212. Ridgeville's Roe McConocha Retires.

RCHS Blog Post Number 212.  

Ridgeville's Roe McConocha Retires

Winchester News-Gazette, April 24, 1971.

By A. M. Gibbons.

  Roe McCONOCHA retired April 1 and sold his Gulf station on Ridgeville's main street to Marvin BAILEY. But "retired" is only a manner of speaking since McConocha is still at the station helping Bailey and may be there for some months. It isn't easy to quit a job you've worked at for a total of 43 and a half years, or a location you've spent the best part of each day in for 35 years, so Roe is moving out gradually. This week, when he was interviewed by a News-Gazette reporter, he was found working with Bailey under a car on a hoist. Both men were covered with grease, laboring hard, and apparently very happy.

  With typical good humor, McConocha took time from his work to talk a little about his life. Probably one of the best known men in Ridgeville, he is famous in the area for his kindness, good temper and unassumingly helpful attitude.

  McConocha recalls that he was born 72 years ago, two and a half miles from Ridgeville in Jay County, but that his family later lived at the edge of town and moved into Ridgeville in 1916. His father, Willard McConocha, was of pure Irish extraction, and his mother was of German descent. The outgoing friendliness and practicality of the two national backgrounds seemed to have arrived at a most pleasant combination in Roe. His friendly manner and helpful attitude have no doubt greatly aided him in his business, and his practical nature has enabled him to put these qualities to good use.

  Roe says that he graduated from Gray High School at Mt. Pleasant in Jay County in 1907. At the beginning of World War I, he went into the army as a volunteer serving with the 105th Field Artillery, Battery C, 77th Division. He spent 11 months in France but saw little combat, he says, although his outfit got to the Rhine river. The same informant who told of his volunteering added that Roe was seasick all the way over to Europe, and all the way back. This may account for the fact that he is no fisherman, although he himself explains that fishing is "too slow" for him. It may also account for the fact that when he won a trip to Lake Geneva last December as third prize in a gasoline sales contest, he chose the $500 alternative prize instead. It was a long way to France on a troop ship 50 some years, and a long way back, and the experience undoubtedly left some powerful memories.

  Prior to taking over the Gulf station on November 7, 1936, Roe had worked for nine and a half years for Merl SMITHSON, "learning by doing" in the garage-mechanic trade. He insists, however, that he is not a real mechanic, his most extensive work in that line being an occasional "tune up" for a car.

  Roe was married in 1930 to Beulah BAKER of Redkey. Since her death four years ago, he has lived alone in the house he has owned for 20 years at 201 East First St., Ridgeville. The brick house, a 90 year old landmark, originally belonged to the McVEY family.

  The McConochas had no children of their own, but raised a niece, Lucy WENTZ (now Mrs. Jim MACY of Winchester) from the age of eight. Mrs. Macy says that "Uncle Roe" was the most patient, kindly and indulgent of "parents." "I never heard him say a cross word," she comments. "I know, too, that he never refused to fix a child's bicycle or tricycle, and never refused to loan a tool if someone needed to borrow one." Mrs. Macy remembers one Thanksgiving when her uncle found a down-and-outer with no Thanksgiving dinner, and Roe refused to sit down at the table until his wife had loaded a basket with food which he took to the man.

  His patient devotion to his wife, who was an almost helpless invalid for the last 12 years of her life, was pointed out by his niece. "He always puts himself last," she commented. "He's always doing something for somebody, and usually without anyone else knowing it, she added. "He's done a lot of good for a lot of people."

  Certain elements of the public have not returned the favor, however. McConocha recalls that the Gulf station has been broken into several times. On one occasion, several years ago, thieves "peeled" the safe which contained $5,000 in series E bonds. Apparently knowing these were non-negotiable the thieves did not steal them and came away with nothing for their pains.

  On another occasion, on January 5, 1969, when McConocha was making his way before daylight, and during a heavy snow, downtown to work, he was attacked by two youths who stole his briefcase and fled. Roe relates that one came up behind him and threw an arm around his neck and a hand over his mouth while the other approached from the front and took the briefcase.

  This attack netted the thieves about $95 plus all the monthly statements McConocha had been working on at home, which were never recovered. The incident took place within a block of the station and the two young men ran off down an alley. They were never apprehended.

  The Gulf station is not a new experience for the new proprietor, Merl Bailey, who worked for McConocha for 13 years, with a year out at the end of that time to take a job with DeBolt Construction. He appears to be working hard to maintain the reputation for quick service and friendliness which McConocha so firmly established.

  As for Roe, he says he hasn't any positive plans for retirement. He reads a lot, he reports, and he plans to make weekend visits, as usual, with his niece and her family near Winchester. Mrs. Macy however, has some very positive plans for her uncle. "We're going to take him to Florida with us on a vacation," she announces firmly, "Even if we have to tie him to get him there. He probably won't like, not enough action."

  Then too, Florida is practically surrounded by ocean, and ocean is one of the very few things in this world that Roe McConocha doesn't feel very kindly toward.

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Randolph County, Indiana 1818-1990
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Compiled by the Randolph County Historical Society, 1991, Second reprint 2003.

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