University of Arkansas Monticello - Boll Weevil Yearbook (Monticello, AR)

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Mrs. Stobaugh. ‘‘Railroading was the big business then. Of course, there was always cotton farming too. After the railroads died out, McGehee just kind of sat there for a while, but it really began to grow when the paper mill came in.” After Robert was forced to retire for health reasons, the Stobaugh’s moved to Dallas in 1962 where Helen got a job managing an apartment complex. Her husband died in 1969, but Mrs. Stobaugh continued as an apartment manager until last ‘ EE EEO June. She returned to McGehee last September to retire, but doesn’t expect to spend her time in a rocking chair. Although she said her only real hobby is watching Johnny Carson, she enjoys cooking, reading, playing the organ, and traveling. Mrs. Stobaugh has been to Mexico, Canada, Venezuela, nine countries in Europe, and all but three states. Does she plan to slow down now that she’s reached 75? Not hardly. In fact, she can’t wait until next semester to sign up for more classes. “‘I think this program is just marvelous,” said Mrs. Stobaugh. “I think it’s a great thing for people my age or for anyone. I’m just looking forward to the next se- mester. I hope they have summer school.” According to Mrs. Stobaugh, there’s no real secret to staying young. She goes to bed at midnight, gets up early, doesn’t smoke, and takes only an occasional drink. “I guess the only advice I’d give is to stay interested in things,” she said. “I have young friends who keep me young. I think staying interested in life is the key.” Henley, Paula Camden High, Connie Hamburg High, Vickie Hamburg Hilburn, Cindy Tillar Hitchcock, Pam White Hall Hoffman, David Pine Bluff Holm, Frank Gloster, MS Hornbeck, Virginia DeWitt Horton, Billye G. St. Charles Hubbell, Jean Star City Hubbell, John Grady Hudson, Tony Monticello Hulse, Donnie White Hall Jackson, Jill Dermott Jackson, Stephanie Portland Seniors 189

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STAYING INTERESTED IS KEY TO YOUTH When Helen Stobaugh of McGehee decided to attend college at age 75, it was only natural that she chose the University of Arkansas at Monticello. After all, one of her three sons, one of her eight grandsons, and her daughter-in-law graduated from UAM, and her youngest grandson is currently attending school there. Buy why does a woman who turned 75 February 15 decide to go to college? ‘Well, it was either that or bingo,” she laughed, “and I’m not ready for bingo.” “Bingo has changed my life twice,” she explained. ‘‘Eighteen years ago, my husband and | were on vacation in Brownsville, Tex., and I saw a bunch of senior citizens sitting around playing bingo. I decided that when I got that age, I wouldn’t just sit around. Then when I moved back to McGehee (from Dallas, Tex.) last September, I went to one of those retirement places where they serve free lunches and saw the elderly playing bingo. | decided that wasn’t my thing. So when I got the opportunity to take night classes, | thought it would be a good thing to do.” Helen Stobaugh is 75 going on 19. A talkative woman with an infectious smile, she is never at a loss for words. “When I first decided to take night classes, I thought about taking public speak- ing,” she said, ‘‘but my son said that I didn’t need to know how to talk.” Instead of public speaking, she enrolled in a short stories course. Each Tuesday evening, Mrs. Stobaugh boards a school bus at Great Rivers Vocational Technical School in McGehee for Gardner, Skip Rison Gibbs, Kim Star City Gill, Mike Dumas Gill, Tamera Lynn Fordyce Gordon, Leon Louann Gould, Ann McGehee Gracey, James Monticello Griffith, T.J. Pine Bluff Groce, Lee Ann Monticello Hall, Leslie Pine Bluff Hampe, Mary Monticello Harris, Bobby G. Hamburg Harris, Glory Dean McGehee Harris, Peggy Hamburg Harrison, Deborah Star City 188 Seniors the 25 mile trip to the VAM campus. The transportation is a free part of UAM’s “Unlimited Potential” program that provides free bus and van transportation to the University campus from loca- tions all over southeast Arkansas. So far the program has attract- ed 225 students ranging from high school juniors to 80-year-olds. They take part in the program for different reasons — some to augment their high school education to better prepare for col- lege, others to complete a degree that was interrupted by military service or motherhood. Mrs. Stobaugh enrolled so she could keep up with her remarkable family. Middle son Robert Stobaugh Jr., is a chemical engineer who has traveled the world for Exxon and Texaco. He once had an hour long audience with the Shah of Iran, and wrote a best-selling book on energy. He is currently a professor in the Harvard University School of Business. Her son by her first marriage, Sam Farrell, is a retired farmer and licensed Methodist minister in McGehee. Youngest son Bill and his wife Nelle are both teachers in McGehee, although Bill retired recently due to ill health. Her only granddaughter, Susan Samuelson, is married to the son of Nobel Prize winner Paul Samuelson. “You see why I had to go to college,” said Mrs. Stobaugh. “‘I couldn’t be the only ignorant one in the family.” Born and raised in McGehee, Mrs. Stobaugh was married at 15, had her first child at 17 and was divorced at 18. She didn’t finish high school, but received a more practical education. “My first degree was an M-R-S degree,” she said. “My second was a M-O-T-H-E-R degree.” . She married Robert Stobaugh of McGehee in 1925, and to- gether the couple owned and operated City Laundry on Main Street for 38 years. During that time, she saw a lot of changes in McGehee. “‘McGe- hee only had about 2,000 people when | was growing up,”’ said

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190 Seniors Jenkins, Mike Warren Jenkins, Rodney Monticello Johnson, Dillard Warren Johnson, Richard Risco, MO Jones, Deborah New Edinburg Jones, Jimmy Conway Jones, Linda F. Monticello Jones, Tammie Tichnor Kaufman, Art Dermott Keeling, Joyce Monticello Kemp, Lillie Gillett Krucheberg, Ruth Monticello Lambert, Bert Pollard Langrell, Gail M. Pine Bluff Lemley, Gaila Dermott Lenderman, Melanie Dumas Lewis, Jane Ellen Hamburg Llana, Arabel Monticello McClain, Laura Lee Rison McClellan, Kathy New Edinburg McElroy, Carolyn Rohwer McKinney, Agnes Monticello McMurry, Frankie Banks McRae, Craig Monticello Mankin, Donald McGehee Marshall, Chris Monticello Maxwell, Melanie Star City Maxwell, Robert Monticello Moore, Tamie G. Star City Morgan, Debbie Star City Mullins, Steven W. Camden Murphy, Virginia Monticello Myrick, Julie Monticello Myrick, Mitch Monticello Nicholson, Sara Warren