606 is a Way of Life
606 is an Eastern Kentucky area code. But it’s much more than a series of numbers. 606 has developed into a popular catchphrase that describes an attitude as much as it outlines a geographical area. It can be seen on shirts and billboards and is actually embedded in this writer’s Twitter handle.
I am 606. I was born in Perry County, raised in Letcher County, and educated in Harlan County. My dad is from Knott County. My mom grew up in the Leatherwood Coal Camp. In other words, I’m as “Mountains” as you can get. I’m very proud of that. I’m also very protective of that badge of honor. As I age, I really don’t get mad at much these days. However, disrespecting the 606 is a way to downright piss me off. I recently saw a cartoon in the Lexington Herald-Leader that depicted flood victims in a less than flattering light. Not good. Now is a time to help; a call for action, not a time for taking a political jab at an area that has been dealt with and fought through generations of negativity. I understand that newspaper cartoons are intended to provoke thought. But still, why? Moving on.
The 606 is hurting. Floods have ravaged the area. The death toll rises daily. Many are without shelter, food, water, and other basic necessities of life. The sights and sounds of the damaged areas break my heart. I’ve cried on a nightly basis when catching up on the day’s news. I also get emotional about fellow Kentuckians’ generous hearts through multiple acts of giving. The 606 needs our help, not our judgment.
The 606 life can be described differently based on personal experiences. After hours of racking my brain for an ample description of the area, I came up with one word that appropriately describes the area code: resiliency. My home area has survived the coal boom and bust along with natural disasters. All brought on significant social and economic changes. Instead of describing the mountains in terms of industry or politics, I prefer to paint a picture of the area by highlighting people that I’ve known for many years. I love mountain folks. They are some of the most generous and loyal individuals on the planet. Here are four stories from the 606. Please note that I could have used hundreds more in this article, but time and space came into play.
Chris Hernandez
Chris Hernandez was raised by a dedicated and wonderful single mother (Mavis) who was a veteran, coal miner, and eventually retired as the Post Master in Cumberland. Full disclosure, Chris has been my best friend for over forty years. We talk on a daily basis and have done so for decades. We all have that one “unconditional”; he’s mine. He was educated in Letcher and Harlan County public schools and was a baseball star. He captained a Cumberland baseball team that was one of the best in the state of Kentucky while maintaining a 3.8 GPA. My friend went on to Lincoln Memorial University on a baseball scholarship. He met his wife Christy at LMU. They recently celebrated their 30th anniversary in Los Angeles.
During the summer months in college, Hernandez worked in the coal fields with my dad to earn money for the upcoming semesters. He lived with my parents and cut the grass with Big Fred once a week. He gave a beautiful story about my dad at his funeral. Chris’s life was and remains to be about hard work. I can only believe that his ethos was instilled in him at an early age by his mother. He’s been employed by Toyota in Georgetown for over 25 years and has progressed to become a senior engineer. We often talk for hours about how we can help our home area and ways to give back. I’m so very proud of my best friend. His life story reflects the 606 way of life.
Paul “Showtime” Gaffney
The second person that personifies the 606 is Paul “Showtime” Gaffney. Paul was originally from the Benham and Lynch portion of the Tri-Cities in Harlan County. I attended high school with Paul and was his teammate on multiple teams. He was a showman on the basketball court from elementary school all the way through his historical career with the Harlem Globetrotters. To better describe Paul’s background, I’ll provide you with an excerpt from his biography.
Before the crowds started screaming “Showtime,” before becoming a professional athlete and a member of the Hall of Fame, or developing GAPA, there was a baby boy born in a small coal-mining town in rural Kentucky to an unmarried, teenage mom. Realizing during pregnancy that she could not provide for him properly, she placed him up for adoption before birth. At two years old, his adoptive mother died with him by her side. His adoptive father, then a single parent, raised him alone.
Gaffney had a goal and he didn’t stop working until reaching the pinnacle. After college he played professionally with the Harlem Globetrotters for 15 years and traveled to over 93 countries. But to us, he’s just Paul. A special person that has dedicated his post-playing days to helping others, Showtime started and runs the Gaffney Athletic Preparatory Academy. GAPA is a first-of-its-kind international T.E.A.M.S. college preparatory, Christian school for sports enthusiasts serving grades 8-12 and also offers a postgraduate academy. Paul annually gives back to the Tri-Cities and is an amazing man.
Big Fred
The next story of resiliency hits home, literally. My dad was affectionately known as Big Fred. He was a member of one of the most notable basketball teams in Kentucky history. His Carr Creek squad won the 1956 Sweet 16 which is greatly recognized as the best tournament in the state’s storied history. Maggard hit two last-second shots during the tourney to give the Creekers the title. He signed with Virginia Tech but had to return to Knott County following the death of his dad, my grandfather. He selflessly left his college basketball dream to help his family.
My pops worked in and around the coal mines for over forty years. His first job was digging outhouses. Without a college degree, he worked his way to become the Executive Vice President of a major energy conglomerate. I would go deeper into his story, but it still hurts a little too much. He passed away on April 3, 2016. As Drew Franklin says, “That’s all I got to say about that.” I miss him.
Matt Jones
The last person that I believe to be 606 to the core is Matt Jones. The multimedia influencer and star hails from Middlesboro. Much like Chris Hernandez, Matt was raised by an amazing mom who was the Commonwealth Attorney for Bell County for many years. Matt’s parents, Karen and Larry, are often guests on the airwaves and are beautiful people. Matt attended public school in Middlesboro before going to Transylvania and eventually Duke Law School. He was a practicing attorney before starting Kentucky Sports Radio in a Lexington basement. His meteoric rise in Kentucky sports media is legendary. Jones’ reach extends to a daily radio show and a website that is monstrous, to say the least. He’s also an author, ESPN personality, and television host.
Jones has also influenced the careers of multiple writers and media personalities, me included. He now owns OVW Wrestling, Harper Hall, and is involved in other business ventures. But, the thing that I appreciate the most about Matt is his love for the mountains. He and his radio crew have helped in multiple fundraising activities including specific flood relief ventures that are currently underway. You see, no matter where his career took him or how big his status got, Matt never outgrew the 13th Region or the 606. Matt is 606.
The 606 Way of Life is about attitude as much as it is about geography. It’s steeped in tradition, family, and giving back. That’s why I know that southeast Kentucky will rebuild and rebound from the devastating floods that have ravaged my home area. But, that don’t mean that it’s going to be easy. Nothing has been easy for the 606. Persistence and overcoming adversity are a part of life back home.
There are so many examples of the 606 attitude that I could have highlighted. These four examples are stories of 606 people that have influenced my life and hopefully paint a picture of the love, compassion, and dedication for a region they call home. No matter how life has dictated change, folks from the mountains tend to always love the mountains. 606 is a way of life. Giving back is not optional; it’s mandatory.
606 is a way of life. That way of life has been disrupted by flooding. We are in a call for action for all Kentuckians to help our brothers and sisters in the eastern portion of the Commonwealth. Thank you.
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