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I was very excited about my first year of teaching at Greenbrier High School. Mr. Arnett was principal. I remember Mr. Arnett married one of his students and she was one of the prettiest girls in Greenbrier County. Greenbrier County must be the leading county in our state. No one could forget it's name as most area businesses are called Greenbrier. I remember Paul Yates with the auburn hair. Is it still auburn or has it faded? Mr. Hamilton, the math teacher, makes me remember Tom Bauserman in Marshall College one summer, and his teacher to his surprise, was Tom Bauserman. I am sorry I cannot remember other names. My health is pretty good, but we had such a bad winter and my doctor didn't allow me to go out to walk. I love flowers and I enjoy growing them. I am sorry I will be unable to join you on the day of your celebration. May God Bless You All!
In retrospect I think of the years as a faculty member of Greenbrier High School when in 1939 I began my first year in teaching. I must say it was difficult due to my inexperience. I did survive and remained until 1957 when I resigned to become Personnel Director in the administration of Governor Cecil H. Underwood. To relive those eighteen years would require writing a book of the many experiences which I feel was a learning experience for me, and often wonder what, if any contributions I made. I know the record of students who attended Greenbrier High School speaks for itself. The homemakers, professional and non-professional citizens in communities scattered throughout the United States - perhaps even in foreign countries have contributed their services to the growth and stability in their area. Truly I consider it a privilege to have been a part of the history of Greenbrier High School. I appreciate the association with friendly and supportative faculty, the support and cooperation of the parents of the talented, loveable students in superb community. Perhaps one of my greatest thrills today is to hear Martha Bell - I recognize a friend and former student.
My years of teaching at Greenbrier High School were pleasant and happy years, and I was treated with respect and kindness by all the student body. It pleases me very much to witness the success and happiness of those now in later life. I taught at Greenbrier High School in 1942 - 1943 and also 1954 - 1958.
It was in early January 1940 that I happened to walk into Professor James' office at the University of Wisconsin. He was on the telephone talking to Mr. Scott, Superintendent of Schools in Lewisburg, West Virginia. He said, "a young man, who is graduating at the end of the month just walked into the office. He can handle that job." At that point I was introduced to Mr. Scott, who told me about the teaching job at the Greenbrier High School in Ronceverte. The result of that conversation was that I accepted the position and started teaching January 29, 1940 and continued on the staff until June 30, 1944. I then returned to Wisconsin as a Vo-Ag teacher. My career continued in agriculture work until my retirement in 1981. For several years I was Chief of the Grading and Fair Services for the Wisconsin State Department of Agriculture. There were many outstanding students in my classes during my four and a half years at Greenbrier High School. State honors were won in F.F.A. speaking contest, parliamentary procedure contest, livestock judging and the raising of the grand champion potato exhibit at the West Virginia State Fair. World War II was on at that time and the F.F.A. students led a drive in scrap metal collection, milk weed pods for safety jackets and many other helpful projects. The F.F.A. basketball team was outstanding. In one game the Greenbrier High School F.F.A. team beat Frankford 72 to 2 and Harold Dolan made 70 points. We have had a lot of fun over that game since that time. Our Vo-Ag Department was involved in many activities outside the regular classroom. War production courses were held at Fort Springs, Fairlea, Organ Cave, and at the High School for adult farmers to help the war effort and repair farm machinery. I helped organize the Greenbrier County Cooperative Marketing Association so that farmers and gardeners could direct their surplus fruits and vegetables toward helping their country. The West Virginia State Fair, major livestock sales and other community activities were part of the job of the Vocational Agriculture Instructor. I, also, was a member of the Ronceverte Rotary Club and served as secretary for two years. Perhaps, the most enjoyable and frustrating part of the job was my 7th grade homeroom with about thirty-five active boys and girls. They were full of life. It was fun to watch them develop. The prom, basketball, football, class plays, and student assemblies were a delight. While in Ronceverte I was married to my wife of 45 years, Carolyn. We have one daughter, Linda, married to Dr. Richard Kozarek, and two granddaughters. We have had a good life and Greenbrier High School, Ronceverte, West Virginia will live forever in my mind.
I would like to again express my thanks and appreciation to the parents, teachers, and students of Greenbrier High School for their kindness and the many ways they helped me enjoy the 18 years of teaching at Greenbrier High School. I taught from 1950 to 1968 when it was consolidated with Greenbrier East. My thoughts often go back to many things and pleasures from the different class groups that I had the opportunity to help sponsor. The groups were: two years 28 girls who graduated in 1952; another group of 28 girls from 1952 who graduated in 1958; the third group of 39 girls from 1958 who graduated in 1964; the fourth and last group was 36 girls and boys from 1964 through 1968 who completed their sophomore year and were consolidated with other students at Greenbrier East. When I began teaching at Greenbrier High School the faculty had 16 members, but from 1950 to 1968 the faculty had 26 teachers. Seven of the teachers that were at Greenbrier High School in 1950 were still there in 1968 when the consolidation took place. Hope to see you all at the reunion.
EDNA MARIE DEITZ Student and Teacher Mr. Robert Richards was principal when I graduated from Greenbrier High School in 1930. We were just getting back to normal after the tragic fire in 1928. For two years we were in classes at Ronceverte Methodist Church and Ronceverte Presbyterian Church until the new building was completed which is now the yellow brick building used as a Junior High School. We had good teachers - Mr. Ralph Buckley, Science; Miss Rocier C. Martin, Commerce; Mrs. Elsie Snyder Taylor, English, just to mention a few. We were the second class to graduate in the new building. Students then came to school to study and took their studies seriously, always preparing their assignments, working hard, minding their teachers and trying to do the very best they could in school. We had a deep respect for school, teachers and community. We loved Greenbrier High School and tried to make her proud of us. However, the most important thing for me was that I graduated as salutatorian of my class. Some of my classmates rode horseback in order to get to school and others from out of town did light housekeeping in homes in town during the week so they could earn a high school diploma. These are the things that make my memories very dear to me as a student of Greenbrier High School. - As a Teacher - 1942-1946 - I came back to Greenbrier High School as a teacher in 1942 until 1946. I found the students much the same as they were when I went to school there. They were serious-minded, hard working, conscientious and quite easy to discipline. I enjoyed my four years as a teacher. Mr. Wilford McCutcheon was principal at that time. A few teachers were: Miss Marion Ott, Miss Lucy Yates, Miss Martha Ford, Mr. Ward Hedrick and Mr. Howard Loudin. Since I do not have a yearbook or a "Gossip", it is hard to remember so long ago. I do know our students did well in life - took their places in the community and all their teachers were proud to have helped each one along the way of life from youth to adulthood. I hope I have helped some, if not all, of them to have better life. It was an honor to be a teacher at Greenbrier High School.
Although I taught at Greenbrier High School at two different times for a total of only sixteen years, my work there spanned a thirty year period as I started in the fall of 1938 and finished in the spring of 1968. In September of that year I along with the sophomores, juniors, and seniors reluctantly moved on to Greenbrier East. In looking back I realize that it was really a privilege to have been a Greenbrier High School faculty member. It was a blessing to have so many wonderful youngsters in my homerooms and classes. I even remember fondly those eighth grade girls who giggled and the boys who gave me a rough time. My hope is that I inspired my students always to do their best. Along with Latin and English I tried to teach that you must be good in order to like yourself and lead a happy worthwhile life.
I graduated from Greenbrier High School in 1956. Then after graduating from Concord College, Mr. Gaudino came to me and asked if I would be interested in teaching for him at Greenbrier High. After an interview with Mr. Ike Mitchell, I readily accepted the position. I was very happy to be teaching at my old Alma Mater. Most of the teachers who had been there before I graduated were still there, plus a few new ones. (I like this idea, but I hardly knew whether I should call them by their first names now, or continue calling them Mr. and Mrs.) Anyway, Greenbrier High School had a great faculty when I was a student, and it still had a great faculty when I became a teacher there. As I fondly look back on my years as a teacher at Greenbrier High, there were so many amusing experiences. Kids are always so honest, (especially seventh and eighth graders). They don't hold anything back. They let you know the way things really are! On a more serious side, I want to say that my years at Greenbrier High, both as a student and as a teacher, were some of the most memorable and enjoyable years of my life. Between the time of graduating from Greenbrier High School and beginning to teach there, I married Floyd Fullen, who was also a 1956 graduate. We have two children, John and Elizabeth. I am now teaching sixth grade at Lewisburg Intermediate School.
My first teaching experience in Greenbrier High School was in the spring of 1957 when I substituted a week for Miss Rocier Martin, who was away on a very rare occasion because of the illness of her sister. Miss Martin was an excellent teacher and operated a wellstructured and disciplined business department. Business was my major field so I thoroughly enjoyed that brief introduction to Greenbrier High and felt that it would be heaven to teach in a situation of that kind. In the fall of 1957 a vacancy had occurred in the Greenbrier High School faculty in the English department. English was my minor field, and Mr. Gaudino asked whether I would be interested in the position. I was delighted and felt very fortunate to be appointed to the Greenbrier High faculty for that school year. Ten of the happiest years of my life were spent teaching in Greenbrier High School. I began as a cosponsor of the Freshman Class. My older daughter, Susie, entered the seventh grade at the same time, and my younger daughter, Bennie, finally arrived impatiently in the fall of 1960. Our daughters and I were attending and teaching in the same school from which their father and my husband, Marshall Fullen, had so proudly graduated in 1931. Greenbrier High was something the Fullens shared with family pride. My Freshman Class became part of my family too. I loved those students and remained with them as their sponsor until their graduation in 1961. And I have had the privilege twice since of attending delightful ten year reunions they have held. I started with the second very fine class I cosponsored in 1962 when they came to Greenbrier High from Ronceverte Elementary as seventh graders. Six years is a long time to be with one group, and I really felt like a mother to every one of them by the time they were graduated in 1967. They have held one happy reunion since their graduation and are looking forward to another one in 1987. I was not a class sponsor during my last year at Greenbrier High; instead, I served as counselor to the Senior Class. I enjoyed working with my students at Greenbrier High and with two exceptionally fine principals -- eight years with Mr. Domenick Gaudino and two years with Mr. Ronald Welty. Together with several other teachers from Greenbrier High, I was transferred to Greenbrier East High School as a Senior Sponsor during its first year 1968-69. I served at East the succeeding ten years as Dean of Girls and taught English. I retired from teaching in 1979. In retrospect, I feel that the rapport I experienced with my students, my colleagues, the school administrators, and the wonderful supportive parents, with whom I worked throughout my teaching career, made teaching a most rewarding profession for me.
Greetings to principals, faculty members, and students of Greenbrier High School. After graduating from West Virginia Wesleyan College and doing post-graduate studies at West Virginia University, the University of Michigan, and Concord College I taught for ten years in the schools of Monroe and Greenbrier Counties. In 1935 1 became a member of the faculty at Greenbrier High School and for the next twenty-seven years I remained there as a teacher. I know I made some mistakes and blunders. I tried to help the students prepare themselves to be more worthwhile to themselves and to the complex society of which they are a part. I have no regrets, but many fond memories of my days at Greenbrier High School.
I was born in Tyler County, West Virginia and attended Tyler County Public Schools and graduated from Tyler County High School in 1927. I attended West Liberty State Teachers College and graduated in 1933 with teaching fields in Social Science, Math and English. I did graduate work at the University of Pittsburgh and West Virginia University. I taught three years in one room schools and was an elementary principal in Marshall County for two years and Tyler County for eight and one half years. I was married to Alice Elizabeth Williamson from Friendly, West Virginia on May 20, 1935. We have two children, Howard E. Heslep, Jr., now employed at Greenbrier West High School as a Vocational Counselor and Helen Kay Hood employed at Orange Junior High School, Orange, Virginia as a teacher and three grandchildren. I was the principal of the elementary school at Paden City when I resigned to work for the Internal Revenue Service, January 1943, and had the choice of Keyser or Ronceverte. I chose Ronceverte on the advice of a friend, Denver Arnett, a former principal of Greenbrier High School, and that Howard and Louise Loudin, whom I had known at Tyler County High School, were in Ronceverte. I resigned from the Internal Revenue Service August 31, 1948 and was employed by the Greenbrier County Board of Education as a teacher of Math and Social Science in Greenbrier High School. I was a teacher at Greenbrier High until it became a Junior High and taught there until I retired from teaching in 1973. Mrs. Jane Kauffelt and I were the home room teachers for the girls and boys during my tenure at Greenbrier High School. I have many fond memories of the students of Greenbrier High School.
I am most pleased to be invited to attend the Greenbrier High School Reunion in May. I have kept in touch with three of my former students over the years and will be delighted to see them and many of the others that I haven't seen for about thirty-five years. I started my teaching career at Greenbrier High School. I thoroughly enjoyed those two years and really hated to leave but I got married in June 1950 and came to Huntington to live. I have a daughter and two grandsons. My husband is retired from the Federal Government. I have taught Physical Science for the past twenty-nine years in one of the local high schools. My principal at Greenbrier High was Mr. Gaudino. He always treated me well and had a good upper hand on the students. We had very little problem with the students back in those days. I can remember him going out and looking for any student who was absent and he thought might be playing hooky. Since I was young and unattached I did many things with the students such as picnics, swimming, hiking, parties, etc. We didn't have television back then so we had to create our own fun. I remember one of the students came to my apartment one Saturday and asked if she could use the phone. I overheard her telling the party on the other end of the line that she was to call a certain number, that there was a box there for her. When I quizzed her about it she had given a certain teacher the number of the local funeral home. She had had a run in with the teacher the day before and wanted to get back at her. This was funny at the time, but I had to give her a good lecture on pranks. Mr. Heslep was a real funny teacher. He always had a good story to tell. Mr. Hedrick was also a fine gentleman and friend. I saw Mr. Liston a few years ago at a reunion and he hadn't changed a bit. I have kept in touch with Mrs. Clay through the years. She was my best friend when I lived there. I roomed with Mrs. Gilhooley who lived just down from the school for a few months and then I got an apartment and lived in Lewisburg. My uncle was a former principal there. I am not sure about the years, but it seems like it was 1916 or maybe later. His name was James Lowell Hypes. He married while there to a lady named Cora Jackson from Organ Cave. He had quite an interesting life. When he died he had retired from the University of Storrs, Connecticut. He traveled around the world, lived abroad, and wrote several books during his time abroad. He left enough money in a fund at Marshall University to educate many students from Nicholas and Greenbrier Counties. The amount left when matched by federal money amounted to almost a million dollars. It would be quite interesting to know how many students from Greenbrier County has used any of this money. I checked Nicholas County but I never checked Greenbrier County. I am sure there are many students who would like help in getting an education should know about this money.
Soon it will be forty eight years since High School opened its arms and welcomed a green, young, timid, blond to the faculty with the title of Music Instructor. I thought, musically, I knew the answers. I was positive when I announced to 37 seventh grade boys "tomorrow we will be introduced to J. S. Bach" and hear his immortal Little Fugue in G Minor" that their response would be, "Good, we wondered when we be exposed to the Baroque era." (That was the response my methods books and college professors had told me.) What a revelation when those boys threatened pitch me out the window, slash my tires and slit my throat at midnight if I ever mentioned Bach again. Their taste in choral music was a similar shock when they dared me to pass out The Lost Chord again (and we never found it) and Who Is Sylvia? (too, we never found out who she was, and at this stage in my life I really didn't care) At that point in time I realized the show was slipping and my slip was showing. So it was my first year at Greenbrier High School. I must say by my eighth year there was a slight improvement. Students remained about the same, but I learned a lot. I have many beautiful memories and many lasting friendships which were formed during my tenure Greenbrier High School.
I, Jane West Kauffelt, didn't really want to teach school. I wanted to buy beautiful clothes for J Home, a large department store, in Pittsburgh. Teaching jobs were scarce in 1936, but a friend, Margie Berg, taught music at Greenbrier High School, and dated the science teacher, John Jackson, who was attending summer school at West Virginia University Morgantown where my family lived. John said Mary Gilreath had resigned and there was an opening at Ronceverte. Her classroom became mine, and I traded my dream of becoming a buyer for girl's physical education, history, and geography classes at Greenbrier High School. The first few months I was scared - scared of big boys like Lee Martin; scared when my principal, Mr. Boone, would come to my room, and say, "Miss West you're supposed to be standing by your door in the hall between classes;" so scared when the superintendent Mr. Scott, and the assistant superintendent, Mr. Harr, came to observe one of my geography classes, that I taught the same lesson I'd taught the day before, and not one student gave me away - not even Gene Stone's little brother, who knew much more about geography than I did, and was always anxious to get on with it. Mr. Boone was a quiet, low-key disciplinarian, so I practiced learning about discipline. The first I discovered my students behaved better when I stood up rather than when I sat at my desk; that a quick cure for misbehavior was to keep a student in the entire lunch period; that if I criticized children I should say nice about them at the same time so they'd keep doing their best; that students could be trusted to be good when it was necessary for me to be out of the room. But my biggest discovery was that I liked my students and I liked teaching! During the years Mr. Boone was principal, teachers had to take a school census. This meant going from house to house to count the number of youngsters who should be in school. I liked this because I met many parents, and somehow knowing children's parents helped me feel closer to my students. Another activity I loved was the yearly Halloween Carnival held to raise money for school and athletic equipment. One reason it seemed so special was that the whole community, old and young, worked and played together for one big happy event. As the years passed I realized that if I didn't know something there was always someone with talent and "know-how" to help. For instance, I wasn't a good girl's basketball referee. Who came to my rescue? Ernest Cobb - and the girls loved to have him referee. I wanted to have a May Day Program with folk dancing, winding the May Pole, pretty pastel crepe paper dresses! I couldn't play the piano, but Charlotte Yates could! And - Charlotte and Gladys Highlander were a whiz at teaching folk dancing. Hundreds of students helped me! I owe so much to so many! My second principal, Mr. Domenic Gaudino, decided I should teach Senior English. I cried and begged him not to make me do it. Crying didn't work! I taught Senior English! Many, many days Mr. Gaudino, Lois Fry and Opal Fullen explained grammer rules to me so I could explain them to my students. I learned more from them, and by actually teaching grammer than I'd ever learned in high school or college. To offset the agony I suffered from teaching English, Mr. Gaudino said I might teach ballroom dancing to my seventh and eighth grade physical education classes. Boys were excused from health class once a week to attend the girls physical education classes to learn to dance. Our moment of triumph was a real dance at night - receiving line, dance programs, thanking the chaperons! In addition, Mr. Gaudino said I could have dances in the gym at noon with couples exchanging partners every few dances. We always had a crowded dance floor, and it was fun! Then there were Stella Butler's pep rally posters, football and basketball games, homecoming parades, mother and daughter, and father and son banquets, athletic banquets, proms, plays, Noble Clay Legg's Easter programs, senior picnics, and eventually graduation! The graduation I liked best was the year the graduates wore red. My third principal, Mr. Ronald Welty, wanted me to teach French. I was over fifty. I'd never taught French. I didn't want to. Yet I'm so glad I had principals who were sure I could teach subjects that I was sure I couldn't teach. I loved teaching French. Mr. Welty was progressive and innovative. Each school day was different for he introduced Greenbrier High School to a rotating schedule. On Mondays students went to their first period class first, on Tuesdays they went to their second period class first, Wednesdays their third period class first, and so on - and every period every day of the week there was soft music piped into every room over the intercom. The next year I taught at Greenbrier East and Greenbrier High School became a memory, a memory of many good times and happy friendships, I couldn't begin to thank all of the teachers, students, office secretaries, custodians, parents, town's people and my family, who helped me every single year that I taught - and even the Supreme Court couldn't have limited my prayers to God who helped me with many a wee or monstrous problem. If I have made mis-statements, or presented wrong facts, they are unintentional, and it is as one of my husband's favorite quotations goes - all because of "old age and rascality." As I look back over the years I'm so glad I became a teacher in Ronceverte at Greenbrier High School, instead of a buyer at Joseph Horne's in Pittsburgh.
I taught at Greenbrier High School 1933-1936. Greenbrier High gave me good starting experience as bandmaster, mathematics teacher and a community citizen. I left Greenbrier High School to take a college teaching position at Concord College in 1936. I graduated from Susquehanna University (summa cum laude) in mathematics and physics. I earned a master's from West Virginia University and the doctorate from Penn State. Served as a U.S. Navy commander during World War It. I authored several math texts. I retired from teaching in 1976 after eighteen years as associate professor of education and joined the Penn State faculty to guide the curriculum development of the "new mathematics". I was honored in 1982 with establishment of the Andrew V. Kozak Fellowships by the Penn State University Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa, international professional educational fraternity. There are to be three awards per year, each in the $1500 to $4500 range, to candidates who are Penn State graduate students engaged in projects with "clear value" to public education. Greetings to a lot of Ronceverte people I knew! Words of Wisdom THE REVEREND W. H. LAW BE FAIR! Above is the key to happiness. Be fair to your home (family). Be fair to your school. Be fair to your church. Be fair to your government. Be fair to your employer. Be fair to your employee. Be fair to your sweetheart. Be fair to your mate. Be fair to yourself. Be fair to all mankind. Be fair to God. Be fair!
What a great opportunity to thank you, Greenbrier High School, for a special and gratifying segment of my life. My teaching career began in the fall of 1947 at Greenbrier High School where I "chose" to remain for thirty-two years (swiftly they have flown) until retirement, June 1979. A unique combination of students and teaching staff concerned with the principles of right and wrong was so prevalent, so valuable that no adequate price can be set. I hope my contribution was of some significance in helping individuals make their dreams and aspirations a reality.
I shall always remember my introduction to Greenbrier County. It was a beautiful fall day, August 1935. I had been coaching and teaching in Rowlesburg, West Virginia, when I was persuaded by my friend, Principal Denver Arnett, to accept the coaching position at Greenbrier High School. With some trepidation we purchased a new Chevrolet, our previous cars had all been bought secondhand. We soon packed our car to its capacity and took off for Greenbrier County. When we reached Lewisburg we realized the State Fair was in progress at Fairlea. We all had mixed emotions, Margaret Gene was very excited over the large crowd, the lights, music, and general activities associated with a fair. My wife, who was our chauffeur, (and still is) was amazed and frustrated at the traffic - and to add fuel to our trip, the Ronceverte Hill was being worked on. Our trip from Fairlea to Ronceverte was bumper to bumper. The frustration, however, soon ended when we were welcomed by Denver and Gertrude Arnett. With their help we instantly felt at home and were happy to become a part of the Ronceverte community. I was soon busy with football practice and getting acquainted with the boys. After being in Ronceverte a short time Louise, Margaret Gene and I had no regrets about making the move. I was happy with my work and my wife and daughter had adjusted well to our new home. I was really happy and pleased my first year at Greenbrier High School having won the Greenbrier Valley Conference Championship in football and the Sectional Basketball Tournament. I have many memories of the "ups" and also the "downs" during my 31 years at Greenbrier High School. Our undefeated team of 1944 could be classified as one to remember. The 1941-1942 and 1956 football teams were outstanding among others. Many fans will remember our final game at a Sectional with Alderson when the score was tied 66 -66, - just before the horn sounded a foul was called on Jack Hardesty, - Ernest Allman went to the foul line and sank his first shot making the score 67 - 66. We understood that Allman was one of the first in church the next morning. The boys still had plenty of energy left after the game, for well do I remember them giving Gaudino, Heslep and myself shower baths - fully clothed! I had a team in 1959 that I believe held some kind of record. I had two sets of identical twins, Mike and Henry Kauffelt and Danny and Dave George. Two other brothers, (not twins) played that year, Darrell and Estil Cornwell. I must admit I had some difficulty in telling the twins apart. One "low" that is still puzzling to me is a game played against Lewisburg on January 1963. My puzzle is, "Who won the Game?" Many will remember the 70 - 69 score when the official declared that a foul at the end of the overtime was a flagrant one. I have my answer to the question and so do most Greenbrier High School fans who saw the game. I like to remember the 1938 basketball teams record of 20 wins - 1 loss, also 1962 teams record of 20 wins - 3 losses and a trip to Morgantown, - a first for Greenbrier High School, also the baseball team of 1964-65 and their playing in state tournament at Parkersburg. So many games are remembered during my 31 years and the hundreds of boys I worked with are all very special to me. I would like to list a few of the highlights of my career: My first teacher's meeting at Cameron - (met my wife); Coaching school at Superior, Wisconsin under Knute Rochne; My daughter's birth; Teaching and coaching 31 years at Greenbrier High School; Little League at the Ronceverte Armory on Saturdays; My grandchildren and great-grandchildren; Hall of Fame - Davis and Elkins College; Hall of Fame - West Virginia: Loyalty, interest and cooperation of friends, family and associates; Living with same "lady" 58 years; Reaching 87 years; Having coached 41 years with 1038 games won and 278 lost. May I close by saying that although my address is Parkersburg, West Virginia - I still think of Ronceverte as home.
When Mr. Gaudino asked me to finish out the 1959-60 term for Kate McClung, I hesitated, since I was farming. Then I thought, "Why not farm in mornings and teach in the afternoons?" This worked fine for both the cattle and me, and I hope for the students in the seventh grade. How I loved those boys and girls! Each one held a special place in my heart, even the ones who were a little bit naughty, (just a little bit). They thought it was near that I was a farmer, and David Wiseman wrote a poem about his teacher who could milk a cow. After two years at Greenbrier High School, I left to go back to college. I shall always treasure the memories of my days with the students, the teachers, and Mr. Gaudino. They were happy days.
Mr. Wilford McCutcheon was appointed principal of Greenbrier High School, Ronceverte, for the school year beginning September 1940. He graduated from Marshall College State Normal School in 1908 and received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from West Virginia University in 1914. He also received a Bachelor of Science Degree from West Virginia Wesleyan College in 1916 and in 1927 he received a Master of Arts Degree from Columbia University, New York City. He brought with him a wealth of experience, both as a teacher and a Public School Administrator. He continued as principal of Greenbrier High School until the close of the school year in 1948. During his lifetime, Mr. McCutcheon spent a total of 37 years in the field of public education. Mr. McCutcheon died on August 29, 1954.
It was my privilege to have taught at Greenbrier High School for seventeen years, from 1951 to 1968. Subjects taught were Vocational Agriculture and Biology. A little history of Vo-Ag at Greenbrier High School: in 1917, Congress passed the Smith Hughes Act, providing funds for teaching Vocational Agriculture. That fall Greenbrier High School employed a teacher and started the program. The Future Farmers of America (F.F.A.) Chapter, called Ronceverte F.F.A., was chartered in 1930, and was one of the earliest chapters formed in West Virginia. During my tenure at Greenbrier High School, I remember the many field trips, the State F.F.A. Convention at Jackson's Mill each summer, judging contests at West Virginia University, trips to Kansas City and the National F.F.A. Convention. I had a great group o boys in Vo-Ag and F.F.A. each year and many of them had the opportunity of attending these events. Many honors were won in F.F.A., including eighteen members receiving the coveted State Farmers Degree and one receiving the American Farmers Degree. So many memorable things happened, it would be impossible to mention them all, but do you remember trips to New York and the World's Fair, the scarlet and gowns, the Senior play, and of course, the endless events to raise money? I feel sure the years I spent at Greenbrier High S School must surely have been some of its very best years.
Good luck with the book! I don't really have any " wisdom to share, but there are many, many memories, such as: Watching Mr. Gaudino call off the graduates' names by heart on graduation night. He didn't refer to a roll. Mrs. Legg's Christmas programs involving about two-thirds of the school . . . and also her spring talent shows. Lonnis Honaker putting up with our singing "Ninety-nine Bottles of Beer on the Wall" during bus trips to ball games. The night on Island Park during a football game when I almost got "beat up". A lawyer came in late, asked who is playing, what's the score, where do I park, how long has the game been going on, when did it start, who is supposed to win, how much is a ticket? I told him: ticket $1.00, professional advice is $25.00. Trying to figure out who it was, why it was there, who did it? The painted letters, C-Z-A-R, on the front steps next to the road. Coach Loudin's great basketball teams. Whatever happened to the "meanies" I had in a Civics class one year - such students as Susie Fullen, Ruth Kirk, Elwood Morgan, Sara Oden. I probably could go on and on . . . but enough!
I taught at Greenbrier High School three years, from the fall of 1931 through the spring of 1933. 1 have fond memories of many whom I learned to know during the first two years but the class of 1936 (who were freshmen in 1932-33) as a class have always held a special place in my memories. The freshmen were divided into three sections for their English classes (which I taught) so I knew every member of the class. I remember them as being agreeable and co-operative, presenting few disciplinary problems (a fact an "unconfident" teacher appreciated), and I found them a joy to teach. At that time a play contest was held each year. Each of the four classes presented a one act play and the class whose play was declared the best by the judges was given twenty five dollars for their class treasury. Since I was one of the Freshmen Class sponsors it fell to me to coach the play. The name of the play chosen was "Christopher's Orphans". Teen-aged Christopher, the oldest of a family of eight who recently had been orphaned, kept the family organized in sometimes amusing but effective ways and resisted the efforts of some of the townspeople to separate them and place them in foster homes. As the story of the play developed the children won their struggle to stay together and the Freshman Class won the twenty five dollars. We were "accused" of winning because of the emotional appeal of the play itself but I attributed their winning the contest to the fact that all of the members of the cast knew their parts so well. We practiced each evening after school for three weeks and each of the fourteen members of the cast was present at EVERY rehearsal. In my twenty years of teaching, when I conducted many rehearsals for various kinds of presentations, that was the only time it ever happened that every person who was supposed to practice was present at ALL rehearsals. I have never forgotten that. I remember too that the members of the Class of 1936 were fun loving (at least when they were freshmen). Once when I had laryngitis and could not talk above a whisper for a couple of days, I remember what a "kick" the members of my classes got from my inability to talk. I took that as an indication that I usually talked too much. Another thing that made that year memorable for me was that I first met my future husband when he came to Ronceverte in January, 1933 to work as an agent at the C & O Railway Station. When we began to date a few weeks later it did not take my "little darlings" long to learn his name and they "pulled" this stunt a couple of times. Just before the bell rang to indicate the beginning of homeroom, from outside the classroom door came a loud voice saying, "Johnnie, do you have a rule?" In an equally loud voice Johnnie answered, "No, Miss Wilson has a Rule." Also on two separate occasions, in the midst of a quiet study period someone piped up, "Miss Wilson, how do you spell Rule?" Class of 1936, I forgive you but have never forgot you.
On that warm sunshiny Sunday afternoon in early January, 1926, 1 arrived in Ronceverte for the first time. The entire population seemed out to "meet the train." After checking into the hotel, I went around the corner for a late lunch (homemade vegetable soup and oyster crackers, I remember) and met the crowd again, this time replaying the last game. Of course, this was at Ferrell's Restaurant, a very small one on Railroad Avenue. I had completed requirements for my degree the first semester and enrolled for graduate school at West Virginia University. A call from the Education Department advised of the desperate need to fill teaching vacancies in high schools, so I wired acceptance for the one in English at Greenbrier High School. At that time Greenbrier was the only first class high school in Greenbrier County. Also it was an accredited member of the North Central Association which clinched, or firmed, its rating. Students in neighboring schools who planned to teach would band together and commute to Greenbrier High School for their senior year, or at least the final semester. They could then take a summer course and qualify for a Standard Normal Teaching Certificate. A couple of years before I arrived at Greenbrier High School, five Lewisburg High School seniors, including Mrs. Eva Wiley Hefner and Mrs. Eva Reynolds, were in this group in 1924. I felt I had arrived! I had not only arrived but was immediately involved. That second semester I not only taught several classes of English and coached the senior play, but also coached Christine Gilhooley for the State Oratorical Contest, in which she won first place. The name of the play evades my memory, but we cleared enough to plan for curtains for the stage. They were soft gray and very gorgeous, we thought. It must have been the next school year that the seniors chose Adam and Eve for their play. This was a New York sell out stage production at the time, and a tremendous challenge for us. We even "went on tour" with it, to the Pioneer Theatre in Rainelle, to another full house. We made enough to complete payment on the stage curtains. Sixty years ago school buses were unheard of at Greenbrier High School. Students often walked several miles, country miles, carrying brown paper bags with cold lunches (sometimes merely biscuits left from the breakfast baking). Lunch break was a full hour, so town students hurried home, ate, and hurried back. There was no school cafeterias. Some students rode horseback to the edge of town where they stabled their horses for the day, while they rode "shank's mare" on to school. I remember a few students from the Organ Cave area who rented rooms in homes near the school, where they slept and prepared their meals, mostly with food brought from the home farm. The athletic coach was a full-time social studies instructor - his coaching duties came after school hours. The combination auditorium-gymnasium was used many evenings by community groups, often to practice basketball. Then in the early morning hours of January 31, 1928, Greenbrier High School burned. I remember standing in ice and snow on the hillside back of the school, and watching our stage curtains catch fire and burn, along with the rest of the building and its contents. Within a week we were back having classes in the Presbyterian and Methodist Churches for the rest of that year and the first semester of the following year. The Armory was offered for the basketball practice and games. We had mock political conventions to choose presidential candidates. East is West was the senior play, presented in the local theatre. Ingenuity was our motto. Teachers quickly agreed we must cease shouting to make ourselves heard above the class activities on either side beyond glass or telescoped walls. Modulated voices was the answer. We had no library, so seniors agreed to pool money usually spent on textbooks, and use it to purchase several anthologies and reference guides. We subscribed to the New York Times Book Review and let the local citizens know our needs and desires. Local business offices offered use of machines so we could process our own newspaper, The Gossip, and programs. The books came in. We never worked harder nor learned more. We coped. Those going on to college learned how to research. Finally we moved into the new building and seniors presented The 13th Chair in the new auditorium. Names begin coming to mind. Thomas "Jock" Clifford became a West Point star quarterback, and planned to make a career in the United States Army. He was an early casualty in the Pacific Theatre of World War II. L. E. Kramer, who loved to recite Kipling between shows at the local theatre (Gunga Din was a favorite), cast a bronze bust of Clifford which graced the vestibule of the Armory on Railroad Avenue. Bayne Doughty was an early recipient of his doctorate and headed a large research center for Westvaco in South Carolina. Asa Maness continued to capture trophies (tennis) even after his retirement from teaching. Many Greenbrier High School graduates went on to college and into teaching, medicine, nursing, commercial and clerical fields. Their contributions to the adult and youth groups were tremendous. They worked and loved working. I recall no millionaires among them, so emphasis must have been on the value of work to contribute towards the betterment of other people, rather than the accumulation of great wealth. In my personal life I have also applied the credo. After my stint at Greenbrier High School were four years at Milton High School. Then a few years at the State House in Charleston were spent in helping to set up the Social Security System and the Department of Employment Security. A second marriage brought me back to Greenbrier County and the arrival of two lovely daughters filled my days and life. The breakup of the marriage made me realize again the need of work. For over ten years I was executive secretary of the Greenbrier Chapter of the American Red Cross. Then came a return to teaching, this time at Lewisburg High School. All these years, income was supplemented with news and feature stories for two state newspapers. Then I made a return to Employment Services, this time as a vocational counselor, working mostly with high school seniors in their search for rewarding employment. When I retired in 1968, I followed my elder daughter to Richmond, but soon felt the need to continue my counseling. I offered my services to the Virginia Employment Commission and within a few weeks, I was supervising counselors and counseling in the entire Richmond area. Evenings often found me in ceramics or pottery classes until, finally appeared the opportunity to learn the techniques of metal working. I was truly hooked! When I envisaged a leaf of hemlock cone converted into silver or gold, I saw a bit of magic, not the dirt or work involved. Casting was a delight, and organic casting very special! Even now, in 1985, at the age of eight-two, a day seems lost unless I've added a bit to a chain or created something to look at and enjoy. Never have I accumulated great wealth as most people gauge accomplishment, but neither have I nor mine gone hungry - unless for more knowledge or culture. Work has proved to be a blessing - a way of life. Alumni get-togethers can be wonderfully rejuvenating affairs. They provide opportunities for feeling again the joy and happiness of those times when we first said hello to a friend or a place. I recall again that Sunday afternoon in early January, 1926. I remember the sunshine, the mass of happy people there just to watch a train arrive. I unconsciously took that special "Hello" and locked it in that place in my heart where joy and happiness are an always time.
I was a member of the Greenbrier High School faculty from 1957-1961. My memories of those years are very pleasant ones. Mr. Gaudino was principal. He was a wonderful person and a great leader. Bob Patterson (coach), Opal Fullen and I sponsored a great group of students which was the class of 1961. Bob Patterson was great in keeping law and order. The big highlights was our senior trip to Detroit, Michigan. We got on the train in Ronceverte - traveled all night and ate meals while traveling. This was a great experience! Serving as National Honor Society sponsor was a new and pleasant experience for me. I taught a course in American History for two summers which I really enjoyed. It was great teaching in the same school with Mr. Carl Curry. Mr. Curry had been my high school teacher at Williamsburg. I was married in 1961 and moved to Nester County in New York state. I taught first grade and my husband taught in the high school. After six years we moved to Penn State where my husband completed his Doctor's Degree in Education. We moved to Shippensburg in 1970 where my husband accepted a position at Shippensburg State College (now a university). I completed a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education and have been teaching here since 1971. We have three sons: Max, Michael and Mark.
I have not been able to think of any thing "exciting" to write about my high school years at Greenbrier High School. I graduated in 1927. Music has always been my first love and in high school I loved working in the Glee Club with Miss Russell. She was a wonderful teacher and we all loved her. We were invited to her wedding and helped decorate the church. She married a lawyer by the name of Love. I recall Henry Kauffelt telling her that she shouldn't leave us because she would need her salary since "you can't live on love" - but she smiled slyly and said, "I can live on love." I couldn't wait to be a music teacher like Miss Russell and that's what I have been for many years - beginning in Morgantown before graduation, where I taught in elementary school. Later, in Greenbrier County (Ronceverte Grade School and Greenbrier High School). My teaching was always in music. I taught in Ronceverte two years and left for New York City where I studied voice and did some work on radio. It was in a radio station that I met Harry G. Westerfield and that was the end of my "career"! Harry was a fine singer and we both enjoyed music so I organized adult chorus groups in every town we lived in over the years - in Illinois, in Pennsylvania and now in California where I direct the Sun City Choral Club - a 55 voice group of retirees who have been professionals or just "love to sing". Our spring concert is scheduled for April 6 and 7. My husband died two years ago, but I keep going with the chorus and organ playing in my own church and in several others whenever needed. I am president of the Sun City Performing Arts Foundation for which I started to raise money for a theatre Building in Sun City. It's slow going, but we're getting close to the actual building. I hope - next year. So, you see, I'm a one-track person I guess, and not very interesting. I hope the reunion will be very successful. Remember me to any who may recall my existence in Ronceverte. It would be fun to join in the reunion, but I am facing an eye operation and that must come first. My warmest regards to all whether classmates or former pupils. Comments From LUCY M. YATES 1930-MEMORIES-1947 I have many "Happy Memories" of my seventeen years of teaching in Greenbrier High School. I arrived in Ronceverte in September 1930 and left in September 1947. 1 liked the town, I liked the people, I liked the students, and I liked the school. Why did I leave? Sudden changes occurred in my family life. I felt that I was needed at home. With many regrets and fond good-byes to my friends and co-workers, I resigned my teaching position in Greenbrier High School and came home to live. I accepted a similar position in the Williamsburg High School and taught English until I retired in 1964. I now live in a small white cottage by the side of the road, "Welcome" is on my door. Please knock, and come in. I should enjoy a chat with you. Will you come along with me for a short while, on a pleasure trip (back nearly fifty years ago), and visit the town of Ronceverte and its educational edifice - The Greenbrier High School? `And I would that my tongue Could utter The thoughts that arise in me. " -Tennyson While teaching in Greenbrier High School I served under three principals: Mr. Denver Arnett, Mr. Roy Boone, and Mr. Wilford McCutcheon. After 42 years of teaching, I conclude that a good school system is determined, to a great extent, by the principal. To the above named men, I give an A+. All three were dedicated school men. I give much praise to the G.H.S. teachers too. All were cooperative and "human". We had many enjoyable times working together and fraternizing together. A truly comrade spirit prevailed. The one goal for all concerned was -- to make G.H.S. the superior school in Greenbrier County. I believe we accomplished our goal. The academic program met the needs of all enrollees. College bound students were prepared to enter the college or university of their choice on graduation without question. Those who planned to go to work immediately after graduation usually found employment. Even today local business offices are partially staffed with G.H.S. alumni. Other students from area schools transferred to Ronceverte to study subjects necessary for college entrance. Much worth-while work was done in well organized clubs. The National organizations offered students the opportunity to compete in state-wide and national contests for college scholarships. Ronceverte had many winners in the following categories: music, drama, band, speech, oratory and F.H.A. projects. Our record stands proud! Greenbrier High School had a good athletic program. Thanks to Cleo Henderson and "Toddy" Loudin. Four major sports were engaged in: football, basketball, baseball and tennis. Loudin's record as a coach speaks for itself. He is now in the "Hall of Fame". How proud we are of you, "Toddy"! Cleo left us before he had time to prove his worth. Speaking of athletics brings to mind the term, "School Spirit". We had it, we didn't lose it, and we usually kept it at a temperate level. Occasionally we lost our cool when our arch-enemy, Marlinton, came to town. The team members came with the spirit of hate in their souls, and left like a buffalo herd running from a grass fire. And they brought the whole town of Marlinton with them! Door proceeds were high, and seats were scarce. It really didn't matter whether one had a seat, for most of the time the crowds were standing yelling "Help them Lord". The coach's named was Lord. The price of eggs often went sky-high along about this time of year. We played hard to win over our rivals such as Lewisburg, White Sulphur, and Alderson but no real trouble ever occurred -- just hard fought battles with both sides determined to win. The results was good theater. The cheerleaders did their stuff, and the cheering was loud and forceful. When the games were over (whether we lost or won), everybody went home with a sore throat and a happy heart feeling, "It was good to have been there!" Tournament time was a great occasion in Ronceverte. It was a difficult task to take care of the visiting teams. Hotel space in Lewisburg and Ronceverte was filled to over flowing. Private homes had to help take care of the crowds. Restaurants stayed open around the clock, and often ran short on food. I was usually in charge of the programs, and seldom missed a session. It was a great time in the old town, especially if GHS was winning. We had our share of wins. Time will not permit me to narrate on other yearly events. However I shall name a chosen few: stunt night, fall carnival, band concerts, operetta, glee club program, Christmas program, plays - (Thespian, junior, senior), junior-senior banquet, senior trip, Vo-Ag Special. All school events were well attended. Our assembly programs were interesting and varied. Each week we had many visitors. During the war years most of our programs were planned with a patriotic theme. Part of the invocation was the salute to the flag and the Pledge of Allegiance. Our student body requested that we follow the plan as a tribute to so many of our boys who were in service, many times we were in great travail. We found ourselves hoping for good news but often the bad came! The workings of the school were greatly curtailed by the war. No long trips were taken nor were banquets served on account of the gas and food rationing program. One senior class took their money collected for a trip and bought a stage curtain and dedicated it to soldiers killed in action. What a noble deed! Let's digress for a moment or two and go from school to the town of Ronceverte and talk about its citizens. To the people, I offer a tribute of praise. We couldn't have done without you! When we asked for help, you came to our rescue. You gave of your time, your money, your services, and most of all you gave your support the causes we believed in. The rating of G.H.S. would have been on the lower end of the scale. We just couldn't have done without you, Good Folks! I am glad that I met you. I especially want to express deep appreciation to the host families who took the teachers into their homes and gave them a "home away from home". To the Blakes, the Jacksons, the Tuckers, and the Casdorphs, I express my heart-felt thanks! I must also mention two ladies who did their part to make life happy for us. Mrs. Fry and Mrs. McCann. I shall never forget the delicious homecooked food heaped on our plates. If we hadn't walked a mile to school each day, we would have been on the weight-watchers list. Walking then took the place of jogging and running today. See, we actually killed two birds with one stone. So far we have listened to the good things about life in Ronceverte. I'll now introduce you to a few faults. Luxuries were scarce. The only equipment in our classroom was a box of chalk and a blackboard. One teacher complained to a board member about lack of equipment. He replied, "You are supposed to have what you need in your head." There was no teachers' lounge, no coffee breaks, no smoking areas, no vacant periods, no days off for grading and no sick leave. Working hours began at 8:30 a.m. and ended at 4:00 p.m. Just remember that times were different then. Times have changed, I am glad teachers are included in the better world, but one thing bothers me, "Why can't Johnny read?" I am looking forward to attending Alumni Day at the fairgrounds on May 25, 1985. 1 am glad that I have staved alive to be around in `85. I shall look on this day as the grand finale of Greenbrier High School, a school of yesterday. But time will not take thoughts away from me. COMPENSATION I have not felt the quickened pulse Great Symphonies can bring; But I have stood in a school room And heard a chorus sing. I have not seen the majesty Of towers that reach the skies; But I have seen the light of trust In boys and girls eyes. I have not known great ones of earth Nor shared their cup of wine; But I have walked in narrow halls With a child's hand in mine.
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| © 2006 Lori Samples for the
Greenbrier Alumni Association. All Rights Reserved.
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