Ok Jamie I got out the copy of the newspaper article when Dad got the "Orchid from the Gideon Newspaper" and it says that he taught in the rural schools of Gideon district for two years prior to WWII and that he was engaged in farming and later in the feed and hardware business in Kentucky before returning to teaching. So evidently he taught originally without a degree?? Hope this answers one more of your questions!lol Love, Judy