WI CLASS OF 1959 NEWSLETTER
| Editor: Roleta Smith Meredith | Issue 23 | July 2001 |
Those are silver, these are gold.
New-made friendship, like new wine,
Age will mellow and refine.
Friendships that have stood the test-
Time and change-are surely best;
Brow may wrinkle, hair grow gray,
Friendship never knows decay.
For 'mid old friends, tried and true,
Once more we OUR YOUTH RENEW.
But old friends, alas! may die,
New friends must their place supply.
Cherish friendship in your breast-
New is good but old is best;
Make new friends, but keep the old;
Those are silver, these are gold.
Roleta1@aol.com
I found this picture recently when going through some papers that belonged to my father. I believe that the picture was taken at Glen Falls Elementary School in Harrison County, WV where my father was principal for a few years. Mr. Louie had brought some dance students to perform at a function at the school. I can't remember any of the names of these people but they sure look familiar. I believe that they were probably Morgan Elementary students. Can you identify any people? Please send me any names you remember.
SPORTS TRIVIA ANSWERS TO QUESTION WHICH APPEARED IN THE JUNE ISSUE:
jashley@erols.com
Eastern Division
Boston Celtics
New York Knicks
Syracuse Nationals (now the Philadelphia 76'rs)
Philadelphia Warriors (now the Golden State Warriors)
Western Division
St Louis Hawks (now the Atlanta Hawks)
Minneapolis Lakers (now the LA Lakers)
Detroit Pistons
Cincinnati Royals (now the Sacramento Kings)
The Celtics were the NBA champions, defeating the Lakers 4 game to 0 in the playoffs.
The two teams who moved while you were in school:
Rochester Royals became the Cincinnati Royals in 1957;
Fort Wayne Pistons became the Detroit Pistons in 1958
EDITOR'S NOTE: Due to space, I don't print all of the letters answering trivia. However, I felt the following answer, to last month's sports trivia question, from Bill Spears (WI '62) was so fantastic that all of you sport fans would enjoy reading it!
SpillBears@aol.com
Another outstanding newsletter. I think the pictures and graphics were most interesting and well done. Wish I had all of that talent and wherewithal. I will attempt to answer Jim Ashley's questions about the NBA.
| 8 Teams in 1959 | Where They Are Today | |
| Boston Celtics | Same as 1959 | |
| New York Knickerbockers | Same as 1959 | |
| Detroit Pistons | Same as 1959 | |
| St. Louis Hawks | Atlanta Hawks | |
| Syracuse Nationals | Philadelphia 76ers | |
| Minneapolis Lakers | L.A. Lakers | |
| Philadelphia Warriors | Golden State Warriors | |
| Cincinnati Royals | Sacramento Kings |
The 1959 NBA Champion was the Boston Celtics as they defeated the Minneapolis Lakers 4 games to 0.
In 1957 the Fort Wayne Pistons moved to Detroit and became the Detroit Pistons. Also the Rochester Royals moved to their new home for the 1957/1958 season and became the Cincinnati Royals.
As a side note the Royals moved from Cincinnati in 1971 to become the Kansas City-Omaha Kings (they dropped Omaha after several seasons). Then in 1985 they moved again to become the current Sacramento Kings.
The Minneapolis Lakers were the first team to move to the west coast in 1960 and became the Los Angeles Lakers. This coincided with Jerry West joining the team.
The St. Louis Hawks became the Atlanta Hawks in 1968/69 season.
Syracuse Nationals became the Philadelphia 76ers in 1963 since the Philadelphia Warriors and Wilt Chamberlin moved to San Francisco and became the San Francisco Warriors and now the current Golden State Warriors.
I knew you would find this most interesting. Ha!
Bill Spears
billmere@aol.com
All 4 of these athletes have the same last name. All are related. What is the first name of each?
1. A basketball and baseball star at WVU in the 50's who later played professional baseball.
2. A basketball coach at Fairmont State College who won more games than any other coach nationwide during his era.
3.A gymnast who won a gold medal at the LA Olympics. (Daughter of #1).
4. Current head basketball coach at Fairmont Senior High School.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The General Trivia question about the Prodigals---Who was the lead guitar player for the Prodigals? Bill Philips took the answer one step farther. Seems Bill has a very good memory when it comes to the Prodigals--and a few other things...Read his letter:
CAPTBILL2001@aol.com
Well, well, let's see The Prodigals started as The Chords. The lead guitar player was Gerard Folio, I believe, .... Also, on piano was Bill Smith; sax was played by Roy Davis; drums by Theodore Wilson William; lead singer was Chuck Collins.
I am Bill Philips and attended WI until 1959. I was a total, well, whatever!!! I left WI and tried Victory for a while. Florence Hollins, who lived across the street from my family complained to the Board of Education that I lived there and should not be allowed to attend Victory High School. Ed Powell, the principal, asked me to go back to WI but at that time I moved to Elkins and graduated. I left Clarksburg in the late sixties and entered the field of sales with the power company and ended up in the San Francisco area with Anchor Hocking.
No electricity here in CA. thinking about moving back to Clarksburg. I do have to say thank you for all the work you are doing regarding keeping people in touch. It takes a special person.
AGAIN THANKS.
bwlf@mindspring.com
1. What drug store on 4th Street kept its coffee price at 5 cents in 1956-1959?
Harberts
2. During the years 1956-1959, who owned and operated Rogers Drug Store?
Dominick Raymond
3. Who was the lead guitar player for the Prodigals?
Gerard Folio
What was the brand of beer sold by North Pole Ice for 69 cents a six pack?
Roleta1@aol.com
I could write many things about Weston State Hospital. I have very vivid and yes, scary memories of that place. My father had a brother who lived for a while in Weston with his wife and son. We often visited them at their home and I can remember that huge, gray and mysterious building. There were usually people milling around outside and of course, as a small girl I was afraid of them. Little did I know then that those people weren't mean, or dangerous, just sick and needed special help.
This history is not about the people but about the building. Did you know the building was started in 1858 (before the Civil War) and construction was completed in 1880? Just think of the many things that happened within those walls. For an interesting read, check out Weston Hospital at http:sundaygazettemail.com
Joy Gregorie Stalnaker (WI '59) has become a local historian of Harrison and surrounding counties. Joy is quoted in the article. But read the entire article to get the great background of Weston Hospital.
CLARKSBURG -- Russell P. Dent, Jr., 58, of Paradise Lane, West Milford, died Tuesday, June 19 at 6:35 p.m. in Ruby Memorial Hospital, following an extended illness. Mr. Dent was retired from the Clarksburg Fire Department where he had been a firefighter/fireman with 23 years of service and had worked at Byard Pharmacy. He was born in Clarksburg, March 16, 1943, a son of the late Russell P. and Thelma Nadine Dye Dent.
Mr. Dent was a graduate of Washington-Irving High School and a member of Duff Street United Methodist Church.
daughter of Stephen Toryak (WI '61)
CLARKSBURG -- Megan Elizabeth Toryak, 17, of 119 Lang Ave., Clarksburg, died at 5:40 p.m. Friday, June 22, 2001 as a result of injuries sustained in a vehicular accident. She was born in Clarksburg, Apr. 3, 1984, a daughter of J. Stephen and Rosemary Caveney Toryak.
She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, John F. and Ernestine "Tina" Berkey Toryak, and by her maternal grandparents, Lawrence V. and Mary Caveney.
Miss Toryak was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church where she was an altar server and member of the church choir and youth group. She was a member of the senior class at Robert C. Byrd High School and was a member of Student Council, H.U.G. G.E.D. and was active in RCB softball and volleyball. She is listed in a current volume of Who's Who Among American High School Students. While at Washington-Irving Middle School and as a freshman at RCB, she was a cheerleader. During her recent junior year, she was a homecoming attendant and a prom princess.
CLARKSBURG -- Larry Wayne Norris, 58, 100 Parkway Drive, Clarksburg, died at 2:10 p.m. Saturday, June 16, 2001, in United Hospital Center.
He was born in Clarksburg, Feb. 20, 1943, a son of Dorothy Cowgill Norris, Buckhannon Avenue, Clarksburg, and the late William Ray Norris.
Mr. Norris was a glassworker and had been employed by Fourco Glass.
| Jim and Gerry Danley Bennett (WI '52) |
jimgerryb@prodigy.net |
| Bob Kopp (WI '56) | Rkopp@bellsouth.net |
| Roy Bever (WI '57) | RLBever@ashland.com |
| Alvin Garrett (WI '57) | agarrett351@home.com |
| Mere Gurson Schwartz (WI '57) | Marmer1@mediaone.net |
| Nan Norvell LaFleur (WI '57) | Jrlnnl@aol.com |
| Jerry Winerman (WI '57) | gerjerry@loop.com |
| Bill Phillips (attended WI until '59-graduated Elkins '60) | CAPTBILL2001@aol.com |
| Granville (Danny) Stalnaker (WI '61) | jenxdan@worldnet.att.net and/or jenxdan@yahoo.com |
| Martin Danley (WI '73) | rcrdan@westco.net |
| Debbie Sharpe Fisher (WI '74) | Dfisher4140@cs.com |
| Holly Furbee Berger (WI '59) | hollyivy@midsouth.rr.com |
| Frank Bush (WI '59) | frank.bush@legacynet.com |
EDITOR'S NOTE--Notice the period between frank and bush!
SING ALONG!cias@iolinc.com
Did you know that the Alma Mater was changed years ago? Why? Who knows?
The original alma mater, "Hail Washington Irving", was written in 1934 by E.W. James and Maude Yoak. Somewhere in the late '40s or early '50s, the alma mater we knew emerged and was used until the mid to late '60s. For a while the original alma mater was changed into a fight song until "WI Will Shine Tonight" took over. Anyone knowing when any of these changes occurred and why should send that data in to Roleta1@aol.com
Click Here To Hear
Washington Irving Alma Mater
The music was used by Cornell and the University of Georgia in their alma maters and probably others.
To see the words to the new/old Alma Mater visit the Alumni site of the Robert C. Byrd High School website at http://www.rcbhs.org/HTM/HTM/WIalumni.htm
Another song:-- Remember singing this one?Beer, beer for old WI,
You bring the whiskey, I' ll bring the rye.
If old Clarksburg should go dry
Then WI boys would surely die.
( alt. line 2 -- Send the freshmen out for gin
and don't let a sober sophomore in.)
Juniors never stagger, seniors never fall,
They sober up on wood alcohol
While the loyal faculty lies drunk on the ballroom floor.
When consulting with Carolyn Reynolds Burnside, author of "Hail, Washington Irving!", the history of WI, about these songs, she said the "drinking " song may have had two complete verses. Trivia fans? We know it was lifted from Notre Dame University.
Here is some of another song which described a mythological girl. There should be more and I may have an incorrect word at times. It was sung with a march cadence, but medium tempo, as if it were a military drill.
"Hot Dog, That' s Where My Money Goes"
My girl' s a corker, She' s a New Yorker,
Hot Dog, that' s where my money goes.
She' s got a pair of eyes just like two pizza pies,
Hot Dog, etc.
She' s got two ruby lips, just like potato chips,
Hot Dog, etc.
She' s got a pair of hips, just like two battleships,
Hot Dog, etc.
She' s got a pair of legs just like two barrel kegs,
Hot Dog, etc.
Someone else from the band should remember it and any more lines that I may have forgotten.
Roleta1@aol.com
Standing left to right: Sandy Drummond Hefner, Carolyn White Rector. (All WI '59)
Ever want to see someone you haven't seen in over 40 years but the opportunity just doesn't seem to present itself? This past winter, I took a few steps in the right direction to bring old friends together once again. Through the magic of the internet I made contact with Corinne Tannenbaum Levy who attended public school in Clarksburg through her sophomore year at WI. Most of us hadn't seen Corinne since her second year at high school. If you remember Corinne, she was full of laughs and so sweet. She still has the same personality. As I have always said, it is hard to change what is on the inside, God takes care of changing what is on the outside. Corinne spends part of her winter each year visiting her sister in the same town in Florida where I spend part of my winter. I decided that it would be great to see Corinne. So I set a date and made a few calls and as they say, the rest is history.
Five high school friends originally from WI met for a luncheon at a darling little outdoor cafe. What a wonderful afternoon filled with laughs, memories and updates about our current lives. Attending were Corinne Tannenbaum Levy, Sallie Holden Day, Carolyn White Rector, Sandra Drummond Hefner and me--(all WI '59).
Next winter I am hoping to have another luncheon get together and I hope more gals who either winter in that area or who live nearby can join us.
I apologize that this article isn't a little more current but I had scanner trouble and just bought a new one. I really wanted to share a picture of our fun afternoon with all of you.
submitted by: Robert E. Turner (WI '58)
turner.r@erols.com
Just read your June 2001 Newsletter. Again it was fantastic. I give you a lot of credit for your time and talent to do this terrific work of love. My personal thanks for a job well done. Please don't stop. Every word is appreciated and enjoyed.
Bob Turner Class of 58.
Living in Hagerstown, Maryland
submitted by: Mere Gurson Schwartz (WI '57)
Marmer1@mediaone.net
I just got finished reading your newsletters and thinking about all the wonderful times growing up in Clarksburg. I left WV in 1960 when I graduated from WV Wesleyan. I taught in MD, NY and moved to Dayton, Ohio for 17 years. After that, Michigan and Indiana, now Florida for the last 16 years.
I do remember your brother as names come back. He played football.
You asked how my parents came up with the name Mere. I am named after an aunt who lived in Germany and perished during the War.
I graduated in '57 and have attended most of our reunions. Hope we have one next year, our "45th"! We, Martin and I, would love to come next year to the reunion. Just last month I heard from Carol Van Horn Dean.
I am friendly with Elizabeth Merrills Meyer who lives in Bridgeport. Her mother taught my sophomore English class. Her mother died a few years ago. Elizabeth has moved back and is living in the big house on the hill and making improvements. She also runs Merrills' Printing.
I signed your guest list and will add a few lines to it.
Mere
submitted by: Bob Kopp (WI '56)
rkopp@bellsouth.net (kopp)
After high school, I went directly into the USMC with other graduates John Harrison and Greg Myers. Our stay at home buddy and fellow graduate, Jimmy Alvaro, took care of the girls we left behind. By the way, if you ever hear from Greg or know his where-abouts, I'd be interested. Jimmy and I now live off the same street (Old Peachtree) in the Atlanta area just as we did in Clarksburg in the Broad Oaks area, (Haymond Highway).
Regards, Bob K
submitted by: Nan Norvell LaFleur (WI '57)
JRLNNL@aol.com
Thank you for your prompt response to my signing your guest book. You are really on the ball. Sorry that I forgot to tell you that I graduated from WI with the class of 1957. I would love to hear from others in the class of '57 and from other "Stealey Kids." I look forward to the next issue. Again, my compliments on a job very well done.
Nan Norvell LaFleur
submitted by: Al Garrett (WI '57)
agarrett351@home.com
I believe Bob Cloussen was a forward at 6' 7" for WI and Ed Westfall 6' 9" was the Center on the 55 team. Bobby went on the play forward at WVU. They were beaten in the State by Beckley as I remember. Double-check with your brother Roy but I'm real sure.
Regards,
Alvin Garret
submitted by: Harriet (Danley) VanVoorhis (WI '58)
Eerfanvan@aol.com
Thanks for another interesting and informative newsletter! I found the section on the Parr Mansion being replaced by "dear old W.I.", especially intriguing, since I had never heard it before. I asked my 86 year old mother, who has lived in Clarksburg all her life and went to W. I., about it. She hadn't heard it, either. Great research!!!
Thanks again!
Harriett
BBeall9346@aol.com
This is a long story (as most of mine are). My brother worked at a local funeral home in Clarksburg before he began his banking career. My brother's boss at the funeral home had a boat in FL that he called "Digger." Anyway when the family was sitting around trying to name my second boat (a 1957 Century Resorter) we stole the name "Digger." My first boat was so small there was not room to paint a name. When I bought the third boat we decided on "Digger II." That is the story of the boat naming. I am the second owner of the Caravelle.
I purchased it from a boat dealer in Point Marion, PA. The original owner was a doctor from that area. He owned the boat for two seasons, had a factory refinishing job done, and asked the dealer to sell it for him. His children had grown and he wanted to quit boating. I bought the boat on a Friday evening before the Fourth of July 1966. Came home, borrowed a trailer, and went back on Saturday morning to pick it up. Took it to Tygart Lake (Grafton Dam), put it in the water and had a great 4th.
This winter we are going to do a complete restoration of the boat, inside and out. The boat will be renamed at that point. I am going to have a picture put on the stern and the new name will be "Hot Rod Lincoln" because of the big cubic inch Lincoln engine. The boat has a 431 cubic inch Lincoln engine. The Chris Craft Caravelle was only manufactured for one year. 1963. Chris Craft built 80 of these boats, all in the 20 foot length, only 15 of the 80 had the big motor, the rest had smaller displacement Chevy engines. Ours is number 55.
Recently I visited a web site that specializes in the restoration of old wooden boats. They had two Caravelle for sale. If the pictures were accurate, our boat is in much better shape. I am going to raise the amount of insurance on our boat, after seeing what they are asking for their boats.
After enjoying the boat for several years, I got lazy and did not winterize it. We had a very cold winter and the engine froze. At the time my family was growing, and frankly the money was not there to rebuild the engine. The engine was removed and sat in my garage for years. The boat was moved to a garage in Upshur County (Dick Hanifan's). It remained there for better than 20 years. My son suggested about 5 years ago that we do something with the boat. The two of us went to Buckhannon, rewired the trailer, put four new tires and wheels on the trailer, and hauled the boat back to Virginia. It took several years to rebuild the original motor (finding pistons took six months). My wife and I were living in Virginia Beach at the time and we boated on the Intercoastal Waterway, with a side trip now and then to an antique boat show.
We enjoyed the show at Smith Mountain Lake more than most, and entered the show several years. We will be attending this year, but without the boat. Friends of ours are running the show this year and we have volunteered to help.
Anyway, I have owned this boat since 1966, and I told you it would be a long story. The story is not over. We have grandchildren enjoying this boat with us now. We live at Lake Gaston, VA on a 23,000 acre lake. I am sure there are many good years left in the old Chris. It should look great when it rolls out of the garage next spring.
Floyds@lvcm.com (Buzz & Carol Floyd)
Hola, Roleta!
Hey, how about some good ole Clarksburg pasta recipes? I would really like to know how to make meatballs since I can make pretty good spaghetti sauce. I was having a craving for meatballs and thought of this idea for your newsletter.
jteter@balmar.com
I just wanted to bring to your attention that we have had another question raised regarding one of our classmates.
We had been under the impression that Robin Woolard had passed away. NOW, there is some question regarding that information. Someone on the reunion committee had talked with some of her relatives (distant relatives) and the kin folk were surprised to hear that Robin had passed away, and especially without their being notified.
So, if the two of you could add Robin to your list of "OUR" missing, I would appreciate.
Our update list of missing is as follows:
Melinda Goodwin Leaseburg, Constance Kittle, Hugh Martin, Alice Reynolds, Mildred Sanford Baxter, James Smith, Patricia A. Taylor, Patricia M. Taylor, Udo Thiem, and Roger (Toby) Wise. And now, I would like to also add Robin Woolard to this list, just in case she is still alive.
Thanks to both of you for all of your help.
John Teter
P. S. : If you have a contact for the class of 1963, could you please send me that person's name and information. I understand that Robin has a sister (Susan) that graduated in 1963.
dan-jeanhimmel@starpower.net
I just read the June newsletter, which I enjoy every month. You and Judy do a bang-up job and we appreciate it so much.
I meant to write last month to tell you that my sister, Katherine (Kitty), was also a WI graduate, class of 1963. When we were going through our Mother's things just before her death, she found Mother's WI class ring from 1930. Kitty's ring had been lost by her then-fiance back in the early 60's, so she now has a replacement that fits her perfectly. Our father, George Wells, also was a WI graduate, class of 1929 - and probably his sisters, one older, one younger. Kitty's daughter, Lynna, was in the first graduating class from Robert C. Byrd; she had attended WI for 2-1/2 years with one year in Australia as a Rotary Exchange Student. The senior class had to move into RCB half-way through the year for some legal reason.
Delores' letter on organ transplants was very interesting - and scary. My husband is on the list for a kidney, but, fortunately, he is not yet on dialysis. Like Delores, he has found that he just can't say "yes" to the offers from his children. That is a hard situation. Maybe that will change someday. I am so glad that it is working out for them.
NOTE: If you decide to be an organ donor, be sure to let your family know - they are the ones (usually) who have to say "yes" when it is hardest for them to think about it.
Thanks for all you do to keep us WI-59'ers together as well as more and more of the rest of the country. Keep up the good work. I'm glad someone keeps finding our "lost" classmates.
Jean Wells Himmel
MEMORIES OF 2001
Roleta1@aol.com
For the next few months I will be publishing pictures of the picnic held on March 3, 2001 in Sarasota, Florida at Siesta Beach. I want to share a bit of our fun with you. I know you enjoy looking at pictures (even current ones) of classmates. We plan another picnic for the winter of 2002. I hope anyone from Clarksburg who either winters in Florida, wished to make a mini vacation at that time or who lives nearby and can drive to Sarasota will make an effort to come join our fun, laughter and memories. We had a wonderful time at the event held this past winter and hopefully the next one will be bigger and better!
Jane Poulicos Faust (WI '67), and Tom Lee (WI '58).
HMB531@aol.com
I read with great interest the different chili recipes. I have a fund-raising project for the Lions Club in Wilsonburg, WV that might be interesting to some of our readers.
I never thought I would ever put an ad in the classified section of the National Enquirer, but I did. It came out 2 days ago in the June 19 issue. Listed under "Recipes" it is as follows--"Quaint 19th Century Recipes. $3.00 /SASE to POB 1482, Clarksburg, WV 26302-1482."
For the $3 you will get recipes from a book printed in 1884 and they are Irish Stew, Piccilli, Scrapple, Mother's Strawberry Shortcake, Improved Southern Cornbread, Christmas Plum Pudding, Indian Pudding and Ammonia Cookies.
This is my personal fund-raiser for my Lions Club and I hope a lot of people are interested. The Lions Clubs do so many great things for many people.
I look forward to hearing from many WI graduates.
When is your birthday? Send the month and day to either Roleta Roleta1@aol.com or Gary Weiner cias@iolinc.net.
Send a birthday greeting!
Gary Weiner (WI'60) July 29 cias@iolinc.net
Roleta1@aol.com
Do you have a hobby you can tell us about? A suggestion for the history section? How about a recipe? Any memory or trivia? Sports trivia or something about an athletic event while in high school? Were you involved in "getting even" with Victory when they painted the front doors green? Do you remember the jokes pulled on a certain teacher? Did something really funny happen on that band bus or the bus you took to school? We want to read about it. Please help make this newsletter interesting, so far it has been great but don't stop now!
Let me take a minute and thank all of you who contributed in any way to the newsletter this month. I enjoy hearing from each one of you and really wish you would take a little time and write more often. I know you have some very interesting things to share. Your memories stir other memories for us! I love the pictures that are shared. You can share any pictures by either scanning them to Judy or me. If you don't have a scanner, send them by mail to either of us. We will scan and send them back ASAP. Just e-mail us for our address.
One thing I must clear up for some of you, Judy nor I are connected to the HILLTOPPERS.com website. Our website is completely different. Our idea is completely different. I enjoy reading Hilltoppers and thank those in charge for the opportunity they have given graduates to communicate. Yes, there is a link from them to us and from us to them...this is only done for your convenience!
I can never thank Judy Daugherty Kimler (WI '59) enough for volunteering to put my newsletter on her website. Little did we know when she volunteered that it would become what it has. She does a marvelous job of adding the graphics and all the pictures in just the right place.
A million thanks, Judy, I am so glad you joined me in this venture.
