Personalities

Eldridge, Edgar "Ed" - 11/05/07 - 2/26/83: Ed Eldridge was the founder of Ed's Surplus in Paintsville. The store began as an army surplus in March of 1957 and later became a retail institution selling surplus, sporting goods and sundries. Ed began his career in the grocery business in Catlettsburg and opened Paintsville's first Kroger store. He served as a radar technician in World War II. Ed's wife, Maxine, continues to operate Ed's Surplus.
Eldridge, Wilma - 11/16/43: Wilma Eldridge, restaurant owner, has been a community activist and a leader in efforts to revitalize Paintsville's mid-town business district. She attended Flat Gap and Oil Springs schools before receiving her high school diploma from Paintsville High School. Wilma entered the food service business in 1962 by opening the 23 Drive In. She opened Wilma's Restaurant near the courthouse in 1964. Wilma was one of the founders of the Downtown Merchants Association in 1981 and the Main Street Association in 1991.

Ford Ferguson, one of the many unsung heroes who worked with young people through the years in sports and recreation, is a native of Morgan County and a 1941 graduate of Crockett High School, the last graduating class at that school. Ford attended Morehead State University where he played basketball under the legendary Ellis Johnson. He later served in the U. S. Marine Corps in the Pacific where he participated in the bloody Battle of Okinawa in which 68% of his unit were killed. Following his discharge from the Marines in 1946, Ford attended Arizona State University where he earned Bachelor and Master’s Degrees in Education. Upon his return to Johnson County, Ford Ferguson served as a teacher and principal at Meade Memorial High School for three years. Ford then moved to Pike County, Ohio, where he was a school administrator for 31 years. However, each summer he returned to Paintsville and Johnson County where he coached and managed an independent baseball team for 21 years.


Frazier, Foster - 3/31/20 - 11/13/93: Foster Frazier was one of Johnson County's most successful and enduring public servants. He served as Tax Commissioner for 22 years. Foster was one of the founders of Hope Haven, charitable foster home, and a board member of Mountain Comprehensive Care Center. Foster served in the U. S. Army in Europe during World War II and participated in writing the history of Patton's Third Army at the close of the war. Prior to his political career, Foster was a recognized leader in local farming, teacher and school principal in Johnson County. Foster and Ruby Frazier had two sons, Stephen N. and Ralph, and one daughter, Vickie.
Frazier, Judge Stephen N. "Nick" - 11/27/43 -: Stephen "Nick" Frazier graduated in 1965 from Pikeville College and received his Law Degree from the University of Louisville School of Law in 1969. Nick served as Assistant Commonwealth Attorney for Jefferson County, Assistant County Attorney of Johnson County and as Paintsville City Attorney. He was elected District Judge of the 24th Judicial District in 1978 and Circuit Judge of the 24th Judicial Circuit in 1984. He also served as City Attorney of Paintsville. Judge Frazier is Chief Regional Judge and a member of the Kentucky Judicial Retirement and Removal Commission. He was the recipient in 1993 of the Chief Justice's Special Service Award presented by the Chief Justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court and the Kentucky Bar Association.
Fyffe, James W. -: Jim Fyffe began his successful broadcasting career at WSIP in Paintsville working for his brother Paul. He graduated from Flat Gap High School in 1963 and attended the University of Kentucky and Prestonsburg Community College before being called into the U. S Army in 1966. In the army, Jim was assigned to the Armed Forces Network at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia, where he produced special feature programs for the army, including a number of sports programs. Upon his discharge from the army Jim returned to WSIP before accepting an offer in 1971 to join the staff of a station in Birmingham, Alabama. Jim gained additional experience in sports broadcasting doing college play-by-play and announced NASCAR races for the Motor Racing Network. For the past 20 years Jim has been the voice on the Auburn University sports network calling Auburn's football and basketball games.
Fyffe, Paul G. - 11/10/35 - 11/14/2000: Paul Fyffe was affiliated with Radio Station WSIP for nearly 40 years as announcer, sportscaster, manager and owner. Paul graduated from Flat Gap High School in 1954 and attended Morehead State University in 1955 and 1956 at which time he began his radio career with WSIP. Paul was a director of Family Federal Savings & Loan (now Family Bank, FSB) for 18 years. He was the driving force behind bringing professional baseball to Paintsville in 1978, when he successfully organized the Paintsville HiLanders of the rookie Appalachian League. He was founder, president and general manager of the HiLanders and later served as president of the Appalachian League. Paul is currently a regional representative of Appalachian Wireless.
Galbraith, Emma Douglas Auxier Wheeler - 12/26/06 - 11/28/96: Douglas was the first woman to become editor and publisher of the Paintsville Herald. She was married first to attorney John W. Wheeler. Some time following Wheeler's death she married Mr. Galbraith. Douglas is probably best known for the lengthy, and often bitter, struggle she waged to preserve Johnson County's historical Blockhouse Bottom, now the site of the Combs Paintsville-Prestonsburg Airport. Following a fire in 1963, which gutted the building housing the Paintsville Herald and destroyed its files and equipment, Douglas sold the newspaper to Allen S. "Bud" Perry and a group of investors.

Garland, Mary Grace Rice – 4/30/22 –: Mary Grace Rice Garland, daughter of Garland H. Rice and Mabel Auxier Rice, graduated from Western College for Women (Oxford, Ohio) where she continued the music education begun under Ora Mae Preston. Following college Mary Grace entered into social work in Chicago where she assisted families of servicemen. In 1944, she was married to William E. Garland. Following the death of her husband in 1976, Mary Grace became President of H. B. Rice Insurance Company. Although Ms. Garland has been active in numerous civic organizations including the Junior Women’s League, the American Cancer Society and the East Kentucky Concert Series, it is her prodigious musical talent which has defined her life and endeared her to all who have heard her perform at the piano. Mary Grace and Bill Garland had two children, Rebecca Garland Wilder and William R. Garland.

Gayle, Crystal - 1/9/51 -: Crystal Gayle, sister of Loretta Lynn, is another singing star who is a native of Johnson County. Crystal followed her sister to Nashville and Country Music stardom but soon ventured into more pop music. She is known for musicality, showmanship and her long flowing hair.
Geiger, Orville Cook - 4/3/1878 - 8/26/58: Cook Geiger, a native of Boyd County, was a Nineteenth Century traveling salesman, or "drummer" as they were known. During his travels to Paintsville and the upper Big Sandy he met and married Virgie Lee Hager, daughter of Daniel M. and Jessica Vaughan Hager. Cook opened a Studebaker automobile dealership in Paintsville, one of the first in the region.. His dealership and garage was located on Bridge Street. He later sold it to James N. Meek and Harve Matney in 1925. Cook was a charter member of the Paintsville-Van Lear Rotary Club.
Griffith, Tuffy -: Ray "Tuffy" Griffith was Johnson County's only professional boxer of note. He traveled throughout Kentucky, West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida competing in boxing's welterweight division. When Tuffy's boxing career began to wane, he began competing in motorcycle events throughout the tri-state area. For many years he operated a welding and blacksmith shop in Paintsville. Tuffy was beloved by the children of Paintsville and Johnson County for whom he presented school programs throughout the county.