20/6/00
By: Mary Lou Montgomery

Hurley and Roberta Roland Hagood met while students at Hannibal-LaGrange College. They spent significant portions of their childhood in and around Hannibal ­ Hurley at a home in the Indian Mounds neighborhood, when there was more vacant land in the area than houses, and Roberta lived for a time in a bungalow across the street from Mark Twain Elementary School.

As a young married couple, they did what a lot of people still do ­ leave Hannibal for broader experiences and greener pastures. Hurley followed his career as a professional Boy Scout, and after raising her family, Roberta pursued a career in education.

They still love to talk of the communities where they lived, the people they met along the way and the experiences that shaped their lives.

But when it was time to retire, they didn't choose the mountains of Colorado, the shores of California or the scenic wonders of Washington state. They packed up their furniture and moved it back home ­ where Roberta still has two sisters, and where Hurley's brother still lives.

Retired from their professions in their early 60s, the Hagoods sought out a creative outlet for their retirement years. Still young enough to contribute their talents, and financially comfortable thanks to the pension supplied by Boy Scouts of America, they wanted to give back to Hannibal, the town that gave them their start.

When the Bicentennial Committee needed someone to write a history of Hannibal back in 1976, Hurley and Roberta volunteered.

Volunteered?

Yes. These newcomers to Hannibal took on the gigantic project of researching, writing and indexing Hannibal's history, which was compiled into a 300+ page comprehensive account of the historical foundation of our town. Not many of these books, "The Story of Hannibal," were printed ­ a mere 1,500 ­ and those that are now in circulation are understandably much sought after by collectors.

In the years following "The Story of Hannibal," and as their retirement years progressed, Hurley and Roberta continued researching and writing, and eventually compiled 17 more books that now serve as the most comprehensive account available of this region's history.

Now, as Hurley and Robert crowd in on their 90th birthdays, they are working on the final details of perhaps their biggest project yet ­ a printed history of Hannibal's three bridges: "Hannibal Bridges the Mississippi."

As the new bridge stands nearly ready for traffic and the old Mark Twain Memorial Bridge finishes out its 60 years of service to Illinois and Missouri, the Hagoods believed it was only fitting to pay respect to the spans that linked the two states and made commerce possible.

And the only way they know how to pay proper respect is to write a history. So that is what they have done. "Hannibal Bridges the Mississippi" ­ quite possibly their last major work ­ will be ready this fall, as dignitaries ceremoniously cut the ribbon that will open Hannibal's newest link to tomorrow, and as contractors plan a means of tearing down the bridge that it replaces.

Hurley and Roberta will be honored on Tuesday evening in a ceremony at 6:30 p.m. at Hannibal's City Hall. There will be refreshments, short talks by their friends, a proclamation from the city and other gestures of respect. Their many friends in the community and family members are invited to attend.

The ceremony itself can't begin to recognize the enormous contributions that they have made to Hannibal, but it is a symbolic gesture that brings public acknowledgement to two people who have given far more to this community than they've asked in return.

Hurley and Roberta Roland Hagood, we collectively tip our hats to you. You're a friend. You're family. The generations of people who follow will forever rely on your research and writing to study the past and plot the course for the future.

You're treasures, and your value to this community will only grow as new generations come along to learn from the past, which you've so carefully recorded.