Roy Haney was born 1 Aug 1913 in Barlow, KY to Sylvester Haney and Della Barrow. The family moved to Craighead County, AR about 1915. Roy moved to N. Little Rock, AR in 1934 where he stayed until he died in 1996. Roy developed a bone disorder with the end result being his left leg amputated above the knee by age 13. He was left with his crutches to sit under a tree while the rest were working or playing. Being a determined young fellow, Roy learned to maneuver with the crutches. He could beat his friends over a fence by lifting his good leg over to the other side, then lifting his crutches over. He learned to run as if he had three legs. The crutches didn't stop him from getting around. But still. . . . By the time Roy turned age 22, he had heard of a leg factory in Memphis. He expressed his desire to go to Memphis to his mother. This was something new to her. Being the religious person that she was, she refused her son's request because she had not had time to pray about the matter. Roy asked how he would work & take care of himself in the shape he was in. His mother replied that God would take care of him. About a week later, Roy's mother told him that he could go to Memphis in search of the leg factory. This excited the crippled boy. The new leg would create a new environment for the lad left under the tree. The next morning, he woke early to begin his trip. The family lived out in the country about 14 miles from Bono, AR. Filled with excitement and determination, Roy & his crutches began their trip walking down that long dirt road. In Bono, Roy hitched a ride to Jonesboro. He thought he had better go to the Judge to discuss the matter. Maybe the Judge could direct him to the leg factory in Memphis, TN. Roy wasn't greeted by the Judge as cordial as he had expected. The Judge took one look at this dirty lad and suggested that he go home to clean up. Roy found refuge at the Salvation Army. They fed him dinner which consist of fried potatoes & bread. They also provided him a place to spend the night as well as breakfast the next morning- -fried potatoes and bread. Roy made another attempt to see the Judge. Of course, the Judge refused assistance and became irate at the boy because he hadn't cleaned up. 'Go on! I don't have time for you. Go home & clean yourself up!' Roy left, headed for home. As he was walking back toward their country home 14 miles outside of Bono, it dawned on him that his mother had told him he could go to Memphis. At once, he reversed his direction with full intentions of going to Memphis to the leg factory to get himself a leg. Roy hitched a ride with a man that was going as far as Bay, AR. At that point, he was let out at a grocery store with a bench in the front for local visiting. While Roy was sitting there, a man stopped and asked 'son, would you like a leg?' Roy filled with excitement began to tell the man that he was headed to Memphis to get a new leg from the leg factory. Apparently, the man's career was in the prosthesis because he had a leg in the back of his car. The man took Roy back to his home in Bono, AR, laid him out in the floor to measure his good leg for making the new leg. The kind man promised that he would return with a new leg for the lad. A week went by, the man didn't return. Another week went by, Roy expressed his doubts to his mother that the man had lied to him. His mother replied 'No, son, he'll be back.' His mother had faith. About a month later, the man returned. He took Roy to Memphis to be fitted for his new leg. They gave him crutches to walk with until he could get used to the leg. The crutches were worrisome to Roy who thought he could do better with a cane. Once given the cane, Roy began to walk with his new leg which amazed the employees. The man returned Roy to his country home in Bono, AR. Later, another man came to visit. He brought with him a bunch of trinkets that had been in pieces for Roy to put back together. Little did Roy know, he was being tested to see what kind of training he would be successful in. The next thing Roy knew he was on his way to Little Rock to be trained as a shoe cobbler. Roy not only succeeded in taking care of himself, but he was able to assist his family in times of need. Roy worked until he was 75 years old.
Submitted by Jane Fagan
Pulaski County AR GenWeb Coordinator
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