PATRICK--MCCORMACK

The following bio was taken from pages 292-293 of the book entitled "Rusk County History" compiled and edited and used with permission of the Rusk County Historical Commission.

Transcribed by Gloria Riley

Submitted by Gloria Briley Mayfield, Rusk County TX Coordinator

James Boyd Patrick, the first child of James Smith Patrick and Virtie Virginia Wallace, was born October 3, 1914 in the Patrick Community, where he has lived most of his life. He grew up on the farm and by the age of seven was a regular hand on the farm.

Connie Belle Patrick, daughter of Thomas Powell and Lizzie Hudman Patrick, was born August 16, 1914. She moved with her family into the Patrick Community and started to school in 1925. There she and Boyd were friends and classmates. Both finished school at Patrick, then graduated from Mt. Enterprise High school in 1934. By this time they were more than friends; they were sweethearts and were married October 3, 1942 by Reverend Clyde Wallace in Henderson.

Boyd enlisted in World War II and served in B Company, 301^st Infantry, 94^th Division. He was in the service for thirty-seven months. He was captured by the Germans and held prisoner for ninety-seven days before being liberated by the British.

In 1947, Boyd and Connie Belle built their home near the Pleasant Springs Church on land that was settled by their great-grandfather in 1854. On September 26, 1947 they were blessed with a baby daughter, Betty Larie.

Boyd is a member of the Pine Hill Masonic Lodge No. 95, and is a Scottish Rite Mason. He worked for Trailmobile Manufacturers in Longview for twenty years and retired in 1976.

Connie Belle and Boyd are active members of the Pleasant Springs Presbyterian Church. Through the years Boyd has served as Sunday School Superintendent and teacher of the adult class. He is also a deacon and an elder. Connie Belle is active in Sunday school and served at one time as teacher of the junior class. She now teaches kindergarten. For the last twenty years she has been secretary-treasurer for the Sunday school and is a charter member of the Ladies Circle, which organized in 1951. She was the first secretary-treasurer of the organization and has served as vice-president at various times. She is still an active member of the circle.

I am Betty, daughter of Boyd and Connie Belle Patrick. I attended my first year of school at Patrick and graduated from Henderson High School in 1966. I went two years to Panola Junior College, and during this time, I met David McCormack, and he became more important to me than school.. We were married in the Pleasant Springs Presbyterian Church by Reverend D. S. Neel. David and I are members of that church.

Born December 11, 1949, David is the son of Alfred and Sally Faye Keeling McCormack. David served nineteen months in the First Marine Air Wings, Squad 367 in the Vietnam War.

Our first home was on Chicken Feather Road near Henderson. In 1974 we bought land in the Patrick Community and built our home where the Patrick schoolhouse once stood. David began working for Rusk County Electric Cooperative in 1970 and is still working there.

David and I have two daughters, Connie Fae, born September 20, 1976, and Virginia Beth, born March 20, 1979.

The James Boyd Patrick family has enjoyed a good life with many blessings bestowed upon them.

Written by Betty Patrick McCormack