Earl Eugene Blackford was born October 22, 1939, the first child of Harry and Neva Blackford. Sister Janice Pumprey and brother Glenn Blackford. Earl and his family worked a farm in Fairfield, Illinois (RR 4, Fairfield, IL 62837). When not working the farm Earl would play baseball and was a great left handed pitcher. As noted in the pictures above, Earl attended a one-room school during elementary school.
Earl attended SIU where he met Peggy Steele. Earl and Peggy were married November 3, 1962.