Mystery man revealed

The photo originally was published in the Nov. 10 edition of The Fort Scott Tribune with a request to identify the man. The writing at the bottom was the only known information about the man. The man was identified on Thursday as Verle E. "Bud" Hill. It was determined that the photo was taken on Sept. 13, 1943 when he was 18 years old and that July 8 is his birthday. The photo to the right was published with Hill's obituary and was taken in 2007, two years before Hill died. --submitted photos

The unidentified man in the photo which ran in a Veterans Day tribute advertisement in the Nov. 10 edition of The Fort Scott Tribune now has an identity.

Charles Smith called The Tribune Thursday afternoon identifying the man in the photo as his brother-in-law, Verle E. "Bud" Hill, of Hot Springs Village, Ark.

Verle died in May at the age of 83 after being bedridden in his home in Hot Springs Village, Ark., for about two-and-a-half years, according to his wife of 62 years, Georgia Mae Hill, originally of Fort Scott.

submitted photo

On the matte in which the photo was placed, "Sept. 13 '43" and "age 18 July 8th" were written. According to his obituary, Verle was born July 8, 1925, and would have been 18 years old on Sept. 13, 1943. Knowing this, it is believed that the photo was taken on Sept. 13, 1943.

Georgia Mae said Verle lived in Richards, Mo., before graduating high school and joining the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. While serving in the military, Verle was assigned to a B-17 crew flying out of England. He was awarded the Air Medal, several oak leaf clusters, and numerous other combat ribbons.

Verle and Georgia Mae met after Verle returned from service and were married in Fort Scott, Kan., on Aug. 22, 1946. Georgia Mae said that after Verle left the U.S. Army Air Corps he attended Kansas State Teachers College of Pittsburg, now Pittsburg State University, where he earned his degree in business administration. Following the completion of his education, Verle went to work for the Western Insurance Companies in Norman, Okla., and St. Louis, Mo., for 35 years.

"He was a very hard worker," Georgia Mae said. "He could be relied on in every way you can imagine."

While living in Norman, Okla., Verle and Georgia Mae raised their children, Patricia A. Bellamy, now of Oklahoma City, Okla.; Kenneth Hill, now of Kansas City, Kan.; John Hill, now of Dallas, Texas; and Martin Hill, now of Union City, Mo. Verle was preceded in death by a daughter, Donna Louise Hill.

After retiring as a branch manager in St. Louis, Mo., in 1984, Verle and Georgia Mae moved to Hot Springs Village, Ark., where they enjoyed playing golf together. Georgia Mae said she had never played the game before the move, but enjoyed playing with her husband.

Verle was a lifetime member of the Alumni Association of Pittsburg State University as well as the St. Louis Pond of the Honorable Order of Blue Goose International. He was also a Perpetual Member of the Norman, Okla., Masonic Lodge No. 38 AF&AM and a member of the Kirk in the Pines Presbyterian Church.

"He was a very good man," Georgia Mae said. "He was rather quiet ... he was always there for you."

Following a memorial service in Hot Springs Village, Ark., Verle's body was cremated and the remains were interred at the Fort Scott National Cemetery.

Verle's photo was brought to The Tribune by Robert Clearey, former owner of the Ralph Richards Museum. He said he came across the photo when cleaning out the museum before moving to Arizona.

He was planning to post the photo in local store fronts to find out who the unidentified man was, however he suffered a heart attack before he was able to accomplish the task.

Georgia Mae said she is unaware of any reason why Verle's photo would have been in the museum.

"I don't have any idea and I don't know if (Verle) would've known," she said.