Buster began working in the coal mines at an early age, and at the age of 16, both of his legs were broken in a mining accident. By 1930 he was a tippleman in Rhodell, WV. He eventually became Superintendent of the E.C. Minter Coal Company in Amigo, holding the position for twelve years. In 1948, he left the coal industry, moved to Princeton and founded Compton Construction Co. and Princeton Ready-Mix.
In Rhodell, he served as the president of the P.T.A. In Princeton, he was elected County Commissioner and held that office for twelve years. Buster belonged to the First Methodist Church, the Shriners, the Masons, the Elks and Kiwanas Clubs. His community sprit led him to appointments on the Boards of Princeton Community Hospital, Mercer County Opportunity Workshop and the Mercer County Airport Authority. As County Commissioner, he originated the plan to trade the State Department of Highways building across from the courthouse for property owned by the county on Gardner Road, near Interstate 77. It is now the District Division of Highways Office.
"Well-liked and respected as a businessman and for his community work, Compton was affectionately known by reporters and many courthouse officials as the 'watchdog of the courthouse purse strings' during his many years as a county commissioner because he closely guarded the taxpayers' money, making sure that county expenditures were for the benefit of the people."
Buster had a quiet but large sense of humor and was generous to his family, friends and fellow citizens.
Buster was the son of Cornelius Moses Compton and Ora Kathrine Johnson and the husband of Mary Elizabeth Malcolm. He and Mary had four sons and one daughter.
Buster began working in the coal mines at an early age, and at the age of 16, both of his legs were broken in a mining accident. By 1930 he was a tippleman in Rhodell, WV. He eventually became Superintendent of the E.C. Minter Coal Company in Amigo, holding the position for twelve years. In 1948, he left the coal industry, moved to Princeton and founded Compton Construction Co. and Princeton Ready-Mix.
In Rhodell, he served as the president of the P.T.A. In Princeton, he was elected County Commissioner and held that office for twelve years. Buster belonged to the First Methodist Church, the Shriners, the Masons, the Elks and Kiwanas Clubs. His community sprit led him to appointments on the Boards of Princeton Community Hospital, Mercer County Opportunity Workshop and the Mercer County Airport Authority. As County Commissioner, he originated the plan to trade the State Department of Highways building across from the courthouse for property owned by the county on Gardner Road, near Interstate 77. It is now the District Division of Highways Office.
"Well-liked and respected as a businessman and for his community work, Compton was affectionately known by reporters and many courthouse officials as the 'watchdog of the courthouse purse strings' during his many years as a county commissioner because he closely guarded the taxpayers' money, making sure that county expenditures were for the benefit of the people."
Buster had a quiet but large sense of humor and was generous to his family, friends and fellow citizens.
Buster was the son of Cornelius Moses Compton and Ora Kathrine Johnson and the husband of Mary Elizabeth Malcolm. He and Mary had four sons and one daughter.
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