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The Front Page Is Dedicated to the Memory of Young Man of Courage
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VOLUME 44 — NUMBER 24
THE REB BADGE OF COURAGE
Young Robert Kemper Leaves a
Monument of Valor, Integrity
I
After Federal Judge Ellis Mundy owned, ed
ited and published the venerable official
county newspaper — The Clayton County
News and Farmer — there was a transaction
and a new owner, editor and publisher.
It was Alan Kemper and his family. They
got the paper out every week as a family co
operative effort. All worked on it and served
the general area well with a newspaper that
has been in some homes constantly for al
most half a century.
We of The Clayton County News and Farm
er of today, long friends and admirers of
Judge Kemper and his family, respectfully
dedicate this front page of The Clayton Coun
ty News and Farmer to the memory of their
courageous son Robert, who fought the most
damaging type of polio for 12 years — until
age 24 — when his stout heart gave out. The
headline above the masthead and other head
lines are printed in red because we believe
they typify, as Robert did, the events that in-
POINT OF VIEW
— By JACK TROY — —
A Memory That Will Last
With Us Until the End of Time
When the Rev. W. W. Long stood in the pulpit of the beautiful
First Baptist Church of Jonesboro Sunday afternoon, gazing out
at so many friends of Robert and the Kemper family who had
come to pay honor and their last respects to a brilliant young man
When he was first stricken he was unconscious for about
three weeks. On first awaking, he turned to his anxious mother
and father and said: “Dad, I want my teeth washed.” And then
he asked: “Who got the Republican nomination?” That was when
Robert Taft and Ike Eisenhower were fighting it out for the presi
dential nomination, and the question was his response to the sav
age illness that had felled him. It became more typical of him as
time went on.
Robert and I were Talmadge-Griffin men. We talked about it
once in a while in visits at the Kemper home in Jonesboro. He
would be rocking on his mechanical bed and talking with a
strength that belied his condition.
Sometimes I might say: “Hey, you’re getting too fat!”
And Robert would answer: “Yes, sir, and now they’ve got me
on a diet.”
At first, Robert wasted away; his legs looked almost like
broomsticks and his whole body deteriorated. Then began the
long comeback. He regained his weight and his face filled out
again, but inside the vicious disease had racked his lungs and he
always had difficulty in breathing. But there is one thing I will
(Continued On Page 2)
'Great Courage, Marvelous Nursing'
Sid Williams Eulogizes
Memory of Young Kemper
By SID WILLIAMS
Editor, Austell Enterprise
Just about the finest young man we have ever been
privileged to know died Friday morning, July 26th, after
spending 12 years in an iron lung. We speak of Robert
Kemper, 24 year old son of Judge and Mrs. Alan Kemper,
of Jonesboro.
Robert had an attack of polio
more than a decade ago, and his
life was despaired of for nearly
two years. But, great courage
and marvelous nursing kept him
alive for 12 years, to be an in-
B
More Pictures
On Second
Front Page
and
Sports Page
• -I ®
cut down at age 24 by an insidious foe he
fought with unforgettable valor, the pastor
made a remark that, despite the boy’s in
firmity — Robert was paralyzed from the
neck down — “he was one of the most
cheerful persons I have ever known.”
No one ever had to put up the familiar
sign—SMlLE—for that great young man;
no one ever had to offer him solace in his
pain and suffering, so far as I know. He
never complained.
Though he loved life as much as anyone
I’ve ever known, and he had been active in
outdoor affairs as much or more so than
most kids of 12, he didn’t gripe about his
bad luck in contracting the worst type of
polio. The boy had a brilliant, searching
mind; he kept up with the affairs of city,
county, state and the world.
— X ’
i spiration and a joy to his family
; and hundreds of others who
’ came within the influence of
I I his cheerful nature, ready smile
and keen interest in everyday
. living.
Paralyzed completely from the
neck down, Robert spent most of
his time in an iron lung. But,
this did not prevent him from
studying at home and finishing
his high school courses. Nor did
it prevent him from entering
contests—and winning numerous
prizes—all over the country. The
largest prize he won was a sta
tion wagon, given for selling the
most subscriptions to the Clay
ton County News & Farmer, but
(Continued On Page 2)
spired the authoring of a great book on the
Civil War, The Red Badge of Courage. Robert
was born in an area surrounded by grim re
minders of the Battle of Jonesboro. The young
men who gave their lives in that epic struggle
for justice and freedom were of the same
mold as young Robert.
We wish to add just this for all young men
of Jonesboro —
Robert Kemper leaves a monument of un
failing courage, integrity and hope in the ex
ample of his brief stay on earth. Young men
of lesser valor and fighting instinct would
never have lived 12 years after being stricken
by the type polio he had. No other young man
ever has. He himself would say: Don’t fail in
church attendance. He didn’t, although he
had to be carried to the First Baptist Church
of Jonesboro on a stretcher.
Now he has joined the angels, and certainly
there must be reserved a special place in
Heaven for boys like him.
"He Was My
Paperboy.. "
Edith Dickson of Dickson Fu
neral Home, Jonesboro, spoke in
a choked voice on the telephone
when she called to ask if we had
heard of the passing of Robert
Kemper.
“Jack,” she said, “he was my
paperboy ... we need a story
but I just can’t write it. Will
you help?” Edith Dickson is a
fine writer and she has had
close contact with death and
tragedy, but this was unbear
able.
She regained ,her composure
somewhat later and came to the
Kemper home to talk with the
family about arrangements for
the funeral.
It was an ordeal for the wife
of Pope Dickson, owner, who
had gone to Eugene Talmadge
Memorial Hospital, Augusta, to
bring the body back to the Dick
son Funeral Home.
Doctors and
Nurses Gave
Their AU
The Kemper family of Jones
boro will always be deeply grate
ful to two doctors, several nurses,
and one nurse in particular, who
gave so much of themselves and
had such a deep interest in the
welfare of their son Robert.
Dr. Wells Riley of Jonesboro
and Dr. Frank Anderson, head
of the Respiratory Center for
polio and other respiratory ail
ments, gave, through the years,
what is commonly known as
service beyond the call of duty.
Robert had come to be a “pet”
at Eugene Talmadge Memorial
Hospital in Augusta; Mrs. Kem
per, too, was a most familiar vis
itor, having made countless trips
back and forth from the home in
Jonesboro.
One nurse in particular, Sarah
Templeman, who nursed Rob-
(Continued On Page 2)
There Is Peace In. the
Valley for a Fine Boy
The radio is playing softly this Sunday morning as we
write about the life and death of Robert Kemper. A famous
old hymn somehow seems appropriate — “There’ll Be Peace
in the Valley someday.”
“There’ll be peace in the valley for me, I pray
“No more sorrow and sadness or trouble will be.
“Flowers will be blooming, the grass will be green,
“And the skies will be blue and serene . . .
“And no clouds never, ever will be seen.”
There is Peace in the Valley now for Robert Kemper
and we hope as well for his wonderful devoted family know
ing that the long period of pain and suffering is over, and
to remember to the end of time that although the going was
rough they had a son who could smile in spite of it all. He
would always give us a lift in spirit when we got together.
We will always remember with pride the knowledge that we
were numbered among his many friends.
FOREST PARK, GEORGIA, TUESDAY, JULY 30, 1963
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SCOUTMASTER PAYS LAST RESPECTS BEFORE SERVICES; PALLBEARERS TAKE ROBERT S MORTAL REMAINS FROM CHURCH
Many Came to Honor a Boy Who Didn't Know Meaning of the Word Quit in An Inspiring Fight for Life
Friends, School Children
Raise Fund Totalling $ 3,625
The following story was taken from the Jonesboro school
paper in 1953 —
KEMPER’S COURAGE SPARKS INTEREST
AMONG CLAYTON COUNTIANS
Last July, Robert Kemper, a member of the present Bth
grade at JHS, was stricken with polio. Ever since that date
he has been kept almost constantly in an iron lung. During
his illness serious complications have developed from time
to time, but always Robert has made a quick comeback. His
faith and courage have nof'Snljl aided in his valiant fight
for live but have also served as a source of encouragement
to those near him — relatives, friends, doctors and nurses.
Surely it is such a spirit as this which has kindled a
desire on the part of Robert’s fellow Clayton Countians to
help combat his case of polio and others, too. Many young
people showed their interest by filling their cards with dimes
1 and writing on the card, “To Robert Kemper.”
Contributions from the entire county totaled more than
$3,625. Os this amount the school children of the county
contributed $1,555. 93.
Robert Got His life Badge
As Scout While 'Critical'
AUBREY MORRIS, THEN A REPORTER
FOR JOURNAL, COVERED CEREMONY
WSB’s Aubrey Morris long has been one of our favorite people
and news commentators. Aubrey is a real newspaperman, fair,
straightforward, fearless.
Aubrey was a reporter for The Atlanta Journal back in 1952
when Robert Kemper, then age 13, was struck down by the crip
pler, polio. Morris covered with story and picture an immemorial
Boy Scout ceremony at Grady Hospital. The picture is reproduced
above, and the story was headed:
CUTE MAJORETTE BOOSTS MORALE
Scout Bob Kemper Honored in Iron Lung
By Aubrey Morris
Although paralyzed from the neck down and still in “critical”
condition with polio, 13-year-old Robert Lynn Kemper, son of
State Welfare Director Alan Kemper, managed a hearty smile in
his iron lung as Boy Scout officials presented him with his Life
Scout Badge and six merit badges which he earned at summer
camp just before he became ill.
The presentation was made at
Grady Hospital Thursday after
noon (Aug. 28, 1952) by I. L.
Huie, district camping chairman
of the Tara District Court of
Honor, and scoutmaster of Rob
ert’s troop during the summer
camp and Edwin S. Kemp,
chairman of the Tara District
Court of Honor. The Tara Dis-
trict is under the Atlanta coun
cil.
♦ ♦ ♦
ROBERT’S mother, who has
(Continued On Page 2)
_a.
ROBERT and his mother in a
typical scene taken many years
ago. Mrs. Kemper took him to
football games, church, fishing
with his father, helped him I
finish his high school work,
helped him learn to type with
a stick he held in his mouth
and assisted a little in the
many prize contests he won.
She herself was in and out of
the hospital many times. It
was a terrific strain on all
concerned.
SINGLE COPY 10c
Final Respects Paid Robert Kemper
At Jonesboro First Baptist Church
The long light has ended for Robert Kemper, 24, a young man with an iron will to
live, in an iron lung most of the last 11 years, but between times keenly in pursuit of
knowledge and the outdoor recreation he so greatly desired, as Funeral Services were
held at the First Baptist Church of Jonesboro Sunday afternoon and at graveside serv
ices on a rainy afternoon at the Jonesboro Cemetery.
As many friends and relatives
viewed his mortal remains dur
ing the hour before services con
ducted by the Rev. W. W. Long,
pastor of the church Robert
loved so well that he attended
almost regularly on a stretcher,
there was on the cherub-like
face an expression of peace and
contentment not unlike the ex
pression he showed to everyone
during his rather brief lifetime.
The night before at Dickson
Funeral Home U. S. Senator Her
man Talmadge had flown from '
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BOY SCOUT IN IRON LUNG RECEIVES MERIT BADGES HE EARNED
Robert Kemper With Scout Officials E. S. Kemp, I. L. Huie, Nurse Evelyn Woo.
(This Photo Reproduced From 10-Ycar-Old Clipping From Atlanta Journal)
SPECIAL! THIS WEEK ONLY!
FRUIT ARRANGEMENTS
$9.98 Value $g gg
FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS SI.OO to $50.00
Owarf House
Oift & Card Shoppe
1424 Main Street Forest Park
. Washington, D. C., to pay his
j last respects. Pressing business
,in the Congress prevented his
I staying over for the funeral
services.
Though the lifetime of young
Robert Lynn Kemper seemed
| brief to family and friends, the
actual fact is that this spirited
son of Judge and Mrs. Robert
Kemper of Jonesboro did so
many things in his 24 years, in
। spite of such a discouraging
( handicap that never really dis-
OFFICIAL
Newspaper
Os
Clayton
County
PUBLISHED WEEKLY
; । couraged him, he had lived far
; | beyond the actual count of his
;; years. He had done more than
I many people who live the three
I score years and ten.
The sweet organ strains of
.: “Abide With Me” accompanied
■ ’ the closing of the casket before
[ the service began.
! “We have come to pay last re
। i spects to this beloved son, this
. brother, this friend,” the Rev.
■ Long intoned. He spoke feel
(Continued On Page 2)