Remembering J.D. Sipple, Museum Board Member and much more..

​As some of us age into our 40s and 50s, often times we find ourselves friends with older residents in the community, especially those folks that are friends with our parents. Age becomes less of a number as you find yourself on volunteer boards and committees with people older -- and sometimes younger than you.
Such is the case with John David Sipple. “JD” as almost everyone called him, was one of those larger-than-life personalities in Beattyville that you just assumed would live forever. For years, pretty much since its inception, JD was a driving force on the board of the Three Forks Historical Center Museum in Beattyville, instrumental in building what stands today. For a good part of that time, he was the Vice-President of the Museum Board of Directors. My father, Bob Smith, was President and Curator of the Museum.
The two men together formed a working relationship that was in fact one of the area’s biggest assets in terms of historical knowledge. If there was a hole in Beattyville/Lee County’s history that one didn’t know--you can bet the other one did. If neither could remember, you could likewise bet the farm that they would make it up as they went along. They laughed and sometimes bickered and scratched as they worked to make the museum one of the area’s premiere attractions.
As I was brought on to the board several years ago, I got to know JD a little better. We would often sit and talk about oil field history, and I was fascinated learning what I could from him about oil field equipment,bulldozers, etc. The museum is famous for its fish fry fundraisers. If there is such thing as fish fryer experts, JD and Fred Gabbard would have to qualify. He was also one of the area’s premiere grill masters, and could fix some mean baked beans.
When my father passed away a couple years back, it left a void in me that couldn’t be fixed. The man I turned to for advice, history--whatever, was gone. It was then I found myself many times asking that same fatherly advice from JD. I guess I hadn’t realized that he and I had also became friends. I would ask him about “pond maintenance”, fish populations and things I normally asked my father. When it was time to find Dad’s replacement on the Museum committee, it was JD that said it had to be me. His reasoning was the older folks had served their time and some of the “younger” members needed to take the reigns. His faith in me as President of the board was priceless.
If I learned one thing about John David Sipple over the years, he was a “Do-er”. He didn’t ask or debate. If work needed done, he showed up with a tractor or a pickup and trialer and did it. His work career was long and diverse. He worked as a contractor, logger, worked in the oil fields, and was an oil and gas well inspector. He worked at Lee Adjustment Center for many years. Most people probably remember him as maintenance supervisor for the Lee County School District. He retired from that in 2016.
More than just a man with a good work ethic, JD gave to his community. The Kentucky Colonel was on the ground floor of getting the Historical Museum built and dedicated a huge chunk of time to that endeavor. With his big white beard, he was a good sport and volunteered as a stand-in for good old Santa Claus on many occasions, and certainly was a shining light during the holy Christmas season.
Sadly, JD passed away, Saturday, March 30th, in his home that he always kept in tip-top shape. John David Sipple was 72-years-old. We join the community in wishing his family all of our condeleonces.
Article by: Josh Smith, Editor of the Three Forks Tradition Newspaper and Three Forks Historical Museum President