McCune ? When Paul Huff started courting pretty Margaret Bowin, the two could have a nice evening out for $1.

“When I’d go to see her, I’d have a $1 bill in my pocket,” said Huff, McCune, who will be 92 in July. “I’d buy three gallons of gas at 10 cents a gallon and we’d drive to Pittsburg to see a movie at the Colonial Theater. The show was 15 cents a person. After the show, there was enough money left to buy a malt.”

Times and prices have changed, but the couple’s love and devotion remain strong after 68 years of marriage.

Mrs. Huff, who recently celebrated her 90th birthday, was born in Roseland and grew up in the West Mineral area. The late Page Cavanaugh, who went on to become a famous jazz pianist, was one of her schoolmates.

She also had two teachers who went on to fame — legendary Pittsburg State University football coach Carnie Smith and longtime U.S. Rep. Joe Skubitz.

Mrs. Huff played volleyball in school, and that’s where her future husband spotted her.

After graduating from high school in 1936, Mrs. Huff taught school for five years. She and Huff married on Sept. 7, 1940. In those days, a woman could not be married and teach school, so the couple eloped and did not announce their marriage for several months.

Huff said he grew up two miles west and 1 3/4 miles north of Mineral, and began farming with his father. Always good with motors, Huff was able to keep his tractors going, even during World War II when parts were hard to obtain.

Over the years he has received numerous agriculture honors. “He was practicing soil conservation from the beginning,” said Sharon Leonard, one of the couple’s three children.

The couple had some rough years during the 1950s.

“I’ve heard that when poverty comes in the door, love goes out the window, and I think there’s a lot of truth to that,” Huff said. “It’s harder to hold it together when there’s not enough money. But my wife was my helper.”

“I was raised that way,” Mrs. Huff replied. “We were kids during the Depression, but I didn’t see it being that bad.”

The couple are longtime members of the Osage Church of the Brethren, which Huff’s family helped establish. Huff served on the McCune School Board and later the Southeast USD 247 Board. He and his wife are proud that all three children and six grandchildren attended Pittsburg State University, and in 1995 they were named the PSU Family of the Year.

Their children were also all involved with education. Leonard is retired after teaching business at Girard, and sister Carolyn Barr is a family and consumer science teacher at Girard. The Huffs’ son, James Huff, taught at Southeast High School. Their six grandchildren are carrying on the teaching tradition.

When asked the secret for a long, happy marriage, Mrs. Huff replied, “Just get the right guy. No, that’s not all — you do have to work at it. But if you get the right guy, it’s not really work.”