This photograph taken in front of the old Marion Township High School on West Main Street in 1914 is a bit of a mystery. It was donated by one of the descendants of Earl Blankenship Sr., founder of E. Blankenship Auto Supplies, to the Williamson County Historical Society. Continue reading
Evelyn M. Patterson, a teacher for 53 years, 43 of which were in Marion, was born October 10, 1920, in Keokuk, Iowa, the only child of Thomas Chester Patterson and Bessie A. McCoy.
Her family was located in the 1930 census living in Hannibal, Missouri. They were renting a home at 1319 Mark Twain Avenue for $30 per month. Evelyn’s parents were both college educated and in this census, her mother, Bessie 36, was teaching at a business college. Her father, Thomas 39, was a drug salesman. Evelyn was nine years old. Continue reading
James Virgil “Cuss” Wilson, former Marion High School basketball coach, teacher, district athletic director and co-owner of TVW Men’s Store, was born in Pope County at Dixon Springs on March 19, 1905, and was the son of the late Oral Moody Wilson (1868-1945) and Esther Lois Culbreth (1870-1951).
The name of “Cuss”, by which Wilson was known much better than by his given name, was given him by playmates when he was a very small boy. It originated from a youngster’s attempt at pronunciation of a name that sounded like “Cuss” to the other children, although some of his early playmates sometimes used the full name of “Custer.” Continue reading
This list of former Marion High School athletic greats was published in the Bi-Centennial Edition of the Daily Republican in 1976. It was created from the memories of the public at large and is in no way encyclopedic or complete, but serves as a reminder that Marion High has nurtured many great athletes in its past. Continue reading
Cleta Whitacre was born on March 27, 1914, in Herrin, the daughter of Rolla Franklin and Gertrude Delia (Walker) Greer.
She was united in marriage to Thomas Earl Whitacre on December 30, 1933, in a secret ceremony at a Methodist parsonage in Jonesboro, Illinois. The marriage had to be kept secret because in those days it was forbidden for women teachers to marry. Together they shared nearly 37 years of marriage until his death came on May 16, 1970. Continue reading