Carsons honored by DAR for helping preserve GHS history

Along with annually celebrating the achievements of a DAR Good Citizen chosen from among seniors at the four Putnam County high schools, the Washburn Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), has been honoring a local resident for his or her preservation efforts.

John and Carolyn Carson, honored at an earlier GHS Alumni Association gathering, were lauded earlier this week by Washburn Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, Greencastle.

The Greencastle chapter started the preservation recognition program five years ago, honoring local people who have helped preserve the heritage of Putnam County.

Washburn Chapter has awarded Heritage Preservation certificates to local authors John Baughman and Malcolm Romine, historic bridge expert Jim Cooper and cemetery restoration specialist Larry Tippin.

This year, along with honoring Melody White of Greencastle High School as the 2013 DAR Good Citizen, the local DAR chapter has applauded the efforts of former Greencastle residents John and Carolyn Carson for their work in collecting, cataloging and publishing memorabilia of Greencastle Community Schools.

When the call came to organize an alumni association for Greencastle High School, one of the first people to step forward was John Carson, "Mr. GHS," as DAR officer Jinsie Bingham referred to him.

Keith Brackney accepts the 2013 Heritage Preservation certificate from Jinsie Bingham of the Washburn Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, on behalf of John and Carolyn Carson. Brackney is a nephew of Mrs. Carson.

John and Carolyn Carson, both members of the GHS Class of 1957, "provided most the inspiration and elbow grease to get the association established," Bingham praised earlier this week as Greencastle resident Keith Brackney, a nephew of Mrs. Carson, accepted the 2013 award on behalf of the couple who now reside in Utah.

It was Carson, of course, who served as chairman of the famed "Undedication Ceremony" for the old downtown gym when the Tiger Cubs played their memorable final game there against Riverton Parke (a 106-54 GHS victory) in February 1988. He also presided at the ceremonial closing of the old Greencastle High School on Spring Street.

"This history and lore of Greencastle Schools is alive and well and available, thanks to the efforts of John and Carolyn Carson," Bingham added.

The Carsons also took on the task of producing the GHS Alumni Association newsletter Tiger Tales. To provide material for the newsletter, Bingham said, they amassed an astounding collection of GHS memorabilia -- not just from the high school but also grade school information, teacher biographies and sports history.

Those include items such as photographs, graduation programs, obituaries, Inkpots and Minaret yearbooks.

The Carsons moved to Utah a few years ago, Bingham noted, to spend time with daughters Susan, Nancy and Sarah and their families, yet they continue to have an impact locally that resulted in the DAR heritage preservation honor for 2013.