MARTIN, Ky. (WMDJ) – A longtime Floyd County educator is being remembered for his many years of service to the community.
James Oliver “J.O.” Dingus served many roles over his 42 years in education, yet his greatest responsibility was his role as a father-figure and impacting the lives of his students in a positive way.
Dingus passed away on November 30th. He was 93.
J.O.’s son Tommy Dingus and daughter Sherry Dingus Robinson have been taking care of their father since their mother Shirley passed away in 2016. Both share many stories of his impact on the lives of students and how those students impacted his own life.
“We could go into the store or sit down to eat and if he was approached or saw a student, he would instantly remember their name,” recalled Robinson, remarking on her father’s uncanny ability to remember names and faces.
“Looking back, I can see that it was a testament to his passion for teaching.”
Robinson also remembers her father’s fondness for always being the first to arrive at school each day.
“He arrived no later than 6:30 a.m. each morning. He felt like he had to be the one to unlock the doors, turn on the lights and get the school day started before anyone else arrived.”
J.O. will be best remembered as assistant principal of Martin High School and principal of Allen Central High School, but it was his first role as mathematics teacher where his impact on students began.
“He challenged many students with a high-level of mathematics in the classroom,” Robinson said.
J.O. Dingus was the oldest of 12 siblings, born in Wildcat Hollow of Buck’s Branch and a lifelong resident of Martin. His son, Tommy, shared that his father was a jack-of-all-trades, taking pride in every aspect of working in education.
“Dad told me that he worked in the fields as a young boy, behind a mule on hot summer days. One day he thought to himself that he wasn’t doing this the rest of his life. He looked at who was doing well in the community, and it seemed that teaching was a very respected field to make a living,” Dingus recalled.
J.O. graduated from Martin High School in 1948 and later graduated from Caney College (now Alice Lloyd College). He would go on to earn a pair of master’s degrees in mathematics and guidance counseling from the University of Kentucky, graduating in 1952.
“Dad hitchhiked his way to an education,” Dingus said. “He would hitchhike back and forth from Lexington to Martin and later he would do the same after he was drafted into the army, hitchhiking from Fort Campbell to Martin.”
After teaching one semester at Wheelwright High School, J.O. was drafted into the Army and served as a paratrooper at Fort Campbell in the 11th Airborne Division from 1953 to 1954. He turned down the opportunity to attend officer school and chose to be enlisted as a private.
After he was discharged with the honorable rank of sargent, J.O. returned to Martin High School, resuming his teaching career. He even had the pleasure of teaching many of his younger siblings upon his return.
“Dad did it all. He rode the bus to away basketball games. Sometimes driving the bus himself. He personally enjoyed setting up the gym for every home basketball game. Getting the concessions ready, sweeping the court, counting the ticket sales and overseeing every game,” Dingus recalled.
Robinson remembers her father having the idea to take the seniors of Martin High School on a senior trip to Disney World the first year it opened.
“Dad made so many trips to Daytona Beach that the cops there knew him on a first-name basis,” Robinson laughed. “I asked him how the police knew and remembered his name and he said it was because of the many times he had to go to the station to get some student out of trouble.”
When it came to his own children’s education, Sherry said attendance was mandatory daily.
“Dad found out when senior skip day was happening my senior year,” Robinson told laughing. “He let me know the night before that I would be suspended for skipping and grounded at home if I didn’t show up for school. The next day I was the only senior in the building at Allen Central. At lunch time, I hear my name over the intercom asking me to come to the office. Dad let me know I could go home and I told him I wasn’t leaving now it was too late!“
J.O. was the first guidance counselor for Floyd County Schools, serving the entire county. After retiring in 1985, he would come back to serve as needed by the Board of Education, including time as interim principal at Allen Elementary and Betsy Layne Elementary. He also served as guidance counselor at Betsy Layne High School and his final education role was teaching at Garth Vocational School.
“The thing that made Dad most proud was seeing a former student choosing to stay in Floyd County to work and raise a family, helping to make our community better,” Robinson said.
J.O. was preceded in death by his wife Shirley Miller Dingus of 55 years. He was also preceded in death by one son, Kelly Joe Dingus, along with four brothers; Ralph Waldo Dingus, Wendell Winfred Dingus, George Edward Dingus, Adrian Allen Dingus and two sisters; Alka Smith and Ruthee Shelton.
Funeral services for J.O. Dingus will be Saturday, December 7th at 1 p.m. at Hall Funeral Home in Martin. Burial will follow in the Dingus Cemetery in Martin. Visitation after 6 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
