The members rose to sing Happy Birthday to long time Rotarian Gene Farley today. Afterwards I called him at home to ask him a few questions about his life. Although suffering some lingering low back issues from a truck wreck, his mind is clear and it was a joy to talk to Gene. Gene was in the North African and Italian campaign during WWII as a member of the 34th Infantry, 175th Field Artillery. My Dad was with the First Armored out of Ft. Knox and Gene said that outfit gave his people a lot of support during those campaigns.
Gene was born in Harlan, Kentucky on today's date, November 28, in 1919. He graduated from Hall High School in 1938 and from Eastern Kentucky State Teacher's College in 1943 with a degree in English and History. After the war he taught school in Pulaski County and found his wife Beulah there. Gene went on to get his Ph.D. in Education from George Peabody College at Vanderbilt and served in the Glasgow School system ultimately as Superintendent before moving on to Christian County where he was also Superintendent. Later he taught in the Education Department at WKU and retired from there in 1982.
Gene and Beulah had one daughter and two grandchildren. Beulah died in 2001. Gene likes to fish and played an occasional round of golf when he was able. He still raises cattle on three farms totalling over 1000 acres in Warren and surrounding counties. Gene has been very loyal to Rotary ever since I can remember. He attends regularly now with the assistance of fellow Rotarian Dr. Tom Updike.
