Muhlenberg County Kentucky
Obituaries: L
Amy M. Longest, 1972
Miss Amy Longest, 86, Ex-Superintendent, Dies
Greenville - Miss Amy M. Longest, one of Muhlenberg County's most outstanding educators, died August 31 at the age of 86 in Muhlenberg Community Hospital following a lengthy illness.
The death of Miss Longest ended a long and brilliant career in the field of education. She was the only woman to serve as superintendent of Muhlenberg County Schools, having been elected to the position in 1914 and serving to 1917. Many years later, Miss Longest was honored for her contributions to Muhlenberg County's education programs when the new elementary school at Muhlenberg Central became Longest Elementary.
Miss Longest was only the second woman in Kentucky to be elected county school superintedent in 1914. Oldtimers recall seeing her drive her horse and buggy from school to school in carrying out her duties as head administrator of the county school system. On many occasions she spent the night in parents's homes after visiting their schools during the day. As early as 1915, Miss Longest felt that Muhlenberg County's educational future would include a large centrally located high school to which students would be transported.
Miss Longest began her education in the school at Powderly, continuing later at Greenville. Her extensive formal education included college at Western Kentucky State Normal at Bowling Green, the University of California, University of Chicago, and the University of Mexico.
During the United States's involvement in World War I, Miss Longest went to Washington, where she worked in the Quartermaster General's Office in the War Department during 1918 and 1919. In 1921 she was tendered, and accepted an offer from the Department of the Interior to teach in the Indian Service, which she did until 1925, in Oklahoma and California; after that she moved to the Philippine Islands where she taught until 1927. On leaving the Islands, she returned to Kentucky by way of Asia and Europe and became the first woman from Muhlenberg County to travel around the world. In 1928 she left for Alaska, where she taught in the Eskimo schools until 1930. She returned to Muhlenberg County, where she stayed during the fall and winter of 1930-31. During the next school year, 1931-32, she went to Harlan County, Kentucky, where she taught at the Pine Mountain Settlement School. In the fall of 1932, she began teaching in the Central City School System. She remained there until 1935. In 1935-37 she did some traveling, and may have been in school in New Orleans. In 1937, she went back to Washington to work for the Federal Government. She continued there until her retirement, December 31, 1953. The U.S. Government noted upon her retirement that during all the years of service, Miss Longest did not use a single day of sick leave.
Miss Longest continued to maker her home in Washington until about a year ago, when she suddenly became ill. Her relatives then brought her back to Muhlenberg County where they would be better able to help look after her.
Surviving are three sisters, Mrs. H.A. Mercer of Central City, Mrs. Laura Boulineau of Atlanta, Ga., and Mrs. G.O. Constant of Bradenton, Fla.
The funeral was held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Tucker Funeral Home in Central City with the Rev. C.W. Duncan, pastor of the First Christian Church, officiating. Burial followed in the Fairmount Cemetery.
- Source: Leader News [Greenville, KY], 6 Sept 1972.
Updated April 5, 2024.