JACK CARSON HIGH

Jack Carson High was born May 17, 1921 in Commerce, Missouri to Ambrose High and Ruth Jane Carson High. Jack was baptized in the United Methodist Church in Commerce. His folks moved to Aurora, Illinois in 1926. He was raised near Aurora, Illinois, Jack was of French-Indian-American nationality. He started professional boxing in 1936 and continued until entering the United States Army in 1939. While in service Jack was on the shores of France during the Normandy Campaign. Jack High earned the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Medal, the Combat Infantrymans Badge, the American Defense Service Medal and the American Theater Campaign Medal. Jack left the Army in 1945 and moved to Utah.

After service Jack worked at the Naval Supply Depot at Clearfield, Utah as clerk general. He worked his way up to supervisor of the BuShips material section. He was then supervisor of the aviation section where he started flying private airplanes, a hobby he enjoyed the rest of his life. In 1949, Jack High started working as the supervisor of the Technical Sections Unit at the Clearfield Naval Depot. In 1950, he became supervisor of the Progress Section. Jack moved to Idaho in 1950 and in October of 1950, he became Chief of Inventory of the U.S. Atomic Energy in Idaho Falls, Idaho. In 1951, Jack went on to be Chief of Records, and in 1952, Property and Supply Assistant.

Jack High worked for Phillips Petroleum as Records Officer supervisor in 1953. In 1956, he went on to be Assistant Branch Manager of Phillips Petroleum. In 1956, eh also started raising and training registered English Setter hunting dogs. In 1960, he started his registered Black Angus Ranch, The High Cienda, just north of Idaho Falls, Idaho. Jack considered The High Cienda one of his greatest accomplishments.

In 1967 Jack High worked for Aerojet Nuclear doing nuclear research and later Jack served as manager of community relations. In 1977 he worked for EG&G Idaho in Idaho Falls as senior communications specialist. EG&G became INEL and Jack High retired from INEL in 1982.

After retirement Jack became freelance photographer and was a lifetime member of the International Freelance Photographers Organization. He also trained individuals in investing and speaking.

Jack High was engaged in Toastmaster International, an international speakers organization, starting in 1950. In 1977 The Idaho Falls Jack C. High Toastmasters Club, Club Number 1489-15, was formed and named after its many time awarded speaker. In 1985, Jack High founded a charitable trust fund for the Toastmasters Club.

In 1953, Jack High was named a third degree Mason, Eagle Rock Lodge, Idaho Falls, Idaho. He was also a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

In 1989 Jack moved to Logandale, Nevada where he enjoyed fishing, traveling around the country. He later moved into Las Vegas, Nevada.

Jack worked with the Fort Hall Indians for better conditions and better jobs. He also worked for woman's rights in Equal Pay for Equal Work. Jack was a personal friend of U.S. Senator Frank Church of Idaho. Jack was involved in community affairs and politics throughout his life. Jack was a life member of the Custer Battlefield Historical and Museum Association, Inc. in Montana and was involved in a historical dig on the battlefield. Jack was a life member of the Scott County historical society and a founder of the Commerce Historical Society and the Commerce Museum in Commerce, Missouri. Jack was a member of the Cooley Association, the Johnson County Historical Society in Illinois, and was a avid historian. Jack enjoyed good dancing music and loved to dance. Jack was an avid hunter and fisherman. He enjoyed going to Alaska, where he would travel the remote wilderness with his son, hunting, fishing and enjoying life. In 1990 Jack and his wife went to Christmas Island, 1500 miles south of Hawaii where they fished for bone fish.

In 1995 Jack bought the old Dr. Blackledge home in Commerce, Missouri. Dr. Blackledge had delivered Jack High in 1921. Jack died at home September 22, 1998 in Commerce, Missouri, just a few feet away from where he was born.

Jack Carson High is survived by his wife, Dixie Jane Johnson High. He is also survived by four children, Jack Carson High, Jr., Virginia; Judy Ann High Barney, Oregon; Dennis Dee High, Alaska and Shauna Ruth High Gulso, Utah; five step-children, Alicia Jane Miss, Arizona; Don Wesley Moss, Idaho; Judy Lynn Moss Stott, Utah; Travis Lee Moss, Australia; Kristina Maria Moss Bybee, Idaho; fourteen grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He is also survived by one niece, Joan Roth, Aurora Illinois, and his ex-wife Erma High, Utah. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ambrose and Ruth Jane High and his sister, Mary Jeannette High Roth.

Friends may call at the High RV Park on the Mississippi River from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Friday, September 25, 1998. Funeral service will follow immediately with Brad Collins and Rev. Jim King officiating. Entombment will be in the Memorial Park Cemetery Mausoleum in Cape Girardeau.

All arrangements were handled by Ford & Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel, Cape Girardeau, Missouri.