Where are they now? Barry White

For the third edition of “Where are they now?” we travel to Melbourne, Florida, a beautiful city on the Atlantic Ocean about 200 miles south of Jacksonville. There, we meet former Polk County resident Barry White who left the county in 1965 to join the United States Air Force. As noted in an earlier column, Barry was a member of the first graduating class at Polk Central High School.

After leaving the Air Force in the late sixties, Barry landed in Melbourne where he resides today. He is married to Karen White and has two sons. His oldest son, Brad, has been accepted into law school at Florida State University, and his second son attends the University of Central Florida.

Barry owns a successful commercial construction company that builds banks, churches, and other manufacturing facilities. He was also elected Chairman of the Palm Bay, Florida Chamber of Commerce.

Barry remembers being in the first senior class at Polk Central, graduating in a class of eighty-eight students. It was the largest class ever in the county at that time. He also remembers being the first lifeguard at the Valley Courts swimming pool, the first public pool in Polk County. He was also the lifeguard at Gibson Park Pool in Columbus for several summers.

Barry often thinks about his old buddies such as Marvin Pack, Johnny Biedler, Smitty Bruce, and Butch Graig who lived inTryon and Columbus. I hope to hear from people who remember Barry, and I will pass along your memories to him.

Footnote: Thanks to those of you who sent compliments on the “Where are they now?” editions. Look for more editions wedged between regular columns. — s.hefner@comcast.net

Where are they now? Barbara Hayes Cochran

This year marks the fortieth year since I left Tryon to start my career in Savannah, Georgia. Though I dearly love Savannah with its sandy beaches, beautiful barrier islands, coastal waterways, and urban lifestyle, part of my heart and soul still remains in the rural recesses of the little valley in the foothills of western North Carolina called Tryon.

So, I was not surprised to find others who left the area but enjoy mentally wandering back to the times they lived there. I am gratified that this column seems to have given many of these former residents an avenue on which to travel back in time.

One such ex-Tryonite is Barbara Hayes Cochran. Barbara left Tryon in 1965 and today, lives in Black Creek, Wisconsin located about 40 miles from Green Bay.

She is married to Thomas Cochran. They have one son, Christopher Martin Cochran. Barbara was a Trainer/Department Manager for a major retail store, but has since retired. She spends much of her time now being the Historian for the DAR chapter in Green Bay. Barbara has also gained statewide recognition as the State American History Chair for the State of Wisconsin.
Barbara’s memories of Tryon and Polk County include: Hot dogs at Tollie Ross’ restaurant; The Willows restaurant; and Owens Drugstore.

Most of all she misses living in a town where she knew practically everyone, especially the people with whom she went to church and school.

She did not say so, but one would think that living in the frigid north, Barbara probably misses the tepid weather in the thermal belt also. I thank her for contributing to this article and want to hear from those of you who remember Barbara Hayes. You know where she is now.
s.hefner@comcast.net