Herbert Crick was born on February 12, 1929. He was the fifth child (of seven) born to Horace Maynard and Lillie Frances Davis Crick. The Crick family lived on Baptist Church Road in the city of Rover, Tennessee, and the county of Bedford.

By the time Herbert was five years old he was chopping and picking cotton. He remembers well when Russell Puckett would fly over the cotton field in a 2-wing airplane, dipping the plane low to scare them. Herbert and his brothers and sisters would pull cotton bells off and throw them toward Russell’s plane. Russell would tell Herbert’s dad that he would go broke if they kept doing that (which invoked a good spanking for him and his siblings).

Herbert attended Rover School, a two room building, for eight years. He went to Eagleville School for three years, and then transferred to Unionville School for his senior year. While attending Eagleville School, Herbert was on the baseball and basketball teams. Some of his teammates were Hershel Jackson, Milton Simpson, James Blanton, Billy Gene Crick, Pollard Crick, Billy Bennett, Ralph Jones, Bill Hall, Edward Manier, Buddy and Spot Lowe, Jerry Wilson, Kenneth Morgan, and Billy Elmore. Billy Gene Crick and Hershel Jackson dared Herbert to try and get a date with a pretty young girl named Mary Evelyn Allen. He was so bashful that he could not get the courage up to ask her out, so Billy Gene did the asking for him……and she said “Yes”. That first date has turned into 57 years of marriage so far.

After Herbert graduated from high school, he left home with less than ten dollars in his pocket. He went to find a job in Nashville, Tennessee. He began work at Harley-Holt Furniture Company as a truck driver. While working there, Herbert learned to restore and refinish new and antique furniture. After four years, Herbert left to take a job with Swiss Farm Dairies as a salesman.

Herbert and Evelyn married on July 1, 1948. Their first child, Susan, was born October 10, 1952. They purchased their first new home the same year in Nashville, Tennessee across from the country music singer, Marty Robbins, and his family. Herbert’s military service began with an enlistment in the U.S. Army Reserve. He was assigned to the 951^st Engineer Aviation Group. He took advanced basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia and Fort Rucker, Alabama. Herbert was moved into active duty January 13, 1953. He was transferred to Fort Jackson, South Carolina, where he became a Supply Sergeant for a training company. He moved his wife and daughter there for a year, and then he was sent overseas to Korea. Evelyn and Susan moved back to Eagleville, Tennessee to live with Roy and Ruth Allen.

Herbert served as a Supply and Headquarters Platoon Sergeant which involved the managing of supplies for an engineer battalion that built roads and schools. He achieved the rank of Sergeant First Class and received two letters of commendation for his service.

Herbert was separated from active duty December 29, 1954, returning to his former civilian employment.

In March 1955, Herbert was appointed Rural Mail Carrier at Eagleville after the death of H.K. Stephenson. The rural route was 55 miles long, servicing 278 mail boxes.

He used a total of 15 vehicles delivering the mail during his 33 ½ years of service. Herbert received a “Million Mile Safe Driving Award” from the National Safety Council, and a “Driver of the Year” from the United States Post Office. There were times when he remembers delivering more baby chicks than letters!

Herbert (right) being awarded a Safety Award in 1973 by Harry Patillo.

In 1960, Herbert organized the Rutherford County Rural Letter Carriers Association with the assistance of James Skinner and Mrs. Roxie Jenkins of Murfreesboro. He was the first president of this organization and continued in this role for several years. He went on to organize the 4^th Congressional District Rural Letter Carriers Association, which included twenty-four counties in eastern Middle Tennessee. He was also appointed president of this organization. Herbert was elected an officer of the Tennessee Rural Letter Carriers Association and was awarded “The Tennessee Rural Carrier of the Year” for his dedication to his patrons and service to his craft.

Herbert and Evelyn built their present home in 1957. In that same year, their second child, Lori, was born.

Herbert was a member of the Lion’s Club for 24 years, serving as president, when natural gas and city water came to Eagleville. He served on a multi-county committee for the natural gas project and a Lion’s Club committee that convinced the city to install a public water system.

Herbert and Evelyn are members of the Eagleville United Methodist Church. Herbert has served in some capacity on most committees within the church during his membership. He has spent a large part of his efforts on building new structures or remodeling for the church.

Herbert has several hobbies. I would have to say that the game of golf is at the top of his list….and….he is really good at it! He also has a woodworking shop that he enjoys spending time in when he cannot get outside. He has done woodworking for several churches in Eagleville and the surrounding area and has refinished and/or built furniture for friends and family. He also has been a volunteer Marshall for Henry Horton Golf Course, in Marshall County, for several years.

Herbert and his family traveled across the US and Canada during the summer months with a “pop-up” style camper when the children were young. Two of his brothers and their families had campers also and they accompanied them each year. The travel was not only a good educational experience for the family, but it was fun too! There were instances, though, when the weather was somewhat uncooperative. The families experienced encounters with high winds and hail storms on occasion, and this was a little scary when you are in a “pop-up” camper.

50th Wedding Anniversary Celebration of Herbert & Evelyn Crick

Herbert and Evelyn’s two daughters (Susan (Crick) Rucinski and Lori (Crick) Curlee) are both married. They graduated from Eagleville School, and completed their college educations at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, TN. They are residents of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Susan is employed with the City of Murfreesboro Water and Sewer Department. Lori is employed with Bridgestone Americas Holding, LLC in Nashville, TN. Lori and her husband are building a new home on Cheatham Springs Road in Eagleville and anticipate a moving date sometime in May.

Herbert has always believed in a progressive community and has tried to assist in creating this environment. He says that a community that stands still will have to struggle to keep its identity. His employment, church affiliations, and hobbies have allowed him to make many friends, and he values his church and community as an integral part of his life. He believes very strongly in the “golden rule” and I know that he practices this rule every day. There are a couple of sayings (quotes) that I feel describe my father’s thoughts on life:

• Be not afraid of growing slowly; be afraid only of standing still
• It is better to try and fail than not to try at all
• What life does to us in the long run, depends on what life finds in us

As Herbert’s daughter, and author of this mini biography, I would like to say that I am very proud of my father and mother. Along with their loving guidance, and the guidance of the Eagleville community during my childhood, I can say that the groundwork laid before me was a large part of my “core value” development, success and happiness that I have been graced with over the course of my life. Thanks Dad and Mom! We love you!