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My father, Archie Stephens Fondren, was born in Kosciusko, Ms. in 1913, Aug. 3. H e was an honest, hard working man, who helped support his mother and brothers from the time he was a young man. He joined the conservation corps in the early 1930's and there he planted trees, cut down trees, cleared debris from the land, and generally worked from daybreak until dark, enjoying the fresh air and hard labor. He sent all his earnings home to his mother, except money for a twice monthly hair cut for himself. Finally, he left the Corps in order to help his mother out at home.
His older brother joined the army at age 40 (this was Jesse), and Archie went to Memphis to work on the Mississippi River. Then he got a job with the Southern Bell Telephone company. He married Lucille Butler Fondren and they had a baby they named Julie. My dad carried my mother up a long flight of stairs to their apartment, with her holding the baby--me! when they came home from the hospital. My dad worked many days and nights during ice storms, to "shoot trouble" as they called working overtime during those conditions. Once he worked 40 nights in a row, to keep the phone lines open! He retired from the telephone company as an acting supervisor, and filled in his retirement years by competing in the Senior Olympics. He won over a hundred first place medals. He was named " Senior Athlete of the Tri-State" area when he was in his 80's. He also played guitar and sang in a band called ' the Wildwood Rhythms". My dad passed away in 2004 at almost 91 years of age. Julie Fondren Hudson
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