A Generation 'Bloodied but Unbowed'
We Will not Acquiesce Ignobly!
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
Elkatawa is a community of approximately 150 persons located three miles west of the Breathitt County seat of Jackson, Kentucky. Prior to World War II, it was a violent, feudalistic community that settled differences with knives and guns. The influence of a church, mass communication, and better transportation gradually changed this inward looking society to a more optimistic and progressive mindset. The writer has many positive memories of this village located on the L & N, now CSX, Railroad.
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
Powerful political families controlled the jobs and expression of thought in eastern Kentucky and subjects were careful not to alienate the power brokers during much of the 20
This book is written from the viewpoint of a Senior Citizen who wrote a column for the Jackson Times-Voice on a wide range of topics beginning in 2000. Uncensored, topics range from political issues to social problems to the challenges of aging to an expressed desire to blow up answering menus. Sharply critical of many of the changes in our society, this book provides some balance and humor to placate ruffled feathers.
This book closes with some powerful eulogies of local personages who did not want to “go quietly into that night” and desired to spit in the devil's eye on the other side!
About the Author
Born in 1935, Owen Collins grew up in a public school teacher's family in Elkatawa, Breathitt County, Kentucky. He graduated from Lees College, Jackson, Ky.; Centre College, Danville; EKU, Richmond, and the University of Kentucky with a doctorate in Education.
He taught in Breathitt County, held several administrative positions in public education and finished his career as superintendent of schools in Wolfe and Pendleton Counties in Kentucky. Never a “yes” man, he was called an “obstructionist” by a legislator during the enactment of the Kentucky Education Reform Act.
He has written extensively since his retirement in 1996, primarily as a columnist in two weekly newspapers in Kentucky.
He is married for 49 years to the former Janice Fern Taylor of Lexington, Ky. They have two married sons, Mark and Kevin, and five grandchildren.