Harry R. Rodd was born August 15, 1912 in DuQuoin to Roy Edgar Rodd (1880-1968) and Lela May Calvert (1886-1974). Harry’s father, Roy, was born on a farm in Williamson County in 1880 in the now defunct Western precinct that we know today as Blairsville Township in the northwest corner of the county. He spent most of his life living in Marion and worked as an insurance salesman. Continue reading
Tag Archives: city commissioner
Jimmy Stewart, beloved City Commissioner of Marion for 11 years, was born on May 30, 1942 in Marion to Clayton Stewart and Lucille Cash.
He married Fran Mathis on June 2, 1962 in Creal Springs who preceded him in death on June 3, 2002.
Stewart spent decades working for the General Telephone Company as a repairman. Continue reading
Robert Lee Cooksey was born in Marion on June 5, 1919 to the late Erva Cooksey (1882-1968) and Harriet Jackson. Bob attended Marion schools, but like many youths of his day and time, only achieved an eighth grade education and focused more on job experience and survival. Continue reading
Homer Lee Askew was born August 17, 1913 to Edward Eugene Askew (1882-1972) and Ava Narcissus Johnson (1887-1947) in Tunnel Hill, Johnson County, Illinois. Homer was only one of thirteen children belonging to the large farm family.
In the 1920 federal census, Homer was aged 6, living with his parental family on the family’s Tunnel Hill farmland. Siblings present in the home were Raymond Askew 14, Gomer Askew 12, Allen Askew 10, Beatrice Askew 8, George Askew 4, Mildred Askew 2 and Otto Askew, 8 months old. Continue reading
J.W. “Bill” Dungey was born at Barlow, Kentucky, June 12, 1904, the son of William and Lula (Rasco) Dungey. He was married Mary Starrick, owner of the Mary Dungey Real Estate Agency.
Dungey was a plasterer by trade and had operated as a construction contractor. He served as a Marion City Commissioner from 1955 to 1959. Continue reading