RETIRED TEACHER IN JACKSON WRITES BOOK ABOUT TEACHING EXPERIENCES

JACKSON -- What started as a hobby for retired teacher William Hughes Davault has become more like a second career.

Davault, who published his first book in fall 1989, recently decided to republish the book. The first printing had sold out, and, he said, people were asking for more.

The book, called "These I Remember," is a written collection of his experiences as a teacher, soldier and young child.

It was published by Stewart Publishing of Marble Hill.

Davault said he began writing the book in 1976.

"I had retired from teaching," he said. "My wife was teaching as Southeast Missouri State University and I had some time on my hands.

"I decided to write and put down some of my experiences experiences of my early life, war experiences, and experiences teaching school."

He said the book began as a series of separate articles.

"My brother had encouraged me and I had been quite active as a public speaker," he said. "So I wrote one or two articles a week for several years. My wife encouraged me to make a book of these stories."

Davault credits his wife, Doris, with helping him compile the articles.

"She was a champions typist taught business subjects for 30 years and had a computer," he said. "I should say thanks for the hours days of typing she did."

Davault said the book was meant to be a record of his life to leave with his loved ones.

A native of Cape County, he has lived in Jackson for the past 34 years.

He taught vocational agriculture for 21 years at Jackson High School, but his early teaching career was interrupted by World War II.

He served 3 years in the Army Air Corps, 34 months of which was spent in the southwest Pacific.

After the war, he attended the University of Missouri-Columbia and received a bachelor's degree in agriculture.

He has been married to the former Doris Brennecke for 49 years. She is also a retired school teacher. They have two children, Webster Joe Devault and Suzanna Davault Clippard, and five grandchildren.

For information about how to purchase the book, contact Davault at 243-3207.