Poverty and Perseverance

Donna and Sandy Hastie

Growing up in The Eastern, Ohio, Donna Hastie learned the importance of perseverance and the motivating force of poverty at a very young age.

Those forces ultimately helped propel her to a career impressive by any standard, especially so for a woman entering the workforce in the 1950s. 

Starting as an Executive Secretary at age 16, Donna progressed to nuclear medicine technologist, then to Associate Hospital Administrator in her early 30’s, and ultimately moved on to a long and very prominent career in the nuclear power industry. Her career took a sharp turn after the Three Mile Island accident in Pennsylvania and culminated with Donna visiting and evaluating all 110 nuclear power plants in the United States over the course of a 15-year career with the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations.

Reflecting on her childhood, Donna is quick to credit her father for much of her success.  “Seventy-nine years ago, men did not raise a daughter by themselves, but my father did.”  

Donna’s father, Wilbert Walter Edwards - known to many as either WW or big “Buck” - worked in one of the toughest jobs imaginable - deep mine coal miner - from age 11 to 72 and still found time for his daughter. Because of Mr. Edward’s devotion, Donna was better prepared than most of her classmates when she entered the first grade at age 5. “My dad taught me math by playing a card game with me called Euchre. And I learned to read early. When he came home from work, we would read the newspaper together. He and I would sit in a big armchair and we would read together.”

Donna credits her father’s upbringing for his skill as a parent. “My grandfather died when my Dad was only three months old. His mother went back to live with her parents and my dad stayed with his Scottish grandmother who raised him.  I think he was raised in a house that was very respectful of women and very learned and he read all the time. He graduated from high school while working in the coal mines.  He was captain of the football team and president of his class. He was even the mayor of our little town. I mean, he was a pretty neat guy.”

Donna’s father, Wilbert “Buck” Edwards

Buck Edwards was advised by his sisters to spend as much time as possible with his daughter. So, in his role as Union President for the 900-man North American Coal Company, he took Donna to union meetings on Saturdays. She spent her time at meetings reading books checked out of a traveling library van. “I think I read every book in that van because what do you do at a union meeting? Sit in a corner and read!”

Donna loved school and excelled in the classroom. Her academic prowess allowed her to complete high school by age 15. She wanted to go to college,  but even with scholarship offers from colleges, she knew that the cost of school would create a financial hardship for her father. “There was no money to go to college. The mines were only working two or three days a week then. And I knew if I told my dad I wanted to go to college desperately as I did, he would've probably mortgaged the farm for me. I didn’t want him to do that.  So I told him I wanted to work for a while and get some experience.”

Donna is quick to point out, however, that what the family lacked in financial resources, they made up for in terms of closeness and a love of learning. “We did not have much money, and college tuition/room and board were way beyond our budget, partially because my father helped many people in our town financially when they were in need. But we did not have poverty in terms of education, reading, and family. We were all avid readers.”

Music at home was also a very important part of Donna’s upbringing. “My family all loved music and we had a Scottish Caleigh at our home most Sundays. My grandmother played the piano and my grandfather played the violin. Family members and friends would bring their instruments and play the old Scottish, Irish and Welsh songs. My family came from Scotland, Ireland, and Wales and I grew up hearing the music and poetry from their background.”

Ultimately, the decision to forego college started Donna on an incredible career path at an age when most kids are more worried about prom dates than paying bills.

Initially, Donna parlayed a half-year of typing in high school into a job working as an executive secretary for a pathologist in Stuebenville, Ohio which was one hour away from The Eastern. Legally too young to have a driver's license, Donna drove herself to work regardless. “You learn how to drive on a farm when you're old enough to reach the pedals. I think I drove for a year before I took the test and got my license.”

Donna ended up working at the hospital for 16 years and during that time she attended night schools.  She earned her college degree and three master's degrees in medical physics/nuclear technology, nuclear chemistry, and business administration. She estimates that earning all of those degrees took about 12 years - and all done through evening courses.

Looking back on all the challenges of working full time and attending night school, Donna credits her father for instilling in her a drive for excellence that kept her going when circumstances seemed especially difficult.

Buck Edwards lived his entire life in the house he was born in. “I once asked Dad, 'Where is the key to the house?' And he said, 'I don't think we ever had one.'  It was a  different place and a different time, that's for sure.”

Although her life was not always easy, Donna is thankful every day for a life that led her to a successful career, a happy marriage to her devoted husband Sandy, and an active and engaging life here in Flat Rock.  “Mine was an unusual upbringing, but they say those things that don't kill you make you stronger. It certainly made me very independent.”

And she is particularly thankful for the people that helped her along the way - especially her Dad.  “I am very grateful for all the people in my life that helped me.  Gratitude for being strong enough to do the things I had to do. I think I've had a very blessed life. It's not been an easy life, but you know, it's certainly been interesting.”

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Read more about Donna here.