Virgil Lee Couch---Mr. Civil
Defense
Compiled by Helen Allen McKeown
Born in Princeton, Caldwell County, Kentucky, November 12, 1907; died August
17, 1990; buried Columbia Gardens Cemetery, Arlington County, Virginia. Married December 24, 1931 Martha Pence Duncan;
married August 29, 1952 Violet Mae Showers, U.S. Government Official;
University of Kentucky, B.S. in Commerce, 1930.
He is son of John Couch and Malta Ann Duke.
His sister, Lucille Elizabeth Couch, born August 26, 1909 in
Muhlenberg County, Kentucky; died September 27, 1988; buried Sunnyside Cemetery,
Ohio County, Kentucky. By October 1909 the family bought a farm and returned to
Ohio County, having moved to Caldwell County in 1907. Lucille was remembered as a music teacher at
Centertown School, Ohio County. ‘As a
youngster he won prizes for his wheat crops by carefully sifting the kernels
through a fine sieve, so that only the plumpest grains remained.’ Virgil first traveled to UK in 1924-1925 as a
member of the championship debating team at Beaver Dam High School, where he
graduated with Class of 1926. He
enrolled in UK in fall of 1926, rooming with Tennyson Payton, Beaver Dam class
of 1925. Virgil’s classmates at Beaver
Dam were his sister, Lucille Couch, Lucille Baker, Malcolm Lynn Barnes, Karl
Brown, Hubert Greer, Mildred Greer, Estill Hazelrigg, Beulah Kane, Helen
(Knight) Barnard, Sterling Maddox, Audra (Martin) Sprigg, William Raley, Rhea
Render, Ben Rummage, and Hayward Stevens.
March 10, 2014, I visited Audra Martin, age 107, who remembers both
Virgil and Lucille Couch. Western
Kentucky Seminary name changed to Beaver Dam High School in 1920, that building
enlarged in 1928.
Following graduation from the University in 1930, he served three
careers, all involving new things in new ways with great speed and unusual
economic conditions and international unrest.
His meticulous efforts reflect his guide, “You’ve got to arrive at
solutions in advance-----like Noah did.”
He was in business, 1930-35, as an executive in the petroleum industry
where he was recognized for sales development in which he gained national
recognition for scientific selection, placement and training of sales
representatives. He started his second career in 1935, when he took leave from
industry temporarily to join the federal government as a consultant and advisor
on personnel management and labor relations, a profession that was just
beginning.
He was National Director of Personnel and Labor Relations for the Farm
Security Administration, Farmers Home Administration, and other groups in the
U.S. Department of Agriculture. He has held some of the biggest jobs in
personnel management in the world, including the first Director of Personnel
for the Economic Cooperation Administration (Marshall Plan) named for United
States Secretary of State George Marshall, where he served as adviser to other
federal agencies, state and local governments and 16 foreign countries in
establishing personnel management systems. He was charter member and
International President of the Society for the Advancement of Management;
Chairman of numerous committees of the National Personnel Council and
Presidential committees concerned with federal management practices.
He organized the American Society of Training Directors, Federal
Training Council, Federal Safety Council, and the Society for Public
Administration. He was the first Chairman of the newly established Arlington
County, Virginia, Civil Service Commission, and adviser to several governors
and mayors on the establishment of merit systems and employment services.
He was Head (Dean) of the Department of Public Administration and
professor of public administration at the USDA Graduate School, and authored
numerous articles and pamphlets on personnel management. He was recognized as
the "father" of personnel management and labor relations in the
federal government. In 1951, he began his third career as assistant
administrator for Civil Defense and Emergency Preparedness and was recognized
as the nation's top adviser on methods of preparing for survival of nuclear
attack and natural disasters. He was Director of field exercises for Atomic
Test Operations. He established and directed the National Civil Defense Staff
College and Training Center. In 1953, on leave, he served as consultant to the
Venezuelan government on problems of public administration and reorganization.
October 20, 1961, because of his worldwide identification with the civil
defense effort, he was featured on the cover of "Time" magazine, the
first career federal employee to achieve that recognition.
His honors and awards include the National Institute of Disaster
Mobilization Award for "the greatest contribution to national defense and
disaster preparedness;" the U.S. Civil Defense Council Citation for
"outstanding assistance to local governments," and the American
Society for Industrial Security Distinguished Service Award for
"outstanding contributions in establishing the security profession."
He also wrote numerous articles on aspects of emergency preparedness. He was the
U.S. Representative to NATO and was chosen to draft programs to encourage and
guide industries in preparing to survive major emergencies. His many
assignments in civil defense earned him the title, "Mr. Civil
Defense." He became a 32nd degree Mason and was a Shriner. While at UK, he
was editor of the "Kentuckian," college yearbook; President of the
YMCA, UK Radio Station's first announcer, and President of Alpha Tau Omega. He
was a member of Delta Sigma Phi, and winner of the Alpha Delta Sigma "best
in the world award" in advertising. He was assistant advertising manager
of "The Kentucky Kernel," and editor of the "Freshman College
Handbook."
Virgil L. Couch
was named to the UK Hall of Distinguished Alumni on November 6, 1970. In August of 1991, his widow donated his papers
to Dwight D Eisenhower Library, Abilene, Kansas. The collection comprised of approximately
30,400 pages deals primarily with 1951-1972.
Papers reflect that by retirement he had earned title of ‘Mr. Civil Defense’ or ‘Mr. Industry Defense.’ His philosophy, “It is better for industry to
be paternalistic than for the Government to be.”
His influence was
felt in Kentucky, as well as the rest of the country, during the Cold War time
of 1950’s and 1960’s as homeowners often consulted fallout shelter plans. Citizens were well informed as to possibility
of nuclear attack and preparedness for that event. The work of the country included plans for
radiologic recovery of fixed military installations, banking preparedness,
armored car specifications, prison policies, food industry and metropolitan
vulnerability, underground industrial plants, mental health implications,
etc. Civil Defense was an everyday
expression and every business and government division had a civil defense
emergency plan in place. Civil Defense
and other agencies were brought together in today’s FEMA (Federal Emergency
Management Agency).
Paternal
Genealogy
John Couch born
December 17, 1883; died January 7, 1964; married February 2, 1907 in Ohio County
to Malta Ann Duke, born November 21, 1887, Ohio County, died January 17, 1975; they are buried Sunnyside Cemetery. John
Couch worked for Illinois Central Rail Road, he was night man in 1907 Ohio
County when he was transferred to Princeton.
John Couch is son
of Leander Jackson Couch, MD, born December 22, 1847 in Webster County,
Kentucky, near Slaughtersville; died June 12, 1889; buried Slaughters Cemetery,
Webster County, Kentucky; married December 29, 1881 in Webster County to Sallie
Elizabeth Chandler, born September 9, 1859, died May 12, 1930, buried Sunnyside
Cemetery. After death of Leander Couch,
his widow married October 4, 1891 to his brother Warren Lafayette Couch, born
January 26, 1844, died March 24, 1910, buried Slaughters Cemetery.
Leander Couch is
youngest son of large family, who in 1870, began study of medicine in the
office of Dr. Jenkins, of Hopkins County, Kentucky, and afterward attended
lectures at the Louisville Medical College, Jefferson County, Kentucky.
In 1874 he entered the Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, graduating in 1875. He commenced the practice of his profession in
Webster County and in 1876 came to Sebree, Kentucky. He is a Mason
and a Democrat.
Leander Couch is
son of first cousins James Daniel Couch, born February 16, 1803 in Virginia, died
April 11, 1866, buried Mount Carmel Cemetery, Hopkins County, Kentucky and Mary
Ann Couch, born March 15, 1814, died May 30, 1904, buried Slaughters Cemetery,
Webster County. James Couch is son of Daniel
Couch. 1860 census reflects the local teacher M. A. Pratt living in the
home.
Mary Couch is
daughter of John Couch, born July 8, 1773, Buckingham County, Virginia, died March
13, 1840, buried Couch Family Graveyard on the original plantation; married 1796
in Virginia to Mary Anderson who died between 1840-1850. Based on census review,
they migrated to Kentucky in 1833 and homesteaded 1,000 acres between Mt. Pleasant community and Slaughters, then part of Hopkins County, now Webster
County. They were parents of fourteen children. The Couch family were
likely slaveholders as William Couch, a colored man, was only barber in
Slaughters in 1895.
John and Daniel
Couch were sons of James Couch born 1750 in England died 1820. James Couch served in Revolution, DAR
record A026422 documents provision of beef and 65 days of service as canoe man.
Sallie Elizabeth
Chandler is daughter of William McVey Chandler and Eliza Jane Parker. William Chandler family from Person County,
North Carolina, born January 16, 1829, died January 16, 1887, buried McClendon Chandler
Cemetery, Webster County, Kentucky; married in 1849 to Eliza Jane Parker who
died 1867. The Chandler family landed
in Hopkins County, Kentucky, January 25, 1829, coming from North Carolina. In 1850 he moved to Henderson County which
area is now Webster County. William
Chandler farmed until 1882 then purchased the Singer Mill in Sebree, which has
a capacity of twenty barrels of flour and will grind 150 bushels of corn per
day, was a Democrat and long time member of the Regular Baptist Church. William Chandler is son of Washington
Chandler, married January 7, 1825 in Person County to Letha Morrow. Washington Chandler is son of John Chandler, married November 22, 1800 in Person County to Rebecca McVey, born 1783 South
Carolina, died 1868, buried McClendon Chandler Cemetery.
Rebecca McVey
is daughter of presumed Revolutionary War soldier, John McVey and Mary ‘Molly’
Bumpass. John McVey is son of Hugh McVey
and Ruth Manning. Mary Bumpass is
daughter of presumed Revolutionary War soldier John Bumpass. Prior to the Revolution John Bumpass
organized a company of which he was Captain and was active as a Regulator,
having the nickname “The Fighting Captain”.
He received a land grant from Lord Granville on March 10, 1761 in Person
County. His father, Robert Bumpass
received similar land grant in 1752 era for 640 acres. According to one tradition the Bumpass family can be traced back to
Southern France. In 1752, during the
wars of the Count of Toulouse a youth was given a very important assignment of
carrying a message through enemy lines to another commander. The job required
such great courage and tact that when he completed his mission, the general
jumped up and shouted "Bon Pas" (Well done! in French) so from then
on he was given the new name, Bumpass.
Eliza Parker, daughter of Jonas Parker, married February 8, 1816, Person County, to Ruth Tapp; they came to Kentucky in 1837. Ruth Tapp, daughter of Revolutionary War soldier, William Tapp, married July 19, 1796 Person
County to Rebecca Fowler, DAR record A112786.
Maternal Genealogy
Malta Duke, daughter of William Virgil Duke, born September
17, 1853, died April 6, 1916; married May 21, 1884, Ohio County, Ida Elizabeth
Acton, born December 7, 1866, died August 16, 1942; they are buried Rosehill Elmwood
Cemetery, Daviess County, Kentucky.
William Duke is son of Thomas Duke, born March 17, 1807, died
March 2, 1888, married March 28, 1837, Dorcas Ann Tanquary Addington, born January
22, 1820, died June 21, 1884; they are buried Old Bethel Methodist Church Cemetery,
Ohio County, Kentucky, described as Horton or Hells Neck area. Thomas described in his obituary as a good
citizen and true Christian. Dorcas
(Darcus) is daughter of William ‘Henry’ Addington, born March 6, 1774, Maryland; died November 10, 1850, and second wife, Polly Davis, born January 15, 1796, died 1834,
they married March 2, 1815. William
Virgil would have been named for Dorcas father, William Henry Addington, and younger
brother, Virgil Porter Addington . Henry gave land for Equality Church/Cemetery
so likely they are buried in old part of cemetery next to Equality Methodist
Church ruins. Polly is daughter of
Lodowick Davis, Methodist minister, whose name is found on several Ohio County
marriage records. The Addington and
Davis families were early settlers, part of Rev. Ignatius Pigman’s Maryland
Methodist migration, they would have been affiliated with Goshen Methodist
Church, Ohio County, Kentucky prior to organization of Equality Methodist
Church.
Thomas Duke is son of John Duke, born March 26, 1773, died
April 7, 1844; married December 25, 1794 to Elizabeth Ann Stevens, born August
18, 1775, died January 24, 1856, who came to Ohio County from Maryland, buried
Old Bethel Cemetery. Elizabeth Stevens
is daughter of Richard Stevens, born October 8, 1734, died June 14, 1798 in Montgomery
County, Maryland; married March 11, 1766 to Lydia Garner, born March 17, 1740, died June 7, 1829; she is buried Carson Cemetery, Ohio County. Carson is located near No Creek Methodist
Church where family members still worship.
In fall of 1800 a group including
John and Elizabeth Duke and her mother left Maryland to arrive in Ohio County
in 1801, traveling in wagons drawn by teams.
They crossed the Alleghany Mountains to Wheeling on Ohio River where
they built a boat, loaded it with wagons and people to continue by river to Cloverport,
Hancock County, Kentucky, arriving in January, 1801. Two of the group brought their horses
overland. The horses then pulled the
wagons on to Ohio County. This was
unsettled area and one family story relates story of shooting a panther measuring
six feet from nose to tail. Other wild
animals included bear, wolves, wildcats and wild hogs. Travel was required to Saline salt works to
secure salt. John Duke was one of five
trustees of Bethel Meeting House organized on April 30, 1814. Annual camp meetings were held at both Bethel
and No Creek churches.
Ida Acton is daughter of Fielder Weemes Acton, born March 24,
1837, died March 14, 1912; married January 27, 1858, Ohio County, to Elizabeth Wade
Hines, born February 29, 1840, died June 13, 1921; they are buried Mount Vernon
Cemetery, Ohio County. Fielder is son
of Bartemus Acton, born April 25, 1799, died March 31, 1868, married June 27, 1825 to Sallie Anne Roby, born June 6, 1809, died June 19, 1849; they are buried Bean
Cemetery, Ohio County. They were born
and married in Charles County, Maryland.
Bartimus is son of Osborn and Elizabeth Acton.
Elizabeth Hines is daughter of Simeon Walton Hines, born
February 20, 1802, Charlotte County, Virginia, died February 26, 1872, buried
Hudall aka Swain Cemetery, at Hudnal’s Landing on Green River, Little Bend Road
aka Highway 269, Ohio County, Kentucky; married September 15, 1823, Lincoln
County, Kentucky, to Mary Elizabeth Wade, born 1805, Boyle County, Kentucky, died
February 29, 1840, at birth of Elizabeth.
Mary Elizabeth Wade, daughter of William Wade, born July 9, 1780, died 1840, buried Jim Wade Cemetery, Butler County, married Mary Collicott, born April 26,
1781, died February 12, 1865, buried Aunt Jane Tichenor Cemetery, Ohio County. William Wade the son of Andrew Wade and Sarah
Petty.
Simeon Hines moved to Boyle County in 1816, and on to Butler
County in 1826; he was a Methodist. He
is son of Elizabeth Jane Harvey and Henry Hines, born December 18, 1732, died
November 5, 1810, Charlotte County. Henry
Hines (Hinds) was a Virginia planter and owned 105 slaves, having served in
Revolution with Captain Tarlton Payne’s Company and Colonel Richard Parker’s
1st Virginia Regiment as a private, being called ‘Fighting Henry’. DAR record A055195 documents his furnishing
of supplies. All his children had a
good English education. Below is transcription
of a letter from Henry to his son.
Charlotte, Virginia 20th June 1810
Dear Son,
It is not without some degree of emotion, that I once
more find myself spared, to inform you that I am yet in being prompt with a
flattering hope of recovery. I have suffered much with both pain and confinement for these
four or five months past, but thank God, am now in some measure relieved. Professing a fond hope that yourself and the
other members of my children and family are enjoying health and happiness. I wish you to inform me of the standing of my
affairs under your direction, and if you have any money—to contrive so that I
get it. As I feel an intention to see
Kentucky, next fall; if life and strength permit, when; if I like shall
endeavor to get the balance of my family there also. The illfate to which I have undergone
recently, (in lawsuite) has reduced me to a straight for money, and hope you
will use your best endeavor to accumulate to me what may be due.
I have nothing interesting or uncommon to detail, only we
have a gloomy prospect for a crop and are extremely dry. But few people have pitched their crops of
tobacco as yet---
There is a great stir among the people of this time for
to make out the answer the bonds suspending executions---The produce is at a
very good price, say corn $5-tobacco $7-Flour $7-and so on in proportion.
To hear from you all would add to the relief of your
afflicted father.
Henry Hines, Sen.
Henry is son of Thomas Hines and Elizabeth Jones.
After death of Henry Hines, Elizabeth Harvey, born October 3,
1781, died January 18, 1823, remarried May 14, 1811 to Lewis Jackson and moved to
Boyle County. Simeon Hines sold the
‘Dower Negroes’ assigned to her from Henry Hines estate to his brother, John
Hines of Warren County, Kentucky.
Elizabeth Harvey is daughter of Thomas Henry Harvey, born February 26,
1760, died September 19, 1844, married April 22, 1779, Amelia County, Virginia to
Barbara Walton, born December 20, 1763, died October, 1792. Thomas Henry Harvey’s home was named
Butterwood, he used that as part of his name, he and his dad served in
Revolution; Thomas Henry Harvey DAR record A052204 is son of Virginia soldier
DAR record A052110 Captain John Harvey and Ann Richardson, buried Harvey Family
Cemetery, Charlotte County, Virginia. Thomas
Henry Harvey was a private serving under Captain Bedford, Lieutenant Joseph
Fuqua, also wagon master for General Gates.
He drew a pension but his widow rejected for lack of proof of marriage
to his second wife.
History of the families:
Rowe, Snell, Casebier, Hines, Bozeman, Rone, Greer and France, Patricia Brooks, 1984
The Story of Slaughtersville, Louise P Fleming, 1988.
Hartford Herald, March 7, 1888, July 5, 1899, October 20,
1909
Hartford Republican, June 7, 1907
Ohio County Times, January 23, 1975
Kentucky Ancestors, Volume 46, Number 4, Spring 2011, pages
201-206, Jerry Long
Kentucky: A History
of the State, Battle-Perrin-Kniffen, Webster County, 1885
University of Kentucky, Hall of Distinguished Alumni
Dwight D Eisenhower Library, Abilene, Kansas
Descendants of Henry Hines, John P Morton & Company,
1925
Time magazine, October 20, 1961, pp 21-26
Ohio County Library genealogy annex
Kentucky Death Certificates
Lynn Miller, researcher.
Claude Taylor, Beaver Dam alumni information
Johnnie Brown, Chandler information
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