THE WI NEWSLETTER 12/06

THE WI NEWSLETTER

Editor: Roleta Smith Meredith

Issue 88

December 2006

WISHING YOU EVERY HAPPINESS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
AND THROUGHOUT THE COMING NEW YEAR.
MERRY CHRISTMAS, FROM ROLETA AND JUDY.

CHRISTMAS TIME

Christmas is a time for everyone
Including you and me
The turkey with all the trimmings,
The Angel on the tree.

I really love this special time
Especially if it snows
To build a snowman with my friends
And put a carrot as his nose.

The fairy lights that twinkle
They really make me smile
To finding the decorations
I haven’t had out for a while.

If I had one wish this Christmas
I think that it would be
For my family to be all together
To share Christmas day with me.

Ann Louisa

BROAD OAKS-NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOLARSHIP CHALLENGE
submitted by: Don Sager (WI '56)
dks@davtv.com
The Broad Oaks Gang was in action for 6 weeks. We now “throw down the gauntlet”. “start the clock”, “cross the swords”, “draw the line in the sand”, “grab the bat” or whatever metaphor you all prefer. Let the challenge begin for any and all other Neighborhoods or Groups. Review the October WI Newsletter for the guidelines.

For me as Captain, in addition to the satisfaction of gathering monies for deserving RC Byrd students and assisting Roleta in her efforts, it was a chance to renew old friendships (some 50 yrs.) and make “new” Broad Oaks friends throughout the U.S. As one of my old buddies wrote—“We have been richly blessed by God and feel obliged to share our resources with others not so fortunate”. We have all shared in the Newsletter about our growing-up in Broad Oaks, Clarksburg and WV.. With Thanksgiving just past, it is right to give thanks for the opportunity we had to live in a more peaceful time and wander the Country Roads together.

AND NOW IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO PRESENT
THE BROAD OAKS ALL-STAR WIN CONTRIBUTION TEAM
(alpha order):


Karen Griffith Askins	Pat Elder	John Timberlake
Jim Alvaro	Bob Hall	Janet Webb Wendt
Harold Brewster	Ann Hollandsworth Fenton	Wayne Winters
Jim Brown	Cliff Judy
Frank Bush	Steve Limbers
Bud Collins	Don Sager (capt)
Robert Davis	Mary Sue Clark Spahr

**** NOW THE SCOREBOARD READS ****

BROAD OAKS ------------- $1300.00

UNKNOWNS --------------------ZERO

We are waiting for a Challenge!! Let The Games Begin, Please !!

EDITOR’S NOTE: If you are interested in getting a group together to see if you can raise more money than Don Sager and his Broad Oaks gang, just write to Roleta1@aol.com. Possibly I can help you. Perhaps one of you would like to challenge your neighborhood, maybe one would like to see how much some of the “old” football players can raise, your graduation classmates or past basketball players. How about a group of band members (anyone who ever played in the band) , summer softball players, cheerleaders, church youth group, anything or anyone, we welcome all challengers!!

All donor’s names will be published in the newsletter.

SCHOLARSHIP DONATION IN MEMORY OF JACK FREDERICK

Donation given by Mr. Bill Hutchinson (WI ?? )

If you would like to honor Mr. Jack Frederick by giving money to the WIN Scholarship, make your check out to:

Roleta Meredith/WIN Scholarship
And mail to me at:
3201 Charles MacDonald Dr.
Sarasota, Florida 34240

MEMORIES OF JACK FREDERICK

FROM THE EDITOR: Roleta1@aol.com

I think it would be great if everyone could write a short memory of Mr. Frederick for the newsletter. Give our departed teacher an honor! Send your message to Roleta1@aol.com Thanks.
Here is one!

submitted by: Rose Bosley McGee (WI '65)
ROJAC432@wmconnect.com
I was in Mr. Frederick's American history class when he received the word that President Kennedy had been assassinated. When he received the message he started crying and told us to always remember we were in American history class when history was made. He was one of the best teachers I remember from school.

HARRISON COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI MEET AT CHURCH REUNION
submitted by: Ron Harvey (WI '55)
w4rrh@charter.net

In the late 1950s and early 1960s several Harrison County High School Students were associated with the Clarksburg Assembly of God Church. (The church is presently called Stealey Assembly and is located on Milford Street in the Stealey Addition.) On November 11th some of these now adults and their spouses met at Ryan’s Steak House on Bridgeport Hill for a second year gathering. These senior citizens in their 60s and 70s represent county high schools of WI, Victory, RW, Bridgeport, Bristol, and Lumberport. The group contained attendees from North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. There was no formal program but many tales were told and old pictures were shared. The gathering was a great success and plans are being made to have a third get-together in the fall of 2007. If you or any one you know were associated with the Clarksburg Assembly of God Church in the 1950 to 1970 time frame, please feel invited to the 2007 gathering. Co-organizers for this years gathering were Joanne Drummonds Marlette (WI ’58) and Ron Harvey (WI ’55).

MAY CHRISTMAS BRING YOU SOMETHING SPECIAL
TO REMEMBER AND TREASURE ALWAYS

BOOKS ABOUT OUR AREA OF WEST VIRGINIA (a Christmas gift idea)
submitted by: Bob Stealey (WI '64)
BobnAlong1@aol.com
To date I have completed three books (photo compilations) about bygone times in the area, all through Arcadia Publishing of the Charleston, S.C. area.

    The titles are:

    * "Images of America - Harrison County"
    * "Images of America - Doddridge & Ritchie Counties", and
    * "Images of America - Clarksburg"

    Currently, I'm working on "Images of America - Bridgeport."

Each of the books, which contain at least 200 photos each, costs $19.99, with the exception of the Harrison County book, which is $18.99 (the cost in 2000). I've been told they make excellent gifts for all occasions, and Christmas is coming up.

People outside of Clarksburg and Harrison County can contact Marissa Foster at Arcadia at 1-888-313-2665 (or 843-853-2070) to place an order.

Those in the city or county can check area bookstores, Byard-Mercer Pharmacy, Town & Country Drug Store and Bland's Drug Store, West Virginia Mountain Products or Sandy's Hardware. Or ... they could contact me at work (626-1438) and I just may have a few copies of the Harrison and Clarksburg books in my car.

“WE ARE MARSHALL”
submitted by: Sharon Myers Hall (WI '65)
hhubert@bellsouth.net
"We are Marshall"
I need help please. If you could somehow get in touch with our classmates that could put their input for our newspaper Hattiesburg American here in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. They could email to me hhubert@bellsouth.net and I could get it to Mr. Van Arnold. I have my input in our WI Newsletter on Frank Loria back in June, also Frank's sister's in June and your note in July telling us of the ABC News Report. I would like to get as many replies as possible. I know this is such short notice, but I do not keep up with sports. Wouldn't it be nice if we could show "Us Hillbillies always stick together, good or bad" and our respect of our own forever.

WV HOT DOGS
submitted by: Roleta smith Meredith (WI '59)
Roleta1@aol.com
No, we will never let this subject die. People who live within WV take the WV hot dog for granted. Believe me; no place outside of the Clarksburg and surrounding area seem to have the skill of making the hot dog just right!

To prove my point I am going to give you a site location about West Virginia hot dogs. It is interesting reading but you can see it is from southern West Virginia….they put slaw on their hot dogs (now isn’t that a sin?) !!!!! I have tried some hot dogs in southern WV and even their buns are different. In Huntington you can get a really good hot dog at Stewart’s. No, I am not a connoisseur of hot dogs nor do I make it a habit of shopping around for good hot dogs. But I know you can’t find a “tried and true” hot dog as we know it outside of that little area around Harrison County unless you go to the Clarksburg Reunion in Sarasota, Florida on March 3, 2007……. they have them there.

http://www.wvhotdogs.com

WEST VIRGINIA FALL QUILT
The people who can sew are coming through to make the quilt for the WIN Scholarship fund a beautiful one this year.

The theme for the quilt this year is: "Oh, those West Virginia Hills, how majestic and how grand......" Autumn in WV is a beautiful time of year with all of the brilliant colors of the fall foliage. The hard woods in the WV forest make it a beautiful sight with the magnificent colors. In the 2007 quilt we are going to try to capture the feeling of fall in WV. All donated quilt blocks will be sewn together; borders will be added; a backing put in place and the quilting will be done by Sue Selby Moats. The WIN Scholarship Quilt will be raffled off and all proceeds will go toward the WIN Scholarship which is presented each year to a deserving RCBHS student. Chances for the quilt will be available at the Sarasota Picnic in March 2007 as well as by mail.

The blocks need to be a 12 ½” block (finishing to 12") of your choice that will convey something you love about Autumn as related to Clarksburg & West Virginia.

We are requesting that you use a cream colored background fabric with any autumn colors you choose. Some ideas for a block could be: Bear's Paw; Delectable Mountain; Log Cabin; any leaf or tree block; Hill & Valley; Moon Over the Mountain; The Harrison Block; West VA Lily; West Virginia Star, or another block which relates to Autumn/WV.

Remember this year we are not including photos or embellishments. We want the quilt to be more usable and washable.

Several people have sent quilt blocks for the 2007 WIN Scholarship quilt. This is going to be a great autumn quilt to help raise money to help deserving RCBHS students.

Squares have been received from:

Carol Dean (WI 1958) –2 squares
Elaine Zabeau Norteman (ND 1962), --1 square
Sara Graham, Fort New Salem Quilting Ladies: 5 hand-pieced blocks!
Mary Harbert Nophsker (WI 1958)
Kitty Sager: (wife of Don Sager WI 1956) 4 beautiful blocks
Liz Custer Carter—4 squares

Now we need more of you to help create enough blocks to make a WINning quilt for 2007. Please send your square to Sue by the 9th of December so the quilt may be completed by 31 December. If you have a square and want to send it, and you know it will be a little late, contact Sue. Thanks!

Send your squares to:

Sue Moats
109 Normandy Drive
Silver Spring MD 20901

LAST YEARS QUILT

TICKETS (A GREAT GIFT IDEA)
submitted by: Roleta
Roleta1@aol.com
This is a gift that keeps on giving. You give raffle tickets as a stocking stuffer or tied to the bow at the top of a holiday present, that person then has a chance to win the WIN Scholarship quilt. And you have given to the WIN scholarship. So see---you are giving 2 presents in one.

The WIN (WI Newsletter) Scholarship quilt this year will be in autumn colors which will appeal to anyone, no matter where you live or where you went to school. . All you people from VICTORY, RW, WI AND NOTRE DAME—buy tickets to help one of the Clarksburg students with their costs for college. The lucky ticket will be drawn on March 3, 2007 at the Clarksburg Picnic in Sarasota. YOU NEED NOT BE PRESENT TO WIN. We will ship the quilt to you.

Sue Moats is donating her time, talent and materials to complete this quilt. Sue is also selling raffle tickets through the mail for the fund raiser. Write to her! (moatsue@aol.com) The tickets are $1.00 for 1 (one) ticket or 6 (six) tickets for $5.00. Write to:

Sue Moats
109 Normandy Drive
Silver Spring MD 20901

TEDDY BEAR CHRISTMAS (FOR ROLETA)

All the teddy bears love the snow,
They are always ready with their sleds to go.
I love their spirit of adventure and play,
All their joy and love for boys and girls comes with a teddy bear hug.
Traveling to visit their friends,
The snow is coming down, it's almost Christmas Day.
I know they celebrate the holiday,
That is the teddy bear way.

Somewhere in the pines,
The Teddy Bear Christmas tree is all aglow,
Bright lights calling them to dance and sing.
It is a pretty sight to see.
They eat the candies and cakes,
Open Christmas presents they made.
Play games and sing,
Teddy Bear Christmas bells ring,

Bless all the teddy bears everywhere,
Teddy Bear Christmas is finally here.

Copyright by Nicholas Gordon

WE ARE MARSHALL
By: Doug Smock Staff Writer
November 15, 2006
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The coach, the quarterback and the son who never got to meet his Hall of Fame father, they all approved.

And so will a lot of Marshall fans. And a lot of moviegoers who aren’t Marshall fans — perhaps even those poor, misguided souls that couldn’t give a hoot about college football. The movie “We Are Marshall” was screened Tuesday night, the 36th anniversary of the 1970 MU plane crash, before several hundred at the Stadium Theater in the College Football Hall of Fame. While it’s 400 miles away from Huntington and wasn’t an optimum movie theater setting, it was a splendid venue for such a historical event.

And all in all, Warner Bros., director McG and producer Basil Iwanyk did an equally fine job with the film, delivering on their promises about how they would treat the crash, the university, the city and the state. As far as tugging on the emotional heartstrings, they made more than a few grown men cry.

“I think they did a brilliant job, with the cutbacks to the old film and so forth,” said Jack Lengyel, the coach of the 1971 Young Thundering Herd, portrayed in the film by Matthew McConaughey. “I’m just in complete awe. ... From my perspective as a coach, it was absolutely brilliant. The story, the portrayal, the green, all the things that McG put into it, the sensitivity and reaching out and touching everyone in the community. I just think it was a brilliant, brilliant job.”

Reggie Oliver, the starting quarterback of the 1971 Young Thundering Herd, also attended and voiced his thanks to the film crew. “They did what they told me they would do,” Oliver said.

Frank Loria Jr. was a representative, of sorts, of the surviving crash members on the post-movie panel. He was not yet born when his father, assistant coach Frank Loria, perished in the crash. The elder Loria, a native of Clarksburg, is a College Hall of Fame inductee for his playing career at Virginia Tech.

“Never did I imagine our story would be told with such a — I don’t want to call it a movie because it was more than that — it was a film that really told the story well, from the prospective of the football team, about what happens when you’re faced with adversity,” Loria said.

It was just as interesting to get an outsider’s prospective. It will be very difficult for anybody connected with the Marshall program to get a feel for how the “outside world” will view it, critically and at the box office. There was one such view from Jeff Jeffers, sports anchor at WNDU-TV in South Bend. Serving as master of ceremonies for the screening, he called the movie’s treatment of the crash “poignant without being aggressive.”

That’s pretty well stated. As strong as the film is emotionally, I couldn’t see anything over the top.

ACCURATE PORTRAYAL
That begins with Huntington. It’s portrayed exactly as the Middle America town it was in 1970-71, and remains today. No exaggerated accents or any backwoods portrayal West Virginians have learned to brace for. Just bring your Kleenex.

The crash was jarring — you were made to feel the impact, yet did not see it. The chaotic scene at the crash passed as authentic, yet was not graphic.

The emotional conflicts, as grief continuously collided with guilt and self-doubt, were numerous and memorable. Coming foremost to mind was a physical confrontation in practice between assistant coach Red Dawson and Nate Ruffin, the most notable player who missed the fateful plane trip to East Carolina.

Matthew Fox as Dawson and Anthony Mackie as Ruffin were as strong as any of the actors, perhaps excepting the accomplished David Strathairn as besieged Marshall president Donald Dedmon.

In the practice scene, Ruffin is starting to deliver cheap shots to show coaches his shoulder was well enough to play. Finally, Dawson throws him to the turf and yells at him, “You’re not the only one having it rough!” before walking off the field.

Later, at halftime of the climactic Xavier game, Dawson has it together emotionally enough to tell Ruffin he can’t play. But he tells the player in a way that lets him know he has done all he can, and to just heal physically (and mentally).

LIGHT MOMENTS, TOO
There were plenty of moments of levity, as well, and that begins with McConaughey as Lengyel. McConaughey reportedly was so enamored with the role he took only $1 million to play it, much less than the eight-figure paydays he commands as a Hollywood heartthrob. He struck me as too hokey at first, when he had a front-porch interview with President Dedmon — sort of like he took his Texas drawl with him. But you have to realize he wasn’t attempting to mimic Lengyel.

By the time he and Dawson paid a visit to West Virginia University coach Bobby Bowden, I had warmed up to him. He sweet-talked Bowden into letting him see some game film on his veer offense, which the Herd looked to install to mask offensive line deficiencies.

Bowden and WVU were tastefully, honorably, yet entertainingly portrayed. Upon agreeing to let the Marshall coaches into the team’s film library, he gets off one of the movie’s best lines: “You grow ‘em big in Huntington, don’t you?”

I’ll let you figure out what “them” refers to. The movie does get a “PG” rating, after all, for some language.

The production’s use of old-style film allowed old news clips to be intertwined seamlessly at appropriate times. While I can pick off a few bloopers and modern-day items that should have been removed (was that the new Sixth Street Bridge Annie Cantrell drives over?), there was a pretty good attempt at authenticity.

EVEN THE SHOES
“If they gave prizes for authenticity, this film would get one,” Jeffers said. “When you can show a coach’s footwear and he’s wearing Spot-Bilt shoes, THE shoe of 1970, you’ve got it down.” Director McG offered an apology about the film diverting from real life on the Thundering Herd’s winning play. Dawson actually calls a “213 bootleg screen,” but Oliver’s pass ends up going to the end zone on a fly, caught by Terry Gardner with one foot just inbounds. McG said he lost a battle with Warner Bros. on the choreography of that play, but Lengyel and Oliver ended up conceding. Without giving it away, the play takes on a pretty good dramatic effect with flashbacks.

“I am glad they did it that way, and it really worked out well,” Lengyel said. “[Oliver and I] owe them an apology at this time.”

I’m going to have to see it again, in a better sound environment. And maybe a third time, to absorb the nuances further, but I think Warner Bros. might have a winner. I hope it flies at the box office on Christmas weekend.

And I hope that newspaper geek sitting next to Keith Morehouse in a modern-day press box scene doesn’t look too stiff.

Marshall University web site for the movie "WE ARE MARSHALL"

MAY THE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS BE DEEPER,
IT’S FRIENDSHIPS STRONGER
AND IT’S HOPE BRIGHTER AS IT COMES TO YOU THIS YEAR!

NEW EMAIL ADDRESSES

Eileen Schneider Quilty (WI '38)	erquilty@sbcglobel.net
Trudy Shearer Ware (ND '62)	ohsewneat@msn.com
Jerry Belt (WI '59)	j.belt@mchsi.com
Jane Phillips Heitz (WI '70)	janeheitz@att.net
David Grimes (WI '53)	dgrimes@triad.rr.com
Linda Nutter Gimmel (WI '66)	linda@Comvestltd.com
Bob Twigg (WI '55)	cdlbob@yahoo.com
Martha Phillips Levine (WI '73)	levinemr@aol.com
Carol Moebus Baker (WI '70)	Carba74@aol.com

CHANGE OF EMAIL ADDRESSES

Marty and Rusty Rutan Elliott (WI '57) It will be in effect until at least mid April 2007.	rustyelliott@bellsouth.net
Elaine Zabeau Norteman (ND '62)	enorteman@roadrunner.com
Jacki Tiano Romano (WI '56)	jackictr@roadrunner.com
Robert J. Dennison (WI '57)	wvcarolinasue@comcast.net
Glenn (Bill) Cowgill (WI '59)	gcowgill@comcast.net
Nancy Crane Jones (WI '48)	jonesappr@windstream.net
Braden Swaney and Carol Bauld Swaney (WI '64)	bswaneyiii@ma.rr.com

HIGH SCHOOL ROMANCE
submitted by: Carol Bauld Swaney (WI '64)
swaneyiii@ma.rr.com

After reading the WI newsletters for the past two months, I've decided that it is time for me to write to you about the love of my life!!

In the winter of l961, I was a freshman at WI. One day I was going past Mr. Frederick's room and, standing in front of his door, was a young boy with blonde hair and the most beautiful blue eyes!! I suddenly got thousands of butterflies in my stomach, and I felt the whole world spinning!! I was in love at first sight!! This young man's name was Braden Swaney, and so began the story of our romance!!

He had no idea that I even existed, but I knew that he did!!! I checked with all my friends and found that he did not have a girlfriend, yet, so I went to work!! I made sure that I went to every basketball game that year so that I would have a chance to possibly just see him there!! Then, when school was out for the summer, I discovered that he played baseball!! I rounded up some of my very patient, dear friends, and I dragged them to every game that he played in!! I was so shy that I didn't want him to know that I was following him, but I still wanted him to know that I was there!!!! At one particular game at Norwood Park, I had a chance to meet his mom!! She knew that I was shy, but I think she also knew that I was goo-goo over him!! I'll be forever grateful to her for possibly letting him know that I existed!!!

After a summer of hide-and-seek, he finally asked me out to the first football game of the 1961-62 school year. I was quite possibly the happiest girl in the world that night!! From then on we were inseparable, and we went on to date throughout high school and then through college at WVU. We were married on August 19, 1968. He left for Vietnam on August 31. We spent our first year of married life apart, and oh, what a lonely time that was!! He returned home after a year, and we continued our love story!! We have now been married for 38 precious years, and I am thankful every day of my life that God placed that blonde-haired, blue-eyed boy in front of Mr. Frederick's room so many years ago!!!!!

EDITOR’S NOTE: Write about your high school romance –you don’t even have to give the names: Write Roleta1@aol.com

THE WEST VIRGINIA ENCYCLOPEDIA (a great gift idea)
submitted by: Roleta Smith Meredith (WI '59)
Roleta1@aol.com

Bill and I recently received a gift from a couple of friends and I want to recommend this book to you! We certainly enjoy reading it. The book is “THE WEST VIRGINIA ENCYCLOPEDIA”. It is a marvelous book that you can pick up anytime and read something interesting about something or someone connected with West Virginia. It is a great reference book or a book to read for pleasure. . It tells nearly everything there is to know about WV. It is wonderful for our busy lives as we can spend a few minutes or a few hours reading. It not only holds a special place in our hearts but in our home. If you are interested in this book, wish to read a few sample articles, want to know more about it, or want to purchase it, just go to http://www.wvhumanities.org/ and click on the first choice which is HOME PAGE. We love this book! One more time we thank the gift givers! We hope all of you will purchase it and we are sure you will enjoy it.

submitted by: Eileen Schneider Quilty (WI '38)
erquilty@sbcglobel.net

My name is Eileen Schneider Quilty and I graduated in 1938 from WI. My niece, Jeannie Schneider Peet Trower from Ft Lauderdale, Florida and my nephew Bob Schneider from Myrtle Beach told me to write you as to how I can get on the mailing list of the News Letter. There probably are not too many of my class that are still living, but it would be interesting to know.

submitted by: Linda Nutter Gimmel (WI '66)
linda@Comvestltd.com

I ran into Janet Gorrell and she told me about this newsletter site and sent me some information. I would love to be added to your list to receive the newsletter. I graduated from “the hill” in 1966, and still live in Clarksburg. I would enjoy hearing from any of my classmates. Thanks for all the work you do, it is very well done and I look forward to going through back issues.

submitted by: Bob Twigg (WI '55)
cdlbob@yahoo.com

Just became aware of the WI Newsletter this week. JoEllen Allman was telling me about it and said that I would enjoy receiving it, I scanned through this months letter and found it had lots of names that I have not heard in years. Put me on your e-mail list if possible.

submitted by: Dee Bold (WI '77)
deebold@hotmail.com

1977 is my graduation year. I may have written you, but we moved from Clarksburg to New York city during my freshman year at WI; ironically, I graduated from another "WI" - Public High School # 460 which was also called "Washington Iriving High School"...at Irving Place in NYC!

Thank you again for putting together such a great newsletter! I enjoyed it so much. I was saddened to hear of the death of Jack Frederick. I only spent a couple months in his class before we moved, but he was truly unique and inspiring.

submitted by: Carol Moebus Baker (WI '70)
Carba74@aol.com

Hi! My name is Carol Moebus Baker (WI Class ' 70). I would like to be added to your newsletter. Many of my friends have forwarded your newsletter to me. I think you are doing a wonderful job. Thank you very much for adding me to your list. I look forward to your next newsletter.

submitted by: Trudy Shearer Ware (ND '62)
ohsewneat@msn.com

I have switched from WEBTV to a computer I have also changed my e-mail address. I would like to be put back on your mailing list. My new e-mail address is: ohsewneat@msn.com. How did I come up with that? My son helped me, as I am always sewing crafty things. Hopefully I will be sending a square for the quilt. I graduated from N.D. in 1962. and my husband Dave Ware graduated from WI in 1962. Thanks for all the information that you provide for all the schools in the Clarksburg area. Will be glad to get back on your mailing list! Happy Thanksgiving to all!

submitted by: David Grimes (WI '53)
dgrimes@triad.rr.com

Thanks for all you do. My sister, Ruth Anne Grimes/Herold told me about this email site. It's fun to read and reminisce. I appreciate hearing about the "old timers" (like ME).

submitted by: Jim Ashley (WI '62)
jashley4@cox.net

Roleta, somewhere between reading about your wonderful travel stories and exchanging notes with Carol Bauld Swaney about how much I enjoyed my Latin classes with her mom, I found myself thinking about a time where either staying at home or knowing just a little bit less about languages would have been better for me.

A number of years ago, I was in the Caucusus Mountains hiking through a little town at the base of the mountain that we were preparing to climb. One of my friends pointed off into a fenced field and said, "Wow, look at that cemetery -- everyone buried there has the same last name! When I looked over, sure enough, every tombstone had the word áìøðéîéóô engraved in it. At this point, all the years of Latin, Classical Greek, and modern Italian that I had taken (while everyone else in the world was taking courses that could actually benefit them in their careers) kicked in and I felt myself wincing as I said to my friend, "No, that's not a family name -- that reads "ALPINIST’S and it probably means that every one of those people died on the mountain in front of us.

It did cross my mind that no one would have been more shocked than Mrs. Bauld that I had actually taken a love of languages with me when I left WI, but I guess one of the things that all teachers dream of is that even their poorer students take something with them at the end of the day (oh, the trip went great for the group I was with, but a climber in another party died while we were there....my wife rescinded my permissions for any future climbs when she found out....and I pretended like I was upset that my climbing days were over).

submitted by: Dave Kuhl (WI '62)
dbkuhl@bellsouth.net

In the past 15 months, thanks to Katrina, we have gone through stages of being homeowners, to homeless, to boat people, to trailer trash and back to homeowners again.

We stayed on the cruise ship provided by FEMA for three months. Then we moved into a FEMA trailer in our front yard. And finally back into our house.

It would not have killed me to live in the damaged house on cement floors. However, my wife had hip replacement surgery in the interim and needed a safe environment for her recuperation.

My insurance provided for temporary living expenses but there was no place to stay for nearly a hundred miles because of the wide spread devastation. Consequently, it was necessary for FEMA to provide temporary accommodations.

It has been an adventure but is thankfully mostly behind us now.

submitted by: Linda Nutter Gimmel (WI '66)
linda@Comvestltd.com

I was just recently introduced to our newsletter you truly do a wonderful job on this and I envy your ability. I am from Broad Oaks, still live in Clarksburg and did not know about the activities. But…I do now thanks to you and your hard work. Please don’t stop.

submitted by: Jane Phillips Heitz (WI '70)
janeheitz@att.net

I would love to be added to your mailing list for the WI newsletter. If you would add my home email address I would greatly appreciate it, janeheitz@att.net.

I was a member of the Class of 1970. My maiden name was Eleanor "Jane" Phillips. I have always gone by the name of Jane. I currently live in Eleanor, WV with my husband of 33 years. Michael Heitz. Mike was a graduate of Notre Dame in Clarksburg.

Thanks for doing such a great job with the newsletter. It looks great and it is wonderful to hear from other graduates.

Do you know if the Class of 1970 is planning a Class Reunion any time soon? I am sure my new address has not been forwarded on to any of my classmates.

COACH FOLIO

submitted by: Jim Alvaro (WI '56)
JAlvaro@aol.com
Coach Folio is someone I have thought of all through my life. He was one of a kind. I don't know how many times I have told people that I had a coach who would not let any water be taken on the field during practices no matter how hot it would be. We were not allowed to be excused to go to the locker room for any reason knowing we might sneak a sip of water. I use to sneak a slice of lemon inside of my helmet and really didn't know how that helped me from getting thirsty. We popped salt tablets like M & M's and I didn't know what that did to help the thirst. Oh how we prayed for rain but it only rained on game night which soaked the field and on game night we were allowed to drink water. We drank water from a galvanized bucket with one dipper and passed it around from player to player. We didn't get sick, not that I could remember.

Mike Snyder mentioned curfew. Yes, Coach Folio was a stickler on being off the streets. He would drive around at night looking for those not making curfew. I had a few guys who would come over to my house at night when I lived on Haymond Hwy. Mom would pop popcorn and we would lay around on the floor just talking mostly about girls, football, and I think watching snow on the TV screen. Few knew this but Coach Folio would stop me in the hall and sometimes he would request that I meet him in THE HOLE. That was his office in the basement near the swimming pools and gym. He let me know that he knew that I had several guys over my house in the evenings. He made me promise that I would tell them to get out of the house by a certain time or there was going to be trouble. I don't know how he knew who they were but he did. He would ask, "Alviiiiro, what time did Harrison, Jenkins, Vespoint, Chartrand, etc. etc. leave last night? I know better than to tell him a lie. He knew what time they left.

We practiced so hard that game time was a cake walk. Not that we won that many games our senior year. Our drills were really tough but we didn't have the injuries they have today. Groin pulls, ham strings, knees, etc.. And if we got hurt, we crawled off the field. I think the only time I could remember we had a ham string accident belonged to Coach Folio. He was trying to show Bob Hart how to block and he pulled a ham string. You guessed it. No one laughed (out loud). He walked with a cane for a few days.

When I got to play football at Wesleyan, I was fully prepared, with the help of my buddy Cliff Judy, who I played with in college, and Coach Folio.

I could go on and on about the man who made a really big difference that time in my life but I think this will be enough to let you know how much I loved that man, though I could have strangled him during some practices, if I had the guts.

I, like Mike Snyder, wish he was alive today so I could tell him how much he meant to me.

DO YOU REMEMBER?
Do you remember any of the songs you sang as a child? Send the song to Roleta1@aol.com and I will put it in the newsletter.

The following was sent to me by Penny Christie Johnson (WI 1960)

My sister, Barbara Christie Morris class of 1950 reminded me of another tune we sometimes sang

We are the Hilltop girls
We wear our hair in curls
We wear our dungarees
Rolled down below our knees.

And when we want a man
We don't want any man
We wanted the greatest man
We want a Hilltop Man.

SOME HAVE BEEN THROUGH A LOT RECENTLY
Best wishes to Jay Sharp (WI 1959) who underwent an emergency gall bladder operation…Some stones were the size of a fist. Ouch!

Glad to hear that Auggie Malfregot (WI 1956) pulled through his heart bypass surgery and is back safe and sound at home.

Bud Collins (WI 1955) had a heart operation and the stints are working fine

Buck Tustin (WI 1955) had a heart operation

Some updates:

submitted by: Augie Malfregeot (WI '56)
admasa@onearrow.net
10/02    Scheduled three month check up at 8:40 AM. "Have you had any changes in your health since the last check-up?" my Dr. asked. Yes, three activities bicycling, walking or cutting the grass, I yawn and experience pressure on my sternum, tingling in the forearms and tightness in my jawbone hinge.. These are examples of Angina; they did an EKG and checked it with past ones. My doctor informed me that he has reserved a room for me at the hospital. They gave me medicine to eliminate the cumidin in my system and began using Plavix.

10/03    My system has not adjusted to the status that would be appropriate for the heart catheterization.

10/04    Second attempt for heart catheterization is okay. Got to the staging area and get shaved and prepped. Next to the show ring. Interesting feelings as they push the catheter up your body. The local anesthesia covered any real pain, all you feel is pressure from time to time.   They reach the area that they will take a picture of. They told me that I would feel a warm fuzzy sensation on the top of my head. I told them that I had a warm fuzzy sensation in both of my brains. Just a few seconds later I told them that I was having pressure in my chest between my boobs. They gave me a nitro pill and almost immediately the pressure was gone. Anyway, the pictures showed that stints or any other procedure was ruled out and that a by pass was the only solution. So, back to the room I go.

10/05 to 10/06    Two days of lots of blood samples to check on when my body would be ready for major surgery. They need to rid my body of the Plavix in my system so I would not bleed to death on the operating table. I was told I had a 10% chance of having the surgery on the 6th. Didn't happen!...90% of it happening on Monday the 9th.

My Doctor took pity on me and moved me to a private room so I could watch the football games over the weekend in peace. Of course there were a herd of Doctors all making their rounds at about the same time. Still, not sure what they were doing or what kind of doctors they were. Guess we'll find that out when we get the bills!

Sunday 10/08 they were preparing me for the 90% possibility of the surgery first thing in the AM.

10/09    Well, once again the 10% kicked in - it was a no go, although the nurses assured my wife that they weren't going to take care of me forever. That night the odds were a little better, they'd let me know at 6 AM.

10/10 I was awaken at 5:00 AM was told I was a go - called Karen at 5:30 told her I was on my way down to the OR.. Went to sleep......the doctors worked their magic then sent me to ICU for the day. The kids and Karen came into see me, then went to work or home. None thought I'd be ready to talk that evening, but Chuck knew better and called me in ICU.

10/11    Back to my room, hoping to go home on Friday or Saturday....Thurs my blood pressure was either to high or to low, don't remember which.   Maybe go home on Sunday.

10/13    Friday the 13th...off to X-ray for a chest x-ray. At this point, what they say goes. They start checking for infections, drawing lots of blood. I learned that if I move around room before they attempted to draw blood it was a lot easier. I also learned about deep breathing and warm compresses to stimulate blood flow. This was after several days of two or three attempts to draw blood resulted in "maybe" some in the bottom of the vial. My arms and hands were getting to look like they had been beaten.

10/14    They started me on Lasik, a diuretic, lost 7 lbs over night. Karen wants some...maybe go home on Monday...they say. Start telling the nurses that I've hired a caterer for Thanksgiving dinner, because I don't want to eat hospital food on Thanksgiving.

10/16    Two weeks here, maybe go home on Tues...another X-ray. This blood thing not right or that one not right......Early Tues morning I had some arterial fibs, given an EKG, some meds. Definitely not going home Tues.

10/18    The doctors start making their rounds, one after another, no one comes up with a reason for me to stay ..... I called Karen to come quick before they change their minds.

Sleep in my own bed, watch TV from my own "Archie Bunker" chair, the good things in life. Still go for pro times, but, I'm home. Am feeling pretty well, not much pain, more of a pressure, but that gets better.

11/22    As of today, I'm doing much better. Was given the keys to the car back after three weeks! Karen was glad not to have to drive me every other day or so for blood tests and chest XRays. At four weeks I was able to clean the pool, and mow part of the lawn, tho, my son did most of it. Still some concern over the fluid in my left lung, but they decided to treat it with meds. On Monday, I took my first stress test and passed with flying colors. Will start cardiac rehab next week some time. This was not the best of times but, all the calls and emails sure helped time to pass!   Many thanks to all who called, sent cards or emails…..

BOOK FOR SALE (a gift idea)

submitted by: John Teter (WI '61)
JTETER@balmar.com
My brother-in-law William E. Akin, who wrote the book entitled: “West Virginia Baseball: A History, 1865 – 2000” that was advertised in the September, 2006 edition of the WI Newsletter has an offer to make.

For any sales of the book, ordered directly from him during the month of December, 2006, he will donate $5.00 per book to the WIN Scholarship Fund. The price of the book is $29.95, plus $3.05 for shipping, totaling $33.00. Any orders placed by December 15th will be filled and shipped prior to Christmas (and the books would make wonderful presents).

To order direct from the author:
William E. Akin
229 Ruby Drive
Collegeville, PA. 19426

For additional information regarding the book itself, E-mail Bill at WILLIAMAKIN@AOL.COM with Subject: Baseball Book.

MARBLES AND PAPER WEIGHTS (a great gift idea)
submitted by: Roleta
Roleta1@aol.com
Bill read in the October 2006, “Wonderful West Virginia” magazine an article by Tim Wimer titled ”A Marbleous Business”. This article is about Sammy Hogue who is owner and operator of Sam’s Crystal Creations. Sammy started working at Mid-Atlantic Glass Factory at the age of 16 and left when the plant closed in 2003 at the age of 60. As a glassworker Hogue was out of work. He had a book about marbles and knew he could figure out how to make them. So he did!

Crystal Creations is located in the town of Ellenboro, West Virginia. As Bill and I were traveling in West Virginia on US Rt. 50, Bill said he would like to stop in Ellenboro and look up Sam Hogue. So we took Route 16 into Ellenboro and turned on Washington Street (old US 50) We drove about half a mile and turned in at the sign. Sam was in his garage at the back of his house working. (this garage is his factory and part of his display area). He is a very friendly man and very informative about his hobby of making, showing, selling and collecting marbles. However, my eye was caught by the beautiful paper weights he makes. (I love kaleidoscopes and these beautiful paper weights remind me of those designs.) I ended up buying 6 of them for Christmas gifts. (One for me of course!) Bill has 3 Pittsburgh Steelers marbles sitting on little glass display stands here in our office that he got from Sammy.

I suggest if you are traveling in that area, stop and see him…you don’t need an appointment. Tell him you read about him in the WI Newsletter.

For more information call (304) 869-3146.

NOVEMBER TRIVIA PICTURE
submitted by: Freddie Layman (VHS '46)
FGL46VHS@aol.com

WONDER BAR "DIPPED" DANCE FLOOR
The trivia photo for the month of November is the Wonder Bar night club located at the top of Bridgeport Hill. Joe Folio of Grafton established it in 1934. He tore down a nearby roadhouse known as “The Bucket of Blood” to build a parking lot. On February 1, 1946 John Folio, Jr. and Betty Morgan Folio acquired the Wonder Bar. They were not related to the original owner, Joe Folio. On April 22, 1975, the Wonder Bar was destroyed by an Electrical fire. It was back in business within five months. John Folio, Jr. died in September of 1988 in Las Vegas. The original Wonder Bar had a “dipped” dance floor. The Wonder Bar is still in business today.

submitted by: Deedie Swisher Souders (WI '52)
DeedieDesigns@aol.com
Trivia Picture for November is: The Wonder Bar

The Wonder Bar is located on the top of the old Bridgeport Hill. It looks like the picture was taken back in the 40's or 50's, what we now call, The Mid-Century. Exterior was remodeled giving the entrance a new look. The parking lot was paved for the convenience of their dinner guest.

In the 60's they remodeled the interior of the dining room. I was with the Decorating Studio of the Palace Furniture Co. when I worked with this wonderful family to help bring it up to date. They put RED Carpet on the walls, which was a great design at this time.

We rearranged the Dinning room, and opened up the back area with a lovely patio for tables that could be set up during the good weather on warm summer evenings.

Later we moved to Fla. and the Wonder Bar suffered a terrible fire and they lost a lot of the look of the 60's.

A complete re-design has now given the building the architectural features that you see today when you have a wonderful dinner at The Wonder Bar..

Note: We have been in Fla. for 34 years and today people still talk about the food in Clarksburg where ever we go.

I worked with a Henredon Sales Rep. at the Palace and later he became our Rep. in the Fla. store where I was a designer and all he could remember was the food in Clarksburg. We were at a genealogy "Mayflower" dinner a few months back and we sat beside a man from Pittsburgh, who worked for the gas co. and came to Clarksburg for business. All he could remember is that he enjoyed the most, was the FOOD in Clarksburg.

From Alaska to Fla. we still remember the WONDERFUL FOOD in our home town and all the great Restaurants.

submitted by: Marlene Parsons Andre (RW '53)
rw53@verizon.net
First thing that comes into my mind is the Wonder Bar on top of Bridgeport Hill. Was there a few times, they had good steaks, so that is what I am going to guess!

Went to the RW Alumni Dinner on Oct 15 at the YWCA. We had a good crowd there, food was good. Oldest graduate was from the class of 32. I was the only one there from my class of 53. This was in Clarksburg of course.

submitted by: Jerry Hustead (WI '63)
jjhustead@aol.com
November trivia picture looks like the Wonder Bar Restaurant on old Bridgeport hill road. Brown bag liquor, big bands and a wonderful Delmonico steak.

There were always rumors of high rollers, gambling and Mafia. I don't know about the rumors only that they were just that, rumors. It added to the "mystic" of the night club. Folio owned the restaurant. He was a professional light weight boxer back in the thirties. I remember pictures of him in the boxing ring hanging on the wall. He was a great ambassador for the restaurant. Always dressed in a coat and tie while greeting everyone with a hug for the Italian Men and of course all of the Women. It was more of a night club then a restaurant.

submitted by: Wayne White (WI '60)
waynepawco@verizon.net
The Wonder Bar was a great place to eat, They were famous for their Steaks. I have eaten there and it is a very nice place, The picture shown is the old Wonder Bar as it had a fire and was replaced with a new building. The restaurant was owned buy the late Mr. Folio and his wife, The late Mr. Folio was a professional Boxer and had some good fights in his day. Some of his family are still running the restaurant today. It is still a great place to eat....Hope this helps with some of the background.

submitted by: Joe Williams (WI '56)
joeandshirlw@aol.com
I believe the trivia picture is of the WONDER BAR on top of Bridgeport Hill, which burned to the ground some years ago, and since has been rebuilt. It is still a very popular restaurant today.

submitted by: Molly Lynch Knotts (WI '66)
Hotknots99@aol.com
I do believe that the trivia picture is of The Wonder Bar....what a great old restaurant on the top of Bridgeport Hill. I well remember many good meals coming out of the kitchen...those steaks would melt in your mouth.

submitted by: Roleta Smith Meredith (WI '59)
Roleta1@aol.com
Several years ago Bill, our son, Victor, and a couple golfing buddies from Westerville, Ohio went to Clarksburg to golf at Pete Dye. After golf, Bill decided to take the guys to The Wonder Bar to enjoy (as he puts it) one of the best steaks you can get anywhere. The four of them entered The Wonder Bar. One of the young men (John) had on his golf cap. Bill said he noticed this, but figured he would soon remove the cap. With all the class one can imagine, the manager or a waiter at The Wonder Bar came to the table and ask John if he could check his hat for him. Only then did John realize he had on his cap. Wasn’t that a great way to handle the situation? Hats off to The Wonder Bar!

HE DIDN’T RECOGINIZE THE PICTURE BUT HAS FOND MEMORIES
submitted by: Jon Darnall (WI '53)
jondarnall@dslextreme.com
I don't recognize the building but the car looks like mine. Many trips to Friends Place, Benedum Airport to dance on the runway after closing, going out for Boston Cream Pie after play practice. That was a fine piece of junk that hauled many kids into harms way, luckily without any problems.

TRIVIA PICTURE FOR DECEMBER 2006

Picture submitted by: Sherry Greitzner Dial (WI '56)
Do you know the place in the picture above? Write your guess to Roleta1@aol.com. Remember, I only print correct guesses so there is no harm in trying to guess…test your memory. If your answer is incorrect, sometimes I even give you a clue and ask you to try again…..

THANKFUL
submitted by: Mary Beth Jeranko Hilburn (WI '55)
hilfarm@hawaii.rr.com
I have something different to be thankful for this year. Our family has been fighting for two years with cancer. My husband Paul has had many surgeries and procedures +radiation and chemo.

We have come out on the other side of this as he continues to get stronger each week.

Then Oct. 15, as you might have heard, Pele, goddess of the volcanoes, on the Big Island of Hawaii where we live decided to hula. Glasses, pictures, cans, bottles, and plates flew from the shelves. Our pantry was literally knee deep in tossed items. Every opened cabinet threw stuff at us. It was the strongest quake we have experienced in 26 years in Hawaii. Also, we were closer to the epicenter than we had ever been before. There was $200,000,000 in damage, many houses "walked" off their foundations, and crashed to the ground. Two churches, constructed largely of stone, sheared whole walls into crumbled rubble. One school near the epicenter could not be used for over a week, the ceilings were all over the floors. Luckily no children were in school, the quake was on a Sunday.

No one in the whole state (while the quake was locally very heavy, it set off a cascade of quakes up the chain) was killed. People immediately rushed to help each other. Police, fire personnel, nurses and doctors sped to their work places. Volunteers helped evacuate the hospital patients when ceilings fell there. It was an amazing outpouring of that overused phrase "Aloha". We feel especially lucky to live Hawaii this year. It may have unsteady footing some of the time, but the love and caring of the people is more than rock solid.

WATCH THE ROSE PARADE
submitted by: Deedie (WI '52) and Bill (WI '46) Souders
DeedieDesigns@aol.com
Bill and I would like to wish you and yours a Very Merry Christmas and a Wonderful New Year.

All of your News Letters over the past year have been just great!!!
It has told us a lot of warm stories about different parts of Clarksburg.
The Old & New W. I. H. S..
The Spring Break---
The Summer Events--The Winter Snow---and most important,
THE OLD GANG ON THE HILL----
Thanks Roleta and Gang for all your devoted work for us!!!

We are now ready for a new year, 2007, with our personal families and friends. Our W.I. Friends we LOVE YOU!!!

The 2006 college football season is coming to an end and we are turning to the New Year, Bowl Games and the ROSE BOWL Parade.

For those who watch the Rose Bowl Parade, watch for our granddaughter who will be representing the Chamber of Commerce float for the city of Cerritos.

Sarah won the title of Miss Cerritos 2006 which was a Scholarship Contest judged on their poise, positive attitude, networking skills and professional appearance. This will help her to develop an opportunity and relationship that will help further her career goals.

Sarah has been an ambassador at different events throughout the year including luncheons, networking mixers, ribbon-cutting ceremonies for the city of Cerritos Calif. Sarah is in her second year of College and is a very talented artist. She is studying art and animation. Her mother is GIGI SOUDERS and would have been a grad of W.I. H. S. with the class of 1977. Sarah was born in Calif. and has my given name of Sara Marie Diane.

Oh yes, we are very pleased and she was our gift from GOD. Sarah had open heart surgery at a very young age and has survived to be such a beautiful child for our family.

Enjoy the Parade!!

CHRISTMAS WAS

When I was young Christmas was....
Waking VERY early...sneaking downstairs
Shaking presents
Listening to see if Mom and Dad were awake.

When I was in my teens Christmas was...
Sleeping later to appear cool.
After all, getting up early was for KIDS!
Trying to appear blase about the whole
Thing when in reality
....I wanted to rush down those stairs.

Now...as an adult Christmas is...
Family
Love
Charity
Hope
Faith
Peace
And still....I want to rush down those stairs.

Charles Watson

HOW DID YOU DECIDE ON YOUR SCREEN NAME?
Write to Roleta1@aol.com

submitted by: Diana Cleavenger Swiger (WI '66)
Mamaswag6@aol.com
My email address is mamaswag6@aol.com When my 2 boys went to High School in Buffalo, WV. My oldest son was known "SWAG" . When I would go to the high school for whatever, it was nothing to walk in and 10-15 boys would say "HEY MAMA SWAG" I took this as a compliment somewhat. Consequently here it is 20 years later and when I see any of these grown up kids, I'm still known as" MAMA SWAG." If I'm number 6, it kind of makes me wonder how the 1-5 got their names. Still love the newsletter and look forward to it every month. Thanks for being there.

submitted by: Roleta
Roleta1@aol.com
I made an error in the last newsletter, we have one email address beginning with an O. It is Jeannie Schneider Peet Trower. Jeannie went to school with us at Morgan Elementary and Central Junior High. Then her mother moved her away from all of us. But through this newsletter, we have reconnected. Jeannie now lives in Florida. Her cousin, Bob Schneider (Victory), her Uncle Jim Peet and her aunt Ellen Schneider Quilty (WI 1938) all subscribe to the newsletter. See, I told you this newsletter brings relatives together!

How did Jeannie come up with her screen name of OPALII (that’s 2 each capital letter I following the word OPAL)….Here is her explanation.

I wanted Ruby because it is my birthstone but it was taken. Of course opal was also so I just added two small ii's. So as you can see there isn't a mystery about the name.

But most of all I liked it as it means: I am YOUR " OL Pal!!" LOL

PRECIOUS CHILD PICTURE FOR NOVEMBER
submitted by: Bob Turner (WI '58)
bob81340@earthlink.net

The precious chid is my cousin Mickey McGowan (WI 1959) Mickey & I grew up together. He lived in Hartland and I lived in Stealey.

Being cousins we were always fighting to see who was the best at everything, mostly baseball. I was his catcher in Little league Baseball for several years. His dad, my Uncle Charlie was a favorite of mine for many years.

We both made the All Star Team and went to Elkins for the regional championship. Got beat but, what sweet memories.

Mickey's mom was my mom's sister and they were very close till she passed several years ago.

PRECIOUS CHILD PICTURE FOR DECEMBER

Do you recognize this child? Write your guess to Roleta1@aol.com. I will only use correct guesses.

SUMMER TRIP TO WEST VIRGINIA
submitted by: Glen Cowgill (WI '59)
gcowgill@comcast.net
On the 10th of August we left Homestead, Florida for West Virginia pulling our fifth wheel camper. It was really nice when 400 miles later we left the state of Florida and crossed the Georgia state line. The first day we drove to just across the Virginia state line and stopped at a beautiful campground in the mountains where the temperature was 30 degrees cooler than Miami. We spent a very comfortable night there and arose the next morning and continued our drive to Stonewall Jackson Lake Resort campground. What a beautiful campground, Upon arrival we found that our reservations were messed up but the young ladies at the gate were very nice and got us into the campground even though we had to move twice. All three sites were very nice overlooking the lake. If you plan on camping in West Virginia, I highly recommend that you check out the Stonewall Jackson Lake Resort campground.

On Friday I had a chance to play golf with my uncle Jake Jackson who is 85 and still plays well. The rest of Friday we spent in Clarksburg visiting with family. Saturday morning it was off to Jackson’s Mill for the Jackson family reunion. A lot of the family was there from as far away as Los Angeles, Ca. Had a really great day with family and friends of the family. A tour of Jackson’s Mill followed. What an interesting tour seeing the old mill that no longer is operational but is a site to behold looking at the engineering that went into building the mill. We went through another mill on the site that is operational and is used to grind meal on special occasions with the ground meal being sold in the old country store on the property. There are several log homes that have been moved to the property depicting life during the period. Also they have the old Jackson blacksmith shop with all the equipment still in place. Saturday evening we attended a reception at the Clarksburg Historical Society on Main Street.

Sunday was really an adventure beginning at the Jackson Cemetery on East Pike Street beside Johnny’s Radiator behind the playground where some of the Jackson family is buried and a lot of Civil War veterans are also buried. From here we went uptown where my Aunt Nancy Jackson told of some of the historical sites and then off to the Courthouse where we took some pictures of Stonewall on his horse. After the Courthouse we went south on I-79 to the Jane Lew exit to see the last standing Block house in WV and an area known as the Ring of Fire where the Indians had ceremonies. We then continued south on I-79 to the city of Weston where we saw various historical sites related to the family and also saw the building that housed the Virginia Exchange Bank which was robbed by the Union Soldiers and the money used to form the state of West Virginia. I never knew growing up in WV about all the history that is there. It is my understanding that our beloved classmate Joy Stalnaker does some tours of the area in conjunction with the Hackers Creek Historical Society.

From Weston we were off to Buchannan to see some more sites connected to the family. Off again to one of the most breathtaking views I have seen, the old Henry Jackson farm and cemetery located high up on top of a mountain. Here we found some coffin like stones that covered the graves of Henry and his wife. After touring the graveyard and listening to Warren Jackson telling some of the history and showing some of the civil war paraphernalia of that era we were then off to see the Pringle Tree.

What an experience. So tired we then returned to Clarksburg and said goodbyes to those who went on the tour. We returned to the campground that evening only to be greeted by about sixty deer at the entrance and all the way in to our campsite. I enjoyed talking with a man and his family that was camped next to us who was from Deep Creek Lake, Md.

Monday we took off for Grantsville, Md. Where we had lunch and done some shopping. Coming back from Maryland my wife and I stopped at my sister’s house in Weston where I grilled some steaks. Here I visited with my mother who is 91 and not doing to well and sat around and talked. Left my sisters house and went back to the campground where we found a family had moved into the site next to ours. They had twelve kids!!!! The mother asked if we minded if they played some music and I said I didn’t mind if it wasn’t too loud. She said oh no, I mean can we play our instruments. I said go ahead as I enjoy music. It wasn’t long before the banjo, mandolin, guitar, fiddles, and the bass came out. What started as a private concert soon had the whole campground gathered around to listen to some old fashioned Bluegrass and Gospel music. The Godin Family from Alabama put on quite a show Monday night with all the children from the youngest to the oldest and both parents entertaining the whole campsite. Our plans of getting up early Tuesday were put aside as we stayed up late and watched a great show. You cannot beat camping when you get neighbors like this.

BROAD OAKS PRANKS
submitted by: Jon Darnall (WI '53)
jondarnall@dslextreme.com
How many wimps are going to get a gift from Santa for hiding from the facts.
The Broad Oaks bus ended its mid route at Buckhannon and Harrison.
One cold evening six to eight young citizens took off their shoes and crept behind a house with a rope.

The rope was interlocked between the handles of the garbage cans with a loop at each end. Silently, still in socks, the citizens took the cans, holding the handles quietly and moved them behind the bus, which was waiting for the time to return its route.

The rope loops with garbage cans attached were hooked on the bus rear bumpers. No one was hurt, but there were some sore sides from laughing while running.

Were you a culprit?

EDITOR’S NOTE: Remember those pranks? Write and share the fun with the readers…write Roleta1@aol.com.

MY FATHER’S ANNUAL WRESTLING MATCH
submitted by: Chuck Thomas (WI '56)
DrCRThomas@lcsys.net
Primo Carnera reigned briefly as the World Boxing Association’s Heavy Weight Champion from 1933-34, but in 1953, I saw him wrestle at the Carmichael’s Auditorium in Clarksburg, West Virginia. Gigantic, menacing-looking, seemingly focused for brutality—that night, the former heavy weight boxing champion completely dwarfed both his wrestling opponent as well as Frank Columbo, the referee and physically intimidating assistant football coach at Washington Irving High School. Carnera, described as a 275-pound giant with great strength and little body fat, was later chosen to star in the 1960 film Hercules Unchained, confirming his immense physical stature.

The Italian pugilist-turned-professional-wrestler appeared to have superhuman strength during his 1953 match, which of course he easily won. After he left the ring, my friend Bob McGee and I stayed around to closely inspect the dusty imprint one of his size 22 shoes left on the wrestling ring mat. Monstrous!!! There was no other way to describe the footprint, especially for 14 and 15 year old boys. The scuttlebutt circulating through the audience that night before the match centered on how Carnera was able to wear a wristwatch. Reportedly, he had to have five regular leather watchbands sewn together to fit around his huge wrist. Without a doubt, Primo Carnera was larger than life.

My father, on the other hand, was not. Standing at 5’10” and 155 lbs, my dad, to my knowledge, had never boxed nor fought or defeated professional wrestlers. But he did face off once every year in mid-December with a much shiftier and seemingly unconquerable foe—the Christmas tree stand. Growing up, I was always involved with the preliminary events leading up to the face-off. My father and I would head upstairs and then enter the inner recesses of our attic through a cubbyhole portal. That access enabled us to search the attic storage spaces under the back part of our roof, about 12’ on the left side, and along the entire right side of our upstairs.

Searching those inner sanctums always involved a major quest to find my older brother’s sled. Robert—19 years my senior and a former U. S. Marine—was married and living south of Tulsa, Oklahoma, with his family. But each December, my father became possessed by a premonition that my brother’s Silver Flyer—a much bigger deluxe sled than the small Christmas sled I got at six—was lurking somewhere in our attic’s unlit darkness. However, we could never find the mysterious, missing Silver Flyer. But along the way, we did find the holiday decorations and obstinate tree stand.

At a certain point in the annual ritual when my father would say—“I can’t understand what happened to Robert’s sled!”—I would know the expedition for the sled was over for another year. We would then leave the recesses of the attic through the cubbyhole portal and head downstairs with the Christmas tree boxes. At that point, the countdown for the wrestling match with the problematic tree stand would begin. First, the living room couches and end tables would be moved to create a space in the corner for our newly purchased Christmas tree. Second, my father would direct me to put the red and green metal tree stand on the front porch near the freshly cut pine. Third, he would go downstairs and return with a saw, hatchet, and pliers.

Now in retrospect, I will swear that as soon as my dad caught sight of the dreaded stand, his metal arch-nemesis, his temper would rise. Most people saw my father as being an exceedingly kind man, and in truth, he was always rather kind and fair with others and with me. But when he became pressured or irritated, his mood changed—and very quickly. In fact, growing up, I tended to see my father as only having two moods: exceedingly calm or insane with intent to kill or seriously maim. And when he returned to the front porch with the saw, hatchet, and pliers, I knew what was next—the annual wrestling face-off.

We balanced the pine tree over the porch banister so my father could saw off the smaller branches off near the bottom. Next, while I continued holding on the tree, my father stood on the ground on the other side of the banister to saw the bottom shaft of the tree more evenly. Those two steps completed, we would attempt to fit the tree’s shaft through a silver metal ring precariously connected to other parts of the tree stand. Usually, the tree would not fit on the first try . . . the second . . . or the third, so I’d have to hold the tree upright on the sidewalk while my father used the hatchet to narrow the diameter of the bottom of the tree to fit snugly in the ring’s opening.

Working on a project with my father was never a happy occasion. Had there been computers back then, I could have commissioned all the academic research computer centers of the world to run a Working-Compatibility Search to find the ideal person to work with me and to work with my father. I’ll bet a million dollars that none of the research computers would have matched the two of us to work together. Instead—as with so many other fathers and sons, mothers and daughters—the computers in all likelihood would have specified that my father and I should never work with each other on any project. But in time, my father would finally get the tree in the holder, and it would stand upright . . . until we took the tree inside to the corner of our living room.

But after numerous wrestling bouts, my father eventually would manage to get the tree standing. Putting the strings of lights on the tree back then was a masochist’s dream- challenge. If one bulb did not work, the entire strand would not light nor would other strands light when plugged together. But gradually, tenacity would triumph over the frustration of replacing bad bulbs, and the lights would go on in unison. Later, we put on the glossy ornaments and icicles. Unfortunately, however, either that same night or at least three or four times during the Christmas holidays, the tree would fall over—igniting another wrestling grudge-match between my father and the tree stand.

Granted, Primo Carnera, once the heavyweight boxing champion of the world and then later a superior wrestler, may at first glance have looked like a better wrestler than my father—but I would contend that was only because, unlike my father, Carnera had never squared off against an uncooperative Christmas tree stand.

MEMORABILA WANTED
submitted by: DeeDee Swisher Souders (WI '52)
DeedieDesigns@aol.com
Several months ago, someone had a wooden coat hanger from Melet’s which dated from the early 1950’s.

I would love to have one from Parsons-Souders Co. Does any one have such a coat hanger among your old items? Perhaps the “League for Service” might have one among their store hangers. If you have such an item, I would be happy to buy it from you. Do you have any artifacts from Parson-Souders Co? Just email me, Thanks.

ANOTHER INSTALLMENT
submitted by: Roleta
Roleta1@aol.com

Bill and I at Stone Henge in England.
In the November newsletter, I told you about our week spent in England and Wales and then back to Dover, England. Well, to continue—On July 29th, we left Dover, England on the Celebrity Constellation to visit the capitals of the Baltic nations. We were going to spend 2 weeks in the Baltic Sea….marvelous!!! . We had two days at sea on our way to Tallin, Estonia. Tallin is the capital of Estonia which was formerly part of Russia. The next day we were in St. Petersburg, Russia where we spent two days. Bill made reservations for us to have a private car, driver and a lady guide who spoke English to take care of us for these two days. It was amazing! It was just hard to imagine that we were in Russia. Remember all the fear of the countries behind the Iron Curtain? St. Petersburg has many beautiful palaces, churches, statues and bridges. During WWII most of it was destroyed. We saw the pictures of the rubble…however, they built it back to look the way it did before the war. I loved the summer palace in Peterhof. It was lavish, ornate, and the gold in the gardens was unbelievable.

Above is a picture of The Church on the Spilled Blood (Church of the Resurrection). It is both a church and a work of art. Amazing isn’t it? We just kept telling ourselves how blessed we were to be able to experience this trip.

I am house hunting; do you think this one is large enough? No, really this is The Hermitage, which was the Winter Palace, home of the Russian Emperors from 1763 to 1917. CatherineI had the home built. However she kept expanding it because of her vast art collection. Now it is a museum.)

The art displays in The Hermitage was magnificent. However, since I am an art lover and admire the works of the old masters, I was truly amazed at how carelessly they had displayed some pieces. For instance, it was a hot sunny day and there were open windows allowing the air in the display rooms and the sunlight was pounding down on two Rembrandts which were placed close to the windows. Just terrible! We were in many Russian Orthodox churches, never again will I complain about hard pew seats in our churches….when the Orthodox attend services, they stand as there are no seats. During Holy days the services last about 4 hours. From Russia, we went to Stockholm, Sweden and spent two days. Next we sailed over to Warnemunde, Germany which is a northern sea port of Germany. We caught a train and rode a couple hours south to Berlin. (East Berlin)…We saw check Point Charlie, the Berlin Wall, the War Museum and many of the other places which were so prominent during the East Germany/West Germany split which went through the middle of Berlin. The next place we visited was Copenhagen, Denmark….entering this country was a task for the big ship to pass through all the fjords. It was beautiful. The houses along the sea were so pretty with their bright paint. From there we visited Oslo, Norway and we weren’t too amazed because we were now tired and looking forward to home. One more day at sea and on the 12th of August we arrived in Dover, England. We took a bus to Stansted, England and managed to get on our flight to New York the next day. And you know how scary that was, we were allowed a zip lock baggie (which the airport provided) in which we could put ONLY our passports, plane tickets and wallet….NOTHING else! No book, no magazine, not even lip ice. The security was so strict because 3 days earlier a terrorist cell had been uncovered in London which had plans to sabotage planes. We went through personal body checks 3 times, and sat on the airplane two and one half hours waiting for security clearance from England and then the list of passengers had to be checked to see if everyone would be allowed in the USA. Finally we took off for our 7 and ½ hour flight to New York. The flight was one of the roughest we have ever been on due to it being so cloudy. Enough said, I won’t be flying out of this country on any long flights for a long while. It was great to be back in the USA. We had 6 days at home in Sarasota before we were off for 7 weeks in the mountains of NC and at Deep Creek, Maryland where we visited many sites in eastern West Virginia. We even went back to Ohio to see the children and grandchildren before returning to Florida. It was a marvelous 2 and ½ months and we are glad to be home. We do plan to travel north on the 18th to have Christmas with our children and then stop in Georgia to have Christmas with Roy and Jalon on our way back to Florida. We will be home to see in the New Year and plan to stay here for several months with no traveling until summer!

Bill wearing a Russian Soldier’s hat at Check Point Charley / Berlin, Germany.

OBITUARIES
JOSEPHINE R. SWIGER

RALEIGH, N.C. - Josephine Swiger, beloved former teacher and counselor at Washington Irving (WI) High School, has died. Ms. Swiger passed away at Duke University Hospital in Durham, NC, after a brief illness.

Educated in the Clarksburg schools, Ms. Swiger was graduated from WI in 1934. She received her A.B. degree from Salem College and later received graduate degrees from Cornell and West Virginia universities.

She taught English and, for many years, lent an ear to students as counselor at WI, also serving as advisor to Be Square and Service Club.

Countless students relied on her advice and testing skills related to college and vocational choices. From 1943 to 1980, she was a stalwart at WI.

After retirement, she traveled extensively, visiting family and foreign locales. On one trip, she broke her leg in a Norway park and returned to the U.S., accompanied by a Norwegian doctor. She also served on the Dunn-Golf Scholarship Committee for some years after retirement.

In 1992, she moved to The Forest At Duke, a retirement facility in Durham, NC. Her late parents were Ernest S. Swiger and Joy Cullimore Swiger. She was preceded in death by her brother, Ernest C. Swiger, and her sister-in-law, Ruth Weller Swiger.

She is survived by her brother, Quentin G. Swiger of Glenview, IL, and her sister, Julia Blount, of Rockingham, NC. She is also survived by nieces, Margaret Swiger of New York and Joy Swinney of North Carolina, and nephews, Davis Blount of North Carolina, Ernest Swiger of Pennsylvania, Philip Swiger of California, Andrew Swiger of Texas, Calvin Swiger of Illinois and Charles Swiger of Florida. Seven grand-nieces and nephews also survive her.

RONALD EDWARD"ROCKET" LEJEUNE
Ronald Edward "Rocket" LeJeune, 61, of Rt. 7, Clarksburg, passed away on Wednesday, November 1, 2006, in the Louis A Johnson VA Medical Center.

Mr. LeJeune was a retired Deputy with the Harrison County Sheriff's Department with 20 years of service. He was a 1963 graduate of WI.

He was born in Clarksburg on January 15, 1945, a son of the late Camille LeJeune and Mary Catherine Brown.

He is survived by his wife, Joan E. LeJeune; two step-daughters, Maria Reppert, and her husband Cliff, Bridgeport, and Gina Hinton, and her husband Anthony, Bridgeport; four grandchildren; one brother, Richard "Dick" LeJeune, Clarksburg; two sisters, Johnna Chapman Stutler, and her husband Tim, North Carolina, and Susie LeJeune Faris and her husband George, Clarksburg; and several nieces and nephews.

He was also preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Camille and Germaine LeJeune, who raised Ron and his brother, Richard; and his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Thurmond E. Norman.

Ron was a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, where he served as a Lector. He was a graduate of WV Business College and the State Police Academy. He was a United States Army Veteran, having served during the Vietnam Conflict. Ron was also a member of the Fraternal Order of Police, Meuse-Argonne Post 573 VFW, and Clarksburg Lodge No. 52 Loyal Order of the Moose.

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