This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Burdine, Hoss Classification: Biography Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/TaB.2ACI/1120 Message Board Post: MR. AND MRS. B. C. BURDINE NOW ENJOYING RETIREMENT (From The Eufaula Indian Journal Bicentennial Edition, June 1976) B. C. Burdine, now 78, and his wife “Vesta”, 71, having taught some 41 years in the Public School System have plenty of time now to reminisce about the many ups and downs they have lived through during their teaching career. Mr. “B. C.” was born in Vendor, Arkansas while “Miss Vesta” lived down the road a piece in a small area called Mrt. Judea, Arkansas. She made it very clear that she grew up in an area that had every natural scenic beauty one could find any place to be happy. The small community is near Harrison, Arkansas. These young people married in 1923 in Arkansas near her home. Mr. Burdine laughingly stated they tried to slip off and get married but friends and neighbors heard about it and attended the wedding which was held in a cow pasture near her home. The young couple came to Oklahoma with their two small children, Harold of Eufaula and Mrs. Fern Hoss of Alabama in the year of 1929 where they attended college in Ada, Oklahoma. Both stated they attended school in the summer and taught continuously in the fall and winter. The usual custom for most teachers back in those days was to borrow money to attend school in the summer and pay it back during the following school term. Scholarships and grant money was naot available to students as it is today. Mr. and Mrs. Burdine received their degrees, a B.S. and B.A. from North Eastern State College in the usual length of time. When asked what were some of the more pleasant memories both stated they believed it was when they transported so many patrons to the doctors for treatment s they were often called on to do, primarily because they were the only people around with an automobile. An incident clearly in their minds was when their four year old daughter “Fern” was treated for diphtheria by the late Doctor Tolleson. It seemed the Doctor came to their home (which was the teacherage in Artussee) to quarantine the family for three weeks due to the diphtheria. The young 4 year old daughter could not be found Doctor Tolleson was very upset thinking the youngster was spreading the disease or possibly very ill someplace. After a thorough search for the child with no results, several hours later the young lady came home the same way she left. She caught a ride in a wagon driven by Elgie Pierce who had gone to the river for a load of wood. The end result was “Fern” did not have diphtheria and the incident kept the family from being quarantined. Mr. Burdine retired from the Eufaula School System in 1964 after having taught here 4 years. Previously, he taught 5th through 8th grades while Mrs. Burdine taught 1st through 4th grades in the rural schools. He taught in Mellette 11 hears, Mountain View 16 years and Eufaula 4 years. He was named “Teacher of the year in 1957. Mrs Burdine retired from her teaching career in 1967 from Eufaula Public School System as an Elementary School Teacher. She taught in Eufaula 8 years, 4 years in Artussee, 12 years in Mellette, 13 years in Mountain View, Stidham 3 years and Eufaula 8 ½ years. She was named “Teacher of the year” in 1968. People all over were good and we enjoyed every place we taught, “Mrs. Burdine stated. Being an avid hunter, Mr. Burdine still hunts, however, to a lesser degree because he stated he could not walk like he used to. Mrs Burdine said just being at home and enjoying her family and grandchildren as well as friends was enough to keep her happy. They are blessed with 4 grand children, Kurt and Kriss Hoss and Joe and Gale Burdine, as well as one great grandchild, Julie Hoss. They own their home here in Eufaula and a farm west of town. Both are members of the Church of Christ here in Eufaula. All citizens and friends contacted about the “Burdines” spoke very highly of them, ss good, honest, solid Americans that anyone would be pleased to be associated with.