BULL OF THE WOODS

"Red” Dye was born in 1915. By the time he was 5 years old his parents divorced and abandoned him and his brothers. They were eventually placed in an orphanage near Pittsburgh where they would live for the next 5 years. An uncle was granted custody of the boys when “Red” was 10 but soon afterwards was killed in a railroad accident. The Dye brothers would return to the orphanage where they would remain until late in their teens. During their time in the orphanage they were permitted to return home to visit their mother one weekend a month. She had since remarried and her new husband wanted nothing to do with her boys. He would physically abuse them and lock them in the closet. He would later regret his actions when “Red” was grown. In 1933 at the age of 18 “Red” was living on his own and working all he could during the depression. After living his entire life having to fight for everything he had, “Red” was ready for the tough times ahead. He had grown to almost 6 foot 4 inches tall by the time he was 18. Skinny yet strong as a bull he made the trip from Vanderbilt to Connellsville to visit his mother. He knocked on the door and his stepfather answered. Denying his entrance and demanding him to leave without seeing his mother, “Red” knocked the door down and then gave his stepfather the beating he deserved. He told him, “you’ll never keep me from seeing my mother again!” Red then met and married our grandmother Ruby Snyder. Our dad was born 14 months later. “Red” was known for his tough ways and his no-nonsense manner. He was working construction when his foreman instructed him to put his own life in danger and when “Red” refused he fired him. Never being the type of man to consider consequences, “Red” punched his boss in the face, “shattering his teeth and inflicting injury to his mouth.” (Quote from a local newspaper). As tough as times were he was always able to find employment because of his strong work ethic. Brutally honest, he would tell it like i