Memories

In my last article, I wrote about the Rowleys teaching and now I am going to step back a little with more interesting information.

In 1956, both grade school and high school boards voted to place one person as administrator and Mr. Rowley was employed. He states he remained in that capacity until 1966.

The following excerpt comes from "Shifting Scenes, Vol. II."

"In November 1966, Ruby and I moved to the Turbiville Brothers Ranch to live in the house that had been vacated by Dick and Rose Anne when they moved to Ekalaka, and in exchange Dick and Rose Anne moved to our house in Ekalaka.

That fall I came out of retirement and accepted a teaching position in the Camp Crook Grade school as teacher of grades five through eight. I felt quite at home, for in almost every family enrolled, I had taught the mother, father, brother, or sister and in one family I had taught the grandmother. I remained in this position seven years and made my final retirement in May 1975 at the age of seventy years, and with a total of fifty-two years in my chosen profession."

Besides a full educational profession, Mr Rowley served the community in the following capacities: Carter County Chamber, Lions Club, Ekalaka Vol. Fire Department, Geological Society, three positions in the Congregational Church, Masonic Lodge.

Here is some information on the rest of the family. Clarence graduated from high school in 1949. He went to college in Missoula and from there to the United States Air Force as a pilot. He served twenty years and retired.

Their daughter, Rose Ann graduated in 1952, went to college in Bozeman and became a teacher. She married Dick Turbiville and both were teachers.

And now I will share another encounter with Mr. Rowley.

I was a junior at CCHS and E.E. Short was the football and basketball coach.

Basketball had begun and the weather was cold, snowing and windy. The team was to go to Jordan to play. There were no buses in those days so the team traveled in two cars – E.E. Short's and Mr. Rowley's. Mr. Rowley was running late. Coach Short took his five boys and left for Jordan. Mr Rowley eventually loaded up his five boys who were: Lee Castleberry, Don Boggs, Bob Cooper, myself and one other player whom I don't remember.

On the other side of the of the Ismay turnoff, Mr. Rowley attempted to pass the snowplow. He got too close to the left side of the road and into the edge. The car tipped and we gently turned upside down with Mr. Rowley on the bottom. The snowplow driver saw us, backed up and pulled us out of the car - no one was hurt. He then turned the car back over and pulled it to a nearby ranch house. It was probably 10-15 degrees below that day.

Mr. Rowley went inside the house to contact someone in Miles City. We were left in the car. After some time we got too cold and went in. I believe Price Purdum was contacted and he came and took us to Miles City.

Coach Short and his five boys went to Jordan, borrowed uniforms and won the game. Miles City was as far as the rest of us got.

Things change, but memories sometimes come back.