Hugh Blanken was on the school board in Hawkins County, taught school, and was a state representative for a long time from Hamblen County. I remember that Rev. Clifford Blanken (a grand nephew) told me that Hugh Blanken
was very strict and never liked to say anything bad about anyone in politics, even those he opposed or disagreed with on policy. He admitted that sometimes it was difficult!
Clifford also told me that Hugh was also known for his faithfulness in church. He was proud of his pins for 32 years of perfect attendance in Sunday School and was supposed to get his
pin for the 33rd year, but died before its receipt. Even when he was in the
nursing home towards the end of his life, he would have the nurses take him to Sunday School. When he was superintendant, he would start Sunday School with a bell rope and it was a familiar sight to see him stand with a watch in his hand.
Obituary
Hugh Blanken, 74-year-old Hawkins County civic, church and political leader, died suddenly at his home in St. Clair Friday afternoon, November 27. At his bedside when he died was his daughter, Laura Mae Shepherd, teacher in the Hawkins County school system. Long active in Republican politics in this area, Mr. Blanken served 7 terms as direct representative from Hawkins County. He was representative from 1929 to 1945 with the exception of 1931 and 1939. He was not a candidate for that office in 1945. He had also been floterial representative at one time from Sullivan and Hawkins counties. He was for years a member of the Hawkins County Board of Education and was chairman of that board during his tenure of office. A member and deacon of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, he had a Sunday School attendance record there of 35 years, during which time he was neither tardy nor absent He was Sunday School superintendent for almost 14 years an for the past several years had been teacher of the Men's Bible Class. He had taught the class on Sunday morning, November 22. Mr. Blanken was born March 15, 1879 at Eidson and spent his entire life in Hawkins County. His parents were George W. Blanken and Rachel Pridemore Blanken. His wife died April 10, 1952. Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Sunday afternoon from the Mt. Zion Church, with the Rev. Claude Killian officiating. Interment was in Courtney Cemetery. Mr. Blanken is survived by one son, George Blanken of Detroit, Mich.; two daughters, Mrs. G C. Simmons, Detroit, and Mrs. Shepherd, at home; three grandchildren. Richard Hugh Blanken, Karen Blanken and Sarah Ruth Simmons, all of Detroit
was very strict and never liked to say anything bad about anyone in politics, even those he opposed or disagreed with on policy. He admitted that sometimes it was difficult!
Clifford also told me that Hugh was also known for his faithfulness in church. He was proud of his pins for 32 years of perfect attendance in Sunday School and was supposed to get his
pin for the 33rd year, but died before its receipt. Even when he was in the
nursing home towards the end of his life, he would have the nurses take him to Sunday School. When he was superintendant, he would start Sunday School with a bell rope and it was a familiar sight to see him stand with a watch in his hand.
Obituary
Hugh Blanken, 74-year-old Hawkins County civic, church and political leader, died suddenly at his home in St. Clair Friday afternoon, November 27. At his bedside when he died was his daughter, Laura Mae Shepherd, teacher in the Hawkins County school system. Long active in Republican politics in this area, Mr. Blanken served 7 terms as direct representative from Hawkins County. He was representative from 1929 to 1945 with the exception of 1931 and 1939. He was not a candidate for that office in 1945. He had also been floterial representative at one time from Sullivan and Hawkins counties. He was for years a member of the Hawkins County Board of Education and was chairman of that board during his tenure of office. A member and deacon of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, he had a Sunday School attendance record there of 35 years, during which time he was neither tardy nor absent He was Sunday School superintendent for almost 14 years an for the past several years had been teacher of the Men's Bible Class. He had taught the class on Sunday morning, November 22. Mr. Blanken was born March 15, 1879 at Eidson and spent his entire life in Hawkins County. His parents were George W. Blanken and Rachel Pridemore Blanken. His wife died April 10, 1952. Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Sunday afternoon from the Mt. Zion Church, with the Rev. Claude Killian officiating. Interment was in Courtney Cemetery. Mr. Blanken is survived by one son, George Blanken of Detroit, Mich.; two daughters, Mrs. G C. Simmons, Detroit, and Mrs. Shepherd, at home; three grandchildren. Richard Hugh Blanken, Karen Blanken and Sarah Ruth Simmons, all of Detroit
Hugh Blanken was on the school board in Hawkins County, taught school, and was a state representative for a long time from Hamblen County. I remember that Rev. Clifford Blanken (a grand nephew) told me that Hugh Blanken
was very strict and never liked to say anything bad about anyone in politics, even those he opposed or disagreed with on policy. He admitted that sometimes it was difficult!
Clifford also told me that Hugh was also known for his faithfulness in church. He was proud of his pins for 32 years of perfect attendance in Sunday School and was supposed to get his
pin for the 33rd year, but died before its receipt. Even when he was in the
nursing home towards the end of his life, he would have the nurses take him to Sunday School. When he was superintendant, he would start Sunday School with a bell rope and it was a familiar sight to see him stand with a watch in his hand.
Obituary
Hugh Blanken, 74-year-old Hawkins County civic, church and political leader, died suddenly at his home in St. Clair Friday afternoon, November 27. At his bedside when he died was his daughter, Laura Mae Shepherd, teacher in the Hawkins County school system. Long active in Republican politics in this area, Mr. Blanken served 7 terms as direct representative from Hawkins County. He was representative from 1929 to 1945 with the exception of 1931 and 1939. He was not a candidate for that office in 1945. He had also been floterial representative at one time from Sullivan and Hawkins counties. He was for years a member of the Hawkins County Board of Education and was chairman of that board during his tenure of office. A member and deacon of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, he had a Sunday School attendance record there of 35 years, during which time he was neither tardy nor absent He was Sunday School superintendent for almost 14 years an for the past several years had been teacher of the Men's Bible Class. He had taught the class on Sunday morning, November 22. Mr. Blanken was born March 15, 1879 at Eidson and spent his entire life in Hawkins County. His parents were George W. Blanken and Rachel Pridemore Blanken. His wife died April 10, 1952. Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Sunday afternoon from the Mt. Zion Church, with the Rev. Claude Killian officiating. Interment was in Courtney Cemetery. Mr. Blanken is survived by one son, George Blanken of Detroit, Mich.; two daughters, Mrs. G C. Simmons, Detroit, and Mrs. Shepherd, at home; three grandchildren. Richard Hugh Blanken, Karen Blanken and Sarah Ruth Simmons, all of Detroit
was very strict and never liked to say anything bad about anyone in politics, even those he opposed or disagreed with on policy. He admitted that sometimes it was difficult!
Clifford also told me that Hugh was also known for his faithfulness in church. He was proud of his pins for 32 years of perfect attendance in Sunday School and was supposed to get his
pin for the 33rd year, but died before its receipt. Even when he was in the
nursing home towards the end of his life, he would have the nurses take him to Sunday School. When he was superintendant, he would start Sunday School with a bell rope and it was a familiar sight to see him stand with a watch in his hand.
Obituary
Hugh Blanken, 74-year-old Hawkins County civic, church and political leader, died suddenly at his home in St. Clair Friday afternoon, November 27. At his bedside when he died was his daughter, Laura Mae Shepherd, teacher in the Hawkins County school system. Long active in Republican politics in this area, Mr. Blanken served 7 terms as direct representative from Hawkins County. He was representative from 1929 to 1945 with the exception of 1931 and 1939. He was not a candidate for that office in 1945. He had also been floterial representative at one time from Sullivan and Hawkins counties. He was for years a member of the Hawkins County Board of Education and was chairman of that board during his tenure of office. A member and deacon of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, he had a Sunday School attendance record there of 35 years, during which time he was neither tardy nor absent He was Sunday School superintendent for almost 14 years an for the past several years had been teacher of the Men's Bible Class. He had taught the class on Sunday morning, November 22. Mr. Blanken was born March 15, 1879 at Eidson and spent his entire life in Hawkins County. His parents were George W. Blanken and Rachel Pridemore Blanken. His wife died April 10, 1952. Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Sunday afternoon from the Mt. Zion Church, with the Rev. Claude Killian officiating. Interment was in Courtney Cemetery. Mr. Blanken is survived by one son, George Blanken of Detroit, Mich.; two daughters, Mrs. G C. Simmons, Detroit, and Mrs. Shepherd, at home; three grandchildren. Richard Hugh Blanken, Karen Blanken and Sarah Ruth Simmons, all of Detroit
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