Dale Moore
Born in Lukin Township October 1, 1904 Dale Moore was the son of Albert and Mary White Moore. After receiving his grade school education in White Oak School in Lukin, he graduated from Sumner High School and received his Bachelor’s degree from McKendree College. He also attended University of Illinois, Eastern Illinois and Southern Illinois universities.
Dale started teaching in 1924 when he taught one term at West Point School in Lukin. During the 1925 school year he taught in Plank Road School on Allison Prairie. Then he taught two years in the Sumner Elementary School before becoming its principal for the next 19 years. In 1950 he resigned from Sumner to become the principal of Washington school, south of Bridgeport where he has also assisted with teaching and coaching for 15 years. He taught four years at Bridgeport grade school and finished his career by substitute teaching for seven years.
He was married to the former Louisa Moore and they had two sons: Gene and Alan Moore. Gene was the Principal of the Bridgeport Grade School and Alan was a teacher and coach at Brookside School in Pinkstaff. Alan was also the former principal of Petty School and assistant to Phil Sivert, Superintendent of Schools, until 1965.
In addition to being a deacon at the United Church of Christ in Sumner Dale was a member of the Bridgeport Lions Club, Lawrence County Sportsman's Club and a County Board member for two years representing Bridgeport.
On his retirement on June 30, 1965 he admitted to teaching for 47 years. But as much as he loved teaching he loved fishing almost more.
The photo of him above with the 7 3/4 lb Channel catfish that he caught in Red Hills Park Lake was taken after he retired. He told the newspaper reporter that he put a piece of night crawler on a No 8 bluegill hook and threw it out into the deeper water of the lake about 1:00 pm. While fly fishing, he noticed the other pole tip giggling a bit and thought a bluegill was nibbling the bait. Suddenly the pole bent nearly double and he knew something bigger was hooked. After playing the big fish for some time, Moore retrieved it from the water's edge by hand and had just got it out on the bank when the hook dropped out of its mouth.
Dale Moore died November 11, 1974.