Kentucky Kid

Diversity Story

Dan Damron was born in the early 50s in Eastern Kentucky. He grew up with his mother and father and five siblings, three sisters and two brothers, in the mountains of Kentucky. In their home, they had no running water, no pump, no hot water, no heat and no bathroom. The lifestyle of those living in eastern Kentucky primarily centered around the coal mining industry.

“It’s been an experience I know few people have ever lived.“

It was a tough life because the coal mines weren’t always in operation, which meant that it often times would close down and lay off people, leaving people and their families out of work. His father happened to be one of those people. They did not have a farm, nor did they have a lot of property, so his father had to find a way to make a living to support himself and his family.

When that would happen, his father had to find work elsewhere, often times heading on US Route 23 and heading north to Michigan or Illinois to find work in the factories. The roots of their family remained in Kentucky, although his immediate family moved back and forth when searching for employment, and they wanted to remain in Kentucky, so when the coal mines would call the miners back to work, they would leave and go back to Kentucky again. This pattern of bouncing around between states was the way life operated for their family all Dan’s life.

Dan had attended several schools while growing up and was able to finish school in his hometown in Kentucky. He knew everyone he went to school with through relatives, relationships, or friendships all his life. After high school, Dan attended Warhead State University, but he only went so he could receive a draft deferment and not have to serve in the army and go to war. When he got a high number in the draft lottery, which meant he did not have to serve in the army and go to war, he dropped out of college.

“I regret not finishing college for a number of reasons but one of them is just my pride, I think. I think I could have done well, I think I could have done better economically.”

When he quit school, he began to do labor, just as his father did, but he did not want to work in the coal mines, so he needed to go somewhere where there were other forms of employment. Since the only place he had ever really been exposed to outside of Kentucky was Michigan, he decided to get on a Greyhound bus with only the clothes on his back and anything he could fit into a satchel and head to Michigan, leaving everything and everyone behind in order to make a better life and future for himself.

Dan got married at an early age, celebrating 51 years of marriage this August, and have since had a wonderful life. He spent his years growing his marriage, working on his career, and starting a family of his own. He now has two daughters, Hayley and Natalie, as well as four grandchildren, Kingston, Morgan, Alicia and Alayna, and wonderful friends. He has since been able to retire comfortably and feels blessed to have had the opportunities he has been given in life. He now is at a time in reflection in his life, just looking back.

“I don’t regret my life at all, although it has been strange. In fact, it has been strange enough to where it makes good storytelling. I’m not sad about anything, I’m glad it turned out the way it did.“