[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 62 (Thursday, April 13, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E310]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING THE LIFE OF MR. CURTIS MONROE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TRENT KELLY

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 13, 2023

  Mr. KELLY of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Curtis 
Ryan Monroe, who died Sunday, March 26, 2023, at ninety-two years old. 
He was a retired baseball coach and former chair of the history 
department at Itawamba Community College. He was born in Decatur, 
Mississippi, on December 5, 1930, to James Clark and Annie Neva Roberts 
Monroe, and was the youngest of seven children. He attended Decatur 
High School where he was a multi-sport athlete, then attended East 
Central Community College, followed by Mississippi State University, 
where he obtained both a bachelor and master's degree as well as being 
a Presidential Scholar for two years.
  It was in Starkville that he met Sally Ashford, who would later 
become his wife on June 12, 1959, at the Starkville Presbyterian 
Church. While wooing Miss Ashford, he gave his future father-in-law 
free baseball tickets to see him suit up for the Diamond Dogs.
  After obtaining his master's degree from State in 1954, he was about 
to be drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates, but the Army beat them to it. 
He completed basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and played 
on the base's baseball team. Curt was transferred to Fort Gordon near 
Augusta, Georgia. He was next stationed in Germany near the Czech 
border as a member of the 2nd Battalion of the 6th Armored Cavalry 
Regiment.
  He returned to the States in 1956. His first job was teaching history 
and coaching baseball and girls' basketball at Union High School. In 
1961, Curt drove to Fulton and interviewed with then-IJC President John 
Crubaugh. Curt was offered the job of head baseball coach and history 
teacher. He accepted and, for the next sixty-two years, he and Sally 
made Fulton their home, raising their two daughters, Amy and Emilie 
Nan, on campus. Curt served as a teacher, a lifeguard and dorm parent. 
He also served as an assistant football coach at Itawamba Agricultural 
High School for many years.
  Curt participated in Boy Scouts attaining the rank of Life Scout. 
Before Curtis could earn his Eagle badge, his scoutmaster left to serve 
in the war and the troop disbanded. Curt served as the head baseball 
coach at ICC until 1989 and continued to teach his legendary Western 
Civilization course until 1994. He wanted to be remembered for his 
teaching more than playing baseball. Upon retirement, he and Sally 
spent their time between Fulton and Starkville and their house in 
Gatlinburg, Tennessee. He and Sally enjoyed being with their five 
grandchildren, often entertaining them for weeks at a time during the 
summers in Gatlinburg.
  Curt was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in 2003 and the MSU 
Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007. He was a member of the M Club for many 
years. He was also a Master Mason, 32nd degree Scottish Rite, a 
Shriner, and a member of the American Legion Post 51 in Fulton. He was 
a longtime member of Fulton United Methodist Church serving on various 
committees and was a member of the Charlie Mae Sunday School class.
  He is survived by Sally, his beloved wife of nearly sixty-four years; 
his daughter Amy Agee (Mike) of Germantown and her children, Ryan 
(Margaret), Marianne, and Sam; and his daughter Emilie Nan English 
(Brock) of Tupelo and her children, Curt and Charlie; his sisters-in-
law Pat Johnson, Em Ashford, and Hanna White (Bill), and brother-in-law 
Pepper Ashford (Carol); and dozens of nieces and nephews. He was 
preceded in death by his parents; his brothers William Monroe, Leon 
Monroe, Sr., James Clark Monroe, Ellis Monroe, and Johnny Ray Monroe; 
his sister Annie Neva Doler; his brother-in-law Charlie Ashford and 
brother and sister-in-law Jim and Jacque Ashford.

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