William Holmes

William Clay Holmes Jr was born to William Clay Holmes Sr (1903-1984) and Aileen Elizabeth Crawford (1908-1999). His father had a diverse career, working as a boxer, tavern keeper, cook, bus driver, steel mill crane operator, and daring stuntman, while his mother was a teacher. After graduating from McKell High School in South Shore, Greenup County, Kentucky, USA, on May 11, 1942, William continued his education at Morehead Teachers College for two years. There, he studied subjects including College Algebra, Botany, Biology, Chemistry, and Dairy Science. Later, he pursued advanced studies, earning his Master's Degree in Education Administration from Marshall University between January 31, 1957, and August 23, 1958. William began his teaching career in 1946 at Flat Hollow Grade School in Flat Hollow, Greenup County, Kentucky, teaching 5th to 8th-grade students for two months. He then taught Chemistry at McKell High School before becoming the Science & Biology Teacher at Portsmouth West in Portsmouth, Scioto, Ohio, USA, from 1955 to 1956. In 1957, William transitioned to the role of Principal at Sunshine Elementary School in South Shore, Greenup, Kentucky, USA, where he served until his retirement on June 15, 1983.

Betty Jo Dickison was born on April 8, 1929 to parents Charles Scott Dickison (1902-1976) and Fonda Dorthia "Fonnie" May (1906-1979). She graduated from McKell High School in South Shore, Greenup, Kentucky, USA, during the 1940s. Interestingly, she was a student in her future husband's chemistry class there in 1946. Following her high school years, she pursued higher education at Eastern Kentucky State Teachers College in Richmond, Kentucky, USA. Betty earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Eastern Kentucky State College on May 13, 1951. After completing her teaching degree, she began her teaching career at Minford High School in Minford, Scioto County, Ohio in January of 1956. Later, she became an English & Latin Teacher at McKell High School in South Shore, Greenup County, Kentucky, USA, from approximately 1959 to the 1970s. She retired in 1984 from Greenup County High School in Greenup, Kentucky, USA.