Marker/Plaque/Monument Monday

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Locust Hill Cemetery
Mausoleum Marker
Evansville, Indiana
This is the exterior wall of this beautiful mausoleum near the entry double doors. (Click on image to get a larger photo.)

I knew Rick Dickinson from my days of working in the Vanderburgh County Surveyors Office. After Rick was my ol' buddy Wayne Pasco (deceased) as the cemetery's Superintendent. I got to know the next Superintendent Jack Jones when I talked the Levee Authority Board into letting me use the crane we had to lift some large tombstones that vandals toppled. It was one of those days working with my crew that Jack came by and let me know that he was resigning and he suggested I apply for the new City Manager post that would oversee both city cemeteries. I applied after he resigned and finally ended with the position. After I cleared up some very long-standing problems at the cemeteries, someone else suddenly became better qualified for the job. Well, that is politics and it was a political appointment. I enjoyed my short tenure, nevertheless. By the way, I was the only Evansville City Manager of Cemeteries... the city changed the title back to Superintendent of City Cemeteries. The current Superintendent is Chris Cooke (another friend).

- Photo taken by JGWest. Article compiled by JGWest

Oak Hill Cemetery Superintendents

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Newly updated plaque
(last update was 30 years ago)

(Click on image to enlarge)

The plaque for a listing to honor the city's Superintendents of Oak Hill Cemetery was updated 30 years ago when the Cemetery board started a new plaque... the older one faces visitors as they walk into the office building. This past Monday, Superintendent Chris Cooke sent out photos to everyone listed. They were beginning to combine the two city Cemeteries in Evansville under one Superintendent when Jack Jones held the position. When they combined the two they created a new position called Cemetery Manager and I was the first to hold that title and officially manage both cemeteries after the two had been separate for about 135 years. When I left in early 1987, the job title went back to Superintendent. So, I was possibly the shortest tenure Cemetery Head and the only one to be Manager. It is an honor to be listed on the plaque. The cemeteries had a lot of problems that needed correcting or resolved when I started and before I left all was turned around... I am very proud to have that opportunity to resolve those problems and return these 2 large cemeteries back to the status they deserve.

- Photo submitted by Chris Cooke