May 1, 2016

Issue 201




Editor: Roleta Smith Meredith
Publisher: Jalon Smith Burton




... and WRITE

It doesn’t make any difference what subject you write about, just write to the newsletter. Pick any subject or memory you have, write it down and send to Roleta1@aol.com.

Some people have told me that they had some story they wish they had written but they couldn’t do it now because that subject was already discussed. 

This newsletter should be called something like a HARRISON COUNTY MEMORY-LETTER, as we share memories more than we share news. 

And we have grown so much that it includes anyone from Harrison County! 

You'all are welcome to write no matter where you grew up or no matter where you live.

... and just in case you don't remember, it's Roleta1@aol.com






IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR

I asked you in the April letter to share your prom picture and memories with us.




From: Jim Strider WI 1955)

Remembering the prom and the Robinson Grand My date was Marian Brown Faulkner (WI 1955). We doubled with Bob Twigg (WI 1955) and his date Carolyn Spelsburg (WI 1955) in my dad’s brand new 955 DeSoto. As an incentive for the kids to stay off the streets, the Robinson Grand would show a first run movie after the dance. In 1955 the movie was “Daddy Long Legs” starring Leslie Caron and Fred Astaire. After the movie we all headed for Lake Floyd. See Picture above.


From: John Teter (WI 1961)

I remember going to a prom my JUNIOR year at WI, and my date for that prom was Patty BARMAN (who was a SENIOR), and I had the pleasure of seeing her at my brother's 50th class reunion, back in 2010. We double dated with my brother and I think his date was Judy Daugherty. I do not remember where the prom was held, but it might have been at the VFW in downtown C-burg.
I also remember going to another formal dance my SENIOR year at WI, and my date for that dance was Edith KLINE (now MAY), but I do not remember if it was a prom or just another formal dance. I remember that Edith and I went alone, as it was one of the few times that I was able to use my dad's car for anything.



From: Fred Alvaro (WI 1959)

Unable to get a prom date with a classmate for the 1959 prom, I took Sue Rudd who was a "sophomore" at the time. Her family who resided on Milford St. had moved here from North Carolina that year. The prom dance was held in The Carmichael Bldg. See picture above.


From: Mere Gurson Schwartz (WI 1957)

With preparing for Passover, I didn't get to you.
Went with Fred Dunham, Junior year and
Sam Urso, Senior year.
Great dates and great classmates.
Great Memories!






Just a reminder: If you wish to see  pictures from the most recent - and the very last - Clarksburg Reunion Picnic, click on the link in the 'Picnic Time!' section (which includes the picnic basket image) located to the right on the sidebar of this page.

We will be adding more pictures next month.

Below is the only picture we received and added this month, but we are missing some names... click over there now.   Can you help us? 

CLASS OF 1958
see Picnic Time page for caption with names 

If you were at the picnic and you have any pictures from the picnic, please email me a copy of them. 

Thanks, Roleta










MAY 8th
DID YOU KNOW?
The official Mother’s Day holiday arose in the 1900's as a result of the efforts of Anna Jarvis, daughter of Ann Reeves Jarvis. Following her mother’s 1905 death, Anna Jarvis conceived of Mother’s Day as a way of honoring the sacrifices mothers made for their children. After gaining financial backing from a Philadelphia department store owner named John Wanamaker, in May 1908 she organized the first official Mother’s Day celebration at a Methodist church in Grafton West Virginia. That same day also saw thousands of people attend a Mother’s Day event at one of Wanamaker’s retail stores in Philadelphia.

Following the success of her first Mother’s Day, Jarvis—who remained unmarried and childless her whole life—resolved to see her holiday added to the national calendar. Arguing that American holidays were biased toward male achievements, she started a massive letter writing campaign to newspapers and prominent politicians urging the adoption of a special day honoring motherhood. By 1912 many states, towns and churches had adopted Mother’s Day as an annual holiday, and Jarvis had established the Mother’s Day International Association to help promote her cause. Her persistence paid off in 1914 when President Woodrow Wilson signed a measure officially establishing the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.

Anna Jarvis had originally conceived of Mother’s Day as a day of personal celebration between mothers and families. Her version of the day involved wearing a white carnation as a badge and visiting one’s mother or attending church services. But once Mother’s Day became a national holiday, it was not long before florists, card companies and other merchants capitalized on its popularity.

While Jarvis had initially worked with the floral industry to help raise Mother’s Day’s profile, by 1920 she had become disgusted with how the holiday had been commercialized. She outwardly denounced the transformation and urged people to stop buying Mother’s Day flowers, cards and candies. Jarvis eventually resorted to an open campaign against Mother’s Day profiteers, speaking out against confectioners, florists and even charities. She also launched countless lawsuits against groups that had used the name “Mother’s Day,” eventually spending most of her personal wealth in legal fees. By the time of her death in 1948 Jarvis had disowned the holiday altogether, and even actively lobbied the government to see it removed from the American calendar.



MAY 21st
President Harry S. Truman led the effort to establish a single holiday for citizens to come together and thank our military members for their patriotic service in support of our country.
On August 31, 1949, Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of an Armed Forces Day to replace separate Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force Days.
The single day celebration stemmed from the unification of the Armed Forces under the Department of Defense.



MAY 30th
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday celebrated on the last Monday of May commemorating men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.
Initially (officially since 1868 - proclaimed by General John Logan) Memorial Day was a holiday in memory of the soldiers who died in the Civil War. The feast was supposed to be a step towards national reconciliation. The original name (Decoration Day) comes from placing flowers on the graves of the soldiers.
Memorial Day was celebrated differently in different states. Until 1890 it was celebrated in all the states of the North. After World War I the nature of the holiday changed to honor the memory of all Americans who died in any war - not only Civil.







I am looking for a picture of you having fun in some summer activity. 

Send me the picture and tell me who is in the picture, where it was taken, etc. 

You know the routine by now. Sign your name, school and year of graduation.

THIS IS FOR ANYONE READING THIS NEWSLETTER.

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP






From: Joe Malone (WI 1952)

First, let me thank you and Jalon for the fine treatment you gave my tribute to my sister on her 90th birthday. She was very pleased.
I seem to remember you asking for some input on "First Jobs, etc". My employment history in Harrison County consisted of three jobs spanning some 16 years.
1. My first employer was my older brother, Bob, who subcontracted 50% of his evening paper route with the Clarksburg Telegram to me. We covered the area around Carlisle Elementary School - East Main St., Maple, Clay, Carr Ave., etc. 180 subscribers. I had Main, Carr, Elm St. & Despard (?). I was 10-13 years old and NEVER RICHER! All cash money and zero expenses.
2. When I got to Central Jr. HS (1947), I was hired (after school) by Wilbur A. Marr Jewelers at the time located on Court St. between the Goff Bldg. & the Courthouse. I got a Social Security Card and a W-2 at year's end. I was Mr. Marr's "gopher". I washed windows; vacuumed the floors; polished silver; washed chinaware; made Post Office runs, etc. As you may recall, Marr's was the premier provider of high quality "wedding" items from diamonds to silver, china, etc. I delivered many of these items to the bride's home by way of the City Bus Lines. (Occasionally I pocketed a small "tip"). The Marr's were very good to me. I stayed with them through their move to the Stonewall Jackson Hotel Bldg. and beyond until I got a driver's license.
3. In the summer of 1951, I went to work for the Palace Furniture Store as the driver of the shuttle truck between the store on Main St. and their warehouse on Oak St. off E. Pike St. Between runs, I worked with the installers of Venetian shades and window/porch awnings. I worked for the Palace every summer until I graduated from college in 1956. The management and staff of the Palace were all equally good to me - at 75 cents per hour.
None of the above was very exciting or challenging. I didn't labor in a factory, go down in the mines or sweat with the State Road Commission. But - I worked with & for good people who provided me with a revenue stream throughout my formative years that kept me off my "Parent's Payroll". I never saw an "Allowance".

Thanks for all you do.

Write about your first job and send it to Roleta1@aol.com





THE FIFTIES VERSUS THE SIXTIES

By: Roleta1@aol.com

I have been hearing a lot recently about the 60’s. Young people today (this includes my granddaughters at times) think that the 1960’s were a wonderful time. They want to wear the clothes, they love the music and think I am an old “fuddy duddy” when I say the 60’s were scary to me.


Some of the things I think about when I think of the 60’s are:



1961-1962 The Cuban Missile Crisis involving our enemy Russia it all took place just a short distance from Key West, FL. 




1963 President Kennedy was killed. Leaving out nation shocked and suspicious of the reasons found for the murder. Also, it hurt us to see that his beautiful young wife and lovely young children were left to grieve. It was the end of Camelot.




1965 Rioters burned down Watts (basically their own homes and businesses) in California. Race riots became a common thing.




1968 Robert Kennedy, candidate for president, was killed.
Experimenting with psychedelic drugs became more of a problem than ever before.




1969 Charles Manson and his group murdered people in CA.




In the 1960’s, The Vietnam “conflict” was in full swing. And was where so many young men from West Virginia served and many never returned.

In addition:

  • The Flower Children
  • Woodstock
  • The British Invasion of Rock Stars
  • Bellbottoms, long hair for guys and gals, Afro and mullet haircuts
  • Free love!
  • Decline of Morals
  • Recession!

Where were you and what were you doing during the 1960’s?

A few great things that did happen that still are in my life. I got married, we moved to Ohio, I had a son and a daughter, we bought a home, we started settling in and are still settled in!




Write to  Roleta1@aol.com and tell me if you think the 40’s, 50’s, 60’s or 70’s were the best years.

... and then there was:



AMERICAN PIE

I have listened to the words to American Pie for many years. I thought I understood everything that was being sung.

However, when the words are put together with pictures and film clips, the song takes on a lot of meaning. Sure brings back lots of memories. Very well done.

American Pie (1971) is about the 1960’s and an allegorical song by Don McLean that starts on the death of Buddy Holly in an airplane crash in February, 3rd 1959, the day the music died...

Click on the below video to watch a wonderful and very powerful presentation










I am certain several of you recognize some of these men. Many of you may even be related to some of them. Write to me with the identities. Only correct guesses will be published, if you know a little about this person, please tell us. Do you know why they are all sitting here? Give us any information, we are interested.

Thanks to Eugene Jaumont (54) for sending me this picture.






WIN SCHOLARSHIP

I am still receiving money for the Washington Irving Newsletter Scholarship.

Each year we have been giving a $3,000.00 scholarship to 2 different graduates from R.C. Byrd High School. This school is where the kids who would have gone to WI and RW now go to high school.

The counselor at R C Byrd selects the winners each year. The winners of the 2016 WIN Scholarships are:

Dale Cottrill and Cassidy Pinion

Hopefully I will have more information for the next new setter.

The Scholarship is our way of coming together to help benefit a child who wants to go on to college. Education is so important and so expensive. If you were to give $5.00 to $100.00 to a child to help them with their education, it really wouldn’t help much but by a lot of us giving to the WIN Scholarship any amount of money, we can group it together and make it a gift that really means something.

Won’t you please give by writing your check to:
Roleta Meredith
c/0 WIN Scholarship

Pleas mail your check to:
Roleta Meredith
3025 Switzer Ave
Columbus, Ohio 43219

Thank you. Every gift no matter how small or how large is certainly important.






From: Anita White (WI 1948)

The United Church of Christ in New Smyrna Beach, Fla. presented a concert to honor former music director, Julia Frances Young Lawson. She led both chancel and bell choirs. During her tenure, she composed many cantatas, anthems that were performed by the choirs. For their 125th Anniversary, she wrote The Anniversary Song, which was featured at the concert along with various others she had composed. Julia graduated from Washington Irving and will be 94 years young in June. Congratulations, Julia!!


From: From: Sally Anne Pulice (WI 1969)

Miss Sarah Margaret Israel and my Mother resided in the same Assistant Living Facility until they moved on nearly the same day to a Skilled Care Nursing Home in June 2015. Miss Israel looked exactly the same, and I recognized her immediately when I first saw her again in 2008. I think there was a span of 43 years from my eighth grade year till 2008. She was always so elegant, calm, and kind. Miss Israel was a wonderful teacher, and she may have been the first teacher to instill in me a love for language and communication. My Mother will soon be 96.
When I was in 7th and 8th grade, I would often stop in at the Red Cross Office/Building on my way home from Central Jr. High. This Red Cross Building was across the street from the McGlumphy and Davis-Weaver Funeral Homes. My friend, Joyce Ware, and I would make art projects and placemats I think for hospitalized patients. Did anyone else do this?
I lived in Broad Oaks. I think I may have lived in Upper Broad Oaks (as the Alvaro brothers have referred to this part of town.) I did not know of that distinction when I was growing up but I walked DOWN the hill to Alta Vista. Does that mean I resided in Upper Broad Oaks?  I do recall that the Alvaro brothers were legendary in their athletic success. My family followed the WI sports teams during their time at WI! You had admirers from afar, Jim and Fred.
My family would go to 9:30 Mass at the Immaculate Conception Church on Sunday AM, then I would attend Catechism classes that were held in the St. Mary’s elementary school. We would be home by noon for a quick lunch, and back at Notre Dame’s gym for Sunday boys’ basketball games. That was a fun day.
4-H Club was a fun activity for me during my elementary school years. I think I can still recite the 4-H pledge. We would meet monthly in the homes of our members. My memory (not as reliable as it used to be) is that we were all Alta Vista students. Thank you to Patty Logue’s and Jane Lynn Davidson’s moms who were our leaders. It was always a rush to get those individual projects completed on time. Whew!
Roller skating at Carmichael Auditorium on Saturday afternoons was fun. We had a Senior Class Roller Skating party there….picture of such in our 1969 yearbook.
Genevieve Broughton was one of my all time favorite teachers.
Senior English class and Journalism I (junior year) and Journalism II (senior year).
Kudos to Nancy Diamond, who was the Editor of our senior yearbook. It has stood the test of time, Nancy. I still like perusing all four of my yearbooks (’66,’67, ’68, ’69.) Sadly, it now seems to link student pictures of those that have passed away….not a fun part of my current age.
Speaking of Nancy Diamond…it was my perception that seniors who were in good academic standing would be invited to be in the Senior Chorus. This group would perform at all activities leading up to and including Graduation Night. So I was surprised when most of my friends and I were NOT invited to be in Senior Chorus, cause we were doing OK academically. I remember I asked Nancy if she knew why we weren’t invited. Nancy, being the Editor of the yearbook, put in long hours at school, and I thought she might have heard something from one of the teachers. Nancy replied, “Yes, they said they don’t want night owls and hell raisers in the Senior Chorus.” How did the teachers know that indeed there was a group of us keeping some mighty late nights our senior year? Personally, I blame that on the Junior Class of 1968-69. Giggle-giggle.
Anthony Bellotte’s memory that was printed in April’s newsletter got me thinking. Mr. Flanagan was the Principal at Alta Vista. (I don’t recall his first name; help somebody!) He taught our sixth grade class in the afternoon. I remember vividly that he had a transistor radio on his desk during the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962. I didn’t fully understand the situation, but I knew it had to be of concern if our principal was listening to the radio during class. 
Bill, thank you for the sports column, I always enjoy reading your perspective. As you so aptly said, my heart was broken 'when it was dropped like a wrecking ball into a big hole' when WVU lost in the first round of the NCAAs. Didn't see that one coming. On to 2016-17.

EDITOR’S NOTE: If anything that Sally wrote jogs your memory, write to me and tell me your memories. Roleta1@aol.com





MORGAN GRADE SCHOOL PICTURE
1946-1947

Submitted by: Jim Strider

Most of these kids were in the Washington Irving graduation class of 1954.
Interestingly 3 of these young ladies became a 1954 Class Princess.

Can you name these people?

You know the routine.  Same as always.
Name the child in top row left to right, put a ? if you don’t remember a name. We will call that Row 1 (top row)

Row Two—same way   ? if you don’t recognize and a name if you do.

When you are finished, send to Roleta1@aol.com.  

Sign your email with your name, name of school from which you did or would have graduated and year.

Thanks




HAPPY BIRTHDAY
JULIA FRANCES YOUNG LAWSON
 A BIRTHDAY SALUTE

From: Anita White (WI 1948)

Enjoy each edition on Newsletter, such a good job.
The United Church of Christ in New Smyrna Beach, Fla. presented a concert to honor former music director, Julia Frances Young Lawson. She led both chancel and bell choirs. During her tenure, she composed many cantatas, anthems that were performed by the choirs. For the 125th Anniversary of the church, she wrote “The Anniversary Song”, which was featured at the concert along with various others she had composed. Julia graduated from Washington Irving and will be 94 years young in June. 
Congratulations, Julia!

Julia, all the readers of the 
WI Newsletter would like to wish you a 
Very Happy 94th Birthday!






APRIL MYSTERY PICTURE

From: Wayne White (WI 1960)

This is the Southern Steel Products Co. Located 411 Ohio Ave. They are a steel fabricators company.


From: Jim Alvaro (WI 1956)

Southern Steel was owned by Bernie Cohen's father. I knew about Southern Steel before I knew Bernie. My Uncle Edgar Rhodes worked for the company probably back in the late 40's or early 50's. He graduated as a Chemical Engineer but I don't know if he worked there during college or after. I think I remember him mentioning some of his work was in the drafting dept. I could be wrong. My Aunt Rosie Conch did mention that Uncle Edgar liked working there. I'm sure Mr. Cohen was a great person to work for as I know Bernie would be. The company was located over in Pee Kay Addition on Ohio Ave that connected Montpelier to Glen Elk. Pininick Hill was also in that area. My wife Sonja and I would visit her grandparents, the Krosmico's, who lived up near Pininick Hill when we went home. I had several friends from WI living in that area at that time. I believe the company is in the same location and is still operating, according to Bernie when we got together in Sarasota in March.


From: Bob Kramer (WI 1965)

I think this is a picture of Southern Steel. It is located in the PK section of Clarksburg. They fabricate steel for buildings. They fabricated steps for our second floor after the fire at our old location on Pike Street. PK addition is named after Pininick St


From: Bob Twigg (WI 1955)

This is the home of Southern Steel Fabricating on Ohio Ave


From: Rod Kidd (WI 1970)
The picture for April appears to be the Southern Steel Products Buildings on Ohio Ave. just up from the Florence Street Bridge off of Pike Street. The lower building in the photo would be their shop fabrication area. Didn’t realize how long it had been there, but have done business with them since the later 70’s on several occasions.


From: Bernie Cohen (WI 1956) (Owner of Southern Steel)

Southern Steel is on Ohio Ave. and began in 1948 as a fabricator. It started in the building across the street which is now the Oliverio Pepper plant. It made Structural steel for many buildings in W.V. and in the surrounding states. Jobs included Robert Byrd High School as well as structural steel for a number of WVU buildings including the press box. During the Vietnam war, they made many items for the Allegheny Ballistics Lab in Maryland including 12 inch thick backup plates for testing rocket engines. These plates would last a short time as the rocket fire would destroy them. Then we would make more. The meters attached to these plates determined the strength of the rocket power. We could not unload them as they weighed more than we could lift. They were fabricated on the truck. We also made fallout shelters for a while which did not make it very far. In 1976 as my Dad retired, I took over the plant and it is still running and providing good paying jobs at this time. Even though I had started my own plant in Columbus, Ohio, I was able to hire a very good manager who has done a great job running the company for me. It is now (just in this month) for sale. The Company has always done well. My children have no interest and no knowledge in the business because they have a great job at the plant I started in Columbus. By the way your husband, Bill Meredith, helped me a lot when I was getting started. I want him to know that. What a great friend!
So are you! 
Thanks






MAY MYSTERY PICTURE

Above is a new building which was recently constructed. It is located in Clarksburg. Do you know what it is and where it is?  Picture submitted by David Corsini of Clarksburg.

Write your guess to Roleta1@aol.com

Sign your name, the name, name of the school you attended and year you did or would have graduated. Incorrect identifications will not be published.






JIM FRAGALE

New York writer, Peggy Healy (the entertainment guru), was so impressed after reading Jim Fragale (WI 1958) first novel "The Answer to Life" that she asked him to write an introduction on 'how it's done" - that is, how they entertain in Clarksburg, WV' - for HER new book, 'Entertaining Houseguests.'






Sports Editor: Bill Meredith




OLYMPIC CHAMPION?

As a follow-up to the article submitted by Mike Snyder (WI 1957) for last month's newsletter, below is an article written by Bob Hertzel for the Register-Herald and other newspapers in West Virginia. You may recall that Mike wrote about the NCAA Champion WVU Rifle Team.

This article tells about Ginny Thrasher, a team member, who was recently named to the U S Olympic Team. That is quite an honor for a 19-year old college freshman.

Congratulations to Ginny Thrasher. The entire Mountaineer Nation is very proud of you and your team for bringing honor to WVU.


By Bob Hertzel
For The Register-Herald

MORGANTOWN — Once upon a time Ginny Thrasher thought she’d be the next Peggy Fleming.

She was growing up and ice skating was her sport.

“I always wanted to go to the Olympics in ice skating,” she said. “Then, about the time I started high school I started shooting.”

That was when she realized that if she was going to have Olympic success, it was going to be as the next Annie Oakley.

Her grandfather took her hunting and she was hooked.

“Ice skating became a hobby and stress reliever when I went to high school,” she said.

The challenge came from shooting, but who could have imagined in four years this petite blonde, just 19 years of age, would become the NCAA rifle champion as a West Virginia freshman and now a member of the U.S. Olympic team.

“This first year of college has been such a learning experience, such a whirlwind,” she said.

Think of it. Most kids come to college and get used to a new roommate, being off by themselves, maybe sneaking off for a beer or two ... growing up.

Ginny Thrasher came to college and became one of America’s top shooters -- if not THE top shooter. Next Tuesday, while her classmates are in class, she’s leaving for Brazil, site of the Olympics, for the Olympic test event.

But there’s something very interesting in this young lady.

Is she excited? Yes.

Is she blown away? Nervous? Awed? Not one iota.

“It’s nice to be so supported by the Morgantown community and WVU,” she said. “People come up and stop me, congratulate me. The other days, someone wanted to get a selfie with me. It’s nice to get attention, especially in a sport that is not so well publicized.

“But has it changed me? No. First I’m a student-athlete. Like, I’m going to be missing these two weeks of class but its nice that the teachers are accommodating me.”

She has remained very much down to earth.

Her coach, Jon Hammond, is not surprised by her rapid ascension in the shooting world.

“She has a great work ethic. She’s willing to put the hours in,” he said. As a coach, she’s incredibly coachable. She listens to everything we have to say. She’s willing to try things, She listens and absorbs everything. She has dedication, drive, motivation.”

She has the perfect approach.

“I’ve gotten to this point by focusing on my process and myself, not thinking of the outcome,” she said.

She is not result driven.

“I’ve been told I’m an old soul,” she said. “I want to master the sport. I don’t care if I win or go to Olympics.”

What she has done doesn’t make sense for someone as inexperienced as she is

“To make the Olympics in four years is not super normal,” Hammond said. “Shooting is a unique sport with a large age spread. There are people 40 and 50 year old competing. Experience plays a big part. It’s unbelievable freshman year to win the NCAA and qualify for the Olympics.”

To make what she has accomplished lately even more amazing, she has done it with new guns.

“I love my two guns. I treat them like gold. They are only about 6 weeks old, but it has been fun adapting to them. Some people get nervous when they make a change but my Bleiker rifle has been great.

“I immediately took to it. It was a fast transition. Some guns take six months to a year to adapt to,” she said.

“It took her about two days,” Hammond said.



BASKETBALL

Below are a couple pictures of the 1955 basketball team at WI. There is also a picture of the 1959 WVU team, which included two players from the 1955 WI team. Jim Alvaro, WI 1956, challenges anyone to come up with a better high school basketball team than the one shown here. 

Can anyone think of a better team from Harrison County? 

Send your comments to: Bill (billmere@aol.com).



During the last month or so, Mike Snyder, WI 1957, and I have been discussing Olympic athletes who attended West Virginia University. hanks to help from the Joe Swan, Director of Athletic Publications at WVU, Mike was able to supply us with the list below.

Both Mike and I thought that perhaps James Jett was the last Mountaineer to participate. Boy, were we wrong. As you might guess, I sat next to Bruce Meredith in a chemistry class while attending WVU. I also met Jerry West. Those are the only ones from the list I have met

Does anyone know any of these athletes? If so, send us your comments about how you met them and your thoughts on their accomplishments.

Thanks, Mike, for helping us with this.



WVU Olympians

Mike Anti (Shooting) - U.S. - 1992, 2000, 2004, 2008
Nicco Campriani (Shooting) – Italy - 2012
Nate Carr (Wrestling) - U.S. - 1988; was wrestling coach here; bronze medal
Aileen Convery (Swimming) - Ireland - 1988
Rob Dennis (Track) - Liberia - 1996
Ed Etzel (Shooting) - U.S. - 1984 - gold medal
Jean Foster (Shooting) - U.S. - 1996, 2000
A.C. "Whitey" Gwynne (Trainer-Basketball) - U.S. - 1968, 1972
Jon Hammond (Shooting) – Great Britain – 2008, 2012
Christian Heller (Shooting) - Sweden - 1980
Kay Iheagwam (Track) - Nigeria - 1996
Pat Itanyi (Track) - Nigeria - 2000; 2008 as a coach
James Jett (Track) - U.S.  -1992 - gold medal 4x100 relay; ran in semis but didn't run in finals
Dave Johnson (Shooting) - U.S. - 1992-competitor; 2008-coach
John Mair (Track) - Jamaica - 1988
Bruce Meredith (Shooting) - 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000 -competitor and coach for U.S. Virgin Islands
Ann-Marie Pfiffner (Shooting) - U.S. - 1992
John Rost (Shooting) - U.S. - 1984
Stefan Thynell (Shooting) - Sweden - 1976, 1980
Ginny Thrasher (Shooting) – U.S.  -2016
Eric Uptagrafft (Shooting) - U.S. – 1996, 2012
Jerry West (Basketball) - U.S. - 1960 - gold medal
Web Wright (Shooting) - U.S. - 1988
Jack Writer (Shooting) - U.S. - 1968, 1972
Petra Zublasing (Shooting) – Italy - 2012




... ABOUT SPORTS

As always, this is the time of year when there is not much action in college or high school sports. About the only news from WVU is bad. Devin Williams has hired an agent and is thus no longer eligible to play basketball for the Mountaineers. As previously mentioned, I think he is making a mistake. I think one more year of college ball would have been good for him. However, young people sometimes only see the dollar signs and no amount of reasoning can prevent them from taking the plunge into pro sports. All his fans can do is wish him well in his pursuit of the gold at the end of the rainbow. Do you agree with my thinking?

The WVU baseball team has a record just above .500. That won't win many conference championships or get them into the NCAA tournament. However, they do have a fine new ballpark and seem to be drawing well.

Several WVU football players are being considered in the NFL draft. By the time you read this, you will know how many were taken and where they were drafted. It appears that Dwight Joseph has a chance to be a first round pick.

Finally, my guess is that this is the year of the Cubbies. The long suffering Chicago team was very active in the free agent market and is off to a great start. Plus, they have what many consider to be the best manager in MLB. I watched Joe Maddon lead the Tampa Bay Rays into the playoffs here in Florida and was always impressed with his knowledge of the game.

Have anything on your mind about sports? 

Share your thoughts and comments with our readers. 

We especially like memories from years past about any sports subject. 

Send them to: 




Yes, it's not a Flop...
Does anyone have a picture of one?
Do you have the original recipe you would like to share?

RUFUS

From: Patty Morelan Gyorda (WI 1957)

Rufus worked at Rogers Drug Store - many of us went there for lunch and loved their chili.


From: Pam Wolfe Brown (WI 1960)

What found memories!!! Rufus was the most delightful human being. He was always friendly in the store and on the street even when you saw him years after we left the Hill.
My favorite foods were their meatloaf and of course peanut butter fudge Flops for 15 cents. Couldn't go there often but I often think about times spent there.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Thanks for the memories. I loved his peanut butter flops. My mouth still waters when I think of them. Rufus was one of a kind. I never saw anyone say one bad word to him. He was so thoughtful. I am just sorry that I never once thought of tipping him and I bet no one else did either as we were lucky to have the 15 cents to buy the flop! What say you? Write to Roleta1@aol.com

Over the years we have discussed Rufus many times. I don’t believe I remember anyone saying anything bad about Rufus. I also think we took him for granted. We all liked him very much and he was always there to help when we needed him. I know that I didn’t know anything about him. I didn’t know his last name, where he lived, if he was married or if he had children. I never returned to Roger’s after I finished high school. Seems like I remember he retired from Rogers and a collection was taken up to buy him a watch. But was that my junior year or senior year? I don’t even remember. How old do you think he was? Wonder what he did in his retirement years? Anyone know the answers to any of these questions? I am sure he has probably passed away now. Does anyone have a picture of him? I hope to hear from some of you. There are always new readers who may have not read what you had to say before about a subject. 

Write to Roleta1@aol.com





Andrew Vac (WI 1970) andrew@andrewvac.com

Anita White (WI 1948) anitawhite30@gmail.com

Sheila Meredith Cornett (McVicker) (WI 1969) emeraldisl1@aol.com

Catherine Custer Burke (WI 1952) katierose052@frontier.com





THE ISRAEL HOME

From: Ted Wolfe (WI 1974)

The building that used to stand to the right (east) of the Israel house was used by Southern States, after Sears quit using it for storage. Before Sears it held the Old Export beer distributor, but it was originally built as the Clarksburg Brewery in 1906. It was a brewery until 1914, and then from 1936 to 1941.







From: Diana Calverley Haskell (WI 1960)

While I did not have any relatives who worked in the glass plants, I do want to share this brief story.
In the summer of 1962, I worked as a waitress in Yellowstone National Park. On one of my days off, I traveled with friends to a small town in Montana. While we were waiting to be served at the Red Lodge Cafe, I turned over my coffee cup and what should I see but Clarksburg, WV! Later that summer after I had eaten numerous peanut butter sandwiches and indulged in three scoops of ice cream after every meal (because the food for the staff workers was awful), some neighbors from Clarksburg came by and did not even recognize me because I had gained thirty pounds!



INDUSTRIAL HISTORY
CLARKSBURG WV

From:  Eugene Jaumot (Victory 1954)

Coal Mines were a big part of Clarksburg before 1900. Perry Mines just out of town of Clarksburg on Rt 19 North. a lot of miners from town worked there. Also on East Pike you had PK Mines Tipple which loaded cars on the big B&O sidings running parallel to East Pike street. Lots of Harrison County residents depended on coal to heat there homes. They had Grates in lots of rooms and some had small coal stoves, and along came coal furnace.
It took a large amount of gas to run all the Glass furnaces in Clarksburg. In the beginning there was the Peerless, Layfette, and Liberty, in Northview. In 1930 Rolland was built by Gene Rolland after Peerless burned down. There was Adamston Flat. Travis Glass was in Glenn Elk, they made stem ware. Tuna and West Fork was off Broadway on Tuna Street. PPG, White and Bailey, Eagle Convex, located in Norwood Glass 1925, McNicols China and Hazel Atlas. Salem Glass, Salem and Ideal Glass in West Union. Coal, Gas and Glass made Clarksburg WV.

Below are a couple of interesting pictures that Eugene Jaumont (VHS 1954) has shared with us. He has shared several more which I will publish from time to time





Thanks to Juliana Kopp (sister of James Kopp) for identities of those pictured above:
The picture is that of those men that organized and started the Lafayette Cooperative Glass works in North View.
Sitting, left to right: Hippolyte Leuliette, V.P., Eugene Rolland, Pres., Charles Moine, Sec. and Adrian Demeestter
Standing, Left to right: Louis Schmidt, Paul Kopp, Tres., and Julien Caussin
Picture taken around 1913




Above is a picture taken of the Rolland Glass Company (Clearlite) in 1986.


 




From: James Kopp

Thought you might want to see 
the Fourco Glass label that went out 
on every piece of glass shipped as Clearlite glass.





























MILDRED BAMGARDNER
(WI 1949)

Mildred Baumgardner, age 84, passed away on April 11, 2016, following an extended illness.
Mrs. Baumgardner was married for 65 years to Dorsey R. Baumgardner Mrs. Baumgardner, born September 18, 1931, was a daughter of the late Worder and Martha (Griffith) Henline of Clarksburg.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by sisters, Glenda Sigley, Beatrice, Rose Nuzum and Dorothy Henline (infant); and brothers Robert Henline, Worder (Jr.) Henline and Kenneth (Red) Henline.
Including her husband, Mrs. Baumgardner is survived by two daughters, Sharon (Mark) Boyce and Doris Dean; three granddaughters, and two great-granddaughters Also surviving are her sister, Catherine (Cathy) Riley; and a host of wonderful nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Baumgardner was raised in the Salvation Army of Clarksburg and was a longtime member of the Calvary United Methodist Church in Adamston where she was a member of the Crusaders Sunday school class, spent many volunteer hours at the church throughout the decades, and loved her church family.
Mrs. Baumgardner was a former 4-H club leader and volunteer 4-H summer camp counselor. She retired in the 1970s from the G.C. Murphy store in Clarksburg, having worked there for several decades. Mrs. Baumgardner was a 1949 graduate of WI.



DENZEL CLAY CLARK

Denzel “Denny” Clay Clark, Jr., 68, passed away on April 5, 2016 at Ruby Memorial Hospital.
He was born in Clarksburg, WV on November 18, 1947 a son of the late Denzel Clay Clark, Sr. and Lillian Ada Haslebacher Clark.
He is survived by his wife of 44 years Laraine S. Lushinski Clark whom he married July 17, 1971 and who resides at their home in Mt. Clare. Also surviving are one son, Clay Christopher (Sherri) Clark; one daughter, April Marie (Vernon) Santee four grandchildren; four step grandchildren; three sisters, Elnora Ganoe, Sandra Hoffman and Donna(Mike)  Fournier and several nieces and nephews.
Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by four brothers-in-law, Tony Ganoe, Stanley Grooms, John Lushinski, Jr., and Tom Gawthrop and his mother and father-in-law John and Sophie Lushinski.
He was a 1965 graduate of Washington Irving High School and attended electronics school for two years in Baltimore, MD. He then volunteered in the United States Army having served in Vietnam where he was a recipient of the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. He graduated from Fairmont State College with a Bachelor Degree in Accounting. He retired after 31 years as a self employed Tax Consultant in Mannington, WV and was a member of the Church of the Nazarene in Stonewood, WV. Denny enjoyed hunting and fishing trips with his family and traveling with his wife. He loved spending time with his family, especially with his grandchildren and following their sporting events.


DONALD LEE DOBBINS
(RW)

Donald (Don) Lee Dobbins of Bridgeport, died on April 4, 2016, at the West Virginia Veterans Nursing Facility in Clarksburg, WV, where he had been a resident since June 2015.
He was born on December 20, 1927, the sixth of 11 children to Leroy and Lucy (Sandy) Dobbins, who predeceased him.
He leaves behind his wife Ethel, whom he married in 1957; two daughters, Bridget (Rob) Fouse and Sheila (Shaun), two granddaughters; one great-grandson, and second great-grandson due August 2016; surviving siblings, Delores Westfall, Charles Dobbins and Ethel Patterson, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by siblings, Genevieve Serafini, Eugene Dobbins, Ruth Chestnut, Margaret Pence, Russell Dobbins, Bill Dobbins and Mary Kathrine Dobbins.
Don attended RW and left to join the military. He was a proud veteran of World War II, serving in the Navy from 1945 to 1947. He also served in the Korean Conflict as a wireman for the Marine Corps from 1948 to 1952. He served in the United Nations Summer-Fall Offensive from July 9 to November 27, 1951. In May of 2014 he was able to travel with other World War II and Korean veterans on the Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., to see “their” memorials.
Mr. Dobbins retired from Pittsburgh Plate Glass in 1983 after having to transfer to Creighton, PA and later to Crystal City, MO, in order to acquire his retirement.


TERI SAAS GOOTS
(VHS)

Teri Saas Goots, 65, of Clarksburg, passed away on April 11, 2016, at the United Hospital Center.
She was born in Clarksburg, WV, on February 24, 1951, a daughter of the late David and Ann Saas.
Teri is survived by her loving husband, Bobby Goots, whom she married on May 6, 1989.
She was a graduate of Victory High School, and retired from Clemons Physical Therapy as a receptionist. Teri raised therapy dogs and was a well known dog trainer. She leaves behind her four Otter Hounds that were show dogs, Annie, Aksel who was a champion, Luggy and Beep. Teri was known worldwide for raising and training these wonderful dogs. She was Catholic by faith.


RUTH ANN BEVAN JOHNSON

Ruth Ann Bevan Johnson, age 83, of Parkersburg, passed away on April 14, 2016.
She was born on November 27, 1932, to the late David A. and L. Margaret Bevan.
She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Richard D. Johnson, and their three sons, Steven (Susan) Johnson, Mark (Priscilla) Johnson, and Christopher (Kimberly) Johnson; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. She is also survived by a sister, Margaret Brasseur; and a brother, David (Joan) Bevan; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, Ruth was preceded in death by two brothers, Dr. Richard Bevan and Robert Bevan, and a sister, Jeanne Bevan Cottrill.
Ruth graduated from Washington Irving High School in Clarksburg and earned an Associate’s Degree from WVU Parkersburg. She retired from the U.S. Department of the Treasury — Bureau of the Public Debt in Parkersburg after more than 25 years of service. Ruth was a member of Stout Memorial United Methodist Church and was active in many ministries in the church. She was also a member of the Parkersburg Women’s Club and was a former volunteer at the Blennerhassett Island historical site. For the last year of her life, Ruth was lovingly cared for by her son, Christopher and daughter-in-law, Kimberly, at their home in Ohio.


CLIFTON WHALEY
(WI 1956)

Submitted by Bill White
I am saddened to announce the death of a dear friend, Clifton Whaley, from the WI Class of 1956 who died on April 4th, 2016 of a pulmonary embolism in Solvang, California, where he and his wife Gloria had lived for many years. Clif was the father of two daughters currently living in Colorado and in Arizona. For many years, Clif worked for the Raytheon Corporation and retired from that company in about 2002.
Clif grew up on Hart Street in Stealey and was a good friend of many of us in the class of ’56. He will be missed by all of us.
Thank you, Roleta for including this in the next publishing of the Newsletter. And thank you so much for your unswerving dedication to keep the memories of our hometown alive and well after all these years.
Blessings to you and Bill