Editor: Roleta Smith Meredith
Publisher: Jalon Smith Burton
WHY WRITE TO THE NEWSLETTER?
the newsletter lives on by what you write
the newsletter lives on by what you write
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:
Joe Malone (WI 1952)
I took
a "Shop Class" in the 8th grade @ Central Jr. High. I believe the
teacher was a Mr. Fowler? I enjoyed it so much I talked my parents into
allowing me to re-enroll as a freshman at WI (1948-49) and "commuted"
to Central each day. Unfortunately, that decision put me a year behind my peers
in the College Prep program. The good news is that I made it up over the
ensuing three years.
The pictures
below show the fruits of my labor under Mr. Fowler's tutelage. The walnut
coffee table and lathe-turned bookends currently grace my older son's living
room.
However, my "Piece d' Resistance" was the cherry bedside table
that I redesigned and built to accommodate the innards of a 1941 Emerson table
radio. Further, I modified the radio to accept plug-ins for earphones so I
could listen in bed without my parent's knowledge. Hmmmm, Bad Boy!
BTW - It still works (AM only) and is in my home office.
NEW READERS:
Evan S. Bice (WI 1962) ebice@ma.rr.com
Elisa Rowe-Dye Mahoney (WI 1976) jbugsmaemae@aol.com
The WI
Annual Picnic will be held on August 24 2019 at the HILLTOP PAVILION at the VA
Park. Arrive around 11:30 and start visiting and seeing old friends from your
past.
We have
a lot of new things for you this year as we like to keep everyone excited to
attend. We have prizes for the person who comes the farthest, the person from
the oldest class and the person from the youngest class.
We are
providing the drinks, the plates, cups and utensils as usual. We are also
providing the main entrees, which include wings, meatballs and hot dogs in
chili. This will give you an idea of what you might like to bring as your
contribution to go with these main dishes. Some suggestions are potato salad,
cole slaw, macaroni salad, garden salad, veggie tray, relish tray, chips and
dip, pretzels, nachos and dip and all of these items can be picked up at
Walmart or Kroger at East Pointe. Of course, we always welcome your favorite
homemade dish and deserts. A favorite of everyone is pepperoni rolls too.
So,
let’s start making plans to get together again this year.
Any questions, please contact Penny Donnelly
pennydonnelly46@gmail.com
In the May newsletter, we revealed one of THE BEST KEPT SECRETS.
Did you see it?
Come on everyone.... WRITE!
Pick a subject... any subject, share a memory, give us your thoughts.
Write to Roleta1@aol.com
And remember... when emailing, please always include:
1. Your Complete Name
2. Your School's Name
3. Your Year If and/or When You Graduated
HITCHHIKING:
DIXIE DONNIE AND THE HITCHHIKERS
From: Mike
Snyder (WI 1957)
Do some
of you all remember sometime in 1956 a kid dressed like a homeless person
showed up at WI talking gibberish, conveying the persona of a foreign exchange
student? He refused to speak one word of English to anyone, students or
teachers alike. He was a friend of ours, but still wouldn't acknowledge anyone
except in his very strange and mysterious unknown tongue—the entire day!
Later
this same zany and eccentric character was introduced in an assembly as Dixie
Donnie the Drummer. Whereupon he leaped out of his seat in the front row of the
balcony screaming and waving his arms in such a frenzy that he nearly fell over
the railing. Somehow in this role as the celeb drummer he made his way to the
stage screaming all the way. Likely one of the most bizarre performances ever
in the WI auditorium. He was so wound up in his role that his screaming and
yelling was taken up by the rest of the students and the entire scene spun off
into near-total bedlam.
This
same guy from the class of 1956, cooled his heels in the USMC, making sergeant
in two years and then coming to WVU where we roomed together for a year. This
former WI class of 1956 madcap, after his college and grad school days, ended
up with a PhD and whole string of other degrees. He became the faculty union president of
California (PA) University where he was known as Dr. Charles R. Thomas, the
head of the English Department. His friends know him as Chuck from up on the
hill behind WI. In his spare time, he writes plays--86 of them to date with
over 50 put on by amateur theater groups in Pittsburgh. But we knew you
remember when, Chuck.
A lot of guys our age
were hitchhikers. The summer of 1957, I hitched rides every day with no
problems to Oral Lake where I was lifeguard. And classmate Andy Hamilton and
this writer thumbed the then six-hour journey to Charleston to hear the great
rocker Chuck Berry in person. Remember his great song School Days? Chuck
and Roger Goff, WI '57 went on hitchhiking excursions all over the place,
largely for the heck of it. Wirt Wolfe, WI '59, and I, one summer, thumbed to
Atlantic City where we worked on the Boardwalk, a story in itself. A year or
two later, Wirt and I were not doing so hot in the grade department at WVU and
talked each other into dropping out. I chickened out of doing that, but Wirt
decided to take off on his thumb for Florida. It was a warm spell in February
and we gave the intrepid lad a big sendoff the night before. I can still see
him in his Madras blazer, with his suitcase and ukulele, thumbing merrily on
the road out of “Morganhole”. He made it to Beverly and a big blizzard hit.
Wirt holed up there with some moonshiner relatives until the skies cleared, and
undaunted, thumbed on to Ft. Lauderdale where I joined him at a swim clinic
over Christmas. It was 1961, and we listened as Fidel Castro took over Cuba to
the south of us. During my European travels, I was thumbing to the port of
Algeciras in Southern Spain and a friendly English officer's wife picked me up
in a Citroen convertible and dropped me off there, where I boarded a ship to
the Canary Islands. For my
first job after University, I hitched to Parkersburg in a charcoal grey suit,
tie and umbrella. After my interview at the ad agency, I hitched back home - 160
miles round trip; I got the job.
Note from Editor:
There are a lot of other hitchhiking tales out there
in 'WI Newsletter land'. SO… How about some of you other guys jotting down your
times spent on the road with your thumbs out, heading to wherever, and send
them to us.
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.
CHIEF
Do you
remember receiving one of these cards (pictured above) with the braided yarn
attached? Why were these given to the students? Was this a gag? Was it given
out as a prize? Was it a dance favor? Was it given to seniors as a graduation
gift?
Tell us
what you remember about this? Did you ever hang your's out in the weather to see
if it worked?
Write
and tell us the answer to some of these questions and anything else you
remember about these.
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.
DID YOU GRADUATE THE YEAR THAT ALL OF THESE THINGS
HAPPENED?
TELL US SOME OTHER THINGS THAT HAPPENED THAT YEAR?
The post office raised the cost of a stamp to
7 cents.
Workers wage was raised to $1.00 an hour.
Who would have thought gasoline would cost 25 cents a
gallon?
Some baseball player signed a contract for $50,000 a year just to
play ball.
Believe
it or not, all kitchen appliances are now electric.
Electric
typewriters became popular in offices.
Fast
food restaurants are becoming popular but many people thought no fast food
could ever be as good as home cooking and those fast food places would never
last.
Motel
rooms were raised in price to $2.00 per night.
Haircuts now cost 30 cents!
It was
the graduation year for many of our readers. What year was it? Don’t google it! We will only print the
correct guesses as we don’t want to embarrass anyone.
So come on,
humor us, write and tell us what you think.
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.
SENIOR CHAPEL
Near the end of each school year, the seniors at WI (and maybe other Clarksburg schools, under the direction or guidance of a teacher) presented a program during morning chapel in the auditorium. Remember? Senior Chapel? The senior students took part in it. Did you? What did you do? Or do you remember what any classmates did to entertain the student audience?
Write and
share with us what you remember.
Write to Roleta1@aol.com
Please remember, 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.
Note from Editor:
Refresh
my memory, please. How often was there chapel? Why was there chapel? What
happened during chapel? Who was in charge? Did it feature students? Tell me all
about what you remember. Maybe with my few memories and your few memories we
can come up with something big here.
A LETTER THAT I MISSED PRINTING
IN THE MARCH NEWSLETTER
From:
Wayne Winters (WI 1960)
The first mystery picture was the Esso Gas Station in Point
Comfort. The people that ran it were Wanda Clovis and her husband Carl. She was
a crossing guard for the school system. They lived in the house behind the
service station. The building has since been a car lot and a detail shop
The second mystery picture is the Carbide Lamp. The
miners used it to see in mines. The lamp would have Carbide in it and water. When
mixed together, gas was formed and it shine light. It was mounted on the safety
helmet worn by the miner.
THE
TENTH AMAZON REVIEW OF MY FOURTH NOVEL
From: James A. Fragale (WI 1958)
jamesafragale@yahoo.com
Fourth Novel: "BREAKTHROUGHS!"
Second Novel: "F.U.!Follow Up! (Follow Up!)"
First Novel: "The Answer to Life"
THE REVIEW CAME THROUGH this morning and I was moved to moist eyes merely sharing this moving write up.
May 7
2019
For
those of you wondering what’s it all about, Alfie, this is the book for you.
Breakthroughs! author James Fragale has been searching for the meaning in and
“the meaning” of life from the time he could walk. In the process he’s read
widely and greedily — both on the subject and off, easily quoting Emily
Dickinson, A.E. Hotchner, William Blake, Robert Browning, et al, as you will see.
Lucky for the reader, he shares and encapsulates the best of what he’s gleaned,
and from a fine vantage point, too, as he’s in his 80th year and still going
strong. Ribboned throughout are tales of his childhood growing up in a coal
mining town in West Virginia — both of his grandfathers worked the mines. These
entries are particularly charming and tender as Fragale’s photographic memory
enables him to vividly conjure his subjects and their doings. The chaotic
family life of six children in as many years is wonderfully and colorfully
wrought, too, and will remind readers of those full of life scenes in movies
Italian directors do best. Breakthroughs! is full of sound advice, good humor
and Fragale’s many references to the American Song book - composers and their
lyrics included. He can also be self/deprecatingly funny, as in this passage:
“As a child I was surrounded by chaos created by five siblings and me: an
infant in a dirty diaper; a young-in to be run after; children who needed to be
watched more closely; dishes to be done (I was so young, so small, I had to
stand on a wooden box to reach the spigots, the soap and a Brillo pad, always a
Brillo pad.), one kid is crying... Where’s your brother, find your brother!
He’s naked and outside, in the snow---”
Buy it
and enjoy it!
DID YOU WEAR A WI
BEANIE
ON THE FIRST DAY
OF
YOUR FRESHMAN YEAR?
From:
Fred Heflin (WI 1953)
I am
not sure that the subject of "freshman beanies" has been brought up
previously, but in any case, here is my experience:
So,
both parties were, I am sure with the best of intentions, quite emphatic that
there were certain traditions, do's and don’ts if you were to get off on a good
foot at WI. I was told that there were certain teachers who were to be had, if
possible, and certain teachers to be avoid, if possible. It was pointed out
that I dare not approach, or in any way indicate a thought of entering school
via the front steps. A definite no, no!
Secondly,
I must wear my beanie to school every day. NO EXCEPTIONS, or an upper classman
would reprimand me. I never really understood the who, how and when of that
process, but I didn't question my own Mother and Brother laying out the process
and procedure for me.
Dutifully,
when going to James and Law to purchase my books for my freshman year, I
purchased an official WI freshman beanie. I judge that if they sold them, they
must have planned on selling to more than just me. In any case, I marched out
of J & L with all of the necessities for entering high school in early
September 1949. I also convinced my best friend, Virgil Highland (WI '53) that
he should follow my example and be prepared to properly enter the Fifth Street
entrance (quietly and humbly).
We did
so! I may have seen a couple other beanies, but not many. Virgil and I looked
around at the sparsity of beanies and made a quick decision that beanies came
off and into our pockets, never to be seen again. No one ever commented one way
or the other. Old traditions apparently can die quickly. However, we never did
dare to venture up (or down) the front steps! That tradition seemed to hold on
longer than beanies.
The
question of teacher selection seemed to be decided for us, as we went where we
were told and when we were told to go there. Mr. Gudekunst was one teacher who
was to be feared and avoided if possible. In fact, I had him for two years and
really enjoyed his teaching. Miss Nutter was to be avoided, but I got along
with here just fine. So, go figure! Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.
All in
all, I think that the teachers at Washington Irving High School during the
1949-53 period were A #1 in all respects. It was a great experience.
I
entered the hallowed halls of Washington Irving High School in September of
1949. My entry was not the first Heflin to enter WI over the previous years. My
Mother, Ethel Coughanor Heflin was a WI 1924 graduate and my brother, John
Richard Heflin, WI 1947.
GUESS WHO WROTE THE WORDS
TO THIS SONG?
HINT: IT WAS A WI TEACHER!
Hail Washington Irving, Hail to you.
In high school
years, through smiles or tears, our hearts are true.
We bravely
fight with all our might to win our due.
May days to
come bring victories won and laurels new.
Then Hail
Washington Irving, Hail to you, and hail the colors.
Our old Gold
and Blue.
We will all be
true.
Our faith in
you will never fail.
Then Hail to
you, Washington Irving, Hail.
Can you tell us who wrote the words and who wrote the music to this song?
What is the name of the song?
Tell us anything you remember or think you know about either topic.
Did you ever sing this song? When and where? Let us know.
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.
D-Day Plus 75
From:
Dave Kuhl (WI 1962)
This
D-Day June 4, 2019 will be exactly 75 years since the great Normandy Invasion
of June 4, 1944. Burt Spangler, (WI 1938), was on Omaha Beach on D-Day not to
directly participate in the invasion but to back-up another Signal Corps Unit.
As soon as it was verified that the other unit was safely ashore, Burt returned
to England. Ironically, some general when hearing that Burt had been to France
assigned him a special duty. He was assigned a pilot and a small plane and
ordered to visit each signal corps unit preparing to go to France. Since he had
been to France, he must now be an expert on waterproofing equipment? Burt could
read his tech manual and follow a check list as good as anyone else
Fortunately, he ran out of units preparing to go to France and got to return to
his home unit in Dover.
At
Dover, under Patton, Burt and his unit were deeply involved in probably the
greatest ruse ever pulled off by noncombatants in the history of warfare. They
were pretending to be a large army waiting to launch on Calais. Between sending
fake message traffic, they would change uniforms putting on patches of fake
units, go into town and eat at public restaurants where they would cause a
scene with pretend rivalries, get interviewed by local reporters and create the
impression that new units were arriving from the states. The ruse worked.
Hitler and the German high command refused to believe that Normandy was the
real invasion and held many panzer divisions in reserve certain that the real
invasion would come under Patton across the narrowest portion of the channel
between Dover and Calais.
Burt
and his collection of 48 raw recruits survived the war with no losses and never
firing a shot in anger. Seventeen and eighteen-year old farm boys mostly from Pennsylvania
were assigned to Burt while they were still in civvies. Burt and his cadre of
newly minted officers had to make soldiers out of these boys, train them to
operate radios, drive trucks and support the headquarters unit for the 3rd
Army.
Achieving
the rank of Major, Burt commanded unit B which alternated with unit A setting
up antennas and stringing wire to support Patton as they leapfrogged with unit
A across France and Germany.
Ironically,
another chapter to Burt’s life was written after his death in 2010 which
involved the WI newsletter. Burt had a brief marriage in England which ended
when his bride chose not to come with Burt to America. Some photos and letters
were found in a yard sale along with wedding gifts. The finder searched the internet,
found an article that I had written about my first cousin Burt and proceeded to
track down Burt’s grandson now living in London.
The
grandson, Danny Hawkwell, sent me copies of 4 pictures. Burt and his bride at
the wedding are the shorter couple in the center, a colleague of Burt’s and
another unidentified lady are in the photo probably the best man and bride’s
maid.
Burt
did not find out until decades later that his wife was pregnant at the time of
their separation. Burt met his daughter many years later. They shared the hobby
of making art from colored glass and lead. His daughter, Adelle Corrin, also
did this professionally in both New York and England.
Burt
would have been 99 years old this year. His three daughters and his late wife
all knew about the surprise daughter in England. The English daughter said that
Burt's wife could not have been any nicer to her. She implied that two of the
daughters were a bit "stand-off-ish".
THE CLASS OF 1959
GRADUATED 60 YEARS AGO
CONGRATULATIONS!
In the
last 60 years, the Class of 1959 has lost 49 classmates.
Listed
below are the names of those classmates.
They are missed.
They are missed.
ALVARO, FRED
ASPY PAYNE, JUDY
BAILEY CASTO, CONNIE
BANKHEAD, ED
BAXTER MAXWELL, BETSY
BLACKSHIRE, JOHN
BRAUSSEUR RILEY, PAULA
BROWN, TOM
CHILTON, NANCY
CRISS, JOHN
DAUGHERTY KIMLER, JUDY
DAVID, CHARLES
DAVIS, BOB
DEERING, McCORD, DOROTHY
FOWLER, BILL
FREY DASE, MARTHA
FROST, GARY
FULTON, PARKER
HANIFAN, DICK
HART SMITH, MARY FRANCIS
HELDRETH, FRED
HILSON BLUE, DORIS ELAINE
HINKLE, IRA
HOLYFIELD WILLIAMSON, EMOGENE
JOHNSTON BINKEMAN, LINDA
KERNS, ED
LONG BROSIUS, JANET
MADZIN, PAUL
MARSHALL, TOM
MATHENY, JOHN
McATEE,TERRY
McIE, KENNY
NEAL, ROBERT
PALMER, RICHARD
PAUL, JERRY
POLICANO, ANTHONY
SMITH MOORE, SANDRA SUE
SNYDER, BERNARD
TALKINGTON BOSTIC, ELAINE
TAYLOR, ROGER
VAN DEVEDER, PHIL
WARNE, JERRY
WARNE, TERRY
WATSON CLEMMENS, GEORGIA
WHITE RECTOR, CAROLYN
WHITE, SALLIE SUE
WISEMAN, MARY LOUISE
WOODELL, WOODROW
YOKE, DAVID
JUNE MYSTERY OBJECT PICTURE
Okay,
what is pictured above? Did you ever see it being used for anything other than a door
stop? Maybe
you have even used one? Or maybe saw it being used? Tell us what you remember about this?
And yes, (again), we are asking the typical questions — WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, and WHY... and anything else you can share.
And yes, (again), we are asking the typical questions — WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, and WHY... and anything else you can share.
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.
MAY MYSTERY PICTURE
TWIN OAKS RESTAURANT
TWIN OAKS RESTAURANT
(Check it out on YELP)
From Lyle Corder (RW 1957)
That
looks like the inside of Twin Oaks Restaurant located on Rt. 50 near
Bridgeport. They had the best hoagies in the 50's and their pizza was great.
We quit
going there for a few years when they seemed to be "cutting back" on
servings. I understand everything is great again. That is good news to hear
From:
Joe Tipper (Victory 1958)
The May
Mystery Picture is Twin Oaks Restaurant in Bridgeport. It is the first place I
stop when returning to Clarksburg. The last time I was there was in March this
year. I asked the waiter if the Shields family still had an interest in the
restaurant and he said they did. I have been going there since the fifties. I
always order a pepperoni pizza and a steak hoagie. Yes, they are still as good
as I remember them.
I
graduated from Victory in 1958 and I remember I saw a lot of WI students there.
Victory has an all-class reunion on July 6. We will all be at Twin Oaks on
Friday July 5. I was also friends with one of Bill’s friends, Buzz Floyd. Buzz
and I worked at WBOY-TV together. Buzz graduated from Victory in 1956. Roleta,
I appreciate all your hard work on the newsletter. I hope you can keep doing it
for a long time.
From: Bill Bryan (RW 1957)
I'm
taking a wild guess here, but could this be Twin Oaks Restaurant on Bridgeport
Hill? This would be after it was remodeled. In the early 60's, the restaurant
had the bar, the large mirror, and was crowded. Always enjoyed their pizza,
hoagies, and salads with that perfect Italian dressing. Living in Florida, we
still miss the West Virginia area restaurants and food. And hills!
Note
from Editor:
I agree
with both.
Indeed,
this is the dining room at Twin Oaks Restaurant. I don’t think it has ever changed. I remember getting hot hoagies there and
always loved their pizzas.
I will admit that there is another restaurant in town that may have had a dining room looking a bit like this but this is the official one.
Believe it or not, I was never in it until one of my friends was over 16 and could drive. I turned 16 at the end of my junior year and my parents must have thought they owned the golden carriage as I was seldom allowed to drive our car and it seems there was always a rule tagged on the end of any positive permission I ever received - "DON’T GO OVER BRIDGEPORT HILL”, they would say. It was a message sort of like the message in the “Christmas Story” when his mother always replied to his request for a B.B. Gun…she said, “You'll shoot your eye out”!
Thus, I will go along with the person who sent the picture and say it is Twin Oaks. Besides, John Teter invited Bill and I to join his class of 1961 for dinner at Twin Oaks one Friday before the WI Reunion Picnic. Some of us sat on one side of that patrician for dinner while the rest sat on the other side, so I remember it!
I will admit that there is another restaurant in town that may have had a dining room looking a bit like this but this is the official one.
Believe it or not, I was never in it until one of my friends was over 16 and could drive. I turned 16 at the end of my junior year and my parents must have thought they owned the golden carriage as I was seldom allowed to drive our car and it seems there was always a rule tagged on the end of any positive permission I ever received - "DON’T GO OVER BRIDGEPORT HILL”, they would say. It was a message sort of like the message in the “Christmas Story” when his mother always replied to his request for a B.B. Gun…she said, “You'll shoot your eye out”!
Thus, I will go along with the person who sent the picture and say it is Twin Oaks. Besides, John Teter invited Bill and I to join his class of 1961 for dinner at Twin Oaks one Friday before the WI Reunion Picnic. Some of us sat on one side of that patrician for dinner while the rest sat on the other side, so I remember it!
JUNE MYSTERY PICTURE
Above
is a very familiar building. Let's venture to say everyone who reads this
newsletter will have seen it. There was a big sign on the top of the building (which has been removed for this picture) that
told what it really is.
DO YOU
REMEMBER? What was the name of the building, and where was it located?
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.
Thank
you for participating
and making the newsletter for next month a good one.
THE WASHINGTON IRVING NEWSLETTER SCHOLARSHIP
This
month, we received a check for the scholarship from Bill Bryan (RW 1957) Thank
you, Bill for all of your support over the years.
A check
was also received for the scholarship in memory of B. Deloris Muscari Alvino
from Maryella Muscari Flowers and Frank Muscari, Sr.
If you
wish to give to the WI Newsletter scholarship, make your check out to:
Roleta Meredith c/o WIN Scholarship
And
mail it to:
Roleta Meredith
3025 Switzer Rd.
Columbus, Ohio 43219
THANK YOU to each and everyone of you who has helped support this scholarship over the years.
The first thing I would like to do is express my sincere appreciation for being selected to receive the Washington-Irving Newsletter Scholarship I was ecstatic and appreciative to learn that I was selected as the recipient of this scholarship!
MEET THE WI NEWSLETTER
2019 SCHOLARSHIP WINNER
The recipient of the scholarship is chosen by Mr. Wilkinson, student counselor at R.C. Byrd High School. He selected Payton Riley, who is a GPA 4.3+ student. Her qualifications are outstanding!
Here is a nice letter from Payton:
Here is a nice letter from Payton:
Hello! My name is Payton Riley. I am 18 years old and a senior at Robert C. Byrd High School.
The first thing I would like to do is express my sincere appreciation for being selected to receive the Washington-Irving Newsletter Scholarship I was ecstatic and appreciative to learn that I was selected as the recipient of this scholarship!
Throughout high school, I have worked extremely hard so I could look forward to a bright future. However, when my senior year came around, I was afraid my hard work may not be rewarded but I was wrong!
My plan after graduating from high school is to attend Fairmont State University and major in psychology. College is very expensive, so this financial assistance will help me as I pursue my degree. By awarding me the Washington-Irving Newsletter Scholarship, you have lightened my financial burden which allows me to focus more on the most important aspect of school, learning. I hope one day; I will be able to help students achieve their goals just as you have helped me.
Sports Editor: Bill Meredith
(Monongah HS 1957)
billmere@aol.com
billmere@aol.com
please email our Sports editor with your comments, questions and especially your memories
From:
David Ellis (WI 1960)
I am
not a WVU football fan that is wringing his hands over the loss of Dana
Holgorsen. Dana gave up on running too soon in every loss, and should have used
more pressure on defense because we had such slow DB's that we needed to force
quicker throws by opposing QB's. He never learned by our mistakes. I think the
new head coach, Neal Brown, will be a better game coach.
We need
a strong running attack and an emphasis on Defense. I think Neal Brown will
bring back a focus on ball control and defense. In fact, he has to, because of
the pass-attack players we lost.
There
is a good nucleus coming back this year for a running game, and for the
defense. I don't think Brown will waste this "rebuilding year" to
justify a losing season. I think he will want to win a couple of games we are
not expected to win. If we can get the anchors off of our DB's and get them
running with some speed, or at least knowing where to run, I think a strong
defensive front and blitzing defense, along with our own running game could
lead to a 7/5 season record (8/4 not out of the question) and finally a bowl
win.
Reply to
David:
First,
thank you for the letter. Even though football season is a few months away, it
is never too early to talk about Mountaineer football.
As I’ve
watched the reaction of fans since Neal Brown was hired, I’ve seen almost no
one show concern about either Holgorsen’s leaving or the wisdom of the new
hire. This tells me that most of us were ready for a coaching change.
I agree
that a strong running game is required to win big in college football today.
However, it can only be as good as the offensive line allows it to be. WVU has
at least four quality running backs, but even the best can’t run without
blocking. Let’s hope the O-line does its job.
I like
the change in the defensive alignment, away from the 3-3-5. To win in the Big
12, you need pass defense and what better place to start than with a good pass
rush. I never felt the 3-3-5 gave us that.
I like
your optimism on the final record. I think we could live with either the 7-5 or
the 8-4 and a bowl win would be nice. It might all come down to one question,
“Can we find a quarterback who can play above average for 12 or 13 games?” He
doesn’t need to be Will Grier nor does he need to win every game. He just needs
to play to his own strengths and not lose too many games due to his mistakes.
Again,
thanks for writing. We hope to hear from you again soon.
Bill
Write to Bill at billmere@aol.com with your Sports Comments
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.
I was
as surprised as everyone else, when I learned of John Beilein leaving the U of
Michigan to take the head coaching job for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA.
Beilein, of course, is the former coach at WVU, who many feel took the
Mountaineer basketball program out of the dark ages and into national
prominence again.
I hated
to see Beilein leave Morgantown, but I’ve always respected his coaching
ability. He has more than proven himself as an excellent college coach. I do
not know him personally, but did watch one of his practices at WVU and came
away impressed. He really enjoys coaching. He is a teacher of the game.
So, why
did he leave Ann Arbor and enter the rat race of pro basketball? While reading
an article by Frank Giardina in the Charleston Gazette Mail, I think I found
the answer. The article was about Beilein and the closing paragraphs are below.
“The
college basketball of today is not Beilein’s college basketball. He is a
builder. It is tough to build in an era of cheating scandals, transfer portals
and “one and done” players.
Detroit
sports columnist Mitch Albom said it best this week when he wrote that “John
Beilein is not leaving college basketball; college basketball is leaving him.”
Like
many of you, I still play a little golf and follow some of the players on the
PGA tour. One player, who intrigues me is Brooks Koepka. In case you didn’t
know, his father, Bob, is from Bridgeport, WV and was a star pitcher at West
Virginia Wesleyan College. You may remember Bob’s uncle, Dick Groat, who played
college basketball and baseball at Duke and later became a famous major league
baseball player.
Brooks
grew up in Florida and played college golf at Florida State. Other than his
connection to our area of West Virginia, what intrigues me about him is the
fact that he seems to play his best in the major tournaments. At 29, he has won
six PGA Tour events, but four of them have been majors. He won the U S Open in
2017 and 2018 and won the PGA Championship in 2018 and 2019. He has done this,
even though he started his professional career playing in Europe. He is
currently the No. 1 ranked golfer in the world.
Hats
off to the WVU baseball team. As I write this, their record stands at 35-18,
their latest win being against Kansas in the opening round of the Big 12
tournament. Here’s hoping for a strong run in the NCAA tourney. Wouldn’t it be
something if they made the College World Series and won it all? There I go
dreaming again.
We’d
love to hear from you.
Send
your thoughts and comments about sports to Bill at
billmere@aol.com
REMEMBER... 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.
JUNE MYSTERY CHILDREN PICTURE
Can you
name any of these children pictured above? Just try! Only correct
answers will be printed. The fact is we don’t even know the last names of a couple of these beautiful children! Help us out.
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.
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD STORES
From: Bob Teter (WI
1960)
I
remember three mom and pop groceries in our neighborhood, though I cannot
remember any of their names. One was at the top of the hill on Broaddus Ave. in
the basement of Broaddus Apartments, which at one time was Broaddus College,
hence the origin of College St and Broaddus Ave. Second was on the corner of
Sycamore and Locust across Sycamore from The United Methodist Temple. Third was
at the corner of Sycamore and Mulberry. At different times we visited these on
our way to and from elementary school at Pierpont. I do remember others but
these are those in closest proximity to where I grew up on Broaddus Avenue. On
occasion I actually worked a bit at the store at the top of our street.
Good
memories and thanks for great job with newsletter.
Incidentally,
I recently spoke with Bob Rector and he had such a grand time at the Sarasota
Reunion. Was very complimentary of the work you and your group have done all
these years!
Note
from Editor:
Thanks
for writing. And thank you, Bob for your compliments.
From:
Sandy Zickefoose Lindke (WI 1956)
In
Hartland, we had Gribbles Grocery on Traction Street. I can remember Mrs.
Gribbles red hair. She and her husband wore white aprons and lived above the store.
My parents did most of their shopping at the A & P.
Some of
the other businesses in Hartland were Helmick’s Barber Shop, Webb's
Confectionery and a Cabinet Shop. The cabinet shop had an employee by the name
of Pete. They made new cabinets for our kitchen at 301 Magnolia Ave. at the
corner of Traction Street. My Mother worked for Mrs. Webb and often made the
hot dog chili in our kitchen. YUM.
The
city bus stopped in front of our house. The neighborhood kids rode that bus to
school from the time they started Central Junior High until they graduated from
WI. We walked to Morgan School on Duff Street for grades one through six. Do
any of you "kids" remember hanging out on our front porch or playing
at the playground just across the alley from the back of our house? We spent a
lot of time sitting on the street curbs. My mother was always afraid someone
was going to get their feet run over. Thank goodness that never happened. We
did play Kick the Can and Hide and Seek.
We
would cross the West Fork River by way of the Railroad Trestle to watch
baseball games on the Veterans Hospital grounds. It is so sad that our
grandchildren do not have the freedom and safety to play as we did. We were a
happy group of young people.
Note
from Editor:
Sandy
is healing from a shoulder operation on her right shoulder which makes it
difficult for her to type on her computer. She can only use her left hand. Great
job, Sandy - Thank you for your support of the newsletter, I love reading about
neighborhood stores. They are a thing of the past. Bill and I were talking the
other day and wondering how those little “Mom and Pop Shops” back in the day,
could make enough money to afford to live and support a family. Oh, I wish we
had little Mom and Pop Stores again. Even if it's just ones that carry the necessities.
NINA CARTER
RARDIN
Nina Rardin, 87, of Clarksburg, WV, passed away on
Tuesday, April 23, 2019, at the United Hospital Center in Bridgeport. She was
born in Clarksburg on September 20, 1931, a daughter of the late Frank E. and
Phyllis G. (Ward) Carter. On February 13, 1953, she married Karl Lee Rardin,
and after 45 years of marriage, he preceded her in death on June 13, 1998.
Nina is survived by her two children: Karl Lee Rardin
II and wife Bobbi Hollinger, and Phyllis Ann Rardin, all of Clarksburg; and one
grandson: Morgan Shaun Rardin, also of Clarksburg.
Nina was a graduate of Washington Irving High School,
Class of 1949. She began her career with the WV Department of Unemployment
Compensation, where she retired as a Deputy Commissioner in 1987.
With her husband Karl, she enjoyed traveling after
they retired, and took many trips around the country with their grandson,
Morgan. She liked country music; her favorites were George Jones and Travis
Tritt. She also liked the comedy of Jerry Clower. Nina also loved animals,
especially her cats “Sweet Pea,” “Frankie” and “Escapade,” as well as her
beloved dog, “Homer.”
Nina’s wishes for cremation services will be honored.
DIANA MARIE YOAK
Diana Marie Yoak, 60, of Lumberport, WV, went to be with
the Lord on April 28, 2019, at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, WV. She
was born on March 10, 1959, a daughter of the late Mary Rose Godfrey McKinney.
She is survived by her husband Clarence Isaac Yoak, Jr.,
to whom she married on May 26, 1978.
Diana is also survived by her one and only daughter,
Jessica Rose Yoak Johnson and husband Matthew Bryan Johnson of Mt. Clare; 3
beautiful grandchildren, Allie Marie (8), Matthew “Cooper” (4), and Elliott
James. Her beloved pets Ruby Grace, Skylar and Boog Boog. Also surviving are
one brother, William E. McKinney and wife Dreama of Spelter. As well as several
nieces and nephews and other dear family and close friends.
Diana was a graduate of Washington Irving High School,
Class of 1977, and was a housekeeper for Clarksburg Nursing and Rehabilitation
Center. Diana enjoyed life by doing for others. She was our joyful warrior, who
touched the lives of so many and was a true inspiration to all. She didn’t let
sickness keep her down, and she fought hard to be with us for as long as she
could. Her friends and grandkids called her “the Hulk.” Her husband was the
love of her life, there by her side through thick and thin. She will be greatly
missed by all.
DONNA ENNIS FRYLING TETER
Donna Teter, 72, passed away on April 28, 2019.
Survived by her husband, John Teter of Alexandria, VA.
Also surviving are her son, Joe Fryling and grandson,
Joey of Herndon, VA; stepson, John Michael Teter (Amy) and granddaughters, Macy
and Ella of Roswell, GA. She is also survived by one brother, James Ennis
(Estelle) of Gore, Va. Also surviving are two nephews and one niece along with
grand-nephews and grandnieces of the Ennis family. One sister Delores preceded
her in death, Donna was a member of the George Washington High School Alumni
Association and the accountants Society of Virginia, being a board member of
both of these associations over the years.
HELEN LEE BUFFINGTON
Helen Lee Buffington passed away on May 13, 2019, at
the age of 90 at the Cypress retirement community in Hilton Head, S.C.
Helen was born on November 19, 2018, in Clarksburg,
WV, the daughter of Jack and Gertrude Bryant.
She attended Washington Irving High School and was
later employed as a telephone operator for the C&P Telephone Company. In
1952, she married Ulysses P. (Buff) Buffington, another Clarksburg native. In
their early years of marriage, she helped her husband build the business that
became Buffington Studios of Photography, acting as accountant and colorist. She
and Buff remained married until his death in 2008.
Helen left the business side of the marriage and
became mother to three daughters. She also remained tirelessly active in the
community — serving as an officer in the Junior Women’s Club and the League for
Service and chairing the social committee of the UHC Hospital Auxiliary and the
Parsonage committee for the United Methodist Church. She also served as a board
member for 10 years for the local Salvation Army and took an active role in the
Clarksburg/Harrison Cultural Foundation.
Helen is survived by her three daughters and
sons-in-law, Melissa Damiano (Bob) of Hilton Head, SC, Suzanne Berman (Richard)
Ashland, OH, and Jody Aud (Charles) of Mt. Airy, MD; four grandchildren, David
Berman, Washington Courthouse Square, OH, Brian Murray, Brooklyn, NY, Madison
Aud, Bethesda, MD, and Hannah Aud, Mt. Airy, MD. She has two
great-grandchildren, Avery and Tess Berman of Washington Courthouse Square, OH.
She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Isabel Bryant of San Diego, CA.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother,
Jack Bryant Jr. A younger sister, Barbara Joan, died of Hodgkin’s disease at
the age of 9.
EUGENE (GENE)CONWAY
Eugene “Gene” Conaway, 83, of Clarksburg, passed away
on Saturday, May 18, 2019, at the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center. He was
born August 5, 1935, in Clarksburg, son of the late Brooks and Opal Morris
Conaway.
Gene graduated from WI High School. He served our
country in the United States Marines. Over the years, Gene had many
commendations, citations and education throughout his career. He was lieutenant
detective for the City of Clarksburg Police Department for 24 years. He
attended U.S. Secret Service protective operations in Washington, D.C. Gene was
a lifetime member and past president of Fraternal Order of the Police, also
member of FBI National Academy of Associates, International Association of
Chief of Police, International Association of Industrial Security,
International Association of Hospital Security, Advisory Committee of Civil
Tension Task Force for State of WV under Governor John D Rockefeller and Loyal
Order of Elks. He was part of security detail for the President, Vice President,
and many Ambassadors who visited W.Va.
He is survived by two children, Eugene Scott Conaway
and Shari, Clarksburg, Greg Conaway, Stonewood; three grandchildren, Karrah
Fragale and Vinnie, Kelli Willis and Chris, Chad Conaway; six
great-grandchildren, Abby, Kylie, Grant, Anna, Addyson and Aiden; one sister,
Karen Owens, and husband Ron, Clarksburg; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death
by his wife, Sandra “Sandy” Lee Conaway on October 20, 2017; one daughter, Beth
Ann Sullivan, on August 1, 2018; and one sister, Shirley Jeannine Jones.
Interment will be at WV National Cemetery where
military honors will be accorded by the Harrison County Honor Guard and U.S.
Marine Honor Guard.
