Huie Bird, 75, of Clarksville passed away peacefully at his home, June 19, 2010.
He was born on Feb. 25, 1935, in Birdtown.
He was the youngest of 10 children born to Rosa Gordon Bird and Samuel Porter Bird.
After attending high school in Center Ridge, he began his career as a dragline operator at the age of 18. He worked in many areas of the country, including Oklahoma, New Mexico, Tennessee and Arkansas. In addition, he worked for nine years on the eastern coast of the United States for American Dredging Company, dredging bay areas in New Jersey, New York, Maine and New Hampshire. In 1969, he moved his family back to Arkansas, settling in Johnson County. He and his wife Doris purchased the Hartman store and later opened Birds' Drive-In Restaurant & Recreation. During this time, he was also employed by Garland and Peabody Coal Company as a dragline operator. In 1978, they sold their Hartman businesses, and decided to pursue their dreams of owning and operating a motel. At this time, they purchased their first motel, an independent property known as The Caprice Motor Inn in Clarksville. This also included a restaurant and service station. Mr. Bird continued working for Peabody until 1980, and then focused full time on his new career in the hospitality industry. Over the past 32 years, they have owned and successfully operated 12 different franchised hotels, including properties in Oklahoma and Missouri, as well as Arkansas. Currently, Birds' Hospitality Inc. owns and operates the Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn Express & Suites of Clarksville and the Hampton Inn, Fairfield Inn & Suites, and Best Western Inn, all of Russellville. Mr. Bird was passionate about property development and throughout the years received many prestigious awards recognizing his successes and achievements.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Doris Bird; two daughters and sons-in-law, Peggy and Dan Cogan and Nancy and Jim Rogers, all of Clarksville; three granddaughters, Chivon Cogan, Caitlin Rogers and Crystal Martinez, and her husband Rolando Martinez, as well as three great-grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his parents and nine older siblings, Esther McNew, Elbert "Eb" Bird, Ruth Bird, Fay "Slim" Bird, Ralph Bird, Imogene French, Robert "Tip" Bird, Dewey Bird and Roy Lane Bird.
The funeral service was at Cherry Street Baptist Church in Clarksville, where Mr. Bird was a member, on Tuesday at 10 a.m., with burial at Oakland Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Mike Wilson, Don Highfill, Ronnie Ashlock, Terry Blackard, Ben Powell, John Burke and Steven Sosebee.
Honorary pallbearers were Paul Cogan, Harold Lewis, C.O. Blackard, Toby Wilson, Roy Goodin, Dr. John Werner and Don Johnson.
Huie Bird, 75, of Clarksville passed away peacefully at his home, June 19, 2010.
He was born on Feb. 25, 1935, in Birdtown.
He was the youngest of 10 children born to Rosa Gordon Bird and Samuel Porter Bird.
After attending high school in Center Ridge, he began his career as a dragline operator at the age of 18. He worked in many areas of the country, including Oklahoma, New Mexico, Tennessee and Arkansas. In addition, he worked for nine years on the eastern coast of the United States for American Dredging Company, dredging bay areas in New Jersey, New York, Maine and New Hampshire. In 1969, he moved his family back to Arkansas, settling in Johnson County. He and his wife Doris purchased the Hartman store and later opened Birds' Drive-In Restaurant & Recreation. During this time, he was also employed by Garland and Peabody Coal Company as a dragline operator. In 1978, they sold their Hartman businesses, and decided to pursue their dreams of owning and operating a motel. At this time, they purchased their first motel, an independent property known as The Caprice Motor Inn in Clarksville. This also included a restaurant and service station. Mr. Bird continued working for Peabody until 1980, and then focused full time on his new career in the hospitality industry. Over the past 32 years, they have owned and successfully operated 12 different franchised hotels, including properties in Oklahoma and Missouri, as well as Arkansas. Currently, Birds' Hospitality Inc. owns and operates the Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn Express & Suites of Clarksville and the Hampton Inn, Fairfield Inn & Suites, and Best Western Inn, all of Russellville. Mr. Bird was passionate about property development and throughout the years received many prestigious awards recognizing his successes and achievements.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Doris Bird; two daughters and sons-in-law, Peggy and Dan Cogan and Nancy and Jim Rogers, all of Clarksville; three granddaughters, Chivon Cogan, Caitlin Rogers and Crystal Martinez, and her husband Rolando Martinez, as well as three great-grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his parents and nine older siblings, Esther McNew, Elbert "Eb" Bird, Ruth Bird, Fay "Slim" Bird, Ralph Bird, Imogene French, Robert "Tip" Bird, Dewey Bird and Roy Lane Bird.
The funeral service was at Cherry Street Baptist Church in Clarksville, where Mr. Bird was a member, on Tuesday at 10 a.m., with burial at Oakland Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Mike Wilson, Don Highfill, Ronnie Ashlock, Terry Blackard, Ben Powell, John Burke and Steven Sosebee.
Honorary pallbearers were Paul Cogan, Harold Lewis, C.O. Blackard, Toby Wilson, Roy Goodin, Dr. John Werner and Don Johnson.
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