Following is one of the Biographies and Stories which where gathered by Charles Sumner McKamy in the 1950s for publication in a Crawford County History Book. Unfortunately he passed away before the book was published.
Vernon Lawrence Heath, son of Lawrence S. and Clara E. Heath, was born March 13, 1906 at Edinburg, Illinois. I moved to Robinson with my parents in 1908 and attended the Robinson public schools, graduating from the Robinson Township High School in 1924. My grandparents were Milton and Ann Heath who settled near Heathsville; and Hampton and Sarah Frye of New Hebron vicinity.
I entered the University of Illinois in September 1924, and was graduated with a bachelor of science degree in journalism in 1928. I returned to the University of Illinois the next year to complete graduate work on a Master of Arts degree in political science (1929).
In 1929 I joined the editorial staff of the Decatur, Ill., Herald and for six years I served as city editor of that newspaper.
I was married August 6, 1932 to Beatrice Kane of Pinckneyville, Illinois. She was graduated from the University of Illinois in 1930 and for two years following taught at Maroa, Illinois High School. She is the daughter of Elias Kent Kan of Pinckneyville.
In May 1935, I left newspaper work in Decatur to enter business with my father and brothers, and I am now vice-president of the firm of L.S. Heath & Sons, Inc.
I am a member of the Methodist Church, Elks and Moose Lodge, Rotary Club (past president) and a past president of the Robinson Chamber of Commerce. I have served as a member of the University of Illinois Foundation since 1946. I was a director of he Illinois State Chamber of Commerce from 1949 to 1954, and was vice-president of the organization for two years. I was chairman of the Education committee of the State Chamber from 1952-1954, and also served as state chairman of the Illinois Planning Committee for the White House Conference on Education, (1955). I am a member of the National Citizens Council for Better Schools.
I have two sons, John L. Heath born December 30, 1935, and Allan Douglas, who was born September 19, 1938.