Beech Tree News Network

The Butler County Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution held their annual Veterans Breakfast on Saturday, November 10th at the Butler County High School Commons Area.  Chapter Regent Jane K. Smith welcomed everyone.  Several veterans representing the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines were present.  Flag chair Lynda O'Driscoll led the pledge to the flag, followed by the opening prayer by Chapter Chaplain, Peggy Drake.

 
North Butler Elementary students created the poppies table decoration, created for WWI 100th anniversary.

After a delicious breakfast, Linda Wood introduced her husband, Tommy Wood as the Veteran of the Year.

 
In October l941, Tommy was born the son of Walter and Mary Wood in Prentiss, in Ohio County, KY.  He was the fifth child of six children.  His Dad was an underground coal operator in Prentiss and as a child, he would sit on the back of a punching machine while his Dad was operating it in the mines.  As he grew older, Tommy worked in and around the mines during the summer, after school; and on the weekends.  His Dad was killed in the mines just as Tommy was getting ready to graduate from high school.  After graduation, he went to Louisville, KY and worked in a grocery store, an upholstery shop, and an optical lab.
In February 1963, during the Vietnam Era, Tommy went to serve his country in the Army Reserves.  He took his basic training at Fort Knox and was stationed there for the remaining six months of training.  He served as a Company Clerk. Tommy had to go to monthly meetings in Central City, KY and two weeks of Summer Camp in Fort Jackson, South Carolina.  He was always aware that he could be called to active duty at any time.
When Tommy was on 2-week leave after basic training in June 1963, he married his sweetheart, Linda Shultz.  They have three sons, David, Steven and Walter (Leslie) and eight grandchildren.  After Tommy returned home from completing the six months training at Fort Knox, he worked in the coal mines for his brother.  In 1964, he went to work for Chevron Oil Company and took his training in Bowling Green, KY.  After training, he operated two service stations in Beaver Dam, KY then in 1966, he got promoted to Retail Sales and the Company moved to Somerset, KY.  His Army Reserve Monthly Meetings were also transferred to Somerset.   In l969 after completing six years of service, he was honorably discharged as a Staff Sargent.
In September of 1970, Tommy went into the business of an Underground Ground Coal Operation in Butler County as a partner with his brother.  He moved his family to Morgantown, KY in October 1970.  In 1978, he sold his half of the Underground Mines and went into the Surface Mining Industry.  Tommy retired in l985. While living in Somerset, he was a member of the Jaycees and did a lot of community service.  As a member of Morgantown First Baptist Church, Tommy serves as a Deacon, Board member; and Treasurer of the Gasper River Association.

Lois Russ recognized all the veterans in attendance. The Butler County Chapter of the NSDAR has been honoring Veterans of the Year since 1985.