Bruce Bass was my grandfather, he was raised in the Carolina Community of Covington County. The oldest of nine children born to J. Bennett and Flara Bass [Rowell], he repeated the first grade because he played hooky so often, preferring to play in the creek. Drafted to the Army during WWII before he finished his Sr. year of high school, but successfully completing his schooling via testing and I presume some form of early graduation. He went off to boot camp and training where it is my understanding that he acquired his middle name, not having had one starting out. He couldn’t leave the spot blank so James it was.
He never was sent overseas because the war ended while he was headed west on his way to the Pacific.
When he returned home his father, wanted him to go to school but he wasn’t too keen on that plan. So, his dad figured if he wanted to farm he may as well be productive. He bought more mules so plowing could be done more efficiently, plowing one mule while the other rested rather than having to wait. It seems to me that the desired effect was achieved since Bruce soon enrolled in the Teachers College in Troy, now Troy University. He was just going to give it a year to satisfy the family, but ended up enjoying it, or at least being satisfied enough to finish and graduate.
His first job after graduation was oddly Principle of Babbie School, rather than just teaching. He was later and for a long time Principle at Sanford School, and retied as Assistant Principle at Straughn School.
Bruce James Bass, b. May 7, 1927 d. Jul. 23, 1988, married Catherine Bass [Lawson] (Pictured) and they had 4 children, two boys and two girls. Catherine died at the age of 46 in 1972 of cancer, and he later married Mildred Carlise Bass [Newton], who I call Granny Mib and she is still living at the nursing home in Andalusia.
