John Willie Combs, Sr. was born to Simon and Janie Combs on June 27,1914 at Peach Street in Hazard, Kentucky. After attending elementary and high school in Hazard, he attended Kentucky State College in Frankfort, Kentucky. He received his Bachelor of Sciences degree in Government and History. He did his graduate work at the University of Kentucky and the University of Cincinnati after his degree at Kentucky State College. He was convinced that he could most help his people, mountain people, by serving as a teacher. “Fess”, as he was called by many, was proud of his place in the history of the mountains. He spent more than 40 years doing the thing he loved best, educating the students of Perry County, Kentucky.

On July 1, 1942 he enlisted into the Fourth Regiment of the U.S. Army where he served until the end of WWII. His proudest accomplishment during this time was the training of young Black soldiers coming into the military. John was a member of several professional and non-profit organizations. He was instrumental in setting up the state Kentucky Educational Television (KET) program.

On January 9,1943 he was wedded to Mary Florence Brown. Born into this union were seven children; Monica (Combs) Walker, Josephine (Combs) Primous, John W. Combs, Jr., Byron Felix Combs, Mary (Combs) Walker, Lenora Combs, and Victor J. Combs.

John passed away on October 8,1999 in his beloved Hazard, Kentucky.