Obituaries:  Cliff Ammons, Sabine Parish       A-552
Source:  Sabine Index, Many, La., Jul 30, 1981
Submitted by: Tammy D. Larche
              tammy@cp-tel.net


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Cliff Ammons

  30 Jul 1981 - Death claimed Cliff Ammons of Many at 3:45 a.m.
Tuesday morning, July 28 at Fraser Hospital North. Mr. Ammons,
who was writing campaigns.

  His dream of forming a lake in Sabine Parish was finally
realized in 1965. During the rest of his life he devoted untold
hours to promoting and developing the lake. He built numerous
subdivisions on the lake and constantly promoted the fishing and
other lake activities as he visited boat shows for the Sabine
Parish Tourist Commission and manned the Sabine Parish booth.

  Born on Feb. 17, 1918 near Negreet, Mr. Ammons was the son of
Mr. and Mrs. O. L. Ammons. Mrs. Ammons still resides in Many.

  He graduated from Negreet High School in 1935, and attended
Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, where he received his
B.S. degree. He also received his master's degree from Stephen F.
Austin University in Nacadoches, Tex.

  On April 8, 1940 Mr. Ammons married the former Ethel Matherne of
Houma. The couple settled in Sabine Parish, and Mr. Ammons owned
and operated a dairy for four years.

  From 1945 through 1947 he worked with the Veteran's Farm
Assistance Program and then entered the teaching profession.

  Mr. Ammons began his twenty year career in Sabine Parish schools
at Zwolle. He served as principal of Fisher High School for one
year and then joined the staff of Many High, where he taught
until his retirement in the late 1960's.,

  His days as agriculture instructor at many High were important,
not only to him but to the hundreds of boys he taught. He served
as advisor of the Future Farmers of America, and during the
summers would organize two week trips for the FFA'ers. They
traveled to various states. His classes were taught by a learn by
doing method.

  While an instructor at MHS, he guided the FFA'ers in a citywide
project, which resulted in the numbering of all the home and
purchasing of mailboxes by homeowners.

  Mr. Ammons founded the Merritt Mountain Church Park, located on
the banks of Toledo Bend Lake in 1969. The non-profit
organization is open to all religious denominations. Tom Sawyer
Chapel which sits atop the mountain is used for services
regularly.

  A charter member of the Sabine Parish Chamber of Commerce, Mr.
Ammons served as the organization's president in 1966-67. He also
served on the Board of Directors for a number of years.

  From 1952-54 he served as manager for the Chamber. He is also
credited with forming the Sabine Parish Housing Authority.

  Over the last several years, Mrs. Ammons has worked closely with
the Sabine River Authority and the Toledo Lake Association in
lake related matters.

  Land development could well be termed his hobby in the years
since his retirement. He has built numerous subdivisions
including Sportsman Paradise, Peacefull Valley, Terra II,
Lakeland and Beaver Village. During the past year he could be
seen daily on the tractor in Beaver Village, or painting the
white fence that borders the subdivisions property.

  He also established Ammons Airport.