‘Older American Program’ gained national attention

  • Members of the "Older American Program" learned it was never too late to obtain an education, or improve their life skills. All names are listed from left. Front row: Mildred Holder, Lillian Slaughter, Dina Wachacha Waldroup and Jura Mae Jordan. Back row: Chester Bradshaw, Oleta Nelms and Tri-County Community College GED Instructor Tonia Walsh. Photo courtesy of U.S. Forest Service
    Members of the "Older American Program" learned it was never too late to obtain an education, or improve their life skills. All names are listed from left. Front row: Mildred Holder, Lillian Slaughter, Dina Wachacha Waldroup and Jura Mae Jordan. Back row: Chester Bradshaw, Oleta Nelms and Tri-County Community College GED Instructor Tonia Walsh. Photo courtesy of U.S. Forest Service
    Marshall McClung

    Marshall McClung

    * Conclusion of a 3-part series

    The “Older American Program” on the Cheoah Ranger District continued into the 1990s, while I was still with the U.S. Forest Service. 

    I have mentioned that the program ran smoothly, with only a few minor problems. As time went on, I began to be concerned about the excellent caliber of work the forest service was receiving from the employees of this program – while only getting minimum wage pay in return. I had already been getting the U.S. Forest Service Supervisor’s Office in Asheville to transfer hours that the other ranger districts could not use in the allotted time, as most of them didn’t have anywhere near the employees (43} that we had. This allowed us to work those on the Cheoah Ranger District 39 hours per week, instead of 32.

    I still did not feel like this was enough to do for them. Most of them had done hard, manual labor most of their lives and never finished high school. Many of the men had quit school and gone to work, while the women had gotten married at a young age and began raising families.

    I contacted Tri-County Community College about the matter and they sent Tonia Walsh to teach a GED class at our work center. This resulted in Jura Mae Jordan, Lillian Slaughter and Chester Bradshaw receiving their GEDs, and Mildred Holder improving her education level.

    This encouraged Dina Wachacha Waldroup to question Oleta Nelms – a retired schoolteacher – about learning to read and write. 

    Nelms came to me with the request and I told her to go ahead. She wanted to know how much time she had to do this and I replied, “As much as you need.” 

    In a short period of time, Dina was reading at a fifth-grade level. She soon surpassed that.

    Following that, Ansley Clifford got her U.S. citizenship with the assistance of Gina Rogers. Brenda Deyton with United Community Bank-Robbinsville came and taught the Older Americans how to do such things as open an account, write checks and balance a checkbook.

    In 1991, we received notice that Fay Landers from the Office of the Forest Service Chief – who oversaw all Human Resource Programs that the U.S. Forest Service administered – was coming with other staff members to inspect and review our Older American Program. 

    As a result of their visit, the Cheoah Ranger District received an Outstanding Achievement Award for the successful operation of the Senior Community Service Employment Program, and a Sustained Service Award for the continued efforts to improve services in the operation of the Senior Community Service Employment Program. 

    The awards were presented on Nov. 19, 1993, by Forest Supervisor Randle Phillips.

    Marshall McClung is the historical columnist for The Graham Star. He is retired from the U.S. Forest Service and can be reached via email, mcclungs828@gmail.com.