PARSONS – Tucker County senior citizens, members of the Tucker County CEOS, Tucker County Commissioners and Parsons Mayor Dorothy Judy gathered with Tucker County Senior Center employees Tuesday to celebrate a milestone – the 40th anniversary of the Tucker County Senior Center.
Tucker County Senior Center Director Roxanne Tuesing joined those gathered to celebrate, and spoke about the history of the center.
“September 24, 1974 was when the Tucker County Senior Center opened,” Tuesing said. “I had just graduated high school and an article in the Advocate said seniors hold rock-a-thon on the courthouse square. I was of the opinion that a senior had just graduated from high school. I did not realize then seniors were people who are 60 and older. It just seemed unreal to me.”
Tuesing said the seniors sat in their rocking chairs and raised money.
“They had bake sales and more bake sales. Back in 1974, the Older Americans Act was new and there was very limited funding. The Tucker County Senior Center was housed above the Sheriff’s Office on Second St. in about two rooms. The ceiling was so low in one room, you could not stand up.”
Tuesing said back then, the senior center did not offer the many programs now available for seniors.
“We did not have transportation or in-home care,” Tuesing said. “When I started in 1981, we had a budget of $50,000 per year. We had one van, a full time director and a full time fiscal officer. Our nutrition program was under the direction of North Central Community Action.”
In 1979, the Senior Center was located at Water Street.
“As you all know, we lost that building in the flood of 1985,” Tuesing said. “Some people considered that a catastrophe, but in some ways, it was a blessing. In 1986, Arch Moore promised us we could have a senior center if we could find the land. It was a hard battle – the Tucker County Board of Education gave us half the land and we had to buy the other half for $30,000.”
Tuesing said the center received a Small Cities Block Grant for $586,000.
“The Tucker County Health Department had a grant for $40,000 so we let them use part of our space,” Tuesing said. “We have grown from $58,000 a year to a budget of very close to $2 million per year. We went from having four employees and one van to having 85 employees, 12 vans and three buildings.”
Tuesing said there are very few of the original people that incorporated the senior center left.
“The only one I can find is J. Pat Nichols and he is in Cortland Acres and could not be with us,” Tuesing said.
In 1987, there was a pilot program introduced called the Medicaid Waiver program that was an alternative to nursing home care.
“Fourteen counties were selected for the program and Tucker County was one of those,” Tuesing said. “The board told me I could not do it in my 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. time slot, and told me if I wanted to do it and if I thought it would make money to go ahead and try. The Medicaid Waiver program has generated enough income that allowed us to have those 12 vans and the Mountaintop Senior Center. “
Tuesing said the funds generated from the Medicaid Waiver program pay for the nutrition program.
According to a History of Tucker County, the first board of directors included Mrs. Grover Hamrick, Mrs. Fred Butcher, Mrs. Charles Buchanan, Mrs. Jack Cross, Glenn K. Henry, Mrs. Marguerite Gooding, Miss Lilia Schilansky, Harry DiBacco, Nick DePollo, Thomas Coleman, Mrs. Carl Barr, Mrs. C.H. Gilmore, Mrs. L.R. Walker and Mrs. Lessie Rudd. The first director was Mrs. Gooding of Thomas.
Since its beginning, the Tucker County Senior Center has had four homes and four directors. The first center was upstairs above the sheriff’s office, with Marguerite Gooding as director. Betty Humphrey was hired to replace Gooding who resigned for health reasons while still located at that site. Within the next year, the old city hall became available and the center had its second home. The building provided space for many activities. The program grew to encompass outpost centers in Thomas, Flanagan Hill and St. George.
Betty Humphrey left the program and Alana Wilfong Minear was hired as her replacement with Roxanne Nestor Tuesing as assistant. In 1985 Tuesing was hired as the director.
Tucker County Commissioner Lowell Moore said the Tucker County Senior Center has served the needs of many folks throughout its 40 years.
“They provide a lot of services,” Moore said. “Senior people are the ones who need a lot of help. They really help out when needed.”
Additional information about the Tucker County Senior Center and its many services is available by calling 304-478-2423.
