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John Barham, McKenzie's Hero of Soccer, likes to joke
that his father threatened to name him "No More", since
his mother had endured a couple of miscarriages before
his successful birth, but chances are he saw the
perfection of his new son, dreamed his dreams of what
he would become, and realized this one child was enough
to leave an indelible mark on the world.
Besides, when John was born on December 8, 1935 to John
Barham and Libbie Reynolds Barham, the Great Depression
was in full force; a force that taught, in many ways,
less can be more.
From his home in the "suburbs of Henry" toward
Mansfield, John attended Bunn School, where, by the
time he was in the second grade, he was the smartest
boy in his class. Never mind he was the only boy, with
just one girl sharing his grade in the rural
schoolhouse.
That spring, the school was destroyed by fire and the
children finished out the year in an old house.
Then, John's future as the brightest boy was threatened
when, during summer vacation, he and a girl were
"bouncing around" in the back of a moving truck as it
made its way, thankfully slowly, down a rural road.
John somehow fell from the truck, fracturing his skull,
after which he was unconscious for four days.
"I remember waking up in the hospital and asking when
we got electricity," he chuckles. The hospital of the
day was actually Nobles Clinic in Paris, where John was
enthralled with the switches on the wall. As his
treatment continued, he was required to remain flat on
his back for six weeks, a time period during which he
became acquainted with Donald Duck grapefruit juice.
"I drank gallons of it, I'll always remember that," he
laughs.
He recovered in time to start third grade in Henry, in
time graduating from the school. Soon afterward, he
joined the Army, serving 18 months of his three-year
tour of duty in Japan.
John Barham as a young boy and as a soldier in
the United States Army |
"It was enjoyable," John nods, reflecting on his
service years that, in America's timeline, began about
a year after the Korean War was ended and after the
years designated as "the occupation" of Japan. As a
member of the headquarters company in a signal
battalion, John dispensed Department of Defense
training films to various military units.
After his discharge in December 1957, John walked in
the doors of Bethel College in January, ready to make
use of his G.I. Bill in extending his education.
"I walked in and saw all those lines," he begins
ominously, with raised eyebrows, evoking images of long
lines of soldiers and students as he recounts that,
while in the military, he had stood in enough lines.
"I started out the back door, but a gentleman I went to
school with said, 'Where are you going? Come on down
here and I'll help you get registered.'
"If it hadn't been for him, I wouldn't have gone," he
declares.
He attended classes at Bethel four nights a week plus
six hours on Saturday, studying business administration
while working days at the Milan Arsenal.
After four and a half years working for the Arsenal's
contractor, which at the time was Harvey Aluminum
Company, he transferred to the civil service department
of the plant, where he remained until his retirement on
May 1, 1995.
Among various roles he played over the years at the
Arsenal were industrial specialist (monitoring
production capability and operations), then quality
assurance. When he retired, he was chief of the quality
requirements branch.
While making steady progress in his career, attending
various government and military training programs, he
was also "very active" in the plant's suggestion
program. Estimating John's 15 suggestions saved the
company between $500,000 and $1 million, he was
inducted into the "Economy Roll of Champions" with his
photo being displayed in Washington. He also earned a
letter from President Lyndon Johnson as well as
substantial monetary awards.
In earlier years, John was a 23-year-old student as
well as an employee at the Arsenal when he met Betty
Hayes. Originally from Parsons, she worked midnights
for her aunt at the Island Truck Stop in Routon.
"I would stop by (the truck stop) after visiting Paris
and have coffee," says John with a mischievous glint in
his eyes. Chuckling, he continues, "Sometimes I'd stay
'til five or six o'clock in the morning. Her dad came
in one time and wanted to know who that long-haired _ _
_ was."
The two married in 1959, raising Betty's six-year-old
daughter Pam (who now lives in Lubbock, Texas) and
eventually adding nieces Beverly and Sherry (who now
live in Henderson County and Dalton, Georgia) to the
family when their parents developed health problems.
When Betty decided she wanted to complete her
education, she returned to Henry school as a sophomore
at about the age of 30 while her daughter was an
elementary school student. After graduating, she went
on to the University of Tennessee at Martin to earn a
degree as a registered nurse and worked at the Jackson
Madison County General Hospital.
In 1985, however, after complaining of pain in her
legs, she was diagnosed with leukemia. Incredibly, she
only lived three weeks after contracting pneumonia in
the early stages of chemotherapy.
"She never left the hospital," John relates.
Two years later, he met fellow Arsenal employee Deborah
Smothers from Huntingdon. They married in 1987, with
son Lee Michael born the following June. Daughter Jana
followed two years later in August.
"Jana was premature; she spent 21 days in the neonatal
intensive care unit in Memphis Baptist East. That was a
real experience," he says, shaking his head, then
laughs. "People now ask if the two (teenage) kids are
my grandkids. I tell them no, my grandkids are 19, 22,
and 25."
John has had his own wake up calls where his health is
concerned. In 1992, he had surgery to remove a
cancerous lobe of his right lung.
"I quit smoking that day; I haven't even had the urge,"
he smiles in amazement.
The next year he had triple bypass surgery after chest
pains sent him to the emergency room in Jackson and
tests revealed clogged coronary arteries.
"I didn't have a heart attack," he explains gratefully,
"I just went to the E.R. and they sent me right
through; I had surgery next day."
After a couple of years respite he was undergoing tests
in preparation for gall bladder surgery in 1994 when a
"Triple A" (abdominal aortic aneurysm) was detected,
likely saving his life, as burst aneurysms can cause
uncontrollable internal bleeding.
"I've got zippers everywhere," he grins. "In 1995 I
decided, 'I don't need all this stress; it's time to
get out and enjoy life."
He says one of the main blessings of retirement is the
time he has been able to spend with his children in
their school activities and in community volunteer
work.
He joined the Elementary and Middle School PTOs and
became active in helping the children in their
fundraisers, for example, helping Jana sell 732 boxes
of Girl Scout cookies one year.
While he and Deborah divorced in 2001, John says,
"We're still friends and share an equal responsibility
for the welfare of the children."
For the last five years, John has worked during
weeklong field day activities at the elementary school.
And until recently, he was unofficial president of
McKenzie Soccer League, a pursuit he began five years
ago.
"I kind of picked it up and ran with it," he says, "and
I think we've had good results with that program."
He laughs when recounting how he assumed the leadership
position: "I was always saying, 'What they need to
do...', and, 'What ought to be done...'
"Then somebody said, 'Well, why don't you do it'," he
chuckles pleasantly, pleased in the busy role he has
played in the program. "I enjoy working with young
people. I have kids now come up and say, 'That was my
first soccer coach.'"
In addition to coaching soccer, he has coached Little
League baseball, softball, and basketball.
"I even had a little girl's basketball team called the
'Purple Poodles'," he grins.
In 1999 he was voted 'Volunteer of the Year' by the
McKenzie Elementary PTO and received the 'Modern
Woodmen of America Award for Volunteer Community
Service' in 2000. Also in 2000, he was awarded the
'Virginia Claire Edwards Community Service Award'.
He is a charter member of the Kiwanis Club.
"I enjoy working with the kids," he smiles. "I've had
some good parents help me in all these pursuits. I
still have little girls come up at ballgames and give
me a hug." |
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