It seems like Almost Yesterday that the Ohio and lower Mississippi Rivers experienced a severe flood. And, this 1937 flood occurred in January and February in the midst of cold, snow and ice. From Pittsburgh to Cincinnati, Louisville, Paducah and Cairo the rivers reached record levels. Desperate calls went out for volunteers to help sand bag. One young man who volunteered was Robert “R. E.” Tompkins of Campbell, Missouri. A young man of 18, R.E. traveled to New Madrid where he joined others on a