John Rinehart Blue facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Rinehart Blue
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Blue's portrait in the
West Virginia Blue Book (1955) |
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| Member of the West Virginia House of Delegates from Hampshire County |
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| In office 1953–1959 |
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| Preceded by | William L. Thompson |
| Succeeded by | William Basil Slonaker |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 13, 1905 Romney, West Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | May 27, 1965 (aged 59) Augusta, West Virginia, U.S. |
| Resting place | Indian Mound Cemetery |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Spouse | Madeline Stanford McDowell Blue |
| Relations | John David Blue (father) Mary Buckner Rinehart (mother) Lt. John Monroe Blue (grandfather) |
| Children | 3 |
| Residences | 261 East Main Street Romney, West Virginia |
| Alma mater | Presbyterian College (B.S.) West Virginia University |
| Profession | Educator, businessperson, and politician |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service |  United States ArmyUnited States Army Reserve |
| Years of service | 1942–1946 (USA) |
| Rank | first lieutenant |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
John Rinehart Blue (born October 13, 1905 – died May 27, 1965) was an American who had many important roles. He was a military officer, a teacher, a business owner, and a politician in West Virginia. Blue was a member of the Democratic Party. He served in the West Virginia House of Delegates, which is part of the state's government, representing Hampshire County from 1953 to 1959.
John Blue was born in 1905 in Romney, West Virginia. His grandfather, Lieutenant John Monroe Blue, was a soldier during the American Civil War. John Blue went to Presbyterian College and graduated in 1928. He also studied at West Virginia University. He joined the U.S. Army and served from 1942 to 1946. After that, he was a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve.
From 1948 until he passed away, Blue owned and ran a Ben Franklin five and dime store in Romney. He also worked as the principal of the Advanced School for the Deaf at the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind. In 1953, the governor of West Virginia, William C. Marland, chose Blue to fill a vacant seat in the West Virginia House of Delegates. Blue was reelected twice but lost his seat in 1958. He tried to win it back in 1962 but was not successful. John Blue stayed active in his community until he died in 1965.
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John Blue's Early Life and Education
John Rinehart Blue was born on October 13, 1905, in Romney, West Virginia. His parents were John David Blue and Mary Buckner Rinehart Blue. His father, John David Blue, was a local businessperson. He managed Romney's Farmers Exchange for 25 years. John David Blue's father, Lieutenant John Monroe Blue, was a well-known soldier in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. John Blue's mother, Mary Buckner Rinehart Blue, was a homemaker and active in local groups like the Romney Women's Club.
John Blue went to schools in Romney. Later, he attended Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina. He was part of the school's Reserve Officers' Training Corps, which prepares students for military service. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Presbyterian College in 1928. After that, he continued his studies at West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia.
Career and Military Service
In 1933, John Blue started working at the Advanced School for the Deaf, which is part of the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind (WVSDB). He became the principal of this school and held that job until June 1952. While working at WVSDB, Blue also helped with the Deaf School's Boy Scout Troop No. 66.
During World War II, Blue joined the U.S. Army as a private on November 20, 1942. He was 37 years old at the time. He served in the Army until May 1946, leaving with the rank of first lieutenant. After his active service, Blue continued to serve as a first lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve.
In October 1948, Blue bought a Ben Franklin five and dime store in Romney. This type of store sold many different items at low prices. The store was first located in a building owned by his father. Later, between 1955 and 1956, Blue moved the store to a larger building on Main Street that used to be a movie theater. After John Blue passed away, his wife, Madeline, continued to run the Ben Franklin store until it closed in 1991.
Political Journey
After William L. Thompson resigned from the West Virginia House of Delegates in August 1953, West Virginia governor, William C. Marland, chose John Blue to take his place. Blue officially became a member of the House of Delegates on December 8, 1953, representing Hampshire County.
In May 1954, Blue decided to run for re-election. He won the Democratic Party primary election in August 1954, which meant he was chosen by his party to run in the main election. In the general election on November 2, 1954, Blue won his seat, beating his Republican opponent.
Blue ran for re-election again in 1956 and won both his primary election and the general election. In January 1957, he was appointed to the House of Delegates' banking committee. However, in 1958, when he ran for re-election, he lost in the Democratic primary to William Basil Slonaker. Slonaker then won Blue's delegate seat in the general election. Blue tried to win his seat back in 1962 but was defeated by Slonaker again in the primary election. In 1962, Governor Wally Barron also appointed Blue to a state committee focused on conservation education. This committee aimed to help people understand and appreciate West Virginia's natural resources.
Family and Community Life
John Blue married Madeline Stanford McDowell on September 6, 1938. Madeline was from Camden and Montgomery, Alabama. John and Madeline Blue had three children together. Madeline Blue was also a dedicated teacher at the WVSDB School for the Deaf for 35 years. She was also president of the West Virginia Parent Teachers Association and served on the Hampshire County Board of Education for 28 years.
Blue was a life-long member of the Romney Presbyterian Church. He served as the church's treasurer and led the church's board of deacons. He was also a member of the Hampshire Post 91 of the American Legion, a group for military veterans. Additionally, he was a member of Romney's Kiwanis club, a community service organization.
Later Life and Passing
John Blue passed away suddenly on May 27, 1965, at his farm in Augusta, West Virginia. He died from a heart condition. His funeral was held at the Romney Presbyterian Church. He was buried at Indian Mound Cemetery in Romney on May 29, 1965.
