Charles Thurman Eddins Fulfilling a Lifelong

DreamWritten by:

Mary Carole Strother

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Table of Contents• Childhood Years ………………………………..…..3• Schooling…………………………………..…….…..…..7• Early Teaching Years………………………..…10• Teaching Career in McKinney…………….14• A Memorable Event……………………………..18• Loss of a Dedicated Teacher…………….32• Timeline of Events……………………………….34• Glossary………………………………………………….35• More About CT Eddins……………….……….36• Index……………………………………………………….37

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Charles Thurman Eddins was born on November 24, 1888 in Tennessee. He was the oldest of eight children. When he was 8 years old, he came to Texas on a train with his parents.

Childhood Years

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They moved to a small town named Honey Grove in Fannin County, Texas. His family bought a farm and since Thurman was the oldest son, his job was to help work with his father on the farm.

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His responsibility was to keep the birds out of the corn. He was not allowed to take toys with him while doing his jobs, but he was allowed to take books and the dictionary.

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Thurman discovered that he could learn a lot of words while sitting in the fields watching for the birds. He would practice spelling words and learn their definitions.

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He attended a two-room schoolhouse in the community of Dial, which was near Honey Grove. Thurman Eddins was a serious student. His favorite subjects were math and history.

Schooling

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At the age of 12, Thurman had a teacher who inspired him with his love of history. The teacher was only 19 years old at the time and his name was Mr. Sam Rayburn. Sam Rayburn later become a strong government leader in Texas and was the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.

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After completing his high school education Thurman attended East Texas Normal School in Commerce, Texas. He worked as a janitor to earn money to pay for his education.

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His first teaching job was at Sabine, a country school between Royce City and Josephine. Mr. Eddins loved teaching school and enjoyed spending time with family and friends.

Early Teaching Years

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While teaching, he met and fell in love with Minta Leah Cantrell. On April 9, 1911, the two were married. The Eddins’ loved playing dominoes with friends, listening to baseball games on the radio, and working crossword puzzles out of the newspaper. A few years later, they had two children.

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Over the next years, CT Eddins taught in several rural schools. He continued his schooling and sought advanced degrees. He then became the Superintendent of Schools in Allen, Texas.

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In 1923 he began his teaching career in McKinney. Mr. Eddins was named the principal at South Ward on Tennessee Street, south of the downtown square.

Teaching Career in McKinney

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During his time as principal, he worked hard to make sure improvements were made to the school. In 1923 a library was added.

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In 1924 South Ward School was renamed Fanny Finch Elementary in honor of Mrs. Fanny Finch who was a city leader and a member of the school board.

In 1926 the school was wired for electricity. In 1927 two merry-go-rounds were bought for the playground.

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In 1938 he watched as they tore down the old two story building and replaced it with a one story, red brick building that is still being used by the students of Finch Elementary today. During his time as principal, Mr. Eddins saw many changes take place.

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One of the most memorable events of his career happened on May 3, 1948. It was late in the afternoon and the lower grade students had already gone home for the day. Only the 4th, 5th and 6th grade students were in the building.

A Memorable Event

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Mr. Eddins could tell that bad weather was approaching. He hurried to each of the classrooms and told the teachers he thought a tornado was coming. He helped move all of the 140 students into the center of the building where he thought they would be safe from the storm.

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Mr. Eddins went through the school and bolted the doors and made sure the windows were closed. Then he returned to the center of the building. Mr. Eddins was holding the door to the room when the storm struck.

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The building shook as the storm swept across the school. Heavy rain pounded the building and then it began to hail. Winds reached over 100 miles per hour. It was the worst storm the town of McKinney had seen in 100 years.

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The children and the teachers remained calm throughout the storm. The room where they were gathered had a piano, so the music teacher played the piano and had the children sing to take their minds off of the events that were happening around them. Soon the winds stopped and Mr. Eddins looked around to make sure the children were safe.

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There were only a few cuts and scrapes on the children. Everyone was thankful that they had escaped the storm unharmed. As Mr. Eddins looked down at his hand, he noticed something he had not seen in all of the excitement.

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His hand had been hurt while holding the door. He was taken to the hospital and the last digit on the ring finger of his right hand had to be removed because it had been badly damaged.

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The devastating winds also swept through the downtown McKinney area. Three people lost their lives during the terrifying storm. The American Red Cross and the Salvation Army brought food and set up shelter for the families who had lost their homes.

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The day after the terrible storm, the events were told by all of the news stations. The quick thinking and brave efforts of Mr. CT Eddins had saved the lives of the children at Finch Elementary.

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Cards and letters poured in from across the state and country when people heard of the tragic event and Mr. Eddins’ heroic effort.

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May 6, 1948

Dear Mr. Eddins,I cannot express to you how deeply grieved I was when I beheld your school after the tornado. When I learned you had suffered no casualties, I was thankful that the badly battered building became of no consequence.

I am sure that you and the teachers do not want praise for your courage and good judgment during the storm but I cannot refrain from recognizing it. I regret your badly cut fingers which I understand you received in your determination to keep the door shut.

I want you to know if there is anything I can do in helping to restore your crippled school. Please do not fail to call on me as nothing would afford me more pleasure.

Again, I want to express my regret of the disaster and I want to assure you on my readiness to help if it is needed.

Sincerely, Betty Hill

Mrs. Betty HillRoute 1 McKinney, Texas

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The school was repaired after the storm. Mr. Eddins continued to serve as principal at Fanny Finch Elementary and worked to make the school a better place for the students. Water fountains were added, stage curtains were bought, flags were added to each room, and an intercom was installed.

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He served as principal for Fanny Finch Elementary for 38 years. During those 38 years, Mr. Eddins was not absent from work one single day. In 1961, after 52 years of teaching, Mr. CT Eddins retired.

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He missed the students and the teachers who had been a part of his life for so many years. After his retirement he would drive by Fanny Finch Elementary and watch the children playing at recess.

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Mr. CT Eddins passed away on January 26, 1969 at 80 years of age. He is buried in historic Pecan Grove Cemetery.

Loss of a Dedicated Teacher

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During those 38 years, more than 10,000 students were under his guidance. To show appreciation for his many years of service, a school in McKinney was named in his honor in August 1998, CT Eddins Elementary.Being an educator fulfilled the lifelong dream of CT Eddins.

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Timeline of Events

• 1888 Charles Thurman Eddins was born in Tennessee.• 1896 Thurman moved with his family from Tennessee to

Texas.• 1900 Thurman had a teacher named Sam Rayburn.• 1911 Thurman Eddins married Minta Leah Cantrell.• 1923 CT Eddins began his teaching career in McKinney.• 1948 Mr. Eddins helped save the lives of the students at

Finch Elementary during a tornado that struck McKinney.

• 1961 CT Eddins retired after 52 years of teaching.• 1969 Charles Thurman Eddins passed away and was buried in

historic Pecan Grove Cemetery.• 1988 A school in McKinney, Texas was named CT Eddins

Elementary.

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Glossary• appreciation- gratitude; thankful recognition

• career-an occupation or profession• dedicated-to be committed to a task• fulfilled-to carry out a plan or desire• grieved-to feel great sorrow• honor-to show high respect• inspired-to influence• memorable-easily remembered• responsibility-in charge of, or duty• rural-living in the country• tragic- sad or unfortunate

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Learn More About CT Eddins

• Castleberry, Vivian. “It’s the Little Things He’ll Miss on Retirement”. The Dallas Times Herald. May 21, 1961.

• Goodner, Mary Ann. “Over 300 Homes and Building are Damaged”. McKinney Daily Courier Gazette. May 4, 1948.

• Hill, Mrs. Betty. Personal Letter to CT Eddins. May 6, 1948.

• Son, Verna Beth Eddins. Speech for CT Eddins Elementary Dedication. August 1998.

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Index• American Red Cross 25

• Cantrell, Minta Leah 11

• CT Eddins Elementary 33

• Dial 7

• Fannin County 4

• Fanny Finch Elementary 15,17,26,29

• Finch, Mrs. Fanny 15

• Hill, Betty 28

•Honey Grove 4, 7

•Pecan Grove Cemetery 32

•Rayburn, Sam 8

•Salvation Army 25

•South Ward Elementary 13, 14

•Tennessee 3

•Tornado 19, 28