The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter. [volume] (Manteo, N.C.) 1959-1973, 1960-02-19
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Then
@ffWE
MANY MEMORIES OUT OF
PAST SHAPE OUR LIVES
BIZ VICTOR MEEklNS

MeulUdClOnS WHICH IOIIOWeQ re-
ceipt of belated news of the death
of the father of Dave Driskill last
June have brought flood of re
collections of some of the per-
sons and events which have shaped
my life and directed my activities
in some instances have resulted in
movements of consequence in the
destiny of Dare County.
In passing, l must mention that
Marion F. Driskill, who made
friends on his visits to Dare Coun-
ty, and in whose home in Knox
vile, Tenn. l had visited; who was
kind to my son while stationed in
that town with the Air Force, was
a lovable gentleman. A retired
railroad man, a former teacher
Methodist and Mason, he died at
S. in his home on June 2S, 1859.
His. flying son Dave, who had
an assignment in flying for the
National Park Service when it
first began improvement of our
coast, came to Dare County, at
tracted my interest in aviation dur
ing numerous trips in his plane.
The ease and speed in riding by
air, the beauty of the coastland
when viewed from above, encour-
aged me to work for an airport
at Manteo. Fortunately, John Fere-
bee, then Chairman of the County
Board was interested. With others
we found friends of the county
who advanced the money to buy
land so the county could sponsor
an airport and become eligible for
Federal funds to build it.
More than 80 people lent their
money, the largest sum came from
Miles Clark of Elizabeth City.
was looking at the list of names
this week of those who aided that
campaign in 1941. We got the air.
port and by chance and fate, war
came the Navy took it, and Dare
County happened to get a mighty
profitable wartime installation, and
Dare County got all the buildings
given it by the Navy, after the
war ended.
Dave Driskill later operated an
air service from this airport, ano
died while testing helicopters neal
Philadelphia, during this period
The airport might have been q
more valuable asset to the COM
munity, but it has been terribly
neglected over long periods, and
control of it has often been con
ended for, sometimes successfully
by selfish persons concerned with
making anything but community
asset.
1t is discouraging to put ones
time and effort into something
worth while to see it in turn thrown
away.
AS in this instance, l recall Other
associates in years long passed
who taught me things and shaped
my course and sometimes in direc,
tons helpful to others of our peo
pie. Some of them come more
readily to mind than do others.
recall in particular the Late Mrs
Nancy Meel1ins who lent me many
books whereby I supplemented my
meagre public school education. i
was usually older people to whom
turned for counsel. I will never
forget the late Sheriff Gus Eth
eridge who was always my friend
and told me many things that de
veloped foresight.
My Grandfather, the late Sheriff
John @. Homer after serving il
the Civil war and with years o.
local political life behind him wa:
mine of information. His gen
crosby added many items to the
few things my parents could af.
ford. / would have to borrow his
gun to learn to shoot. never
owned a bike before / was grown