Samuel E.
Littlefield, my great uncle, was born in Alabama in 1920. He was a respected member of his community and workplace. Even though he had no children of his own at the time, he put a poor teenager through college who would not have had the opportunity otherwise. He fought for miners’ rights and helped secure health benefits for workers that had developed work related diseases in the mines. And then came November 15, 1974. It had been a long day of work for Samuel Littlefield, a popular district representative for the United Mine Workers of America labor union. His last meeting of the day, though, would end in disaster. He arrived at the Holiday Inn where he was staying around 5:30 that evening. After a full day of meetings at the unions headquarters in D.C., he stopped in his room on the fourth floor of the hotel. After his momentary break, he proceeded across the hall to the room where he was to meet with his two friends from the company. He knocked on the door, but to his surprise was greeted by a complete stranger wielding a gun. Samuel reacted purely on his instincts, turning and running down the hall as soon as he saw his two friends lying face down inside the room. Unfortunately, he barely managed to make it twenty feet down the hall before he received a bullet in his back. Samuel was dead before he hit the floor. The killer, however, was not finished. He approached Samuel, propped his arm against a nearby vending machine, and fired another bullet into Samuel’s head. He then proceeded to flee the hotel, but was later apprehended.
Though my great uncle’s life ended tragically, my research into his life has shown me a very interesting characteristic of my family.
My great uncle was a family man, leaving behind two adolescent children and a loving wife of 32 years at his death. He made sacrifices for everyone around him. From the work mentioned before, to providing for his family through the coal industry, which was racked with strikes and riots during his years of service, my great uncle lived his life as selflessly as possible. Whether I look on my father’s or mother’s side of my family tree, I can see evidence of this same generosity Samuel Littlefield displayed. From military service to civil acts such as those of my great uncle Sam Littlefield, my family has sought to benefit others around them for decade after decade.
I have been able to see this generosity firsthand in my father’s life. He sacrifices himself daily for my family, and for the customers of his self-owned business. This is quite a legacy to live up to. Samuel Littlefield’s death shook his company, but this is not cause for concern. He left a hole in his company when he passed, demonstrating all the good he had done and the impact he had made. His fellow board members flew to Bessemer, Alabama for his funeral. Our ancestors may seem unimportant to those of us alive today, but they can actually tell a story of an important past, and even give insight into our future. My family has been service and community oriented for years, and looking into my past has given me hope and a purpose for my future.
Works Consulted
“Case No. H074-2092, Homicide” Newspaper. Newspapers.com. Web. 01 Nov. 2014
“Samuel Littlefield Obituary” Newspaper. Obits.al.com. Web. 02 Nov. 2014