it that way and when the game ended they beat us 20-19. Therefore, knocking us out of winning District. First Known State of Depression, not like Depression (Be hungry/no money). This depression was another word I didn't know either. No Blame, No Shame. Just one of those downs I was talking about but we got Back Up.
Also, that year we beat Leesville High School. They were 3A and we were just a little old bitty B school. They out weighted us 20 pounds per man. It would have been more if it hadn't been for Tito Rachell alone weighing 260 pounds - all the rest of us weighed from 130 pounds (Darrel McDonald) to 180 pounds (Norman Warren). Leesville hadn't been beat and hadn't been scored on - when the smoke cleared, we had beat them 24 to 6.
Track's biggest stand out was when Coach Schiro took us to State at McNeese State College. It was a mile relay: Jimmy Ray, Runner Carpenter, Edward, Robert Crow, Larry Gorman. When it came time to run Robert Crow had eaten something that had made him sick and he couldn't participate, but another "Crow" steps up, toes by the name of Billy - hadn't ever trained for a 1/4 mile run. He kept telling coach he couldn't do that, that he would just slow us down. Coach insisted and Billy protested, but he stepped up to the occasion. When we had finished our course and ran the mile relay - Little old Merryville High School set a Mile Relay Record that stood for 4 years. The mile relay was clocked at 3:43 minutes. Larry Gorman anchored the run with a time of 51 seconds. I ran the slowest let at just over 60 seconds. Jimmy and Billy ran around 56 seconds. If the time wasn't 3:43, it was 3:46. Guess who broke the record 4 years later: Rosepine High School; when we were in High School they didn't even have track. All they played was basket ball, year 'round. That would have been the year of 1957 - we were at State in 1953.
With everything happening Junior and Senior year went fast. Those years I worked part time jobs for Dr. Neuman (County Doctor for Kirby). At that time he had delivered his 1,000th baby. I also worked for Mr. Miller at his grocery store delivering groceries in his delivery truck. I also worked for Hal and Ovie (Huges) Pickering at the Humble Station in Bon Wier, Texas - just across the Sabine River, 4 miles from Merryville. I worked there my Junior and Senior year - during summer break.
Then comes Graduation Day filled with excitement and sadness - Stepping out on faith to a new life and at the same time saying good bye to all my dear friends. Year 1954, May 23rd, 18 years old and still wet behind the ears but eager to go into the unknown. Which this year, has become 45 years past.
Marching off to college - straight into summer session - summer of 1954. As I stated before, my work as a night dispatcher is the way I worked myself through college; $60 a week and all the overtime I wanted. I matured fast, dealing with rough company. Tool pushers - they wanted everything yesterday. Lots of time I was really too sleepy to attend class but I did.
College: 1. Summer of 1954. 2. Fall and spring of 1954-55. 3. Fall and spring of 1956-57. Sometimes during this time I dropped out of college to work full time for MAGCOBAR. This was in production at West Lake, La. When I told Dean Cusic I was leaving college, he asked me one question: "How much will you be making a year?" And I told him over $5,000 a year. He said "Wow!, you'll be making more that I am." And off I went. But college was always pulling at a depth, deep within me - The hardest thing I ever had to do was to return to college. But I did. After an absence of 1 ½ years - I returned!
Finished college and attended college with Billy Wayne Starks and wife Phyllis, Curt Skinner and Kenneth Revile. All these people had finished High School ahead of me. This happened the year of 1958-1960. 'Graduated May of 1960. 1954-1960, 6 years.
Continued to work for MAGCOBAR. Inducted into U. S. Army, fall of 1960. Spent Basic at Fort Hood (Kileen, Texas). Completed basic in 13 weeks.
Back to College. I didn't take advanced ROTC. I didn't want to make a career in the Army. While in Basic, the Army asked me if I would go to Officers Training School. I told them No. Then they asked me if I would Waiver the school and I agreed.
Left Basic and was stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, assigned to the 517 Engineer Corp. I was in the Survey Crew - The Corp - was map makers and bridge builders. We were like the Navy CB's. We would have to go in first, in case of war, to establish Roads, Bridges and Maps. So you see the reason for a survey crew.
While at Fort Bragg, our company was alerted for overseas duty. We didn't know where or why, but it turned out that 3 hours into the alert with all C-130 air planes loaded with Bull Dozers, Graders, Front End Loader, jeeps, 2 ½ Ton Trucks with all men in Full Pack Gear, Plane engines warmed up and waiting for orders to take off - at the end of 3 hours - the alert was called off. Later we learned that the 517 Engineer Corp was headed to Laos. If this had taken place, it would have been the Beginning of Viet Nam!
Later in the year (1961) the 517th was Demobilized and sent to Fort Gordon, Georgia. While at Fort Bragg, I met my army buddy, Donald White, from Ragland, Alabama. At this time we were split up - He went to Germany and I went to the Personnel Corp n Georgia. We reopened the old barracks and began to train recruits and process new inductees. Fort Gordon is based in Augusta, Georgia. In November of 1961, orders were cut for me to go to Frankfort, Germany, of all things, the "69 Engineer Corp"; this was under the V Corp Command. Ironically, we were housed in the Old Casscerns of the Calvary Division of World War II German Army. *Let this work on your mind* You could hear (in your mind) the Hobnailed Shoes clicking on the still intact Cobble Stones!
Germany was good duty because I was back in Survey again. New commanders, new company and new friends from all over the United States. I was stationed there 13 months. This was the first Christmas I had ever been away from home. I missed everyone but our time and thoughts were filled with sponsoring a German Orphan Home. We would make sure that they had a Merry Christmas and in the spring we would go out to the Orphanage and spend the day with them (ages from 9 months to 16 years) at the Frankfort Zoo.
The children were uplifting and we spoiled them, but this was a way the Armed Services would let you think of someone else. The V. Corp. also gave everyone that wanted to, go on a Religious Retreat. I got to go to Berichos Garden, West Germany. It was a beautiful place. High in the Bavarian Alps - Even from our "Bible Study" we were able to sight see. I didn't know at the time this was the famed location of the "Eagles Nest." Hitler's once renowned Strong hold - The Eagles Nest was at the very tip of the mountain - A German stronghold that could house 5,000 highly trained soldiers and give them safe garters and enough food and water to keep them for 5 years inside. Twenty-two miles of carved out tunnels underground - I got to see what was left of all this. Only the Entrance and a 1/4 mile of tunnel was still safe. Hitler's Eagle Nest was so placed that He could see his Beloved Country of Austria.
Hitler had a second Home at Eagle Nest, which from his living room, he had elevators that would lower him to the 22 miles of Strong held tunnels. If Hitler had made it out of Berlin, when (surrender was near) and back to the Eagles Nest, it has been said that the war would have lasted at least 5 more long years to get him out of those tunnels. This place was a massive war machine. But I was there at the same place on a Religious Retreat. Thank God, that the German People did not let this
"Eagles Nest" become a Shrine to the Third Reich and Thank God for America's Victory! The entire survey crew was classified (Top Secret) in which, even after a year out of the service, we couldn't tell anybody what our jobs were. You've heard the Media, Ridicule the Armed Services that if anything (like wars) came up we wouldn't be capable of carrying out our job - "B. S." - Our job in Germany was to put coordinates on all missile pads in West Germany within 1/4 of an inch accuracy, and believe you me, there were lots of them - capable of sending Nuclear War Heads - anywhere-.
While I am on my soap box, I believe that anyone wanting to become President of the United States should be required to have served in the Armed Services. Because that Person is also the Commander In Chief of all services! - That's my story and I'm sticking to it! Don't get me wrong, I respect the office of the President and I'll be the first if asked again to serve my country, but I have the right to my opinion.
In November/December of 1962, I was Honorably Discharged and arrived home on Christmas Eve. It wasn't long until I was back at work with MAGCOBAR - worked in the office for about a year. I went to Magcobar's Engineers (Mud) School in Houston, Texas. Then in May of 1964, graduated and was sent to Liberty, Texas.
Once I was in Liberty, the company put me to work taking care of Offshore Drilling Jobs. Most of the Drilling fluids I ran were for Shell Oil Company and a few for Exxon. Again, this was something new - offshore and in the Gulf of Mexico - 90 to 100 miles offshore - egress and engress - by crew boats and helicopters. My schedule was 7 days out and 7 days in.
In 1965, I met Helen W. Boone (oldest daughter of Daniel Richard Boone) and we were married in June. Got married on the weekend and Monday went offshore for 7 days!
Anyway, married life with Helen has been good. My step children, Susan and Skipper, married. Skipper has one stepson and one daughter, Kris (a boy) and Morgan (a girl). Kris will be 21 in January and Morgan will be 14. Susan doesn't have any children and was married while she was in the Army for 3 years. Her husband just up and left just before they were discharged. Life has been good and it has been full. We taught the grandchildren to snow ski. Morgan started at 5 years of age and Kris was 11 years old. Helen and I took up snow skiing in our middle forties and have been skiing ever since. This year (June), we have been married 34 years. I didn't get married until I was 29.
October seems to be our Black Month - on October 8th, 1966, I received news that *Buddy*, my brother, Julius, had went down in a helicopter crash offshore from Morgan City, Louisiana with 11 men aboard - the pilot and 10 passengers. The helicopter had just finished picking up the men at 3 different Drilling Rigs - Remember, I told you that Buddy was also a Sales Engineer for Magcobar. He died leaving his wife Gyrthel and a daughter, Janice, and a son, Kevin. An extensive search went on for over a week and finally found the Bubble and fuselage. Inside were 2 ½ bodies, none of which were Buddy's. All we could do was to have a Memorial Burying. Again, this was something new and strange.
I was offshore that same day working for the same company - (Remember I told you Buddy was responsible for me getting on with Magcobar). I was working out of Galveston, Texas.
I continued to work for Magcobar, still working offshore. But in December of '66, I left Magcobar with ten years of service and went to work with Enjay Chemical Company. Chemical side of Humble Oil and Refining company. Everything later became Mother Exxon and Enjay became Exxon Chemical Company; later world wide as Exxon Chemical Americas. I started off in the Rubber Company. Synthetic Rubber was accidently discovered by two engineers and that was why the Rubber Company for Exxon originated in 1942 during world war II. Our rubber import had been cut off from Japan.
I worked for Exxon Chemical 23 years 2 3/4 months. My last 8 years with the company I was supervisor of a Parapol Unit. This is an additive that goes into all crankcase oils.
I retired on my birthday, March 1st, 1991. I've been retired 8 years, 6 months. Boy! If you think life went by fast - just wait until you retire. I retired early at the age of 55. I think 35 years of working, up on a mountain one day and knocked down to reality the next, is long enough - of course, that's the way life is for all of us.
In October of 1971, Mother succumbed to that dreadful breast cancer and 3 months later, to the day, Dad passed away. When you think you have hurt as much as you can, *then Bang*, it's worse. Twenty-nine years have gone by and it's not a day that goes by that I think of the good memories - Buddy was *33* and it's been 33 years. (Dear Class, let me do what my heart is leading me to do) Buddy was Buried in 1933; he was 33 when he died, this adds up to 66 years. He died in 1966. How FAST are we headed for the 666!
Since I retired in '91, I haven't been doing too much. But I get further behind each day. In 1990, I entered a Mayhaw Jelly contest at the Mayhaw Festival in Dassietta, Texas. My entry won 1st place and also won Grand Champion of the Festival. Every since, I've been willing 1st and 2nd places. But like all things, I had a goal. And that goal was to win 1st place in both categories: Jelly made with Pectin (sure-gel) and Jelly made the old fashion way (Natural) without Pectin.
In 1997, I did just that, 1st and 2nd Place (Pectin made) and 1st Place the Natural Way. That year I retired from competition and now I offer my services to the younger generation in Jelly making.
Over the 7 years I have entered many contests; 1st Place at Batson Oil Patch Day, 1st Place, all Four entries at Bridge City, Texas, International Mayhaw Mania, 1st Place most unusual entry (Mayhaw Limb with Mayhaw Berries on it) inside a quart jar of Jelly - Ha. This kept people from asking "What is a mayhaw and what does it look like?" My entry also won Grand Champion of Festival (Pectin Group). I belong to the Louisiana Mayhaw Association in good standing. I placed 2nd in the State of Louisiana Jelly making contest. I now have 200 producing Mayhaw Trees in my yard and I make and sell Jelly (all kinds, if I can get the berries); blackberry, muscadines, grape, etc, etc. I also sell mayhaw trees. This is where I am today. It's not a business but I can sell every pint of Jelly I make - No Brag, Just Fact.
Opal Dewey Miller, my oldest sister, passed away this past June to the same Breast Cancer that mother died from - and I've attended Mr. Watson's funeral early this year and this August I was with Mary Lynn at her mother's funeral. At one of Mary's weak moments and aching heat, she was saying "What could I have done better to help her" - and I said "you were Blessed with having your mother with you for a long time." You know, in times like these, you can't tell someone you know how they feel inside, if you haven't been there yourself.
I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior when I was 14 at the Methodist Church in Merryville. I don't smoke, I don't drink, haven't been arrested, haven't been in jail and I don't gamble but I did graduate from Merryville High School, graduated from McNeese State College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Geology, graduated from Stephan F. Austin University, Nacogdoches, Texas with a Master Degree in Education, went to Sales Engineering School in Houston, Texas, made it through the U. S. Army honorably - married a good Christian woman who brought me back to the Lord as a Baptist, teaching Sunday School, being Sunday School director and have met many angels along the way. I think I'm doing something right.
When I get to Heaven, I'm going to say "I WANT TO SEE JESUS," Buddy, Mother, Dad and Opal - I LIVE ONE DAY AT A TIME.
All of us are just one Heartbeat away from Death. No, not no one is assured of tomorrow. So may God Bless each and everyone at Home Coming.