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Note: When he was a child, his family lived for a while at his Grandfather's "plantation" in Mississippi. He was given 25 cents when he learned to spell Mississippi.
Childhood story: Sammy took his dog, Shep to town on Saturday afternoon. Everybody was in town on Saturday afternoon and a lot of people brought their dogs to town. A man sicced his bigger dog on Shep, and he was sure the dog was killing Shep, he was crying and the men all laughed at him. Finally the man called his dog off, and Sammy half carried, half dragged the limp dog up the hill home. He sat and held the dog and cried, sure his dog was going to die, but "old Shep" healed, without even a limp, and his long coat covered the scars. After Shep was well he followed Sammy back to town every time he went and was left alone after that.
1927-31 Played basketball on championship teams in High School.
1931 Graduated Arlington High School.
1932 Attended Murray State College
Referreed high school basketball, including county tournaments.
Active in State politics, district chairman for Happy Chandler, Governor's campaign.
Worked for the Atomic Energy Commission at Oak Ridge, Tenn. Later learned it was during the development of the A bomb at that facility. Worked as Ky game warden. Owned restaurant and pool room in Arlington. Sold the business in 1950 when family moved briefly to El Paso Texas. When returned to Arlington, bought theatre next door and remodeled to another restaurant and pool room. Operated until 1957 when it was sold to the same buyer who had bought the first restaurant. District Director State Highway Department.
Worked as pipe fitter for AEC building power plants in McCracken County. After moving to Florida in 1957, worked as pipe fitter in construction of nuclear power plants in Florida.
After marriage, first lived in an apartment in Bardwell, then rented a home next to his parents on cemetery hill. Bebo's mother and siblings lived across the road from Sam & Della Vance. Then rented in a stucco house on hill near Methodist Church. Purchased land west of Arlington and built two bedroom, one bath home on a part of the land. Adjacent land was rented for carnivals, fireworks displays, etc. Purchased land East of town where Uncle Herman and Ida Lamkin had once lived. Built three bedroom, 1 bath home on a part of the land and sold original house and northernmost and southernmost lots. Purchased home in North Miami, Florida in 1957. Moved to Riviera Beach in 1960, and rented a house while building a 3 bedroom, 2 bath home in Riviera Beach. Sold the home and purchased in Lake Park, Florida, a 3 bedroom, 2 bath home.
Sports enthusiast, player/spectator. Played AAA baseball, pitcher, tried out for the St. Louis Cardinal farm team. Enjoyed hunting ducks, geese, quail, doves, squirrel, enjoyed fresh water fishing.
Medical Information: Suffered from allergies, Sinus, respiratory damage from smoking and exposure to chlorine gas on the job in 1953, health deteriorated for about ten years and disabled for two years before death. Cause of death was coronary occlusion complicated by staph pneumonia.
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