Long, Harold & Dora Ann Memorial Fund (Scholarship)

Harold Long: Dec 3, 1905 – July 26, 1990
Dora Ann Long: Jan 16, 1915 – April 26, 1999

 

Harold and Dora Ann Long spent the greater part of their lives in Adams County.  Harold grew up in a family that valued an education.  He had aunts, uncles and siblings in his family who attended college when it was rare for people from farming communities to attend schools of higher learning.  Harold graduated from Berne High School in 1924, and following graduation, he attended Ball State Teachers College. 

 

In 1926, Harold started his teaching career in a one room country school and continued to teach for the next 46 years in the south end of Adams County.  He made the rounds teaching in several Adams County country schools before taking his books to Wabash Township School later known as Geneva High School. He taught sixth and seventh grade.  He also became head coach at Geneva High School during the war years and later was an assistant baseball coach at South Adams High School until his retirement in 1972.

 
Harold and Dora Ann were married on June 8, 1933.  During the course of his career he was fed, clothed, loved, and inspired by his wife Dora Ann.  To supplement their income, Harold worked with his father and brothers farming several hundred acres.  During WWII, Dora Ann worked in the General Electric plant in Decatur.  Harold and his family continued farming on a larger scale during the war because many farms were left short of workers.  After the war, Harold and Dora Ann bought a farm on the northern edge of Geneva and lived there until it was sold for the development of Rainbow Lake in 1956.

 

Harold’s favorite subject was history and most of his students will attest to the fact that they were inspired to learn by his methods. He loved local history and became the “Pied Piper of History” by organizing many historical tours around the county.  Harold was a contributor and history collaborator for the last published History of Adams County in 1979.  Harold was also a long-time member of the Adams County Historical Society.