Walk with me through the early years of John Edward:
He was born to Roy Cecil and Johnnie Mary on July 14, 1918 in Paris.
"No, not France," he was fond of saying.
He would smile, pause, and then explain: "Paris, Texas."
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| John Edward, Roy, Johnnie, and Helen ca 1922 Family Photograph |
The family soon moved to California.
For many children growing up there
a day playing on the beach might well be heavenly.
But it was a horse ride
that brought John Edward the greatest joy.
a day playing on the beach might well be heavenly.
But it was a horse ride
that brought John Edward the greatest joy.
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| John Edward ca 1927 Family Photograph |
A few years later the free and easy smile
in this photograph was surely much harder to come by for John Edward, his family,
their friends and relatives, and for much of the nation and the world.
in this photograph was surely much harder to come by for John Edward, his family,
their friends and relatives, and for much of the nation and the world.
It happened on a Tuesday in the autumn of 1929; Helen was thirteen and
John Edward was eleven.
Radios around the world reported that the Wall Street Stock Market
crashed. Black Tuesday, as the 29th of October came to be known,
was followed by a downward economic spiral for the next ten years.
John Edward was eleven.
Radios around the world reported that the Wall Street Stock Market
crashed. Black Tuesday, as the 29th of October came to be known,
was followed by a downward economic spiral for the next ten years.
The Great Depression had begun.
Times of hunger, uncertainty, and years of hardship such as
most of us can hardly imagine followed for people around the country.
most of us can hardly imagine followed for people around the country.
Six months later, in the April 1930 Census we learn that Roy still sold automobiles
and Johnnie was still a bookkeeper for an auto agency.
They rented their home
for $25 a month ($470 in 2024).
and Johnnie was still a bookkeeper for an auto agency.
They rented their home
for $25 a month ($470 in 2024).
But in the years to follow Roy and Johnnie were often without work.
During high school, John Edward was at times the only person in his family with a job.
He walked down the street after classes to work at the corner
auto mechanic shop.
When I was a teenager he still had a wooden-handled screwdriver from those days:
"They don't make them like this anymore," dad often told me.
When I was a teenager he still had a wooden-handled screwdriver from those days:
"They don't make them like this anymore," dad often told me.
It wasn't until years later that I began to understand he was trying to
communicate something much deeper and broader.
For one didn't talk then about such things as living through the Great Depression.
(Much less volunteering and serving in the military during
the Second World War II.)
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| Corona High School 1934 Yearbook Senior photo of John Edward |
in the midst of the Great Depression.
He entered Corona High School at 13 1/2, excelled in coursework,
played drums in the marching band,
and worked after school.
Furthermore, we learn that
it took this bright young man
only two years to complete high school.
He graduated at 15 1/2 years old.
He then immediately enrolled in classes at Chaffey Junior College
in San Bernadino, graduating in 1936.
in San Bernadino, graduating in 1936.
And, in addition to school and work, John Edward achieved All-State Honors
as a drummer in the Marching Band.
as a drummer in the Marching Band.
This would serve him well when he arrived at the University
of Texas (UT), Austin with their famed football team
and accompanying Marching Band. For John Edward
had his eyes set on UT and a degree in Accounting.
of Texas (UT), Austin with their famed football team
and accompanying Marching Band. For John Edward
had his eyes set on UT and a degree in Accounting.
So he worked for two years, saved what he could,
and moved to Texas.
and moved to Texas.
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| Bakery in 1937 New York Wikimedia Public Domain |
into the financial difficulties
John Edward and his family faced:
"When Dad completed Junior College, he wanted to go to UT,
but needed a year of residence in Texas. He moved himself to Sweetwater where his Uncle Ralph Binnion owned a gas station, and tried to scrape by there the best he could.
Hunger was a lasting memory for him of that experience.
but needed a year of residence in Texas. He moved himself to Sweetwater where his Uncle Ralph Binnion owned a gas station, and tried to scrape by there the best he could.
Hunger was a lasting memory for him of that experience.
I always recall Dad's
comments about walking past
a bakery each morning just to satisfy his hunger
by smelling the fresh baking.
He also referenced eating brains and eggs
each morning from a charity
(maybe some depression era program?)."
a bakery each morning just to satisfy his hunger
by smelling the fresh baking.
He also referenced eating brains and eggs
each morning from a charity
(maybe some depression era program?)."
--John Edward Binnion II
In 1938 John Edward enrolled at UT.
He began classes, played inter-mural baseball and football,
got a part-time job assisting a professor in the
School of Business Administration, and won
a coveted place in the UT Longhorn Marching Band.
He began classes, played inter-mural baseball and football,
got a part-time job assisting a professor in the
School of Business Administration, and won
a coveted place in the UT Longhorn Marching Band.
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| John Edward in Longhorn Marching Band University of Texas, Austin, family photograph |
Thanks for reading.
Click here for the next post in which
John Edward begins his military career.
Click here for the next post in which
John Edward begins his military career.
