Roger Bowman of Carthage, Tenn., recounts his involvement on the construction crew that built the Cordell Hull Dam navigation lock and spillway at Cumberland River mile 313.5., a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District project.
At age 17, Bowman made a deal with his high school teacher to work on the construction crew during the week and to do his school work on the weekends, contingent on saving $2 of every $3 earned to go to college.
Construction began in May 1963; the dam was completed in November 1973. The initial cost of the Cordell Hull project totaled $79,200,000. Cordell Hull Dam has a maximum height of 93 feet, and a maximum width of 1,306 feet, with 468 feet of that being earth and embankment. Construction of the dam took 338,800 cubic yards of concrete.
Bowman spoke about his experiences during a visit to the dam Oct. 5, 2017. (Video by Lee Roberts)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XizeQZM3KFY
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