Cherry Tree Golden Gloves Boy

A celebration of the life of Ronald Charles McCormick July 10, 1933 – May 2, 2021. From the perspective of his brother.

The beginning? Well, a young coal miner from KY by the name of Clovis had taken a job with the Monitor Coal and Coke Company. Boarding at the company clubhouse, he would frequently observe a young lady getting off the school bus. It would take a few years before he had opportunity to meet Virginia Taylor. By then she was a young teacher still living at home with her parents. This would lead to many dates and romantic walks along the railroad tracks. A simple marriage administered by the county clerk took place in 1931.

1933, a boy is born at their Monitor home just a couple of doors from the home of Virginia’s parents, Scott and Alice Taylor. Virginia’s sister, Elizabeth, also lived in the coal camp with her coal miner husband, Johnny Jones.

About 1937 the family moved to Switzer. Ronald’s Mother decided to take him with her to her one-room school at Micco for his first year of school. “While the kids were waiting at the front door, she would go to the back of the building to let myself in and walk through the school room to open the front door. During that short time, Ronnie seemed to always get into a scuffle with one of the other boys. They liked to tease him about his knickers. She thought it was appropriate dress for a young school lad. The other boys were not of the same opinion and loved to make fun of Ronnie.

Ronnie would then attend his home school at Switzer for second and third grade before the family moved to Cherry Tree in 1942 where he began his fourth year of school under the tutelage of Lucille von Peachy. He made many friends and continued an active life through his high school years. At sixteen years of age, Ron was starting to venture out very much on his own. Leaving the Logan Banner paper boy job, he began working at the Logan Baking Company in Cherry Tree. Oh to smell the wonderful odors coming from the freshly baked loaves of bread! Peering through the large entrance one could see him perspiring profusely while loading tray after tray of loaves just out of the oven on racks. Sometimes Ron would bring home a still-warm loaf of bread. The family relished thick slices of warm bread loaded with butter. Whether walking the Cherry Tree street or walking the railroad behind the bakery, the fresh bread scent would fill the air.

His brother Bobby? They shared a bedroom. Being seven years older, a baby brother tagging along with his buddies was not going to happen. There were exceptions of course. Being a Logan Banner Newspaper carrier, Bobby did get to go along the route a few times and later would become a paper boy himself. Being good hearted, Ron fell for sob stories of not having money on collection day or promising to pay later. That would continue for weeks. One day Bobby discovered some condoms in their dresser and didn’t know what they were. He took them to their Dad and asked about them. Without explaining their Dad said: “I’ll take those!” Hmmm. Oh, the mysteries of life!

Then there was the time Bobby weaseled his way into going hiking with Ronnie and his buddies. On the tram road, they Passed around a tobacco pipe and all insisted that he take a puff. After all, that was their insurance that he would not be a tattle teller. Well, bobby considered it worthwhile to be a part of the gang.

One evening the family was surprised when Ron showed up with a bum who needed a place to sleep and something to eat. Well, without hesitation, their Mother prepared him something to eat and a bed in our attic. Again, an example of the good heart of Ronald.

Bobby was in the fifth grade at Mt Gay School when Ronald entered the US Army. Having a room all to myself seems so lonely. Evidently in a letter to Ronald, their Mother relayed that Bobby wasn’t doing as well as he should in sixth grade. He was about to enter junior high. Ron wrote him a letter saying something like this: “Don’t do as I did in school, Bobby. Do your best. Every time you make the honor roll, I will send you $25.” Wow! Well, I’m sure he regretted that promise but he followed through and send $25 every grading period all the way through high school. In fact, Bobby saved up until he had $100 and told their parents they could use that to apply to our first television set -an RCA Victor from the Island Creek Store at Holden.

Big brother was always there. Their Mother passed Bob’s junior year of college. The following year upon graduation from Greenville College, Ronald and Betty drove to Greenville to be at my graduation and then drove him back home to WV.

During the seven years that Bob had the care of their Dad, but Ron was always ready to fly to DC and stay with their Dad and Bob’s two kids to give him a break for a couple of weeks. When Bob could no longer handle their Dad and work, Ronald made a home for him in Illinois for their Dad’s final year.

Many were always recipients of Ronald’s kindness and generosity. Rest in peace. – Robert McCormack