| Sources |
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 13 Feb 2006.
Ralph Columbus Kyker obituary
- [S113] Manes Funeral Home, (http://www.manesfuneralhome.com), 10 Oct 2006.
(June 1, 1930 - October 10, 2006)
U.S. Veteran Henry Clay Drinnon, age 76, 0f Newport, passed away at U. T. Hospital on Tuesday, October 10, 2006. he went home to be with Jesus. Well done, my good and faithful servant. Clay will always be remembered by his friendlessness, his loyalty, his courage, his endurance and to help everyone on their time of need. To know Clay was to love Clay. Clay came from Rogersville, TN to Newport with Townsend Electric to build electric line for Newport Electric System. Jim Franks, then manager of Newport Electric Systems hired Clay as a lineman in January 1952. He was a lineman for 25 years and operating superintendent for 18 ½ years. Clay served in the United States Army for two years, 1955-1957. He was a member of Newport Lodge #234, Knoxville Scottish Rite Bodies, and Kerbela Shriners, Knoxville, TN. Clay met his wife, Wilma when she was 17 and he was 27. They shared 46 wonderful years together. Their marriage was made in Heaven, and their wedding vows, they honor till death do us part. Clay was and avid sportsman, he loved to trout fish and he and his wife shared many years enjoying this sport together. He loved to hunt. He loved to garden and grow pretty flowers. He loved his life and lived each day to it fullest. Clay had been a patient for 12 weeks at the University of Tennessee Medical Center, in Knoxville. Through-out all of his suffering he always had a smile for everyone, and endured the pain to the end. He set an example for each of us to follow. Clay was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Susie Drinnon; his brother, Paul Tooty Drinnon; nieces, Rhonda Elkins and Sheila McNabb; and a nephew, Matt Drinnon. Clay is survived by his dedicated and loving wife, who stayed by his side for 46 years, Wilma Jean Kyker Drinnon; a special sister and brother-in-law, Joyce Ann Drinnon Price and Henry Price, Rogersville; a special niece, Kaye Ramsey, Newport; brothers and their wives, Johnnie and Oma Drinnion, Morristown, Billy and Boneda Drinnon, Mooresburg, Jackie Drinnon, Morristown, Danny and Goldie Drinnon , Rogersville; sister-in-law, Mae Drinnon, Rogersville; several nieces, nephews and a host of friends. Clay was a member of First United Methodist Church, Newport, TN, where he supervised the beautiful Christmas tree for fifteen years. Masonic services will be held 7:45 p.m. followed by the funeral services at 8:00 p.m. Thursday, October 12, 2006 at the First United Methodist Church, with Rev. Frederick Long and Dr. Charles (Chuck) Starks officiating. The family will receive friends from 6-8 pm Thursday prior to the services at the First United Methodist Church. The Entombment will be 11:00 am Friday, October 13, 2006 in Resthaven Memorial Mausoleum. Pallbearers will be John Williams, Larry Smith, Dale Ottinger, Jack Costner, Darrell Hall and Kevin Woods; honorary pallbearers, other lineman, groundsmen and other employees. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 212 Washington Ave., Newport, TN 37821, Shriners Crippled Children’s Hospital, or to your favorite charity.
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 12 Oct 2006.
Pioneer of Cocke County rural electrification, Clay Drinnon, dies
One of the Newport Utilities veterans working to help set up rural electrification for Cocke County died on Tuesday. Henry Clay Drinnon was 76. After a career of almost 44 years, Drinnon had retired in 1995 and was featured in the Newport Plain Talk Progress editions in early 2000.He said during an interview that he always felt obligated to keep the power flowing to those many thousands of local residents for whom he helped set up power poles and lines. Drinnon was hired into what was then the Newport Utilities Board managed by Jim Franks, and Drinnon became a lineman in January 1952. He had moved to Newport from Rogersville as part of the Townsend Electric crew. Townsend Electric Contractors were placing power lines across the rural areas of Cocke County in the early 1950s, and Drinnon saw opportunity here. It also provided that chance opportunity to meet his future wife, the former Wilma Kyker. Franks was charged by the board to push forward with rural electrification and wanted to secure the best lineman possible. He met Drinnon and Don Crumbley and hired both men. They were experienced in three-phase wiring, which was taking place to upgrade lines in Cosby, Parrottsville, and Bybee. This was the era of post-hole diggers, A-frame trucks, and lots of back-breaking labor and dangerous work pioneered by men like Drinnon. He and Cecil Taylor were placing lines along Knoxville Hwy. when he first met Wilma Kyker-who Taylor identified to Drinnon as Bill Kyker's daughter. On Sept. 24, the Drinnons celebrated 46 years of marriage. Electricity was a new phenomenon to many rural residents like some of those in Del Rio, as Drinnon told the story of a family who had power turned on near sunset to their mountain home Drinnon said he recalled a young boy running up to the NUB crew yelling, "Hey, we can't get the lights out." Drinnon discovered that the family had used kerosene lanterns and were used to blowing out the flame. They had to be shown the use of light switches and pull cords to turn lights off and on. He and others during the 1950s and 1960s working for NUB witnessed new equipment and also dangers of high voltage. Everette Gorrell, Charlie Ball, Walter O'Dell, and Lawrence Ownby comprised the bulk of the line crews. They used the first bucket lifts. One of these saved Drinnon's life, when a crew was placing 400-watt sodium vapor lights near Pete Hill's store. Drinnon accidentally completed an electric circuit with his body and would have been electrocuted had not Ownby quickly let the lift bucket down to break Drinnon free. Not only did Drinnon and his fellow electric utility workers build and repair power lines, but they also fought fires and shared the same city building off Main Street. Drinnon was among those who fought the Minnis Drug Store fire in 1958, when Lyde Stokely was fire chief. By 1970, Drinnon was promoted to operating superintendent. His job was to oversee the line crews, tree trimmers, and service crews. He preached safety to utility workers and helped train a future generation of utility workers. He also became the unofficial peacemaker between the utility and its customers. During the years he followed his keen interest in trout fishing in the Smokies and always had extra fish to give away to his neighbors. He and Wilma also enjoyed gardening and traveling. He served his nation in the Army from 1955-1957 and was a long-time member of the Newport Masonic Lodge and Kerbela Temple of Knoxville. He was a member of First United Methodist Church and supervised the decoration and lighting of the church's community Christmas tree. Drinnon's funeral will be Thursday night at First United Methodist Church with burial on Friday morning at Resthaven Memorial Gardens.
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