Sunday, September 30, 2012

Mr. Parker (As Told by Dee Dee)

What can you say about someone (outside of family) that has had the biggest impact on your life?  Well, for Mr. Ted Parker, I will have to say he was a once-in-a-lifetime teacher.

He came to teach at our school when I was in the 7th or 8th grade.  He was a high school teacher, but he was the junior high girls’ and boys’ basketball coach.

When I got in high school, he helped me overcome so much of the inferiority complex that I had.  He pushed me into playing basketball, and he always gave me a part in the plays and operettas (even though I couldn’t sing a lick).  He would always give me a speaking part.  I did fairly well at acting.

I don’t know how he taught all the classes he did.  He taught geography (yes, we did have that), history, civics, music, and coached all the basketball teams.  He always called me "Gaye Bell".  I can still hear him as I would be running down the basketball court:  “Come on, Gaye Bell – you can do it!”  He made us learn all the states and their capitals; I still know them today.  We had to learn all the U.S. presidents and the order in which they served.  I don’t remember that.
He took time with every student and worked with each one on their weaknesses.  I’m not bragging, but for a shy, introverted girl as I was, I ended up winning many honors.  I was voted “Most Popular”, “Best All Around”, “Class Queen” and a couple of others.  But the best one of all – I made All-Tournament Team.  Mr. Parker wrote in my year book that it was one of his proudest moments when I was the first girl guard from our school to make all-tournament team.
He always said he had high hopes for my going to college, and when our college test was submitted to Canyon State College my scores were one of three highest submitted to them and the college personnel office was looking for me to arrange a scholarship.  The only thing is I had married in January, and I did graduate in May, but Larry had plans on going back to school at Weatherford.  I did finally get a college degree at age 48, and although it was only an Associate’s, I was proud to have at least gotten it.
I regret that I never contacted Mr. Parker and let him know what a good influence he had on my life.  So all of you that have had a once-in-a-lifetime teacher, if they are still living, look them up and tell them.  You’ll be so glad you did, and I’m sure the teacher will appreciate it, too.
(Note:  Below is the newspaper article and accompanying pictures that appeared in the “Hollis News” that profiled Mr. Ted Parker.  An advertisement on the back of the clipping advertises an upcoming event on July 31, 1991.)



Sunday, September 2, 2012

James Quantrell Tucker - A Salute to Teachers

A note from Lori:  James Quantrell Tucker was my great-grandfather on my father’s side – Larry’s paternal grandfather.  He died when I was about five, so I don’t have a lot of memories of him.  However, his wife, Carrie, was a favorite of mine and there will be future posts about Carrie and Quantrell (Dee Dee remembers quite a bit about him).  The following is from a newspaper clipping that I found in a book.  I have copied the text to make it easier to read, but the clipping in its entirety is at the end of this post.  I am guessing that it is from the newspaper, “The Hollis News”, from Hollis, Oklahoma, and the obituaries on the back of the clipping are from the first couple of weeks in June of 1990.



“A Salute to Teachers
By Edith Carter

A salute this week goes to James Quantrell Tucker.

In 1911, Mr. and Mrs. R.B. Tucker, Sr. came from Texas to Harmon county and settled in the Teacross community. Their home was a half dugout with a room on the top. This was the typical home for early day settlers. Mrs. Tucker was formerly Katie Arnold. Their children are: Mary, Maggie, Quantrell, Rushin, Jessie, Frank, Honor, R.B. Jr. and Edna. All of the children attended Teacross school and Teacross Baptist Church.

In 1912-13 Mr. Watts started the enthusiasm for playing basketball. It was played on a dirt court outside and was the high point of interest after school, Saturday and Sunday afternoon. The entire community would gather, watch and visit. In 1914-15 Mr. Partain became coach and the team continued to be the main attraction. Then in 1916 Mr. Coonsmiller was the coach and the
team gained the reputation "never was beaten." This is the team Quantrell was so proud of. They were called "the undefeated team of Harmon County."

Teacross had school to the eighth grade. Those wanting to teach elementary grades were given a teacher's test.

Outsiders played on the basketball teams as they were not a part of the school system. These men teachers coached the young men after school hours and on weekends. The last day of school at Teacross was looked forward to from one year to the next. An all day affair was held at the school with parents and children arriving early in their buggies or wagons with big boxes of food to have a "dinner on the ground." Programs were given by the children and then the community was treated to a play, put on by the young people and young marrieds of the community.

In 1919 Quantrell married Carrie Burt, also of Teacross. He started his teaching career in 1920 in his beloved Teacross school. Teachers who taught with him were Virgie Burt, Norma Arrant and Jewel McCarty. After three years he went to Gould school, then to Lone Star and Metcalf. In 1930, he decided to run for county superintendent. He was elected and worked there five years deciding to quit the teaching field in 1935 to become postmaster of the Hollis post office. This was in the building across the street from the new post office built in 1940. He continued in this capacity until Aug. 1946. Others working with him were Raymond Hall, Bill Cagle, Jim Cunningham, Bolan Braswell, Perry Doolittle, Frank Burns, R.O. Hawkins, and Verner Briscoe. Custodians were Emory Felty and John Boyett.

Quantrell and Carrie had two children, Blaine and Margary   Quantrell passed away in 1966 and is buried in Fairmount cemetery.”