A Legacy to Remember: "Recollections of a Common Man"

A Legacy to Remember: "Recollections of a Common Man" is the story of a man who rose above all odds stacked against him. The Great Depression, divorced parents, living in poverty, World War II, the death of a child, divorce etc.--commonly known occurrences many individuals in American History have faced. Many people would have been bitter having lived through such tragedies. But not Duard Vinson Gillum! He not only survived but he thrived through his faith in God to become a wonderful "family man" with a successful career in the aeronautics industry, even working on the Apollo Moon Landing Project and the Space Shuttle Project. This biography follows Tiny's autobiography Recollections of a Common Man (Xlibris, 2011) self-published before his death with a final chapter and additional photos documenting Mr. Gillum's life.

Reared in Ashland, KY during the Great Depression, Mr. Gillum's extended family of 11 occupied a three room shack located next to the city dump. After the Depression his family experienced the Great Flood of 1937 where many locales along the Ohio River, including Ashland, faced much devastation. When WWII started he had only completed a ninth grade education before joining the Navy, lying about his age.

During WWII, Mr. Gillum served in the U.S. Navy aboard the ship USS LSM #36 as a quartermaster. His fleet stationed in the Pacific faced enemy fire, as well as Mother Nature's wrath, that included a large scale typhoon in the China Sea. Mr. Gillum survived the war without any war-related injuries, which he credits to God's protection.

Following his honorable discharge from the Navy after WWII ended, with only his ninth grade education, Mr. Gillum became a well accomplished career man in the aeronautics field while also volunteering in his community as a baseball coach for 18 years that also included coaching his son.

After retiring from both work and baseball, he and his wife Ruth enjoyed traveling around the country together before Ruth developed Alzheimer's disease. At Ruth's diagnosis, Tiny cared for her until her passing.

Mr. Gillum passed in 2011 shortly after the publication of his autobiography. In his autobiography he requested one of his descendants write the final chapter of his life story. As the only professional author in Mr. Gillum's extended family, Mrs. Orgeron carries out his request through A Legacy to Remember.

Referring to Mr. Gillum as a mere survivor is an understatement, to say the least. He thrived in the midst of adversity to overcome much tragedy while maintaining an optimistic attitude that reflected to others around him. No doubt Mr. Gillum touched a lot of lives. He also left a lot of life lessons that many individuals in today's society will glean from reading A Legacy to Remember: Recollections of a Common Man.

Author: Pamela K. Orgeron,Duard V. Gillum
Publisher: ABC's Ministries
Published: 09/19/2018
Pages: 260
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.78lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.55d
ISBN: 9780997956559

About the Author
Orgeron, Pamela K.: - Pamela K. Orgeron, M.A., Ed.S., BCCC, ACLC, formerly Pamela K. Owens (1960- ) was born in Ashland, KY. In 1986 she received a B.A. degree in Journalism-Public Relations from Marshall University, Huntington, WV. Also in 1986 Ms. Owens moved to Nashville, TN where she spent over eight years employed with the Jean and Alexander Heard Library, Vanderbilt University. Before moving back to Kentucky in 2000, she also worked for Harris Publishing and Thomas Nelson Publishers. Ms. Owens received both an M.A. (2003) and an Ed.S. (2009) degree in Adult & Higher Education, Counseling Specialization from Morehead State University, Morehead, KY. Ms. Owens moved back to Nashville in 2009. Since then she has received an Advanced Diploma in Biblical Counseling from Light University and became a Board Certified Christian Counselor and a Board Certified Advanced Christian Life Coach. In 2010 she married Milton J. Orgeron. She and Milton are General Partners in ABC's Ministries, and are members of The Donelson Fellowship Freewill Baptist Church, Nashville, TN. Mrs. Orgeron also is a certified writer with the Institute of Children's Literature, West Redding, Connecticut.Gillum, Duard V.: - A Legacy to Remember: "Recollections of a Common Man" is the story of a man who rose above all odds stacked against him. The Great Depression, divorced parents, living in poverty, World War II, the death of a child, divorce etc.-commonly known occurrences many individuals in American History have faced. Many people would have been bitter having lived through such tragedies. But not Duard Vinson Gillum! He not only survived but he thrived through his faith in God to become a wonderful "family man" with a successful career in the aeronautics industry, even working on the Apollo Moon Landing Project and the Space Shuttle Project. Mr. Gillum passed away in 2011.