"We've heard a lot nationally about rebuilding the middle class," said Boyd. "That starts with education, and with taking the long view on homegrown talent. That's what the new Monument offers.”
Harry worked for Simscroft-Echo Farms in Simsbury, Connecticut, for several years, then worked closer to home at Pete’s Sales and Service in Sheffield until his retirement in 1998.
Additionally, Earl was a selectman for the town of Alfred for 20 years and was instrumental in the building of the new fire station; the purchase of a new fire truck; and the creation of the new transfer station, the recycling building of which bears his name.
It appears that national emergencies were declared in time of war or when the emergency was clear to all, dire, and demanded immediate attention. The power grab was for a specific purpose and time-limited.
Certainly Great Barrington can simultaneously recognize his flaws and faults while also finding ways to remember publicly, in a permanent way, his profound contributions to the struggle to push the United States to live up to its founding ideals, particularly regarding the plight of African-Americans.
In 1960, he opened his own barber shop, Ken’s Barber Shop, which he owned for 63 years, starting on Railroad Street in Great Barrington and then moving to his location on South Main Street in 1977.
He was made a captain with TWA in 1959, flew the media “chase” plane for Gerald Ford’s presidential run in 1976 and, in 1984, was named the company’s “Pilot of the Year” for skillfully averting the crash of his fully-loaded 747 while experiencing a mechanical failure flying from New York’s JFK to Rome.
John Boddie also worked for many years as a special patrolman for Great Barrington and Stockbridge, a Berkshire County deputy sheriff, and at Birches-Roy Funeral Home.
An accomplished athlete, Richard achieved the remarkable by competing in all (40) Josh Billings triathlons to date; ran the Boston Marathon for several years, played golf regularly, cross-country skied, and loved canoeing the Housatonic River.
