THE WI NEWSLETTER 02/07

THE WI NEWSLETTER

Editor: Roleta Smith Meredith

Issue 90

February 2007

ROMANCE
submitted by: Bob Davis (WI '59)
RAD29063@aol.com
Janet White and I met at Jeanne William's home in Broad Oaks. Janet lived in Point Comfort and they met on Washburn Street where Jeanne's grandmother lived. Janet could not date until she was 15 and that was the next week or real soon. So I asked her to go to the movies. I don't remember the exact date, but I did not have a car or a driver's license, so I walked to her home (about 2+ mile trip) and then we walked to the Ritz Theatre. I do know we walked back to her home and stopped on the way at the DQ and soon became very familiar with Mrs. Alvarez. She sometimes gave us a free milk shake as we were good customers. I probably walked home as I had to leave her home by 11 PM. We also had a limit of one phone call of 15 minutes per day. And now almost 50 years later............still married!! She hasn't kicked me out----yet!!!

CLARKSBURG REUNION PICNIC
It is time for our 7th Clarksburg Reunion Picnic. This picnic is for anyone who has a connection with Clarksburg. We really look forward to this time to get together with old friends and catch up on what has happened since our last time together.

I enjoy listening to the laughter and seeing people great each other. Every year there is a story of someone who just saw a relative, friend or co-worker from “way back when” in Clarksburg.

I think every high school in the county is represented in attendance. We have people who attend who graduated from high school in the 1930’s and some who graduated in the 70’s. We love to see them all. Charlie and Marcie Means will again take our group pictures so we can have a record in the Newsletter.

If you live out of state and wish to attend there are many motels in Sarasota. Many people take this occasion to come to Sarasota and spend 3 or 4 nights out of the cold northern winter. Some arrange to stay at the same motel with others who are coming for the week-end and they have a great time visiting together while here. (interested in motels? Contact me) Many fall in love with Florida in the winter and come back the next year to spend a week or a month.

It is easy to attend---You are required to make reservations so I can have a head count of those attending. We will again have hot dogs with that famous chili sauce that we enjoyed when we were/are in Clarksburg. As you know, you can’t find it any place else on earth! I need a count so we won’t run out of hot dogs and supplies.

You only need to bring a covered dish, your own drink and some money to put in the pot to help me cover expenses. The time of arrival is some time around 11:00. The place is Twin Lakes Park in Sarasota. I will give you directions if you need them when you make your reservations.

You may call me at 941-342-0030 or email me at Roleta1@aol.com to make reservations for the picnic.

I NEED VOLUNTEERS to help me at the beginning and the end of the picnic.

I need:
2 people to work the reservation table to sign people in and make sure they have name tags. The time I need workers is from 12:00 to 1:00 pm.
Several people to cover the food tables with covering.
People to help load our (mine and Bill’s) car before the picnic and some to help reload it after.
So if you will also help. Please let me know.

SEE YOU AT THE PICNIC

SCHOLARSHIP
Join us in supporting the WIN Scholarship this year. You can also be a part of this wonderful experience. By all of us pooling our money together we are able to give a scholarship each year to a graduate from R. C. Byrd High School. Education is the promise of the future. Our gift to a child helps ease the expense of college.

Those who gave to the WIN Scholarship in January 2007 are:

171 YOST, KEN	WI 1945
172 TETER, JOHN	WI 1961
173 HILL, CHRISTOPHER	WI 1960

If you wish to give to the Scholarship you can do it two different ways this month. You can send me a check and a note saying you wish raffle tickets for the quilt. I will send you your stub ticket and put your name, address and phone number on the other half of the ticket. You need not be present at the picnic to win. This way you might win the AUTUMN SPLENDOR quilt to be presented at the CLARKSBURG REUNION PICNIC and you will also be giving to the WIN SCHOLARSHIP FUND.

Make out your check to:
Roleta Meredith/WIN Scholarship

Mail to:
Roleta Meredith
3201 Charles MacDonald Drive
Sarasota, Florida 34240

NEW EMAIL ADDRESSES

Sarah Gervella Frush (WI ‘61)	frush1965@3wlogic.net
Gary Frush (Lost Creek ‘59)	frush1965@3wlogic.net
Gerry Daniels Bennett (WI ‘52)	Jgbennett@verizon.net
Jim Bennett (WI ‘52)	Jgbennett@verizon.net
Bill Bowie (WI ‘62)	whbowie@mac.com
Linda Villers Mace (ND '58)	lmace311@aol.com
June Skidmore Yates (WI '52) & Ted Yates (WI '49)	jyates@fosterpremier.com
Mike Perkins (WI ’84)	michaellperkins@comcast.net
Mary Lowther Perkins (WI ’84)	stcmclp@comcast.net
Eileen Schneider Quilty (WI ’38)	erquilty@sbdglobal.net
Bill Sterling (VHS ’56)	BillSterling@aol.com
David Goldsmith (VHS ’49)	gold49@frontiernet.net
Joe Tipper (VHS ’58) (now in NC)	jtipper@aol.com

CHANGE OF EMAIL ADDRESS

Ann Williams Walsh (WI ‘71)	was: Abanana53@aol.com is now: Abanana53@verizon.net
Jim and Gerry Bennett (WI ’52)	jgbennett@verizon.net
Gary Weiner (WI ‘60)	cias@verizon.net
Nancy VanGilst Rice (WI ’60)	nvrice@comcast.net
Marcia Frum Benson (WI ’57)	marciajos@comcast.net
Maryella Muscari Flowers (WI ‘52)	mjflowers@charter.net
Andrea Rowe Ritter (VHS ’59)	Acoachr2@aol.com
Anthony J. Selario (WI ’56)	aselario3257@suddenlink.net
Ann Fenton Hollandsworth (WI ’56)	nellafen@yahoo.com
Nancy E. Schlicker (WI '57)	schlick39@verizon.net
Paul Rector (WI ’58)	pndrector@grandecom.net

DIAN SAYS IT RIGHT
submitted by: Dian Gantz Hurley (WI ’46)
WIHSClassof1946@aol.com
Sue Selby Moats has created a beautiful piece of art is putting it mildly!! That quilt is absolutely gorgeous!! I am not a quilter, but have friends who are. I therefore know how much work and love has gone into that work of art! I will be ordering tickets in a few days, taking my chance at the possibility of having that lovely item in my home!! I hope many others take it upon themselves to have the same desire and order many tickets!

Thanks so much for putting it online as you have, giving those of us who are unable to attend that fun bash you all have down in Florida the opportunity to purchase tickets!!

NOTE: You too might win the quilt and help the WIN Scholarship at the same time. This quilt may be hung on a wall or used as a bed topper.

Tickets for the 2007 WIN quilt are 1 ticket for $1.00; 6 for $5.00; 13 for $10.00
Write your check or money order to:
Roleta Meredith/Win Scholarship

and mail to:
Roleta Meredith
3201 Charles MacDonald Drive
Sarasota, Florida 34240

Send me a note telling me you wish to buy tickets. Sue Moats will receive the check and she will put your name, address and phone number on the back of half of the ticket. This will go in the box from which the winning ticket will be drawn. The other half of the ticket with the corresponding numbers will be mailed back to you. The winning ticket will be drawn at the CLARKSBURG REUNION PICNIC to be held in Sarasota on March 3, 2007. If you win, we will call you and make arrangements to ship the quilt to you.

This is truly a work of art! Sue does amazing work.

Thanks to the ladies who contributed squares to Sue to help make this beautiful quilt possible. Their names are all listed on the back of the quilt as well as in the recent Special message I sent to you.

ROMANCE
(HAPPY ANNIVERSARY SKIP AND SHARON)
submitted by: Sharon Dillmore Smith (WI ’58)
Shanangels@comcast.net
Skip and I met in Central Jr. and were friends thru Jr. high and high school. We never dated, were just good friends! When he graduated in "58" he joined the Navy. We wrote to each other. While he was in Korea he wrote me a letter, which I still have, asking me to hold off making any decisions to marry. He returned home in June of 1962 and we were engaged August 13,1962 and were married February 16, 1963 at Christ Church. We have 3 grown children and 5 wonderful grandchildren. We will celebrate our 44th wedding anniversary on February 16, 2007. God has Blessed us!

BLACKHAWK DOWN

Some of you readers know of Elizabeth Litzinger, who is serving in Iraq. She is the niece of Buzzy Floyd (VHS ’56). Several of us have sent her letters and emails of encouragement.

Recently Buzzy wrote:

I just got a call from Liz in Iraq and she is OK. It was a Blackhawk from her unit that went down on Saturday and they lost four guys from the unit; one was a friend of hers. I’m not quite sure as she isn’t allowed to talk about it, but there may have been thirteen casualties all together. I don’t think they even know what happened; whether it was shot down or just crashed. They have been shut down to outside communication since so that they couldn’t make phone calls or send emails. She still can’t say what happened though, and the newspaper story was pretty vague, which I thought strange for the news media. She wants everyone to know she is OK but due to this incident they have been putting in long hours. With all the work and the shut down on outside communication she knows people are worried but nothing she could do. But she is really amazed and honored by all the support people here have given. She said this was probably the best Christmas she has ever had. She got over 100 cards and lots of gifts. Our family appreciates all of your support for Liz and her fellow soldiers too. It means a lot to know that people care and it really helps to keep up morale. For the first time since she’s been there I could hear the frustration and hurt in voice over the loss.

Thanks again to you all.

EDITOR’S NOTE: It is great to hear Liz is fine. If you want to write a letter of encouragement to her, her address is:

SPC. Litzinger Elizabeth D
B Co 449th ASB 36th CAB
LSA Anaconda
APO AE 09391

Or you may email her at: edl113084@yahoo.com

ROMANCE
submitted by: Babe Bisping Cashman (WI '56)
scashman@ucnsb.net
How I met my love!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was the first week of my sophomore year at WVU. Tom Wetzel, whom many of you will remember from Morgan Elementary, happened to meet me on University Drive. He knew that I would be coming to the Pi KA house to help with rush that evening, as I was a member of their sister sorority on campus.

He said that he had a friend from Niagara Falls who was just starting school at WVU and would not know anyone at the party. He requested that I try to make him as comfortable as possible and kind of take care of him.

That evening, he introduced us and as they say in all the romance novels, "That's all she wrote."

A month later, at Mountaineer Weekend, (a 1:00 AM curfew night, when normally we had to be in the dorm at midnight) I knew I was with the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. I came in and called my parents to tell them I had just gotten in from a date with the man I wanted to marry. My father said in very sleepy voice that that was nice, but could I call tomorrow during the day when he and my mother would be awake to share in my good news. It took Stu till Christmas to realize his feelings for me.

Now, forty-nine years later, we are still taking care of each other.

CLARKSBURG EATERIES
EDITOR’S NOTE: Several people sent me a notice telling me that several places in Clarksburg were mentioned in an article in the January issue of “GOURMET MAGAZINE”. One person even sent the article from the magazine to me. If you can find a copy, you should read it. If your local newsstand or grocery store doesn’t have it, check with a friend and borrow a copy or visit the local library. I think you will enjoy the article as it is very favorable about some of our favorite places.---

submitted by: Jane Faust (WI ’66)
anefaust48@aol.com
The January issue of GOURMET has a wonderful article about the Italian food in Clarksburg, specifically Glen Elk. Tomaro's pepperoni rolls and bread are raved about by the writers. Also mentioned are Julio's Cafe, Oliverios's, S&B Bakery, Dicarlo's and Frankie's Peppers. These folks are finally getting recognized for the food we have long loved. It is called Alto Appalachia on page 46.

FREDDIE LAYMAN ‘A MAJOR ASSET’

Staff photo by Bob Shaw
Freddie Layman, who began delivering election equipment for the 1966 prImary, is set to retire. In the background is Harrison County Clerk Susan Thomas.

FREDDIE LAYMAN, DELIVERER OF ELECTION EQUIPMENT TO COUNTY PRECINCTS FOR 40 YEARS, PLANS RETIREMENT
by Julie Perine
LIFESTYLES EDITOR

CLARKSBURG — After 40 years of service, Freddie Layman is retiring from his county position. It may not be a high-profile one, but it is one which is vital to every election in the county.

For the past four decades, Layman has been responsible for the delivery of election equipment — voting booths, tables and chairs — to every precinct in the county.

“He has been a major asset. He gave me peace of mind,” said Susan B. Thomas, Harrison County clerk. “That was one thing I didn’t have to worry about. I could always depend on him to grab the bull by the horns and do it.”

Thomas worked with Layman for two years. Prior to that time, he worked under a chain of county clerks, including Harley A. Wolfe, Frank J. Maxwell Jr., Nelson A. Blankenship and Sylvia Basile. When he began his work for the primary election of 1966, there were 135 precincts. Now, there are Buildings to which Layman has delivered include community and civic buildings, lake clubhouses, city buildings, high rises, senior centers, fire stations, churches and even small grocery stores.

For any given election, Layman traveled several hundred miles, beginning about a week prior to election day. He made a regular loop, first traveling to the Saltwell/Shinnston area, progressing toward Salem, then heading back to Lost Creek and surrounding communities before servicing the Bridgeport and Clarksburg areas.

Through the years, he’s had some memorable occurrences.
One involved an elderly woman who threw election supplies out in the rain the day after the election. Wolfe personally addressed her for her actions, and that particular precinct was no more, Layman said.

Another incident, also happening during Layman’s early years of service, involved the delivery of booths to one of the county schools. It seemed no one wanted to accept responsibility for the booths, so Layman went straight to the top, ultimately taking them to the principal’s office.

Considering the fact that an average of 15,000-18,000 voters turn out for county elections — and more for national elections — Layman’s service over the past 40 years has played a major role, Thomas said.

During actual election days, Layman served as one of many runners, making sure poll workers were accommodated, Thomas said.

Individuals who have assisted Layman through the years have agreed to take responsibility for future equipment delivery.

Layman said he has enjoyed his duties and has been honored by the confidence which community members have placed in him.

“I’d like to thank every-one who trusted me with their keys to the various voting precincts through the years,” he said.

This isn’t the only time that Layman, 78, has served the county in a long-term role. From 1947-87, he worked as a building engineer at the Harrison County Courthouse and jail. Prior to that time, he was an elevator operator in the courthouse building.

He has no plans to quit serving the county now. Through computer and mail systems, he enjoys sending out information about the county and state to those interested, particularly school children.

Lifestyles Editor Julie Perine can be reached at 626-1439 or by e-mail at jperine@exponent-telegram.com

TENNIS TEAMS AT WI
The following 2 responses certainly span the years. From 1932 to 1993. Very interesting. Yet, I don’t remember tennis at WI in the 50’s. Roleta

submitted by: Judy Martino Gray (WI ‘65)
JGray128@aol.com
I am writing this on behalf of my Dad, Frank Martino, WI Class of 1932. He is responding to the January newsletter question: "Did WI ever have a boy's or girl's tennis team as part of their sports program. If so, when did they first beginning playing tennis at WI?"

Per Dad:
"Yes, they had a Girl's Tennis Team, but I'm uncertain as to when it started." Although there was no Boy's Tennis Team at the time, the '32 Yearbook stated: "Soon tennis will rank with the three major sports in the Girl's Athletic Department." Interesting the girl's team preceded the boy's team.

I attended WI from 1929-1932. When I saw the question, I checked my 1932 Yearbook which Miss Pearl Custer, WI Secretary, gave to me in 1989. My wife, Leah and Miss Custer were very good friends while she was teaching at WI and in later years when we visited her at her home on the Old Mount Clare Road. We continued visiting her until the time of her death at the Jane Lew Nursing Home.

I would very much like to know if there are any other WI 1932 graduates that are still living. If so, I would enjoy talking with them if a phone number could be provided.

submitted by: Rusty Rutan Elliot (WI ’57)
rustyelliott@mail.bellsouth.net
Re your question about the WI tennis team, I don't know how long they had a team, but our son, Eric Elliott (WI 1993), played on the tennis team during his senior year.

Best wishes and thanks for another great newsletter.

ROMANCE
submitted by: Deedie Souders (WI ’52)
Once again it is February, Valentine's Day and the TIME for YOUNG LOVERS. Bill & I look forward to another anniversary of "53" years this spring. It is TIME when The birds begin to Sing, The flowers open and The warm days return.

This brings about one of the important TIMES and events which will be, THE W. I. Class Reunion in Sarasota, Fla....It is TIME to see the smiles on the faces of our CLARKSBURG Friends. Over TIME, we have all learned to give up Spring House Cleaning, Gardening and any kind of hard work. Now it is TIME to enjoy just food & fun in the sun with good company & YOUNG LOVERS...

However, there is still one thing that we all have in common: It is quietly collecting personal artifacts & memories....Even today, Bill gives me one of those BIG BEAUTIFUL VALENTINE Cards which I have collected with pride over our life time and they are neatly tied together with Black & White Satin Ribbon and nicely arranged in a box along with many other cards received from all different occasions. As Hallmark says: " When You Care Enough To Send The Very Best."

We met, fell in LOVE, and were married.
Bill and I met in a Dept. Store called Parsons-Souders Co. Yes, I married the Boss!!! I was still in school and working part time in Sportswear Dept. Bill was just out of College and had served his time in the service and had returned to his family business.

We had a lot in common. We both loved style, fashions, display work, business and COLOR. That was Black & White Color!!!

It was a dream come true with TIME & Trust and a lot of Luck!!

COOK BOOK
submitted by: Rosalyn Burnett Queen Alonso (RW ’57)
Spanishqueen86@aol.com
What a wonderful newsletter and what memories it brought back for me. I graduated from RW in 1957. I write a weekly newspaper column, “ The GRAPEVINE” , which appears throughout North Central WV in several newspapers

Now a great big thank you for the wonderful story about "Arrivederci" I know my dear friend Alexis Scott wrote it but thanks for including the cover of the book. I wanted to advise you that the book is also available at James And Law, Embellishments, Tomara's Bakery. Expressions Beauty Salon in Bridgeport, Body in Balance in Morgantown, Victoria and Banks in Fairmont and now is available at Borders. The book costs $12.00 and I will ship it for $2.50 anywhere in the US. I can be reached at 304-842 2662 or Spanishqueen86@aol.com

All proceeds from the book will be used for scholarships and to support the Fairmont State Folklife Center which by the way is using the book this semester as a teaching. I will be a guest lecturer on February 8.

Thanks again and a great big thank you.

(NOTE: JUDY RESEARCHED AND FOUND THE COVER PICTURE..THANKS GO TO HER!)

PRECIOUS CHILD

submitted by: Fred Alvaro (WI '59)
Falvaro33@aol.com
I am almost sure that the precious child for January is Mike "Foots" McGahan. He was a great all-around athlete and came from a very precious family....mother (Sis), father (Man), brother Dave (Pidge) and brother Frank (Fly). I would consider Mike one of my closest friends during high school. We played sports for 4 years together and baseball against each other in the summer.

submitted by: Dick Frush (WI ’59)
FRUSHFAMILY@aol.com
I believe the Mystery Picture for January to be Mike (Foots) McGahan the only sane one of the 3 McGahan brothers. Clarksburg lost a great family when the McGahans all went to California. I remember them well.

PRECIOUS CHILD PICTURE FOR FEBRUARY

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

ROMANCE
submitted by: Mary Sue Clark Spahr (WI ‘56)
msspahr@aol.com
How did I meet my husband? I think ours is a rather interesting story, so here goes. I graduated from nursing school in Baltimore, MD, and remained there as an RN after graduation. One of my classmates who was married to an Army officer invited me to dinner at her house to set me up with a bachelor friend of her husband.

You know how it goes when you're getting to know a blind date. It was something like this:

"Well, Phil," I said, "Where are you from?"
"I'm from a little place in Ohio that nobody has ever heard of," he said.
"Where's that?" I asked.
"I'm from Fairborn, Ohio," he replied.
"Well I do know Fairborn because my brother and his family live there," I told him after the shock wore off. Further conversation revealed that my brother lived just a block and a half from Phil's home.
Then he asked, "Well, where are you from?"
"I grew up in Clarksburg, West Virginia," I told him.
"No kidding?"
"No kidding," I reassured.
"Well, isn't that a coincidence? My best friend married a girl from Clarksburg."
"Do you know her name," I questioned.
"I think it was Martha Marple," he replied.
"You have got to be kidding now because Martha Marple was my best friend in high school."

So it turned out that two people who met in Baltimore, MD, had been best friends of John and Martha Marple Rainbolt who had met at Baldwin Wallace College in Ohio. I think it must have been preordained if you believe in that kind of thing. We were married in 1964.

WI CLASS OF 1947 REUNION PLANNED
submitted by: Dick Bewick Class '47 Reunion Chair
dynaflow29@verizon.net
I want to bring you up to date on our WI Class '47 60th Reunion which will be on Friday and Saturday September 7 & 8, 2007. Our Reunion Motel will be the Wingate where we will have a Hospitality Room throughout the reunion and our two dinners will be at the adjoining Bridgeport Conference Center. Our normal golf tournament will be handled again by Dick Tetrick, our Reunion Chair Emeritus, and we will also provide opportunities to visit our old Washington Irving HS building plus visit other sites which were so important to us during our wonderful high school years. Now that the main details have been determined we will be providing our classmates enough details to make their motel reservations either at the Wingate or one of the many others in close proximity. Our reunion goal will be to spend as much time together others enjoying each others company at this reunion as the "Golden Years" have been taking their toil. Please include this message in your next newsletter.

Dick Bewick - 302-736-1670; dynaflow29@verizon.net or mail to
175 Crescent Drive
Dover, DE 19904.

People in Clarksburg and vicinity can contact Dick Tetrick

Reunion Motels are the Wingate & Microtel in Bridgeport and classmates can make their own reservations.

WI CLASS OF 1977 REUNION PLANNED
submitted by: Jody Buffington Aud (WI ’77)
jbuffaud@comcast.net
WI Class of 1977 will hold its 30th reunion this year on Labor Day weekend. If you graduated in 1977 or know anyone who did, please have them contact Jody (Buffington) Aud at jbuffaud@comcast.net.

WHAT DOES YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS MEAN?
WHY DID YOU SELECT IT?
Thanks to those who shared. Some of these emails make a lot more sense to me now that they have been explained. I will now remember what the email addresses mean, I probably will still not remember who they belong to but I will remember the stories behind them.

Why did you pick your screen name? Write to: Roleta1@aol.com and tell me why?

Sarah Gervella and husband Gary Frush selected frush1965@3wiogic.net as their email address…..Frush being their last name and 1965 when they were married…that is 1-9-65 as January ninth, 1965…clever!

Freddie Layman explains his address thusly:
In regards to my email address. It is very simple: FGL46VHS@AOL.COM
My initials are:   F.G.L. (Fred G. Layman)
46 Is the year I graduated from high school
VHS my high school is Victory High School

As usual, I really enjoyed your latest newsletter. [FREDDIE-VHS-1946]

The following address is so close to a couple of others in my address book but now Martha’s has meaning……It is interesting why Martha Jefferies Rice (WI ’55) selected her email address Lonoma@aol.com.

She writes:

I chose my screen name using the name on our cabin at Lake Floyd. We took the first two letters of each name- my mother, Louise, my sister, Norma, and my name, Martha.    When I was choosing my on-line name, I decided that no one would have that name. I was correct. I had a lot of fun at the lake during our high school years. Many slumber parties were held there and many happy times at the clubhouse, swimming, dancing (round and square) and flirting with the guys.

I would never have guessed how Ralph came up with the email address or the meaning behind it. Now when I see the address I will know what it means. This one is a tribute to his brothers—(Who would have guessed the meaning behind this one?)….

Ralph Hardman (moved but would have been WI ’59) wrote: WeR1@AOL.COM

The " W "  came from my older brothers first name William (now deceased), the little " e " came from my middle name Edward, the " R " came from my youngest brother Roger (now deceased), so it ends up that (We Are One) WeR1  .........

I often wondered about this email address….I pictured a tiny fragile lady lying in a bed—(sort of like “Granny” in the story of “Little Red Riding Hood”)

Joanne Westfall Simpson-Tetrick (WI ’52) wrote: fragilegranny34@msn.com

My e-mail name began when my children were small. Their dad, Don Simpson, told them that I was Fragile and Delicate. That was repeated frequently through the years and later passed on to my grandchildren. When they were small they believed it as my children did. As they grew they called me "F & D Granny". Some other adjectives began to take the place of "fragile & delicate" as they grew older and wiser. However, if you asked them today they would smile and say the right words. Hence the e-mail address of fragilegranny34@msn.com was born.

INTERESTING VIDEO—ABOUT SPELTER, WV.
Thanks to Boo Beall (ND ’58) for sharing this with all of us.

NOTE: This is amazing. I am still learning wonderful things about our area of WV every day! When you go to this site---just click on the picture and the video will start:--There are 2 parts. Copy and paste the first listed address into your web browser—watch that video and then do the same for the second address listed below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGTYYIsqaFs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-PvTU4TU34

HISTORY, INCONGRUITIES, AND MR. FREDERICKS
submitted by: Chuck Thomas (WI ’56)
DrCRThomas@lcsys.net
From the first grade through both my elementary and secondary education, I was never drawn to inane pedagogy and busy work. Consequently, I took little interest in school. However, I gravitated towards incongruities. Mid-way through fourth grade, I became quite interested in history—especially the history of early Clarksburg. To this day, I distinctly can recall reading the Stonewall Jackson memorial plaque on the front right side of the old Grants store site then located at 324 Main Street (and currently the location of U. S. Bankruptcy Court almost directly across the street from Dagwood’s Restaurant, the previous site of the Rex Heck Newsstand):

On this site stood the birthplace of
Thomas J. (Stonewall) Jackson,
Lieutenant General, CSA.

Born January 21, 1824
Died May 10, 1863

Erected August 1911 by the
Stonewall Jackson Chapter No-1333
United Daughters of the Confederacy

Discovering in the fourth grade that the courageous Confederate general Stonewall Jackson had been born in 1824 on the same site that came to bear the name of his Yankee military nemesis struck me as being incongruous. Later at WI, Mr. Frederick’s high school American History class interested me at times when he would discuss more complex incongruities emanating from differences between recorded history and the facts substantiated by extensive research.

Mr. Edwin J. Frederick—always prepared, always organized, and always fair—was an excellent teacher. Admittedly, I had to be one of his most worthless students ever, but when I did work in his class—rarely—I got the grades I deserved. When I didn’t—usually—I understandably got the grades I deserved.

Given my own then competitively poor academic interest and performances through my first twelve years of schooling, that I later became a professor is also an incongruity. Ironically, however, in my own 36½ years as a college and university professor of English, I always used Mr. Frederick’s three aforementioned approaches—preparation, organization, and fairness. I didn’t teach history classes, but I did include history, factual knowledge, and incongruities when I taught literature as well as other classes. Also, much earlier at WVU, my two academic minors for my first undergraduate degree had been history and political science. And my interest in incongruities still continues.

Mr. Frederick’s own teaching history at Washington Irving High School was all-important; his loss as a great and inspiring teacher, monumental.

ROMANCE
MY FIRST COMMUNICATION WITH MY WIFE
submitted by: Pat Elder (ND '57)
st1pat@aol.com
When I was a student at the University of Dayton, I lived in a house with four other guys. Two of them dated a couple of nursing students at the St. Elizabeth School of Nursing, a few blocks away. The two nurses lived in the same room with a third nurse. They were about to have their annual turnabout dance and they were talking about their dates. My now wife of 44 years, Joan, didn't have a date yet, so the other two couples suggested she call me and we could have a triple date of all roommates. Joan and I had not met yet, but they all vouched for me. I had been studying all night and she was working till midnight. She called me about 1 am to ask me to go to the dance. I was called to the phone even though I was really tired. Joan made a little small talk first then got around to asking me to the dance just as I fell sound asleep. When there was no answer, she asked "Hello, is there anyone there?" Then she repeated it in a louder voice just as a roommate came into the room and woke me up. I stammered around and asked "what was that again?" With a little "Oh, Man" inflection in her voice, she asked me if I wanted to go to the dance with her and I said yes. It was probably the clumsiest telephone conversation that either of us have ever had in our lives. It all worked out though and we dated on after that. Long story short, three roommates married three roommates and we are all best friends and get together often. "And they all lived happily after"

TRIVIA PICTURE
submitted by: Roleta Smith Meredith (WI ’59)
Roleta1@aol.com
I have fond memories of Ray’s located across the street from Victory High School. My father was a principal at Bristol Grade School and later Enterprise Grade School for a few years while we lived in Clarksburg. My mother taught at Zeising, and Hepzibah among other locations. My parents both received their bachelor degree from Salem College ….so they often passed by Ray’s coming home from an event at one of the schools or from college night classes that weren’t offered at Central Junior HS. What fun it was to be roused from a sound sleep late at night to the smell and taste of those delicious hot dogs (by that time not so hot) they brought home for our “dining” pleasure. It might be 11:00 pm or later but we never thought about indigestion from eating wieners, chili and onions with mustard so late at night. To this day, whenever we are back in Clarksburg and travel Old Rt. 50 I remember that late night fun that my parents shared with us.

submitted by: Fred G. Layman (VHS '46)
FGL46VHS@AOL.COM
The present trivia photo is of the former Ray's Snack Bar which was located at 1701 W.Pike St. and corner of 27th St. in Adamston. It was built opposite Victory High School in early 1948 by Raymond Sehon on property owned by his father John Neal Sehon. John was one of the first janitors for the school when it opened in 1919 and worked there for twenty-six years. Mr. Sehon died on Friday, January 11, 1946. Ray Sehon hired seniors from VICTORY to help with the large lunch crowd. Their payment for an hours work was a free lunch. His snack bar had a small counter and a few booths. The kitchen area was located in the back of the restaurant. His menu consisted mostly of hot dogs, hamburgers, sandwiches, soups and soft drinks. At the time Mr. Sehon built his snack bar there were located around the school three more eating establishments namely the Victory Grill, Barron's Restaurant and Bear's Diner. A block away was the famous Candyland which catered to the local students. The Adamston Dairy King was not built till the late sixties and is still in operation but only from April to October. Ray's Snack Bar closed in the spring of 1970.

submitted by: Mary Beth Riddle Sterling (VHS '58)
marybwv@ma.rr.com
I get your newsletter each month and enjoy it immensely! Looks like "Ray's Snack Bar" across from "Victory H. S." I went to Ray's Snack Bar each morning before class for coffee and I ate most lunches there--25 Cents for a hotdog and coke. Those were the good ole days!

submitted by: Phyllis Alton Nichols (WI ’57)
Nmimiphyllis@aol.com
The building in the picture looks like the old Ray's Snack Bar in Adamston. It is where the Victory kids all hung out. I was going to WI at the same time my brother (Bob -Robert-Alton ) was going to Victory, so I dated a few boys from Victory and sometimes we would end a date there. As a matter of fact, I married a Victory guy, Tom Nichols.

submitted by: Bill Sterling (VHS ’56)
BillSterling@aol.com
Your picture of Ray's certainly brought back many pleasant memories. I lived for a time right across from the school only two houses from Ray's. My Grandmother known to all as "Butch" worked at Ray's for several years. I must confess to knowing very few people that went to W. I. but the best man at my wedding was George Walters. WI class of 56. Still married to the same great girl by the way.

We have lived in California for 48 years.
Congratulations on having a great newsletter.

submitted by: Tauni “Jean” Bryan (WI ’56)
tauni.j.bryan@nasa.gov
This is too easy. . . .Ray’s Snack Bar.. . . . and what great memories . . and that is Ray behind the counter.

submitted by: Ron Wamsley (VHS ’56)
roninparadise@adelphia.net
The trivia picture for the month of January is Ray's Snack Bar across from Victory High School. Great gathering place and great hot dogs. I'd like to know what year that picture was taken.

While watching WVU and Georgia Tech in the Gator Bowl this year (Jan.1), my wife and I started reminiscing about these two teams playing in the Sugar Bowl in 1954. Both of our families bought their first TVs just to watch that game. Unfortunately, WVU lost that game 41 to 19. Happy to say we had a better outcome this year! I wonder if there are others among your many contributors who remember getting their first TV to see that Sugar Bowl.

submitted by: Buzz Floyd (VHS ’56)
Floyds4@cox.net
The trivia picture is Ray’s Snack Bar which was directly across the street from Victory High School. I spent many a lunch hour tying up Ray’s pay phone while talking to Marty, my future bride from WI, who was able to go home for lunch down on Court Street. I also hung out there evenings at times with the old gang, and I remember sneaking my first beer standing about where that soldier is standing in the picture. Then I was afraid to go home for fear my mom, who could pick up a scent like a bloodhound, might smell the beer on me. Times I really enjoyed at Ray’s were those relatively few that I actually got up early enough to join Vito Contento and others for coffee before class. The place was usually quiet early in the morning and sitting there all warm and cozy talking to friends over a hot 10 cent cup of coffee was as good as a $4.00 Starbucks today. Of course you couldn’t get a double shot soy milk latte with a dash of nutmeg, but back then I’d add three or four teaspoons of sugar and be wide awake in no time. Ray’s was always so crowded at lunch time that I sometimes couldn’t get in to eat, but when I did, my lunch was usually hot dogs, chile con carne, and a Pepsi. Of course I paid for those habits in later years with clogged arteries, but it was all so good I can still taste it. Funny how my memories of high school consist of lunch, girls, and ball games, instead of English, math, and chemistry.

Ray’s is gone now, and Victory is now a grade school, but good memories linger on. A few years ago the principal of what is now called, I believe, Adamston Elementary, told me that there is a great collection of VHS graffiti which goes back even before my time in the old furnace room next to the gym.

submitted by: Joe Tipper (VHS ’58) now in NC
jtipper@aol.com
I spent many an hour at Ray's and got my arm stuck in that popcorn machine more than once.

submitted by: David Goldsmith (VHS ’49)
gold49@frontiernet.net
Buzzy Floyd (VHS ’56) and his family lived across the street (Pride Avenue) from my family, in North View. I graduated from VHS class of 1949 with his sister Mary Lou.

Your trivia picture is of Ray's was directly across from Victory (less than a hop, skip and a jump.) Hot Dogs was ten cents, Coke was still five cents, Hamburgers was fifteen cents as was milk shakes. At Lunch time the place was packed and in the evening it was where you took or met your sweetie. Even during the summer vacation it was quiet the place. We met there to hitch hike to Lake Floyd or Maple lake. We North View fellows dated Adamston girls so we were there in the evenings a lot. The owner was Ray (last name I don't remember). However he knew everyone by first name. You could really stuff yourself for just a few cents.

I married Jeannie Stackpole, WI Class 1951, She died in 1994 of cancer. We were married 41 years and 2 days.

Please add me to your list and thanks a bunch !

TRIVIA PICTURE FOR FEBRUARY

Can you identify the picture above? Please write your guess to: Roleta1@aol.com. I will only publish correct guesses that include a memory.

submitted by: Bob McCarty (WI '52)
Rlmccarty3@aol.com

I just finished reading the Jan. 07 Newsletter. Another great edition!

You asked to be notified by those people planning on attending the Picnic. Joe Malone and I (both Class of '52) are planning on attending (our first one). Both of us live in California and have not had the pleasure of attending the picnic in the past. Every year, Joe & I come east to attend the ACC Basketball tournament, normally held in NC, but this year it's being held in Tampa starting on Thursday, March 8th, and when Joe said we should add the Picnic to our travel itinerary, it became a "no-brainer". We'll just bum around FL for the 5 days between the Picnic and the tournament.

We'll need to get the address from you and also your suggestion as to what we can bring in lieu of a covered dish (since we're not "locals") in order to gain admission.

We're looking forward to seeing and meeting everyone, including any of Joe's HS sweethearts who are in attendance, and he had many. :>)))

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

Though I don't read every newsletter in it's entirety, when I do, I find I have an opportunity to communicate with old (as in "very old") class mates due to your inclusion of their email addresses. Thank you for that.

I learned of the news letter through my sister, Ruthanne Grimes Herold. I'm grateful to her for that.

Keep on, keepin’ on. I love it.

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

Thanks for another great newsletter. I hope you understand how much you are appreciated. “We are Marshall” is a great movie. I saw it at a premiere in Clarksburg before Christmas and have gone back two more times to take friends who weren’t sure they cared about seeing it. All were glad I encouraged them to go. I thought it was very well done and depicted WV in a good light for a change. It actually made me feel somewhat better about Bobby Bowden after all these years.

submitted by: Maryella Muscari Flowers (WI '52)
mjflowers@charter.net

I think you do a wonderful job keeping those of us who have scattered informed. After graduating from WVU in '56, I moved to Ravenswood, WV, married and had two boys. In 1963, Hunter Engineering moved us to Riverside, CA. I went on to earn my teaching credential from UC, Riverside, taught for 25 yrs.and I retired. What I wouldn't give to walk the country roads of WV.

I was back there this fall to celebrate my mother's 93 birthday. It was heavenly. We lost mother, Dec. 20. I made it just in time.

Thank you again!!!!

submitted by: June Skidmore Yates (WI '52) and
Ted Yates (WI '49)
jyates@fosterpremier.com

I am a graduate of WI - class of 1952. Deedie Souders is a very dear friend of mine (we grew up together) and she forwarded the newsletter to me once and gave me your email address. I would like to be added to the list to receive the letter. My email is jyates@fosterpremier.com. Hope that is all the information you need. Thank you and will look forward to reading the next Newsletter. My husband Ted Yates is also a WI graduate - class of 1949.

submitted by: Nancy VanGilst Rice (WI ’60)
nvrice@comcast.net

I wait eagerly for the newsletter each month. You two and your readers/writers do such a wonderful job. I love the memories as well as the renewed contacts that have resulted from the newsletter.

1938 YEARBOOK REQUEST
submitted by: Eileen Schneider Quilty (WI ’38)
erquilty@sbdglobal.net
I graduated from W.I. in 1938 and my name was Eileen Schneider and of course is now Eileen Quilty. I lost my 1938 Year Book somewhere through the years and would very much like a copy. No I didn't request a newsletter. I just assumed I would automatically be on your list when I first wrote you.

Can you help me? My e-mail address is erquilty@sbdglobal.net.

CHOCOLATE PEANUTBUTTER FUDGE FLOP
submitted by: Harriett Danley Van Voorhis (WI ’58)
eerfanvan@adelphia.net
When I was a little girl, my mother took my sister and I "uptown" to shop. After what seemed like hours, she would sometimes take us to Candyland at the corner of Pike Street and Fourth Street, or to Harbert's Drug Store on Fourth Street for a "treat". I loved going to either place, but the "Peanut Butter Flops" at Harbert's were probably my favorite of all the "sweet things" offered. Throughout high school Harbert's, along with Roger's Drug store on Main Street were my favorite places to "hang out" with friends after school.

Now the point of my story: The question was asked in the last newsletter if anyone had the recipe for the Peanut Butter Flops. Following is a recipe that is supposed to be for that sauce. I can't remember where it came from, but I have made it, and if it isn't the original recipe, it is so close that I can't tell the difference.

Boil 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water until clear.
Add 2 cups p-nut butter, 1 cup Hershey's Syrup, and 1 cup Marshmallow Creme.
Mix well and refrigerate. It keeps what seems like forever!
This makes a lot of sauce, so you might want to cut the recipe in half.
Enjoy!

submitted by: Linda Villers Mace (ND ’58)
Imace311@aol.com
Recent request in this month's newsletter peanut butter flop....I saved it from an earlier newsletter and it was provided by Wilma Costlow Allman ( WI'53):

boil 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water until clear
add 2 cups peanut butter, 1 cup Hershey's syrup and 1 cup marshmallow creme.
mix well and refrigerate, serve over vanilla ice cream.

I would love someone's recipe for those great West Virginia hot dogs.....published earlier but can't find now.

Thank you for all your dedication........keeping us connected.

FOR THE NEXT NEWSLETTER
Write to me with your memories of Josephine Swiger. We will do a tribute to her. Write Roleta1@aol.com

Did you ride the bus while living in Clarksburg? Where did your trips take you? Did you ever use the free transfer offered by the bus company? One could transfer from one bus route to another free, couldn’t they? How much did it cost you to ride the bus? How often did you ride the bus? Was it a good experience?

Write your memories to: Roleta1@aol.com. (DID YOU KNOW?---you can click on my email address and write to me right now while you are thinking about the subject— send the letter and continue reading the newsletter!)

HARRY POWERS ONCE AGAIN
submitted by: Dick Hanifan (WI ’59)
RKHanifan@aol.com
From WBOY.com HARRY POWERS DOCUMENTARY
He is known as the "West Virginia Bluebeard." In 1931, Harry Powers, alias Cornelius Pierson, killed five people and buried them in his Quiet Dell barn. He was arrested, tried on the stage of Moore's Opera House, convicted of murder and executed, all within seven months. Now, Three Roads Communications, a production company in Washington, DC, is teaming up with PBS to make a documentary about Powers and his infamous trial. The piece is set to air early next year, but they need help from residents of West Virginia now.

Read the 12NEWS story about the documentary here.
If you have any information, or memorabilia about Harry Powers or his trial, please contact the following people:

Scot Christenson
Three Roads Communications
(Washington, DC)
wvbluebeard@aol.com
(304) 584-4555

Rod Rogers
Local historian and collector
(Clarksburg, WV)
(304) 623-0629

Related Links:
http://www.wvculture.org/HiStory/crime/powers01.html

http://www.dvrbs.com/ev-badend/WVBluebeard-HarryFPowers.htm

From wboy.com The full story.
Murder Trial Featured in Documentary

Posted Friday, September 15, 2006 ; 05:00 PM
Updated Sunday, September 24, 2006 ; 12:59 PM

In 1931, Harry Powers killed five people and buried them in Harrison County. Now, a producer from Washington, DC, is teaming up with PBS to make a documentary about the case, and he needs your help.

Story by Elizabeth Schubert Email Bio

Back in 1931, they called him: West Virginia's "Bluebeard." His name was Harry Powers, alias, Cornelius Pierson. Investigators say he killed two widows and three children, and buried them in his Quiet Dell barn. Scot Christenson is a producer based in Washington, DC. He was born here in Clarksburg, and knows a lot about the story. "I forgot about it, until a few years ago, when I was reading a book," he says. "Their account was inaccurate." Christenson set out to find the truth. The journey began at Powers' former home on Quincey Street in Clarksburg. That's where Powers used a matrimonial agency to find rich widows, courting them with letters, and false promises. "He said he was a successful businessman, and promised them a great life if they came here. Of course, when they did, he killed them, and kept their valuables." The first victims were Asta Eicher of Park Ridge, Illinois, and her three children. Powers told Eicher's neighbors he was taking her to West Virginia, so they could marry. The couple and her children would then travel to Europe. But when Eicher arrived, Powers killed all four, and buried them. Dorothy Lemke, a widow from Northborough, Massachusettes, suffered the same fate. She was also buried in the Quiet Dell barn. Powers told everyone he and Lemke had gotten into a fight, and she had left him near Uniontown. Several weeks later, police in Chicago became suspicious, and started searching for Asta Eicher. Christenson says officers found a West Virginia address for a man named Cornelius Pierson. They traced it back to Harrison County. It didn't take long for Clarksburg police to match the address. It belonged to Harry Powers. Officers started talking to neighbors in the area, and found out about the barn in Quiet Dell. When they arrived, they found a building made up of several different rooms and underground chambers. On the floor lay bits of hair and blood. Police found five bodies that day, buried in a fake drainage ditch. Powers was arrested, and charged with first degree murder. Prosecutors ran into a problem right before the trial. Workers were still building the Harrison County Courthouse. The only other federal building in town was the post office, which was too small. In the end, Powers was tried in Moore's Opera House, on the stage. Only 1500 people were allowed inside, but thousands more crowded the streets. "It was a huge national story," says Christenson. "The case brought in reporters from Chicago, Massachusetts and all different parts of the country." Powers was convicted for the murder of Dorothy Lemke. He was hanged in Moundsville, on March 18, 1932. Christenson says there are still a lot of unanswered questions. Harry Powers' confession was never found. "A lot of people say the wheels of justice turned really fast with Powers," says Christenson. "Maybe too fast. Harry Powers was tried, convicted, and executed all within a seven month period." Now, 75 years later, Scot Christenson, will tell this story again. This time, his way. He is working with local residents, searching for memorabilia. So far, he has collected pictures, articles, posters, and even some sheet music to a song called, "The Crime at Quiet Dell." Local historian and collector Rod Rogers says he's happy to help, because the documentary is a way to remember Harrison County's past. "We find those stories were passed down from generation to generation," Rogers says. "I think it's important to document them." Christenson is looking for anyone who might have more information. You can find his contact information on our homepage, under "Harry Powers Documentary." PBS plans to air the piece in early 2007

OBITUARIES
JOSEPHINE R. SWIGER
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.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is a tribute to Miss Swiger sent by: Marcia Young Fletcher (WI 64)

One day Marcia Booth (Class of 65) offered me a ride home from school. We walked to St. Mary's hospital to meet her aunt who worked in the lab. While waiting for the aunt to finish work I watched some tests being performed and was intrigued. The next year I had an appointment with Ms. Swiger to try to decide on a college major. Discovering my interest in biology she gave me printed information on careers in that field. As soon as I read about Medical Technology I saw the connection between the printed word and the real life testing I had seen the year before and decided that was my calling. I have worked in my chosen field for 39 years, now, and still find it enjoyable and rewarding.

NOTE: Write your memories of Ms. Swiger to me and we will have a tribute to her in the next newsletter. Roleta1@aol.com.

ROBERT E. “BOBBY” COTTER
CLARKSBURG — Robert E. “Bobby” Cotter, 73, of Brushy Fork Road, Bridgeport, passed away January 1, 2007.

He was born in Elkins, July 13, 1933. He was the son of the late Violet M. Cotter of Clarksburg and the late Harrison Cotter of Mountain Home, Tennessee.

He was preceded in death by his two brothers, Harrison “Skeeter” Cotter of Tampa, Florida, and William “Bill’ Cotter of Lutz, Florida.

Bobby is survived by Jackie, his wife of 53 years (affectionately known as Grandma Jackie or Ackie Ammaw), seven sons and 17 grandchildren. His sons are Robert “Britt” Cotter, his wife Scottie and their children, Lauren, Megan and Justin of Houston, Texas, Joel Evans Cotter, his wife Annette and their children Stefan and Emily of Morgantown, David Warfield Cotter, his wife Kim and their sons Graham, Camden and Christopher of South Elgin, Illinois, Jay Clinton Cotter, his wife Miriam and their children, Mason, Ellis and Evan of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, Timothy Lynn Cotter, his wife Suzy and their children Griffin, Cameron and Wesley of Bridgeport, Jesse Dean Cotter, his wife Cathy and their children Casey, Jian and Jackson of Geneva, Illinois, and Christopher Todd Cotter, his wife Robin of Naperville, Illinois. Bobby is also survived by an uncle and aunt, Dave and Lillian Warfield of Silver Spring, Maryland; nephews, Jeff Cotter and Stevie Cotter, both of Tampa, Florida; and a cousin, Pat Windon of Clarksburg.

Following graduation at Washington Irving High School, Bobby attended West Virginia University. He worked in the West Virginia oil and gas industry and, although he painted most of his life as a hobby, he became an accomplished water color artist in his most recent years, with his primary interest in nostalgic Americana. One of his more popular works was a set of limited edition prints of the Glen Elk section of Clarksburg and the covered bridges of West Virginia. His work can be found in all 50 states and several countries.

Bobby was a great provider for his family, and a loving husband, father and grandfather. He enjoyed all sports, was a lifelong fan of the Mountaineers (and any team opposing Pitt), and loved attending Mountaineer football and basketball games with his family.

As a Korean War veteran, Bobby served in the United States Army, and was a member of the Clarksburg VFW Post 573.

EDITOR’S NOTE: I received this from John Cooper (WI 1951) and thought you would enjoy me sharing it with you:

Bobby and I filled many a WI study hall drawing cartoons and passing them around. We both did cartooning as a hobby. He continued finally as a full-time best-selling professional while I continued as an amateur. One fun-time after school Bobby and I visited the local downtown Clarksburg Firestone store during the Christmas season and we picked up an armload of special free Walt Disney artwork-comic book format Firestone Toy catalogs. The manager ran us out down the street because we had taken so many freebies at one time. Those comics are now worth many dollars to comic-collectors. I sold mine for $100 each 10-years ago. I always wondered If Bobby still had his. But much later he did quite well with special paintings of the Clarksburg scene, and nostalgic land marks such as the Mail Pouch barns, of the Wheeling,WV Tobacco Company. This 14x18" framed print-edition was going for $125 as Bobby pointed out on his card to me in 1995. If you are lucky to have one of his originals, keep it in the safe, not on the wall!-------

SHOWN BELOW: Both sides of a 1995 post card from Bobby Cotter to John Cooper

Thanks to the Clarksburg Exponent for permission to use excerpts from their newspaper.

PLE-E-EASE,

BE MY VALENTINE

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