Carroll County
CCC - Biography |
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Fred J. Powers, Sr.
Fred Powers was born September 20, 1914, in Albany, Delaware County,
Indiana, the oldest of nine children born to Harlan Dent and Susie
Minerva (Evans) Powers. Fred moved to Carrollton, Kentucky, in 1934 to
join the Civilian Conservation Corps. The CCC was a public program that
put over three million young adults to work during the Great Depression
of the 1930s and 1940s.
He was assigned to Camp General Butler, in Carrollton. He worked as a
cook and was a member of the baseball team and continued his love of
cooking and sports throughout his life. While in the CCCs, he met
Mildred Hendricks. They eloped and married February 8, 1936, in Vevay,
Indiana. While away from home, Fred’s father, one brother (to whom he
was closest friends), and two sisters died from Tuberculosis.
While in the CCCs, Fred was Chief Cook; however, when he eloped without
permission, his rank was busted down to regular cook. Being in the CCCs
was like being in the military, with barracks, officers, etc. Fred was
making $25 a month, $20 of which was mailed home to his mother in
Indiana because the purpose of the CCCs was to provide jobs to support
families. Since most of his wages were mailed home, Fred and Mildred had
just $5 a month to live on when they first married.
When World War II began, Fred was past the age to be drafted, so he
worked a swing shift as a security guard at the Jeffersontown Proving
Ground in Charleston, Indiana. Here they made and tested artillery
shells. Fred didn't own a car at the time; however, he car pooled and
came home to Carrollton at the end of his shift.
After the War, Fred began working for Kentucky Utilities in 1947 as
meter reader. He was promoted to service crew and then local manager in
Owenton. At that time, Fred and Mildred moved to Owenton with sons J.O.
and Fred Jr. Their sister, Carolyn, married after completing her nurses
training at Baptist Hospital in Louisville and remained in Carrollton.
In Owenton, Fred and Mildred made many friends. He was active in the
community, serving as president of the Owenton Rotary Club, a member of
the Owen County Chamber of Commerce, and a trustee of Owenton First
Baptist Church. Fred moved back to Carrollton to become the KU District
manager and retired from that position in 1981.
Fred was a big University of Kentucky basketball fan and never missed
game on television. He loved dancing and was very good at it. He and
Mildred were members of the Butler Generals Square Dancing Club.
Mildred passed away February 18, 1993, and Fred lived at home on
Comamnche Trail in Carrollton for several years before moving to New
Horizons Assisted Living on September 22, 2002. He passed away January
11, 2004, at the Carroll County Hospital. Besides his children, he left
behind several grandchildren, great grandchildren and other family who
love and miss him. |
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