By Ethlene Dyer Jones

(From 1987)

In many ways, the life of B. Fred German parallels the life of the Copper Basin area in the 20th Century because it encompasses a variety of experiences that form the fabric of history for all Basin residents.

Fred's grandfather, Larkin German, had served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. As a sergeant in Company B of the 65th Georgia Infantry, he fought at the Battle of Chickamauga. He was a witness to the surrender of the Confederate States of America. Because he was an officer -- 1st Lieutenant -- he was allowed to take home his Enfield rifle. Each two confederate soldiers were given a mule between them for farming purposes. Larkin purchased the other half of the mule and returned home to Fannin County. He married Mary Jane Davenport on Oct. 11, 1866.

Fred was born in Fannin County in 1897 to Larkin and Martha Jane Kincaid German on a farm located on the Toccoa River. That farm is now covered by the waters of Lake Blue Ridge.

When German was six, his mother died from typhoid fever and he was cared for by his aunt, Rebecca German, and grandfather, Larkin German, while his father worked at Isabella for the DSC&I mining company. Later, Fred's father married Sara Self and the family moved to Isabella, near the Mary Mine, when he was 11.

Settled at Isabella, Fred entered the Mary Mine Elementary School. His first year of high school was spent at the Ducktown High School and then he transferred to the brand new Copperhill High School, where he was an honor graduate of the first graduating class of eight in 1916.

He played on the school's first basketball team, coached by Professor J.C. McAmis. Among the members were Emory Queen, Farrish Parris, Elvin Harper Sr., and Lloyd West.

While in high school, Fred worked summers in the old East Tennessee and Mary Mines. His wages were 16 cents per hour or $9.60 per week.

He volunteered for service in World War I at age 18. He was a student at UTK, a member of the Student Army Training Corps, when Armistice was signed Nov. 11, 1918. He received both the Bachelor and Master's Degree of Science from UTK.

He began teaching at Copperhill High School in 1920 and remained for 23 years teaching math, general science, physics and chemistry. He also served as coach and assistant principal and worked to secure donations to upgrade the athletic program.

On Aug. 15, 1942, B. Fred German and Marguerite Kallock, a home economics teachers at Copperhill, were married. They have an adopted child, Frances Ramsey.

In 1942, he became principal of McCaysville High School. For two years he worked as principal and also was coach for the girls' basketball team. He led the team to become champions and to win the Ninth District tournament.

In 1944, he was employed by the Tennessee Copper Company as assistant general foreman of the Copper Sulfate Plant. He served the company in various capacities for 24 years, retiring in 1978.

Fred was also active in civic affairs and has been a member of the Copperhill Kiwanis Club since 1931. In 1986, he was honored at Kiwanis International Convention for 55 years of service, the longest membership period of anyone present.

Although he served in many capacities with the Kiwanis, one of his special interests has been the Youth Committee that promotes the exchange program for foreign students. Helga Strasser, a student sponsored by the club, lived with the Germans and studied at Copper Basin High School. The Germans have visited Helga and his family twice in Germany.

He is also a member of the Masons. Other civic activities through his life demonstrate the various American concerns through his lifetime: Chairman of the Defense Bond Savings Staff during World War II, area Cancer Society Chairman, Polk County Infantile Paralysis Chairman, War Relief Chairman of the American Red Cross. On Jan. 1, 1959, he was named an Honorary Life Member of the U.S. Air Force Air Defense Team.

Fred has also been a lifelong avid UT fan and is often seen wearing "Big Orange" colors.

Friends who honored him on his 90th birthday in 1987 expressed the sentiments of Longfellow's "Psalm of Life" as a tribute to B. Fred German:

"Lives of great men all remind us

We can make our lives sublime;

And departing leave behind us

Footprints on the sands of time."