Joe Paul Hemphill, 83, of Poteau, OK passed away Monday, December 21, 2009. He was born in Monroe, OK September 6, 1926 to Joseph Braxton & Bertha (Cagle) Hemphill.
Joe Paul was a member of Southside Baptist Church of Poteau, OK. He was a veteran of the US Navy and a longtime administrator until his retirement. Hemphill's list of accomplishments, memberships and awards is quite extensive. They include: Served 19 years on the Board of Directors of KI BOIS Community Action Foundation; Served 10 years on KEDDO (Kiamichi Economic Development District of Oklahoma) Board of Directors; Served 20 years as a member of the Oklahoma Education Association; Served 10 years on Higher Education Alumni Council; Member Howe Masonic Lodge - Master Mason; 32nd Degree Mason - McAlester Consistory
Served 37 years as member of Poteau Chamber of Commerce. During that time he served on the Board of Directors, served as Board President and was Executive Director for two years; Received Poteau Chamber of Commerce President's Award in 1983.
Named 1984 Poteau Man of the Year; First building at CASC was named Hemphill Hall after his retirement in 1988 following 20 years of service to the college; while as CASC he served as a teacher, first Dean, Athletic Director, Vice President for Student Affairs and Vice President for Academic Affairs; Served 20 years as member of Poteau Rotary Club. Served on Board of Directors and President. Received the Paul Harris Fellow Award in 1987; Served 22 years as Poteau City Councilman; Served as Chairman of the LeFlore County Democrat Party from 1965 until 1967; Served as campaign chairman in LeFlore County for Governor Raymond Gary, Governor David Hall and Governor David Walters; Served 10 years as board member of Poteau Summer Youth program; Managed Poteau Summer Youth Program for two years; Member LeFlore County Historical Society; Served 20 years as chairman of the LeFlore County Heart Fund Drive; Served 20 years as Poteau Community Chest Board Chairman; Inducted into Oklahoma Girls Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1992; Received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in 1998
Received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Carl Albert State College in 2000; Received Alumni Award from Monroe School in 2002
Appointed by Governor David Walters to a nine year term on the Board of Regents of Oklahoma Colleges in 1991
Received Poteau Daily News Lifetime Contribution Award 2003; Received CASC Development Foundation Board of Trustees Award
Also listed among his accomplishments was having his picture taken with First Lady Hillary Clinton with she and President Bill Clinton visited with the Murrah Building bombing victim families on April 4, 1996;Although he lived and served in Poteau, Monroe was always home to Hemphill
Survivors include his wife, Wilma of the home; daughter & son in law, Suanna & Charlie Rust of Poteau, OK, sons & daughters in law, Joe & Kaye Hemphill of Durant, OK, Rodney & Kim Hemphill of Poteau, OK, Roger & Toni Hemphill of Clayton, OK; 13 Grandchildren; 13 Great Grandchildren; other relatives & loved ones; many beloved friends.
Services were held 2 pm, Wednesday, December 23, 2009 at Bob Lee Kidd Civic Center, Poteau, OK with Rev. Monty Thompson & Rev. Garry Haskins. Interment followed in Monroe Cemetery, Monroe, OK Pallbearers were his grandchildren. Evans & Miller Funeral Home, Poteau, OK
Monday, December 21, 2009
Joe Paul Hemphill
Joe Paul Hemphill, 83, of Poteau, OK passed away Monday, December 21, 2009. He was born in Monroe, OK September 6, 1926 to Joseph Braxton & Bertha (Cagle) Hemphill.
Joe Paul was a member of Southside Baptist Church of Poteau, OK. He was a veteran of the US Navy and a longtime administrator until his retirement. Hemphill's list of accomplishments, memberships and awards is quite extensive. They include: Served 19 years on the Board of Directors of KI BOIS Community Action Foundation; Served 10 years on KEDDO (Kiamichi Economic Development District of Oklahoma) Board of Directors; Served 20 years as a member of the Oklahoma Education Association; Served 10 years on Higher Education Alumni Council; Member Howe Masonic Lodge - Master Mason; 32nd Degree Mason - McAlester Consistory
Served 37 years as member of Poteau Chamber of Commerce. During that time he served on the Board of Directors, served as Board President and was Executive Director for two years; Received Poteau Chamber of Commerce President's Award in 1983.
Named 1984 Poteau Man of the Year; First building at CASC was named Hemphill Hall after his retirement in 1988 following 20 years of service to the college; while as CASC he served as a teacher, first Dean, Athletic Director, Vice President for Student Affairs and Vice President for Academic Affairs; Served 20 years as member of Poteau Rotary Club. Served on Board of Directors and President. Received the Paul Harris Fellow Award in 1987; Served 22 years as Poteau City Councilman; Served as Chairman of the LeFlore County Democrat Party from 1965 until 1967; Served as campaign chairman in LeFlore County for Governor Raymond Gary, Governor David Hall and Governor David Walters; Served 10 years as board member of Poteau Summer Youth program; Managed Poteau Summer Youth Program for two years; Member LeFlore County Historical Society; Served 20 years as chairman of the LeFlore County Heart Fund Drive; Served 20 years as Poteau Community Chest Board Chairman; Inducted into Oklahoma Girls Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1992; Received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Southeastern Oklahoma State University in 1998
Received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Carl Albert State College in 2000; Received Alumni Award from Monroe School in 2002
Appointed by Governor David Walters to a nine year term on the Board of Regents of Oklahoma Colleges in 1991
Received Poteau Daily News Lifetime Contribution Award 2003; Received CASC Development Foundation Board of Trustees Award
Also listed among his accomplishments was having his picture taken with First Lady Hillary Clinton with she and President Bill Clinton visited with the Murrah Building bombing victim families on April 4, 1996;Although he lived and served in Poteau, Monroe was always home to Hemphill
Survivors include his wife, Wilma of the home; daughter & son in law, Suanna & Charlie Rust of Poteau, OK, sons & daughters in law, Joe & Kaye Hemphill of Durant, OK, Rodney & Kim Hemphill of Poteau, OK, Roger & Toni Hemphill of Clayton, OK; 13 Grandchildren; 13 Great Grandchildren; other relatives & loved ones; many beloved friends.
Services were held 2 pm, Wednesday, December 23, 2009 at Bob Lee Kidd Civic Center, Poteau, OK with Rev. Monty Thompson & Rev. Garry Haskins. Interment followed in Monroe Cemetery, Monroe, OK Pallbearers were his grandchildren. Evans & Miller Funeral Home, Poteau, OK
Uncle Joe will be missed very much by all of those people who knew and loved him. Some of my fondest memories are when Aunt Wilma and Uncle Joe would come our home in California during vacations with a car full of cousins,we would all load up into the stationwagon and head to the beach,Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm, wherever the fun could be found there would be the Hemphills with us tagging along. Uncle Joe we love you and will miss you dearly.
ReplyDeleteWith much love and admiration
Richard Biggs
im going to miss you uncle joe. i cherish the memories of visiting you and the family in oklahoma. you will allways be remembered as a great man and as my math teacher as a child.. hugs and kisses, louise redfield.
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