Editor: Roleta Smith Meredith
Publisher: Jalon Smith Burton
From: Roleta, Bill, Jalon and all the volunteers who send your monthly email regarding
the newsletter.
From: Roleta1@a0l.com
When I
saw this cartoon, of course I thought of the one and only Emily Taylor! Bless
her heart. I liked Miss Taylor. I enjoyed diagramming. But I had her 2 years
and toward the end of the second year, we were diagramming sentences that were
really paragraphs, we could fill a page with our lines and colored underlines.
It was starting to get way out of hand.
I hated
her book reports and that is a subject for later discussion.
From:
Carolyn Burnside (WI 1952)
Hi Roleta - I had to write you
immediately so I couldn't forget. Who else would I think of but Emily Taylor and
sophomore English? She even had her own special requirement: colored pencils.
Nouns were blue, I think verbs were red, I'm sure adverbs were green, etc.,
etc., etc. We hated it. But I learned the parts of a sentence and never forgot
them. All the years that I taught English, I didn't torture my students with
diagramming, but I certainly found ways to explain sentence structure.
Actually, the best way is composition. But Emily Taylor was one of a kind. She
died in bed while grading papers.
From:
Dorothy Ann Hughes Shaffer (WI 1952)
I
actually enjoyed diagramming. I was launched into it by my 5th grade teacher,
Mrs. Wise, at Morgan Grade School. I recall that she asked several of us to
participate in a demonstration she was doing at a teacher's meeting. The
meeting was at WI High School and it seemed like a big deal to me to ride the
bus by myself then find my way to where I was supposed to be. At that time, WI
seemed absolutely huge to me.
I
thought diagramming was practical and have mentally started diagramming
sentences at times when I was "doing papers." I felt it helped me put
things together.
Thanks
again for all you put into this paper. It is incredible!
From:
Gladys Williams Williams (WI 971)
My 10th grade English
teacher was Mrs. Hutson. We did a lot of diagramming in her class. At the time
I really didn’t know that it would be beneficial to me, but later on I realized
that it did teach us proper grammar.
From:
Ruth Ann Martin Hill (WI 1959)
In
response to the November newsletter I would say that Miss Taylor, sophomore
English, was The Queen of Diagram. I recall some sentences that took up the
entire chalk board. Most of us moaned and groaned at the time, but entering WVU
a few years later not many of us ended up in Freshman “bonehead” English, which
I understood, was one of the toughest English classes on campus. Between Miss
Taylor preparing us in grammar and Miss Bailey in literature we were well set
for success in college English.
When I
began teaching in Georgia elementary went through 7th grade and high school was
8-12. They now have middle schools (7-9)
I
taught 7th graders English; however, most of my students had missed out somehow
on learning the basics of writing a complete sentence.
Therefore,
we went back to the basics of learning parts of speech. And you guessed it. I
sent them home with a note asking for a small box of crayons. We diagrammed using Miss Taylor’s method of colors. I believe I remembered her colors: nouns:
blue, verbs: red, adjectives: yellow, adverbs: green, conjunctions: black,
pronouns: orange, interjections: brown, prepositions: purple. May be wrong on my
colors, but this is what I used.
Of
course, I heard the moaning and groaning and as they complained at home, I also
had parents questioning my method. I knew it worked for me so I didn’t back
down. And it obviously worked for these students who came back once they went
to high school to tell me that the students from our elementary school had the
highest English grades in high school. One of the complaining Mothers actually
came back after her son went to college (at his request) to thank me. He had
told her that 7th grade was the only grade in his 12 years he had really been
taught English and now as a freshman in college it was paying off for him. For
all you teachers out there you know little things like this are our rewards.
Another
lesson involving where to put comma’s between cities, states, and dates I used
a sentence with Clarksburg, WV. As I stepped away from the board and the
sentence was able to be seen by the students a girl shouted out, “Really, Mrs.
Hill, Clarksburg, WV? My grandma lives there”. Turned out she is related to
Phil Carter. I cannot recall her name, but wish I did. Anyway, after Christmas break,
she showed up with pictures of Phil and his family and a sweatshirt for me with
Clarksburg across the front.
Have
many teacher stories as do most teachers! Retired after 32 years.
Always
enjoy the newsletter and so proud that Roleta and Judy who started it are from
our class of ’59.
It was
good to see so many others at the Clarksburg picnic in August.
From:
John Probst (WI 1964)
At WI
English teacher Emily Taylor was really in to the diagramming. One time she
tasked us to diagram the first sentence of the Gettysburg address!
You
know the one "Four score and seven years ago" etc. etc. etc.
You need
a very big piece of paper to do that!
I never
found much use for diagramming, or English Literature for that matter, and
Beowulf is still not high on my reading list!
I am
former victim of Miss Taylor, Mr. Fredrick, Mr. Gudekunst, Louis Traugh, Mrs. Bauld,
Maynard V Duckworth, and of course K.E. ("the snow is wet and dangerous,
no snowballing") Cubbon. Why was it never, "the snow is light and
fluffy, have fun"!! Inquiring minds want to know?
One has
to wonder what "characters" there are now at Robert Byrd HS! Or if
Robert Byrd ever set foot in the place?
From: Terry Shorr (WI/Elkins 1958)
Boy, do I remember diagramming sentences in Emily
Taylor's sophomore and junior English classes. My interest in literature was
stunted for a while, but I could parse the heck out of written sentence. Using
different colored crayons for different parts of speech, a compound-complex
sentence would nearly resemble a kaleidoscope pattern.
After
transferring to Ekins HS for senior year, I almost missed the process. Almost.
A
GET TOGETHER FOR
FRIENDS OF CLARKSBURG
IT’S A PICNIC IN FLORIDA
If you have ever lived in Clarksburg,
WV, and are now relocated in the south, come and join us for a picnic in
Sarasota, Fl on March 9, 2019, 10:30 am-4:00 pm. Mark your calendar now! And if
you are planning on coming, write and tell me. I want to know how many are
planning on coming. We look forward to seeing you there.
We haven’t had a picnic for 3 years
and we are hoping for a good turnout. There will never be another one, I am
just having this to so we can all get together to visit. Who knows, you may be
living in the same location as other people from Clarksburg and you didn’t even
know it. You might be amazed at the people from Clarksburg that you will run
into at the picnic.
I know it is hard to tell what 3 more
months might bring but I want the picnic to be on your calendar so you won’t
miss out by having planned something else on that date!
More details will follow. Or you can write to me about it if you need
more info now. Write
to Roleta1@aol.com
When emailing, please always
include:
1.
Your Complete Name
2.
Your School's Name
3.
Your Year If and/or When You Graduated
Thank you.
THIS IS THE LAST ONE.
ONE LAST TIME TO SAY GOOD-BYE
SWIMMING POOL PICTURE
From: Daniel W Richards (WI 1974)
The picture is from Stealey Pool which my Dad, Hagan
Richards, helped build with a lot of the other neighborhood Dads. Quite a feat
in those days.
In the picture above, I am in the second-row right end
and David Mayle 2nd row 4th from right sort of bending
over. Balance is lost in the haze!
I'm 99% sure no one in Stealey had a pool in their
backyard! The community pool that the dads in the area built was really
fantastic.
I can remember a lot of fun days there as well as a
few nights where we climbed over the fence! It was our earliest social center
and really was a special place.
They had picnic tables up on the Hill that our family
regularly used as well as all of our neighbors. Since it was at the top of what
seemed to be a very steep Hill at that time, we'd do our best to see if we
could pedal all the way up. It was great exercise but challenging at that time.
the ride down was a lot more fun.
When we were young teenagers, they had dances on the
roof which were very well attended. We thought it was pretty special. Lots of
great memories. I'm just hoping there are no videos of the dancing!
PARTY!
PARTY! PARTY! PARTY!
From:
Bob Swiger (WI 1961)
Teenagers
everywhere spend a lot of time looking for each other and fun on the week-ends.
My
family lived at 400 Horner Ave. directly behind WIHS. The family consisted of
my Mother (yes, I called her Mother not Mom) and Father as well as an older
brother John and an older sister, Eliza.
Eliza
was in a high school sorority and the girls wanted to throw a party. We literally
rolled up the rugs, broke out the latest-most popular rock and roll 45’s and
Eliza invited her friends, boys and girls. It never took long for the “grape
Vine” to send word that there was a weekend party even if you weren’t invited. Since
I was only about 10 years old at the time, I was shipped off to a friend’s
house to spend the night so I wouldn’t be a pest to my sister and her friends.
This was during the time when movies featured actors like Marlin Brando, Wild
One, being a bad boy and riding a motorcycle.
Boys
wore slicked back ducktail hair styles and pegged pants.
A group
of boys from Fairmont crashed the party and I thought they were the “coolest”
guys I had ever seen. One in particular had the coolest ducktail and pegged
pants and the James Dean attitude. I wanted to be like him but my butch cut
using butch wax just didn’t cut it. Nor did my blue jeans with holes in the
knees (I was way ahead of my time with the holy blue jeans). It was rumored
that “cool guy” put a pep pill in the punch. Wow!!
I never
became that cool.
My hair
wouldn’t “ducktail” and I had no “swag” except my name.
By the
way, my parents saw to it that there was no alcohol at the party.
Does
anyone else remember those 50’s, 60’ house parties?
Write to Roleta1@aol.com
When emailing, please always
include:
1. Your Complete Name
2. Your School's Name
3. Your Year If and/or When You Graduated
Thank you.
FEED SACKS
From: Roleta1@aol.com
Do you remember feed sacks?
What do you remember about them?
What do you remember about them?
Where did they come from and how were
they used?
Recently the above picture appeared
on Facebook, some of you (including Sharyn, Marolyn and others) made comments. I hope
you will comment now to make this an interesting article.
When emailing, please always
include:
1.
Your Complete Name
2.
Your School's Name
3.
Your Year If and/or When You Graduated
Thank you.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Jalon Smith Burton publisher, Santa
Clause,
and Roleta Smith Meredith, creator and editor
DECEMBER MYSTERY PEOPLE
FIRST MYSTERY PEOPLE PICTURE
Please
name these people left to right.
Who are these people?
Where were
they?
Write to Roleta1@aol.com with
When emailing, please always include:
1. Your Complete Name
2. Your School's Name
3. Your Year If and/or When You Graduated
Thank you.
SECOND MYSTERY PEOPLE PICTURE
Give us
some information about this picture.
Name the guys left to right.
Where are
they?
When was this picture taken?
Write to Roleta1@aol.com with
When emailing, please always include:
1. Your Complete Name
2. Your School's Name
3. Your Year If and/or When You Graduated
Thank you.
Submitted by John Teter (WI 1961)
from the collection of Bill Post (WI 1961)
From:
Sally Pulice (WI 1969)
First,
as always, thank you to Roleta, Jalon, and Bill, for keeping all of us
connected to Clarksburg and our WI memories and classmates.
Second,
a big shout out to Rebecca (Becky) Hunn, my WI 1969 classmate and WVU college
roommate. Wow! One of my best friends is an author! That's my claim to fame.
Her book, Finding Joe, is an easy read, and if you know Harrison, Marion, and
Monongalia Counties and Pittsburgh, you will enjoy the story's setting. Becky,
tells me she is working on book #2. Hooray, and I am looking forward to that
publication.
One of
my favorite WI club memories was Radio Club. Every Sunday afternoon four
members of Radio Club (rotating schedule) would meet at the top of the long,
steep steps of the WHAR radio station that was located at the bottom of
Bridgeport Hill. We would be 'on the air' from 2:30 to 3:00. Miss Dorothy
Underwood (Speech Teacher) was our sponsor, but I do not recall her having much
input as to our 'on air' content or scheduling. There was always a DJ present,
and I believe he chose the music that was played in between our announcements.
We reported on past. present, and future school news. While the music was
playing, I always liked reading the world news that was constantly coming over
the United Press wire. Three members of the WI Class of 1969 went on to become
speech pathologists to include Rick Squires, Libby Lear, and myself. Rick
continued his studies to become an audiologist. Ironically, Joseph (Joe) Stemple,
would have also been in our graduating class, but his family moved prior to our
junior year. Joe attended Alta Vista and Central Junior High, as well. I'm
pretty sure he and I were in every class together at Alta Vista, and he may
have been my second-grade boyfriend, just saying! Joe holds a PhD in speech
pathology, and he is currently a professor at the University of Kentucky. Joe's
accomplishments (multiple books and research) are well documented in the area
of voice rehabilitation as it relates to speech pathology. I've always wondered
if Radio Club influenced our career choices. Rick, Libby, and I were members of
Radio Club. I cannot recall if Joe was. Radio Club is described with pictures
on pages 76-77 of the 1969 WI yearbook.
Do you have a memory that you would like to share? You would be surprised how many people love to hear other people's memories!
When emailing, please always
include:
1.
Your Complete Name
2.
Your School's Name
3.
Your Year If and/or When You Graduated
Thank you.
NOVEMBER MYSTERY PICTURE
From: David Ellis (WI 1960)
I don't know if the quality of this picture will
reproduce clearly enough, but it is a picture of the Satellite Drive-In that
was located on Pike Street in Kelly Hill, between Joyce Street and Minards. The
Satellite was built and operated by the Madia family. It was a popular teen hang out after it
opened in the mid-1950's, serving the typical array of burgers, fries, shakes
and soft drinks. I don’t remember when it closed.
From: Bill Bryan (RW 1957)
I'm taking a stab here. But could it be the Satellite
Drive-In on East Pike St. Kind of looks like the entry.
Back in 1963-64, while attending Fairmont State, I
worked nights and Saturdays at Kroger's in the west end on Pike St. Kroger's
was good about hiring college students.
I think there were 12 to 15 of us. Most Fairmont State
and some Salem students. As I remember, we made $2.25/hr. Not bad in those
days. 34 hr/wk. Often some of us after work (11:30 PM Monday and Friday, 11:00
PM Tue-Wed-Thu), would go to the Satellite for snacks and drinks and
"loafing." I believe the Satellite was open until 2 AM then (long
time ago-I could be wrong). Nice relaxation after a day at school and a night
at work!
From: Chuck Wilson (WI 1967)
I think the November Mystery Picture is the Satellite
Drive Inn, that was located on E. Pike St.
That was the hangout in the late 60’s through the mid
70’s. Great burgers & Hoagies.
WOODWORKING
From: Marty Ashland (WI 1959)
My first wood working project was to
"sporterize" the stock of an old British army rifle. I was 15 at the
time and my son still hunts with it today. To illustrate how things have
changed, I ordered it by mail, it required no permits, it was shipped free and
cost a grand total of $14.95.
Immediately below is a picture of 2 different 75-year-old
military rifles that I've "sporterized" in the past couple years. I
built the gun rack and then I needed something to put on it.
There is also an individual picture of a "sawed off" rifle as well as one of original military rifles I used. My only current rifle project is a "ghost" gun but, few people other than "gun nuts" like Mike Snyder know what that is.
There is also an individual picture of a "sawed off" rifle as well as one of original military rifles I used. My only current rifle project is a "ghost" gun but, few people other than "gun nuts" like Mike Snyder know what that is.
I have built big wood projects and little wood
projects. The largest project was the 8'x 12' shed with a walk-in door, lawn tractor door, 2 windows and
2 skylights. (built from scratch - below).
The largest inside wood project is this solid oak
antique icebox below (built from scratch).
The smaller projects are ones like these checkerboard puzzles below. "Insight into the obvious.”
One shows how it looks assembled and one shows how it looks dissembled. The original one was made by my Dad in 1953, but I made these in the last couple months. I have never seen anyone who was able to work this puzzle, but if you want to give it a try, let me know and I'll send it to you.
I always have several projects in the pipe line and when I get bored with one, I go to another one, but eventually they all get done.
So, keep your tools sharp and always measure twice/cut once and remember the famous words of Sam Rayburn. " Any jackass can
kick down a barn, but it takes a good carpenter to build one."
EDITOR'S NOTE: Do you have a hobby? Write to Roleta1@aol.com. Share your love of your hobby with
us. Share some pictures too. Thank you for supporting your newsletter.
Write to Roleta1@aol.com
When emailing, please always
include:
1. Your Complete Name
2. Your School's Name
3. Your Year If and/or When You Graduated
Thank you.
From: Gladys
Williams Williams (WI 1971)
My husband Tom Williams (Victory
1967) was known as “Hot Rod”. His friends called him this because he was so
fast. A few people knew him as “Red Man” because of his red hair.
From:
John Teter (WI 1961)
When I wrote to you last month in regard to
"nicknames", I had totally forgotten about a 1962 WI grad that I used
to run around with and played little league baseball with. His name was Robert
(HOPPY) Junkins. Where the "HOPPY" came from, I do not know. I do not
know if he even knew. He lived up off of Haymond Highway, and I can remember
going to his house many times. He was a terrific baseball pitcher during his
tenure on the little league team, but I sort of lost track of him after little
league. I do know that he passed away a few years ago.
EARLY AIR
MAIL IN WEST VIRGINIA
From:
Dorothy Ann Hughes Shaffer (WI 1952)
I was
interested in seeing the item related to Air Mail 1945 in the new WI
Newsletter. I want to try to respond to that but this will maybe need some
editing to come out right. I don't know for sure if it is even OK to quote an
article like this but I am just noting a few things. It was such an interesting
article in the GOLDENSEAL that I have hung onto it. Surely there must be old
magazines in some of the WV libraries and this is a good one.
I was
particularly interested in the Air Mail 1945 item in this month's Newsletter. A
GOLDENSEAL Magazine from Spring 1994 has more information on this and also
gives a number of other references. According to this article, the service was
approved by Congress May 1, 1939 with the first flight beginning June 25th.
This was a service of All-American Airlines operating out of Pittsburgh,
serving 20 communities in WV plus some in Ohio and Pennsylvania. WV was the first in the nation and in the world to have this service.
By 1943 there were 34 communities served. Each town had to put up $450.00 a
year for the service: $150.00 for equipment, plus $300 toward an attendant's
salary.
There
was no record of any place rejecting the deal. The planes were flying about 100
mph when they snagged the rope with the deliveries. They had a fascinating
record with only a few deaths incurred. During the 1940-41 Ohio River flood,
men using rowboats hung the outgoing mailbags just over the water, while the
planes dropped badly needed medicines and whole blood on dry land nearby
Stations were added in other states including New York, New Jersey, Delaware,
and several New England states. The last pick-up flight was in 1949. In 1953,
All American became Allegheny Airlines, which in 1979, became USAir.
Sports Editor: Bill Meredith
(Monongah HS 1957)
billmere@aol.com
please email our Sports editor with your comments, questions and especially your memories
Bill:
I really enjoyed your write-up with Tommy and Gladys
Williams. I was at WVU when they were “a couple”. I grew up with Gladys, her
twin sister Anna and their brother Marty. Great people! I knew Tommy and the
Mountaineers he played with at that time. That team ended a long drought of
Southern Conference-type losing teams. QB Mike Sherwood along with Bubba
Braxton (became O.J Simpson’s blocking back with the Buffalo Bills) Bob
Gresham, Ken Osleger, and defensive guys including Dale Farley (also play for
the Bills), Charley Fisher, Leon Jenkins, Algie LaBraska, Art Holdt among
others went to the Peach Bowl. Even though I went to the game, I don’t remember
who won. Great guys, Great memories.
Jim Hovey (WI 1962)
Reply to Jim:
I'm glad you liked the article and
hope that others did as well. I really enjoyed meeting with Tom and Gladys.
They had so many stories to tell, which brought back fond memories of growing
up in West Virginia and my days in Morgantown at WVU. I hope to do more stories
of this type in future issues and am always open to suggestions from our
readers for subjects.
Thanks for your comments.
Incidentally, if you were referring to the 1969 Peach Bowl, the Mountaineers
beat South Carolina, 14-3.
Bill (billmere@aol.com)
Bill:
This is in response to Roleta's cry for
"Nicknames". I send it to you as it has a "sports" origin -
sort of......
Somewhere around 1948-49 when I was an early teenager,
I sprouted up to 6'3" and weighed a straggly 150# tops. Back then anyone
taller was a "freak". I lived up on the Hill behind WI near John
Lynch who was a blossoming basketball player and. later Captain/Leading Scorer
of the 1951 WI basketball squad.
John had a perfect space in his side yard for a half
court shoot-around lot. My Dad worked for Mon. Power and "purloined"
an electric pole for us to which we attached a homemade backboard & rim.
This space then began to attract friends for regular 2/3 on 2/3 (sometimes
more) games after school and on weekends.
A popular "shoot-around" game, as many of
you will recall was "HORSE". I won't go into details, but you had to
repeat a made shot or get a letter attached. Five missed shots and you were
out. Thus, it became obvious to all around me very early in life that I was no
Rod Hundley, Jerry West or Steph Curry. The only shot I could reliably be
counted upon to make at that time and for many years afterward, was a simple
"lay-up" and then only with my right hand. Jump shots? Hooks? Don't
waste your time. I was destined to a basketball lifetime of rebounding and
feeding the Lynches & McCartys of the world.
Punchline? Some of you may recall that a popular
pseudonym for lay-ups at that time was the "Hop-shot" due to the
little "skip-step" you took before releasing the ball. Thusly, I was
appropriately nicknamed "HOP"! Believe it or not, it caught
on. Girls (Miss Julia) called me "Hoppy". Even to this day, there are
those (Rusty Sloan WI-51) who still use the nickname very casually 70 years
later.
Another long, boring story - but my kids think it's
either funny or weird.
Joe Malone (WI 1952)
Reply To "Hop":
I could have guessed for years and never come up with
that nickname for you. Isn't it interesting how small details in life make some
of the best stories? Thanks for sharing this with us. (Roleta thanks you, too)
Enjoy your time with family on the west coast. We hope to see you again on your
next trip to "Almost Heaven".
Bill (billmere@aol.com)
Bill:
An Elkins schoolmate, now living in Muscatine, IA,
invited me to the WVU-Iowa State game in October. Never having visited Iowa, I
took the opportunity and enjoyed the visit, other than the football game score.
When, after an interception led to Will Grier hitting David
Sills to put WVU up 7-0, it looked like business as usual and we'd win easily.
Other than the blocked field goal to close out Mountaineer scoring, we were
never again in this game. ISU dominated
on both sides of the ball.
Never have I witnessed a team better prepared for an
opponent than the Cyclones. Seemingly, every time Will Grier took a snap, one,
two or more defenders were chasing him down. When he could elude them for a
split second to seek out receivers, they were covered. Our running game was
shut down and theirs thrived with their now healed star running back.
Their quarterback, less than five months removed from
high school, used sandlot tactic pump fakes to make our defenders leave their
feet as he eluded them for positive yardage, or to complete passes to their 8'
tall receiver and seven others.
Afterward, some called for wholesale changes,
including Dana Holgorsen's dismissal. Balderdash, we got our butts kicked, by a
team that was very, very well prepared for WVU.
A setback for sure, but maybe a wakeup call to reset
the Mountaineers for a run to the Big 12 Championship and victories through the
end of this season.
Let's Goooooooo, MOUNTAINEERS!!!!
Terry Shorr (WI / Elkins 1958)
Reply to Terry:
Great letter. You saw in person what the rest of us
saw on TV, but the analysis was the same. The Mountaineers really never saw the
train before they were run over by it. Matt Campbell and his Defensive
Coordinator had a brilliant game plan and the team executed it perfectly. I
agree that it was a wakeup call for WVU. They have played much better since
then. By the time you read this, we'll know more about the rest of the season.
Thanks for your comments. It is always good to hear
from you.
Bill (billmere@aol.com)
Bill:
I have a good story regarding Joe Retton. Years ago, I
used to work Fairmont on Mondays. I have a friend that worshiped the ground
that Jo Jo walked on and he started dragging me to Fairmont State practices
with him. We were watching the Falcons practice and there was one player who
couldn’t get his assignment straight on where to go in Retton’s matchup zone,
which is understandable, because it’s a complicated defense. Retton kept
stopping the plays, shaking his head and informing the player where he had to
go when the offense did this. After stopping the plays for the fourth time,
Retton walked out on the court. He put his arm around the player and pointed to
a state policeman who was a fixture at the practices. He said to the player. “Do
you see that state policeman over there?” The player replied that he did.
Retton said, “He’s got a gun and the next time that you miss your assignment,
I’m going to take his gun and shoot you. Now please don’t make me call your
mother and tell her that I had to shoot you in practice because you wouldn’t go
where you were supposed to go”. Of course, everyone including the player
laughed but the next time the offense overloaded the zone in his side, he was
right where he was supposed to be.
Dave Rowe (WI 1962)
Reply to Dave:
Thanks so much for the story. There are hundreds of
Joe Retton stories. He was unique and one of a kind. I was once told that he
didn't have enough funds to provide soft drinks and snacks for his team at
halftime and after games. That did not stop Jo-Jo. He went out into the
community and literally insisted (begged) that local merchants support Falcon
basketball by donating these items. It usually took him several trips, but he
always found willing businesses to help him out and every game was covered.
I envy your being able to watch his practices. It is
not often that you get to see a legend practicing his trade. Thank you for
sharing your story with us.
Bill (billmere@aol.com)
SABAN'S FIRST
CHAMPIONSHIP
Elsewhere in this newsletter is the second part of an article
entitled, "What Made Me, Me". Most will agree that the top major
college football coach today is Nick Saban at the University of Alabama, one of
several successful college coaches born in West Virginia. Everyone seems to
have an opinion on Saban, they either love him or hate him. There is little or
no middle ground.
HERE is a link to an article written by Alex Scarborough, an
ESPN Staff Writer. It is a good story with which I can identify, because I
lived something similar a decade earlier - same school, same coach and even the
same jersey number. I think Nick Saban would say that his first championship
season is a big part of "What Made Me. Me".
FRANK LORIA ALL-AMERICAN
He was known as Frankie Paul by his
family when I first met him back in 1956. I was a WI senior dating his sister
Erma and saw him in his home during visits there. He must have been an
eighth-grader then and not a very big guy, but man, talk about wry and strong
for his size. I know because I did a little wrestling around with him and he
was more than a handful and quicker than heck. The years went by and he became
a stellar athlete in three sports at Notre Dame High School. It was his prowess
on the gridiron that caught the attention of Division 1-A coach, Jerry Claiborne
of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute, now known as Virginia Tech.
STEEL WEDGE
Back to the summer of 1962. I had just
come off active duty in the USMCR and was the pool manager and life-guard at Nutter
Fort. One day, while Frank was still in high school, he stopped by the pool,
and remembering each other, we started talking. Gone was the wiry little guy
that I recalled from six years previously. The young man that I saw that day
was solid muscle with solid arms and shoulders and a full chest—shaped like a
steel wedge. His compact frame, strength and speed later was put to the test in
the defensive backfield at VPI where he was joined by another player by the
name of Frank Beamer. You can read on the internet how Frank developed into
such a stellar safety who could size up opponents' offensives and create havoc
against them, of his interceptions and defensive touchdowns—to the extent, that
by 1967 he had made such a name for himself at VPI, that he earned the
distinction of consensus All-American, first team defense.
LATER LEGACY
I read that he married his high school
sweetheart (some of you readers know her and please send in her name and other
family notes, if you'd like.) Frank was taking graduate classes at WVU when he
got the call to coach defensive backs at Marshall University. Also, on the
coaching staff there was a fraternity brother of mine, WVU's Jim “Shorty” Moss.
But tragically, on Nov. 14, 1970, came the fateful disaster of the Marshall
plane crash. Frank was just 27 years old. There were no survivors. But those
players, coaches, and supporters have been memorialized for all time. Frank
Beamer remarked once that had Frank not lost his life, he might have become the
VT head coach and Beamer, an assistant. In 1999, Frank Loria and his old coach,
Jerry Claiborne, were inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. He had
already been named to the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 1989. There's a
pennant that flies above the VT stadium bearing his name. And Frank Loria Field
commemorates his name in Nutter Fort—just a short distance from where I last
saw him. Some years back (two decades?) I saw a picture in the paper that
looked exactly like him, so closely that I thought it was Frank, himself. It
was in a way—the picture was that of Frank Loria. Jr., wearing the uniform of a
graduating senior at the United States Military Academy at West Point.
IN CLOSING
I remember Frank's father, John, a
quiet man who wore a tie. John's father, aged and stooped, was an immigrant
from Italy who lived with the Donellon family in Glen Elk--I remember him also.
Frank also had two daughters. Frank Jr., the West Point graduate, never knew
his dad. His mother was 7 ½months pregnant when his father was killed. Frank
Loria and his family are a classic story of a family that truly personifies the
highest ideals of America.
NOTE : Those of you - Frank's old
teammates, his family, and friends may want to send on your remembrances of
Frank to the Newsletter and also any corrections or additions to this article.
Mike Snyder (WI 1957)
Reply to
Mike:
There is not much I can add to this
fine article, so I'll just say thank you for helping us remember a great
athlete and native son of Clarksburg and Harrison County.
Bill (billmere@aol.com)
WHAT MADE ME, ME
By Bill Meredith
Last month we told you about a project spearheaded by
Bill Bennett, the boys’ basketball coach at R C Byrd High School. His team wore
“throwback” uniforms for a game in early 2018, against Preston High School. Those
uniforms honored Kelly Miller High School, which was closed in 1956. Tee shirts
with the school name and mascot were also sold and worn by the RCB team,
cheerleaders and fans to further honor the former school.
We recently talked with Coach Bennett to explore what
plans he has for this season and beyond. The original plan was to honor all
three former high schools, whose areas now comprise the RCB student body, in
the order of their closing. The next school up will be Roosevelt Wilson, which
closed in 1990. The R C Byrd basketball team will wear uniforms, which are a
replica of the red and gray R W uniforms, for a game against East Fairmont High
School in February, 2019.
Doug Hogue, who was the last basketball coach at R W
and is currently a member of the Harrison County Board of Education, has agreed
to design the R W tee shirt, which will be available for purchase after the
first of the year. They hope to market the shirts through an online store, which
should make them readily available to the large group of R W fans and friends
who still have great memories of the school. Coach Bennett has promised to let
us know as soon as information on the website is available and we will pass it
on to our readers.
As was done last year, the R W uniforms will only be
worn one time. After that, they will be given to the people who paid to purchase
them or sold to interested fans.
According to Bennett, he was amazed at the enthusiasm
for the project shown by the local administrators, the local community and the
players. Businesses and the general public have both contributed to ensure its
success. One potential problem proved to be no problem at all. The WVSSAC, the
governing body for high school athletics in the state, readily gave an
exemption to R C Byrd to wear the “throwback” uniforms. Opposing coaches and
players also seemed to like the idea and helped make last year’s game a
memorable one. People from other areas of the state have shown interest in
doing something similar in their areas. Specifically, a man from the
Williamson, WV area thinks the smaller schools which were consolidated into
Mingo Central High School should be honored accordingly.
During our discussions, I asked Coach Bennett what
kind of a team he thought he might have at R C Byrd this season. He indicated
that he had a lot of experience returning from last year, when he actually
played as many as five freshmen during a game. In fact, the team’s leading
scorer was a freshman. Team size might be a problem, but he feels that by
playing a lot of players and playing fast, they should be competitive in most
of their games.
Again, I want to thank Coach Bill Bennett for his
ongoing efforts to honor teams from the past. After R W, the last school will
be Washington Irving, which will be honored during the 2019-20 basketball
season. Good luck to your team this season and we look forward to seeing them
in the red R W uniforms in February and the blue and gold of W I the following
season.
Please send your thoughts and comments on this article
or any other sport's item to: Bill (billmere@aol.com)
When emailing, please always
include:
1. Your Complete Name
2. Your School's Name
3. Your Year If and/or When You Graduated
Thank you.
The WVU football season is finally
over and it was quite a season. Even though he won't win the Heisman Trophy,
Will Grier had an outstanding season and established himself as one of the best
quarterbacks to ever play for the Mountaineers. His many fine receivers showed
that the preseason hype about their skill was well deserved.
Unfortunately, the loss of most of
the linebackers due to injury was a huge problem for a defense that was
average, at best, even at full strength. In the Big 12 Conference, the offenses
have ruled for many years and one has to wonder if the defenses will ever catch
up. To combat a great passing game, you must have a better than average pass
rush. WVU found that out in the Iowa State game, where Grier was held to 100
yards passing. As I've said previously, the Mountaineers can't seem to generate
much of a pass rush with their 3-3-5 defense and that probably won't change as
long as Tony Gibson runs the defense.
The final regular season record was
8-3, with one game being cancelled due to the hurricane in North Carolina.
Since our readers' predictions were based on a 12-game season, determining a
winner was difficult. After much thought, we decided it would be fair to use
the actual winning percentage as the determining factor. Four of our readers
chose an 8-4 finish, which calculates as a 0 .667 percentage. Three picked 9-3,
which is 0.75. The final 8-3 record is at 0.727, which is nearest the 9-3
record.
Jim Alvaro, W I 1956, Gary Wamsley, W
I 1960 and Bud Collins, W I 1955, all guessed the 9-3 final record. However,
only one can win, so we had a drawing, using those three names. Jim Alvaro was
the lucky winner and will receive the WVU related gifts. We hope to have a
picture of Jim with his gifts for the January newsletter.
Thanks to all those who participated.
I'm sure next year will be an exciting year as we begin a new era in
Mountaineer football, an era I'll call WWG (Without Will Grier). It should be
interesting.
Send your thoughts and comments about
anything sports to:
Bill (billmere@aol.com)
When emailing, please always include:
1. Your Complete Name
2. Your School's Name
3. Your Year If and/or When You Graduated
Thank you.
From: Gladys Williams Williams (WI 1971)
Bill, Thank you so much for the excellent write up
about Tom in the October issue.
Tim Corsini (WI 1951)
and wife Naomi
Joe
Malone (WI 1952) recently stopped for a visit with Tim and his wife Naomi.
Thank you, Joe, for sending us the nice picture of them in their lovely home.
ADVENTURES OF JACQUES
CLICHES:
ANNOYER
EXTRAORDINAIRE
On the Horns of a Dilemma
From:
Tim Corsini (WI 1951)
Jacques Clichés is on the horns of a dilemma. Unable
to kill two birds with one stone but still cautiously optimistic, at this point
in time, he would give an arm and a leg for closure. But, by any stretch of the
imagination, he remains up in the air, on the fence, scratching his head and
barking up the wrong tree.
Jacques makes no bones about it. Some people pooh-pooh
his efforts, more or less, and to be honest with you, those who want to see
heads roll, let the cat out of the bag while others spill the beans. By and
large, they pull no punches, so to speak. To tell you the truth, Jacques plays
his cards close to his vest, keeps his ducks in a row and finds the finger
pointing and raised eyebrows a hard row to hoe. But he bends over backwards,
sees the handwriting on the wall and at the drop of a hat, finds something to
float his boat, if you know what I mean. Jacques wants his cake and eat it, too
- the whole enchilada. Although he keeps his nose clean, he is like a bull in a
china shop. He goes out on a limb, puts his neck on the line, and sees light at
the end of the tunnel.
Jacques draws a line in the sand and in no way, shape,
or form, shoots himself in the foot. He rolls up his sleeves, sweeps his mess
under the rug, and in a nutshell, does not throw the baby out with the bath. He
bites the bullet, eats humble pie and takes the whole ball of wax.
At the end of the day, Jacques sticks to his guns but
is out of the frying pan and into the fire. He is called on the carpet and no
one will go to bat for him. Some, who believe that the proof is in the pudding,
pull the rug out from under him, hold his feet to the fire and burn his
Achilles heel.
Responding
re: clichés
From:
Bill Meredith (Monongah HS 1957)
I loved
the letter from Tim Corsini (WI 1951) making liberal use of clichés. Since I do
a lot of writing, I’m sure that I am guiltier than most in overusing them. I
love to use sayings from the “good old days”, many of which were clichés.
However, I always try to be “above board” with my readers and even though I’ll
try to improve, I know that “action speaks louder than words” and I will
probably never be able to do an “about face”.
My
favorite cliché is from my favorite movie, “The Bridge on the River Kwai”, “All
work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy”. Be happy in your work!!
Picture submitted by: Bob Kramer (WI 1965)
MYSTERY
MEN
FROM
NOVEMBER
From: Justin Jerry Hustead (WI1963)
The mystery man on the right is Allen
Alvarez. I knew his Mom Ruby and Dad Herman first when they had the Dairy Queen
in the West End. One of my 3 paper routes was in the West End and Ruby would
always give me a small cone. She was a great lady who loved to laugh! I saw
Allen for the first time when he pulled in behind the Dairy Queen in a Triumph
TR3. WOW! I think from that day forward I was hooked on sports cars. When I
opened the Auto Match "Sports car Specialist" during the gas crisis
of 1985 in Fairmont I knew who I needed to help me in the sports car business
it was "Guru" of sports cars, Allen. I contacted him and we attempted
to sell foreign cars to folks who wouldn't be caught dead in a foreign hearse.!
I went bankrupt and moved to Charleston SC and Allen moved to Florida.
From:
Allen Alvarez (WI 1958)
The picture above was taken in
Germany where Allen Alvarez (WI 1958) on the right ran into the officer on the
left who is Col. Ken Rector, son of Paul Rector (WI 1958) Small world isn’t it?
WI
CLASS OF 1958
60TH
REUNION
Picture
furnished by Tom Talman
Those
attending were:
The
1958 Class of WI held their 60th reunion on Saturday, September 29
at the Conference Center at Charles Pointe.
There
were 36 classmates who attended with a total of 61 with guests. The time was 5:00 to 10:00 although some
stayed longer to visit. Many have sent messages saying how much the reunion has
meant to them.
We want
to thank the committee from the “Breakfast Club” who worked diligently, Sonny
Donaldson for the Invocation, Tom Lee as Master of Ceremony and Tom Spelsburg
for leading stories of events and teachers at WI.
The
reunion has brought people together again. Those who worked on the committee
have become “friends”. has been a
pleasure and we would like to encourage other classes to get involved in the
planning of their reunions. For the people our age we say “well done”!
The
Breakfast Club
From: Jim
Ashley (WI 1962)
Re: The
boys on the train for their Boy Scout Trip to Washington, D. C.
The
unidentified boy in the front middle was Gordon Cain.
From:
J. J. Hustead (WI 1963)
Thank you Roleta for the wonderful
job you do in putting the newsletter together. Without you so many stories and
memories would be lost forever.
From: Steve Griffith NDHS (WI 1960)
This letter was misplaced. It was sent in response to
the mystery picture in the October issue which was of Paul Rector (WI 1958)
Paul is a great person.
He was a hard worker growing up and a good WV State
Policeman.
He and Dickey raised two nice boys. It hurt when he
called and told me. Dickey had come down with the same brain cancer that John
McCain succumbed to, but she only
lasted about 6 months. It happened so fast.
I treasure his friendship.
From: Mike Snyder (WI 1957)
EDITOR’S NOTE: Mike
wrote in reply to a question I had sent to him re: the making of “Apple Snyder”
see pictures in the November issue. I have met his wife, Jill, and I know if he
and Wirt Wolfe were making apple cider that Jill had to be greatly involved. He
wrote:
Jill has to strain it thru cheese cloth and used to
wash all the apples. Once she ran her fingers between the heavy gears. I had to
rush her to ER horn blaring - in shock. ER Doc was from Alaska - and used to
dealing with grizzlies and gun shots - so he saved her fingers.
Trying other alternatives now - putting tarps down over
mud and deer droppings so we don’t have to go through so much hard washing of countless
apples.
Cider making is lots of hard work. Record for us was
73 gallons in 2015, all hand cranked. Last two years no apples, this year tons.
So, we get our kids and grandkids in to help.
We plan to only do smaller pressings in future as with
Wirt. Bigger ones we'll leave to the kids and stand back.
From: Bill Bryan (RW 1957)
I know it's a lot of work, but happy you're doing one
more Sarasota reunion. I plan to attend. My wife will not. Lots of health
issues. Just too hard for her. Hoping the turnout will be a success. We're all
getting older, so I know what others are facing.
With the Newsletter, the Clarksburg reunion, the
Sarasota reunion, and your travels back and forth, you certainly are keeping
busy and doing well. You know how much your readers appreciate you and your
sister's work. And of course, Tim's efforts. To any veteran I see with a cap, I
shake his hand firmly and say "Thank you for your service!" And I say
to you, THANK YOU for your service!
BASKETS BY SUE LABER
From: Sue Stephenson Laber (WI 1955)
Thanks for the write up about my baskets. You
mentioned the basket with blue beads being from my mother’s necklace. However,
you did not show a picture of that basket. Here it is.
2018 SCHOLARSHIP
WINNER
WRITES
TO YOU
From:
Haley Thomas (R.C. Byrd HS 2018)
WIN SCHOLARSHIP WINNER
WIN SCHOLARSHIP WINNER
Sorry
it took me so long to do a monthly check up with you. It’s been crazy with
midterm week and getting ready to finish the next 5 weeks of freshman semester.
I schedule for my 2nd semester Monday and I will make sure to send that to you.
It has been a crazy busy month but I am enjoying every bit of college!
EDITOR’S NOTE: Haley’s
grades have been very good this first semester at Fairmont State University.
WIN
SCHOLARSHIP QUILT
Tickets
will be made out for the following who sent checks for the scholarship this
month:
Mary
Sue Clark Spahr
David
Saucer
Allen
Alvarez
Herb
Cashdollar
John
Allen
Mary
Virginia Wilke
Melinda
Sutter
Sharon
Gordon DiMaria
Terry
Schorr
Sally
Pulice
Thanks
to each of you who are giving back to Clarksburg by helping a student with
their college expenses.
WIN Quilters = WE
Since I am of a certain generation, Neil Diamond is one of my
favorite singers.
The 12th song on his 2005 CD 12 Songs is named “WE”.
Part of the chorus is:
It's not about You
It's not about Me,
It's all about “WE”
So, what does that have to do with the WIN Scholarship quilt?
It wouldn't be successful, without “WE”:
-Roleta, Bill and Jalon producing the
monthly WI Newsletter with great contributions from many of “YOU”.
-The many generous donors who
contribute to the Scholarship fund
-and of course, the wonderful WIN
Quilters who make blocks each year to create a special quilt.
These are the WIN Quilters who have participated through the
years:
Carolyn Layfield Cady - Napa CA
Mary Liz Custer Carder - Bastrop TX
Gwen Clark - Seneca SC
Carol Dean - Hodges SC
Pam Wolfe Brown - Grafton WV
Barb Charles - Erie PA
Verna George - Transfer PA
Sadie Graham - Salem WV
Mary Hulick - Newton Falls OH
Nancy Jackson - Clarksburg WV
Dianne Jeffries Kantzler - Scottsdale AZ
Sherry Keith - Daytona Beach FL
Joan Merrill - Logan UT
Gig Selby Meredith - Wheeling WV
Sue Selby Moats - Silver Spring MD
Mary Nophsker - Deceased 2014
Elaine Nortemann - Hilton Head Island SC
Joyce Reed Royse - Morgantown WV
Mary Sue Clark Spahr - Fairborn OH
Lin Stricker - Burns TN
Kitty Sager - Hilton Head SC
Mary Virginia Duncan-Wilke - Phoenix AZ
Mary Ann Hite Williams - Phoenix AZ
So, you can see “We” are very diverse group spread
across the great USA.
You can expect another great WIN quilt from them again in 2019.
So, start sending your donations to Roleta for your chances
to WIN
and help more students from RC Byrd HS further their
education.
Good Luck from me, Sue (Selby) Moats (WI 1955)
The Quilt is made each year to support the scholarship.
Tickets are sold only through the newsletter.
PURCHASE YOUR QUILT TICKETS
Tickets cost 6 for $5.00, 12 for $10.00, For $15.00 you will
get 18 tickets and 24 tickets for $20.00 and on and on and on.
To get tickets
for the quilt drawing:
Make check payable to Roleta G. Meredith c/0 WIN Scholarship
Mail your check to Roleta Meredith
3201 Charles MacDonald Dr.
Sarasota, FL 34240
Be sure to include your name, school and year of graduation
in the envelope. Thank you.
NEW READERS
Elizabeth
Ann Kemper Errico (WI 1963) eannkemper@icloud.com
Mindi Kerns
Simon (WI 1987) mendi.simon@gmail.com
Carolyn Grant Tallman (Class of 58) tomtalman@aol.com
Juanita Herbert
Bryan (WI 1958) and Paul Bryan (WI 1934) pabryan@frontier.net
Barbara
Cottrill Iaquinta (WI 1966) barbini714@gmail.com
C. R. (Chuck) Thomas (WI 1956) drcrthomas@zoominternet.net
Bob Trent (WI 1955) and Charlotte (Bridgeport 1959) wvbob1@twc.com
JUST IN CASE YOU
MISSED IT
PUBLISHER’S NOTE: We are a huge fan of the CBS Sunday Morning show at
our house. We grab our hot cup of coffee to help us wake up, our comfy afghan and
curl up on the sofa to stay toasty warm and off we go to hear (and learn) amazing and
entertaining information.
Well,
just in case you don’t watch the show (and WHY NOT?) or just in case you missed
this episode, you are definitely going to want to see this!
watch the YouTube video below
In the 1920s, a coal miner from
Calabria, Italy who resettled in West Virginia coal country opened the Country
Club Bakery in Fairmont and introduced the pepperoni roll, a portable meal
that miners really 'dug into'. Conor Knighton talks with food writer Candace
Nelson about why West Virginians can't get enough of their delicious,
utilitarian snack.
From:
John Jett (Pennsboro 1953) and husband of Marolyn Tustin Jett
"My Life on Horner Run"
tells the story of life in rural West Virginia, in the 1940’s as seen through
the eyes of a young boy. The author’s vivid memories range from sad and
emotional to funny and light-hearted. These recollections will tug at the
heartstrings of every reader. The railroad, the war and the mountainous
geography played a huge part in the life of this young boy, his family and
friends. The author writes of the many of the culture and the ways of the
people takes your imagination back to a different time and place.
John D Jett is a retired Communications Engineer. As a
young man, he served in the U.S. Navy, spending time in the Pacific. He and his
wife Marolyn left West Virginia and retired to Florida in 1997. He designed and
built the home they live in. They are the parents of four children and the
grandparents of five grandchildren. John has traveled the U.S. extensively.
John stays active by rebuilding cars and boats. Over the years, he earned his
pilot’s license and scuba diving certification. This is John’s first book.
From:
Joy Gregorie DeFazio (WI 1959)
Writer,
lecturer, genealogist and preservationist Joy Gregoire Gilchrist-Stalnaker
DeFazio is a graduate of Washington Irving High School, Clarksburg, in the
Class of 1959. She attended Drake University, Des Moines, IA, 1959-1960, and
George Washington University, Washington, D.C., 1960-1961. In 1963, she married
and became step-mother to two young boys and ultimately gave birth to two more
boys and one girl.
With
her husband, Charles H. Gilchrist, and a friend while living in Ohio, she
co-founded the Hacker’s Creek Pioneer Descendants (HCPD) in 1982. In 1985, the Gilchrists moved “home” to Lewis
County, WV, where both continued to be involved with and served on the board of
the organization.
After
Charles’ passing in 1998. Joy remarried to widower Daril W. Stalnaker who
passed in 2009; in 2010, she married another widower, John DeFazio. Mr. DeFazio
supports her desire to earn a degree from Fairmont State University.
She
has served as a member of the board of directors of the Hacker’s Creek Pioneer
Descendants, Inc., for 31 years of the organization’s existence. Additionally,
she served as executive director of its Central West Virginia Genealogy and
History Library during the years when she did not serve on its board.
She
has served as editor of the Hacker’s Creek Journal since its innovation in 1982
and has also written many of the articles therein.
Her
bibliography includes six articles for Goldenseal
magazine and ten books of a genealogical and/or historic nature. She has
promised Goldenseal another article in the not-too-distant future and is
working on two more books, one being the memoirs of a Lewis County native,
Brooks Hacker, titled Boyhood Memories and
the other, Good Time Coming, An
Anthology of Civil War Letters from the Peterson Family. She has researched
and made considerable additions in the form of footnotes to each of these.
Publication
of these two books is expected soon.
She
has also conducted research in state and federal records for a book on the
Fifteenth West Virginia Infantry (Union) in the Civil War.
While
her primary focus is on genealogy and history, she is also interested in the
preservation of historic records and sites. In 1991 and 92, she helped
catalogue and archive thousands of documents from the Civil War at the West Virginia
State Archives. In 1994-5, she chaired the committee that was responsible for
the preservation of the Mary Conrad Cabin and the removal of it to the
Jackson's Mill Historic Area as well as the construction of the new log
Mountain State Building at that site. She is past-president of the East Lewis
Lions Club and as well of the Lewis County Convention and Visitors Bureau
Board.
As
a storyteller, she enacts tales of pioneer days with audiences of all ages.
In
1996 she was named Lewis Countian of the Year by the Lewis County Chamber of
Commerce. She has received the Excellence in Community Service Award from the
National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, a Distinguished Service
Award from the International Lions Clubs, and was recognized for her
"conscientious and dedicated community service” by the Modern Woodmen of
America. She is a 1999 History Hero for West Virginia. In 2007, she was named a
Melvin Jones Fellow, the most prestigious honor of Lions Club International for
her philanthropic service.
From
2007 through 2010, Joy worked as a reporter for the Weston Democrat. She resigned after her marriage to John DeFazio in
October 2010 caused her to move to Harrison County where she now lives. Joy
continues her involvement with the Hacker’s Creek Pioneer Descendants, enjoys
researching her own family as well as others and relaxes caring for a small
flock of chickens and caring for her flower gardens and the goldfish in a small
pond she built in her backyard.
Even
with all her other activities, Joy happily calls herself mother, grandmother
and great-grandmother to a clan of 75.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Articles
for Goldenseal
“I
Wish I Could Remember Her Face”: Searching for Ethel Anders 35:1;p31
"It
Was Crowded Up There": Paddle wheelers on the Little Kanawha 20:2;p17
104
and Counting: Bill Lowther of Wildcat, West Virginia 19:2;p60
More
Bad Weather: The Big Snow of 1950 23:1;p52
Rebuilding
a Dream: The Other Mill at Jackson's Mill 20:3;p51
"The
Worst Disaster in the Memory of Man": Recalling the '50 Flood 23:1;p48
Abstracts of Lewis Count, WV, Deed Books A, B, & C
(1817-1827) abstracted by Becky Brogie, Charles
Gilchrist, Joy Gilchrist,
Particles of Glass: Birth Dates of Members of the Window
Glass Cutters League of America,
compiled by Joy Gregoire Gilchrist-Stalnaker
1870 Census, Barbour County, West Virginia, compiled by Joy L. Gilchrist and Marian Challender,
indexed.
Lewis County, West Virginia, Road Precinct Book, Dec
1865-Dec 1872, compiled by Okey Corley from actual court
records and indexed by Joy Gilchrist.
Squires Family of Western Virginia, written by Joy Gilchrist and edited by Marian
Challender. Includes many photographs.
Indexed. Published 1986. 788 pages.
A Pictorial History
of Old Lewis County: The Crossroads of Central West Virginia by the late Charles H. Gilchrist and his wife, Joy L.
Gregoire Gilchrist (now DeFazio)., Originally published in 1993. Now in its
third publishing.
Lewis County, West
Virginia: Her People and Places, edited by Joy Gilchrist-Stalnaker,
published 2000 by Walsworth Publishing Company
A Short History of
Weston Hospital,
written by Joy Gilchrist Stalnaker, published ?
Abstract of Early
Monongalia County, (West) Virginia, Newspapers (1816-1843), Indexed, softbound,
date?
Abstracts of Early
Monongalia County, (West) Virginia, Newspapers (1816-1842) Indexed, softbound, and
MOST OF THESE CAN BE
ORDERED from Sleeth’s Trading Post at www.hackerscreek.com
From:
James Fragale (WI 1958)
Update
from Jim:
Gender gap time? Back in the ‘70s a poster hung in many
offices of a monkey with this caption: “Just when I learned the rules, they
changed them.” Also, back in that quieter decade, New Yorkers shared, when
overworked, they were functioning in a “space called overwhelm.” Guilty here. When
I (James A. Fragale, WI ’58) was ready with my fourth novel
“BREAKTHROUGHS! Become One With the Answer…the
meaning…the purpose…your luck…your health…and, the secret TO LIFE.
And, for sure…Become One With Love”– I’d learned how to “get published”
– and then, Amazon changed the rules. Finally! After much hand wringing and teeth
gnashing, the fourth novel is now up and available on amazon.com in Paperback,
Large Print, Kindle, and Audio.
Breakthroughs!* originally called “The Company
Store” is an auto-fiction that pays homage to hundreds of coal miners who
died in industrial accidents in Monongah - near Clarksburg - the worst
industrial accident in United States history happened 500 miners were killed,
some children - many of them immigrants. Novel Four’s also simply called: “Breakthroughs!”
From:
James Fragale (WI 1958)
Back in the ‘70’s a poster hung on many offices of a monkey
with this caption: “Just when I learned the rules, they changed them.” Also, back
in that quieter decade, New Yorkers shared, when overworked, they were
functioning in a “space called overwhelm.” Guilty here. When I was ready with
my fourth novel - “BREAKTHROUGHS! Become One with the Answer. the meaning-the
purpose-your luck-your health-and, the secret TO LIFE. And,
for sure-Become One with Love”. I’d learned how to “get published” and
then, Amazon changed the rules. Finally, after much hand wringing and teeth
gnashing, the fourth novel is now up and available on Amazon.com in paperback, large
print, Kindle, and Audio. Breakthroughs!*
originally called “The
Company Store” is an auto-fiction that pays homage to hundreds of coal
miners who died in industrial accidents in Monongah, near Clarksburg, the worst
industrial accident in United States history happened 500 miners were killed,
some children, many of them immigrants. Novel Four’s also simply called: “Breakthroughs!”
TIMOTHY PAUL CORK
It is
with great sadness that the family of Tim Cork announces his passing on
Saturday, November 24, 2018 at the age of 76. He was born in Clarksburg, West
Virginia on August 6, 1942. He resided in Lawrenceville, Georgia.
Tim will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 59
years, Judy and his children, Deborah (Eddie) Caballero, Sandy (Steve) Rotan,
and Jenny (Mike) Clifford. Tim will also be fondly remembered by his eight
grandchildren: Tim Dodd, Sarah Curran, John Belknap, Amy DeShong, Jane Pinson,
Christine Caballero, Aaron Clifford, Laura Clifford, and great-grandson Timothy
DeShong. He will also be remembered by his brother Randy (Debbie) DeMoss and
sister Patty Bolton.
Funeral services, officiated by nephew Kent Suter, were
held on Thursday, November 29, 2018 at Cornerstone Bible Church, 869 Cole Dr
SW, Lilburn, GA 30047.
In lieu of flower, donations may be made to
Cornerstone Bible Church in memory of Tim.
Editor’s Note: Tim Cork was such a wonderful historian. He was the WI
Newsletter historian. We worked together on many of his contributions to the
newsletter. I will miss him so much and I know that many of you feel the same
way. The yearbooks that are on file through the newsletter were done by him as
well as the list of all graduates from WI and a picture/bio of each teacher. Please enjoy some of the wonderful work that Tim did for the newsletter for YOU!
We will
certainly miss Tim Cork. We send our sympathy to his wife and the family. By
the way, he was so happy with the 100 Get Well Cards that he received from the
WI Newsletter readers a couple of months ago.
If you
would like to send a sympathy card to his wife Judy and daughters now, their address
is:
Mrs. Judy Cork and family
1475 Luke Lane
Lawrenceville GA 30043
BILL SKINNER
(WASHINGTON IRVING)
William “Bill” Skinner, 88, of Clarksburg, passed away
on October 30, 2018, in the WV Veterans Nursing Facility.
He was born in Clarksburg on June 2, 1930, to the late
Austin Walter and Carrie Barnes Skinner, the seventh of 13 children.
Twice married, he was preceded in death by his first
wife, Talitha “Ti” Barbour Skinner, and is survived by his second wife of 42
years, Mary Joan “Jo” Cunningham Skinner, whom he married on November 6, 1976.
Also surviving are daughters, Evelyn Talitha Bowers,
and Sylvia Kifo and her husband Jay, and Karen Snider and her husband Ray; his
son, Eric Paul Tepe and his companion Lisa Baldwin; 10 grandchildren; 20
great-grandchildren; and one great-great granddaughter; one brother, Michael
Skinner; five sisters, Patricia Huff, Mary Devenney, Shirley Rosenthal, Zole
Drummond and her husband Jack, and Thelma Waters; and numerous nieces and
nephews.
He was also preceded in death by one son, Ernest
William Skinner; four brothers, Lloyd, Austin, Bobby Joe and Jackie Skinner;
and two sisters, Madge Dembroski and Mae Marie Billings.
Bill enlisted in the United States Army in 1949 after
attending Washington Irving High School. He married Talitha soon after his 20th
birthday. On his way to duty in Washington State the train stopped somewhere in
Nebraska and they learned of the war in Korea. None of the soldiers had ever
heard of Korea and had no idea where it was. Captured on November 30, 1950 at
Chosin Reservoir, he spent 989 days as a Prisoner of War. Bill was a “Tiger
Survivor”, an organization today of the survivors of the Camp Commander in
North Korea, where the prisoners nicknamed him “Tiger.” Of the 800 prisoners,
only 300 survived, of which less than 100 today belong to the “Tiger
Survivors.”
Working for D.C. Department of Highways, Bill and
Talitha had 3 beautiful children. They moved to Front Royal, VA, where Bill had
a new home construction business. In 1976, he moved back to Clarksburg to be
near his family. He married Jo and became Dad to her two children. He retired
from construction and enjoyed helping his family in the area.
In addition to the “Tiger Survivors” Bill was also a
lifetime member and of the American Ex-Prisoners of War, and past commander of
Chapter1 Barbwire Mountaineers Department of WV, the Chosin Few, Korean War
Veterans Association, Meuse Argonne Post No, 573 V.F.W., the 31st Infantry
Polar Bear Regiment, and Clarksburg Lodge No. 482 B.P.O. Elks. Bill was noted
as the Honorable Kentucky Colonel, having been commissioned by the Commonwealth
of Kentucky. Bill received two Purple Hearts, and three Presidential
Certificates (Army, Marine and So. Korean Army Citations).
Bill was also a member of the Stealey United Methodist
Church.
Bill loved to hunt, watch the Steelers and any WVU
games, ride his Gold Wing and go to P.O.W. meetings conventions across the U.S.
and reminisce about seven weeks in Europe and walking the trail at the park.
MARY ANN HITE WILLIAMS
(WI 1952)
Mary Ann Hite Williams passed away
Sunday November 4, 2018 in Phoenix, AZ. She was born July 24, 1934 in Clarksburg,
WV, daughter of Clay B. Hite and Virginia Ferguson Hite. She graduated from
Washington Irving High School ’52 in Clarksburg and then from West Virginia
University in 1956 with a BS in Home Economics. She was the president of the
Kappa Delta Sorority on campus. Mary Ann is survived by her husband of 62
years, Gordon Williams of Phoenix, sons George of Colorado Springs, CO, Thomas
of Phoenix and daughter Susan of Glendale, AZ; grandchildren Lauren of Colorado
Springs, Whitney Williams Alexander of Castle Rock, CO, Gracie of Alexandria,
VA, Ashlyn of Cincinnati, OH, Parker and Allison of Phoenix and Juliana,
Tucson, AZ. Mary Ann and Gordon married in Clarksburg, WV and lived in Dayton,
OH and Syracuse, NY before moving to Phoenix in 1968. All three children were
born in Syracuse. In Phoenix she was a loving wife, busy mother and volunteer
for many organizations, including the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, church, Parent
Effectiveness Training and many more. After Gordon retired, they went on
several trips including Alaska, Hawaii and Europe. They spent 3 summers in
Grand Lake, CO as volunteers for the National Park Service.
RICKY EUGENE STEWART
(WI 1977)
Ricky Eugene Stewart, 59, of Clarksburg, WV, passed
away on Thursday, October 25, 2018, at his residence following an extended
illness.
He was born in Clarksburg, on June 5, 1959, a son of
the late Alfred “Dukie” and Anna Lewis Stewart.
Ricky is survived by one brother, Henry “Bud” Stewart
and wife Connie of Cincinnati, OH; and one sister, Billie Thomas and her
husband Ralph of Clarksburg; as well as several nieces and nephews.
He was a graduate of Washington Irving High School
Class of 1977 and a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church. At the family’s request,
Ricky was cremated.
SHIRLEY PHILLIPS EPLING
Shirley Jane Epling, 81 years of age of Summit Park
passed away on Wednesday, November 28, 2018 at United Hospital Center in
Bridgeport, WV. She was born July 24, 1937, the daughter of the late Alonzo and
Cora Canfield Phillips. She was preceded in death by her husband Orville H.
Epling in 1991.
She is survived by a significant other Floyd George
and Floyd’s grandson Matthew George who acted as her caregiver. She was also
preceded in death by three brothers Herbert, Paul and Roy and four sisters
Genevia, Sylvia, Bernadine and Kathleen. She was the last surviving member of
her family.
Shirley attended Summit Park Junior High School and
Victory High School. She retired from Hazel Atlas Glass Plant and enjoyed
babysitting in her retired years. Floyd and Shirley enjoyed country music and
visited many country shows in the area.
