Interview with Beckham Combs

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  • Identifier1986 OH 141
  • Date10/11/1986
  • InterviewerEllis, William E.
  • IntervieweeCombs,
  • DescriptionSuperintendent in Knott County, Kentucky, Class of 1928
  • LocationHindman, KY
  • Duration1:01:34
  • Time Summary00:00 - 01:40 Introduction.
    01:40 - 03:40 Beckham Combs was born November 6, 1903 at Vest, Kentucky. Mr. Combs was a long-time Superintendent of Schools in Knott County, Kentucky.
    03:40 - 05:00 Discussed family and educational background, eleven children in family.
    05:00 - 10:00 Told story of how he, at age sixteen, decided to go to college and how he traveled to Eastern.
    10:00 - 13:10 Remembers meeting new friends and faculty and their being nice and kind.
    13:10 - 14:00 Speaks of Joe Sutton being a great influence on his going to college.
    14:00 - 17:40 Discusses Faculty - remembers Mrs. Miller, Mr. Jones (Dean of State Normal School). Dr. Keith being especially nice.
    17:40 - 20:10 Discusses Dr. Donovan.
    20:10 - 27:00 Reminiscences of playing football for eight years.
    27:00 - 29:00 Continues stories of football.
    29:00 - 30:00 Discussed classes - majored in Social Studies.
    30:00 - 32:00 Talked about brothers and sisters educational background.
    32:00 - 35:00 Remembers peddling farm produce in order to get funds for college.
    35:00 - 38:00 Talks of Keen Johnson, Jones, Carter and others being helpful getting jobs for him.
    38:00 - 40:00 Discusses classmates.
    40:00 - 41:00 Married at age 31. Talks of wife being related to Mrs. Coates.
    41:00 - 44:00 Discussed recreation.
    44:00 - 46:00 President Coates discussed joining Conference.
    46:00 - 48:00 Starting as School Superintendent had 87 schools. When finished had 7 consolidated large schools with well built buildings.
    48:00 - 52:00 Discussed changing of students attitude over the years, also big change in schools sfter 1958 with Minimum Foundation Program.
    52:00 - 57:00 Continued discussion of building new school buildings while in office as Superintendent of Schools.
    57:00 - 60:00 Discussed Carl Perkins being a close friend also helping to acquire funds for schools.
    60:00 - 64:00 Discussed when transportation began to open up in the mountains.
  • Restrictionsnone
  • RightsContact Special Collections and Archives, Crabbe Library, Eastern Kentucky University for reproductions, rights and permission to publish.

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Citation

“Interview with Beckham Combs,” William H. Berge Oral History Center, accessed December 9, 2023, https://oralhistory.eku.edu/items/show/78.