Enjoy some short articles from The Jackson Times in 1947 concerning some of the best known people living in Breathitt County at that time. The short articles were combined below.

Know Your Neighbors Better - 1947

This is one in a series of special articles to be run weekly and featuring business and professional people of the town and county. All pictures used in the series were made by Wm. E. Stacy, veteran of World War II, who is studying to enter the photographic business, and who made the pictures on special commission from The Times.

Dr. Clyde Bays -- Tooth Carpenter

We're not knocking his business, but here is a neighbor who it is much more pleasant to meet outside his business hours, and we presume most folks know what we mean. He is Dr. C. E. Bays, dentist to most of the folks in Breathitt County.

Following completion of his training in 1943, Dr. Bays opened his office in Jackson that year, locating in the Rose building on Broadway, where his shingle still hangs out. Son and grandson of native Breathitt Countians, he fitted easily into the community's life, and he has found time to take an active interest in most of the civic affairs of town and county.

He is particularly proud of the splendidly equipped offices he has furnished since he commenced practice. His patients are able to secure every type of dental treatment, and from forceps to x-ray he is equipped to provide modern dental services.

Outside his office hours, Dr. Clyde finds his hands full with the presidency of the Jackson Kiwanis Club, his duties as a member of the Jackson City School Board, and the 4-H Club Council, and as a director and member of the loan advisory board of the First National Bank of Jackson. This year he has served as one of the delegates to the Kentucky Dental Association from the Bluegrass region, a duty which has required considerable of his time.

Incidentally, good weather is always likely to lull him away from the office for a fishing trip or to a sports event.

Mrs. Bays is the former Mary Needham, daughter of Mrs. Hugh Needham and the late Mr. Needham. She is a native of Jackson, also. Two dainty young ladies, Peggy and Betsy, occupy her time.

Dr. Bays is a member of the First Baptist Church and of the Breathitt Lodge 649, F. & A. M. In both organizations he takes an active interest.

Whether there is a suspicion of an ache around your teeth or not, here is another good neighbor active in building a more beautiful Breathitt.

Fred Brodtkorb & Leonard Slusher -- Wholesale Grocers

Start a community undertaking of any kind, whether it be for church, charity, agriculture, business, or what have you, and if one of the gentleman above isn't taking a leading part in it, it is because both of them are. Here are two neighbors of Jackson well-known and well-liked throughout the county.

Frede Brodtkorb is a graduate of the United Denmark, who found America more to his liking. He is manager of Powell-Hacknery Grocery Company, Inc., in Jackson and Beattyville. Leonard Slusher is assistant manager for the same firm. Leonard came to Jackson as a boy from Jellico, Tennessee, and like his parents has made this his home ever since.

Fred is a graduate of the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, and landed in Jackson 17 years ago as bookkeeper for Powell-Hackney. He succeeded the late Howard Parker as manager of the firm following the latter's death in 1940.

Leonard, "Mr Slusher" to the younger folks, but "Dog" to his former schoolmates, graduated from Jackson High School and Lees Junior College. He entered the wholesale grocery firm's employee in 1942.

Listing the activities of these two would require more space than can be allotted here, but both are Kiwanians; both former presidents of the local club. Frede was formerly Lieutenant Governor of the Kentucky-Tennessee district of this civic organization.

Both are active churchmen; Frede a Presbyterian and Leonard a Methodist. Frede is currently an Elder of the Guerrant Memorial Presbyterian Church. He has served as deacon of his church, and as superintendent of its Sunday School. Leonard is superintendent of the Methodist Sunday School, and a member of its Board of Stewards.

Frede serves as city treasurer, a post he has held for 16 years. Leonard is a member of the Jackson Board of Education, and was formerly a member of the city council. Both are members of the Breathitt 4-H Club Council. Each has been active in recent years in various wartime and charitable drives. Fred serving for several years as treasurer of the Breathitt Chapter, American Red Cross.

The powers behind the throne are both school teachers. Mrs. Brodtkorb having retired from the profession to devote her time to her home and their daughter, Annabelle, although she finds time to serve as president of the Jackson PTA, and to take active part in various church and community affairs; and is now president of the local Women's Auxiliary and Secretary for Foreign Mission for the Synod of Kentucky. Mrs. Slusher has taught in the city grade school for several years. The Slushers have two children, Ollie Jeannine and Leonard Kash.

That desk in the foreground of the picture above is the only one in Jackson which compares to the condition of the desk used by The Times editor.

Don't wait for an invitation, just drop in for a visit with these good neighbors. You'll find a welcome.

Dr. Jesse O. VanMeter -- Heads Local College

Native of the same town as the President of the United States is Dr. Jesse O. Van Meter, president of Lees Junior College for almost 19 years, and friend to hundreds of young men and women from all sections of Eastern Kentucky, who have attended the local college.

Although a native of Missouri, Mr. Van Meter was brought to Kentucky when less than a year old. This state has been his home through the major portion of his life. He attended the University of Kentucky when a young man, and then accepted the post of YMCA secretary and director of athletics in the Lexington, Kentucky schools. While serving in that post he coached the Lexington High School basketball team to its first state championship. Later he transferred to Meridian, Mississippi, as YMCA secretary and city playground supervisor.

At the age of 32 he received his call to the ministry, and went to Columbia Seminary in North Carolina to study for his chosen profession. Then he moved to Asheville, North Carolina to serve the Asheville School for Boys, just before bing called to Lees as its president.

He has served as president of Lees longer than any other man, and is now the oldest college president in years of continuous service in Kentucky. He looks back with pride upon his accomplishments at the local college, among them being the retirement of a heavy indebtedness of the school at the time he came here, the accumulation of an endowment fund for the college, and the several thousands of dollars in permanent improvements made in the school property.

Hundreds of young men and women have studied at Lees during the years he has headed the school, and he numbers almost everyone of them as a personal friend. To them he is respectfully known as Dr. Van.

His wife has served the college, too, during their years here, always capable of helping out wherever a need occurs. She has served the school as a teacher, dietician, registrar, and numerous other posts from time to time as circumstances necessitated. She is an active member of the local DAR chapter.

Two children have grown to adulthood here: Dr. Jesse O., Jr., who is a practicing physician in Norfolk, Virginia; and Miss Rebecca, who is architect and designer for one of the largest mercantile businesses in Atlanta, Georgia.

An outstanding speaker, Mr. Van Meter is called upon almost constantly to preach in churches throughout the state and in other states, and as a speaker for school and club meetings.

Well-known to most of our readers, Mr. Van Meter is another of the good neighbors of our county.

Marie Roberts Turner -- Heads County Schools

Known throughout Breathitt County is this good neighbor, Marie R. Turner, who for the past 16 years has served as Superintendent of the Breathitt County Schools.

A native of the Lost Creek section of this county, and educated in its rural schools and at Riverside Institute, Mrs. Turner succeeded her husband, Ervine Turner, as school superintendent in 1931. Her deep interest in the school children of the county has largely attributed to the progressive administration of the county schools during her term in that office.

Looking backward over the years, she lists as major achievements for the schools the following developments: The erection of the modern county high school in Jackson; the development of four fine consolidated graded schools housed in brick or stone buildings of modern design; the establishment of a hot-lunch program in a major portion of the rural schools; the program of teacher workshops held each year in Jackson for the rural school teachers; and the increase in high school graduates each year from one in 1930 to 75 in May 1947.

In addition to these local activities, Mrs. Turner has successfully carried the story of the educational needs of the mountains to interested persons in other sections of the state and throughout the nation. One of the highest compliments paid to her was by the present Superintendent of Public Instruction, who, in a speech here last summer, declared her "one of the outstanding school leaders of Kentucky and the nation."

Annually Mrs. Turner has attended and participated in the work of the National Education Association, and among the honors that have come to her was the invitation to attend the White House Conference which in 1945 laid the plans for postwar developments in the field of rural education.

Recognizing the close relationship between formal education and the social and economic problems of the county, Mrs. Turner has actively participated in many civic and social organizations, and is a member of the Breathitt 4-H Club Council, the Breathitt Agriculture Improvement Council, and numerous other organizations of such nature.

Equally well-known to Breathitt Countians is her husband, former State Senator Ervine Turner, an attorney with offices in Jackson.

Two children, Mrs. Jeff Howell and John Raymond, have completed their education here, and following college study elsewhere have made this their home. Mrs. Howell assisting in her mother's office and the son, a veteran of the recent war, now engaged in the mercantile business in Jackson.

They are members of the Jackson Christian Church.

No introduction is needed by Breathitt Countians to Mrs. Turner or her family, but we remind them of another good neighbor.

Note: Others will follow soon.