Segment Seven

1972 Memoirs

Below is Mr. Marra's 1939 WI graduation picture.

1972 - Virginia Nutter retired from teaching at Washington Irving. Her teaching career started there in 1935.

1972 - Teachers.

1972 - Seniors.

No, Joe had nothing to do with what happened to Washington Irving's bust.  You'll find out later in this segment.

1972 - Be Square Club.

1972  Tri-Hi-Y

1972 Tri-Hi-Y Co-sponsors.

1972 - Pep Club.

1971-72 Homecoming Queen Donette Cunningham.

1972 - Mr. and Miss Washington Irving.
            Jeff Thompson and Carol Stealey.

1971 - Football Team.  Picture taken from a 1972 yearbook.

The players.

1972 - Basketball.

The Cheerleaders.

1972 - Girls in sports.

1972 - WI Wrestling Team.

 



 

1972 - Ten year reunion for the Class of 1962. 

1973 - Memoirs

1974 Memories

 

No, Marcia wasn't responsible for what happened to the bust.

1975 Memoirs

 

I still need a 1976 WI yearbook to scan.

 

1977 Memoirs




1977 - Memoirs Staff.

1977 - Teachers.

1977 - Seniors.

1977 - National Honor Society.

1977 - Those honored.

1977 - Student Council.

1977 - Be Square Club.

1977 - Several other

1976-77  Homecoming Queen and Court.

Sports...

 

 

The Varsity Cheerleaders.

The Tennis Team.

The Golf Team.

The Girls' Varsity Basketball Team.

The 1977 Prom Queen and her Court.

 

1977 - Students Honored.

The 1976-1977 Washington Irving Marching Band.

The Majorettes.

1978 Memoirs

 1979 and 1980 yearbooks will be posted soon.



1981 - Memoirs

 

 

1981 - Year In Review.

1981 - Principal and Vice-principal.

 

 

 

 

1981 - Teachers.

 

1981 - Seniors.

1980 - 1981  WIHS Sports.

1980 - Varsity Football Squad. Picture taken from a 1981 yearbook.

1980 - Junior Varsity Football Squad. Picture taken from a 1981 yearbook.

 

1981 - Homecoming Queen and her Court.

1981 - Girls Basketball Team.

1981 - Girls Volleyball Team.

1981 - Wrestling Team.

The Washington Irving Baseball Team. Picture taken from a 1981 yearbook.

1981 - Varsity Basketball Team.

1981 - JV Basketball Team.

1980 - Track Team. Picture taken from a 1981 Yearbook.

Girls Track Team from the same year.

The 1980-1981 Varsity Cheerleaders.

 

 

1981 - WI Marching Band.

 

 

1981 - Prom Queen.

1981 - Clubs.

1981 - Top 25 Seniors.

1981 - Something is up.

1982 - Memoirs.

1982 - Memoirs Staff.

A look at Clarksburg in 1982.

1982 - Principal.

 

1982 - Teachers.

 1982 - Seniors.

1982 - Clubs.

1981-82  Sports.

Cheerleaders

1981- Homecoming Queen and Court.

Now for the story on Washington Irving's bust.....

1985 - The bust of Washington Irving leaves WIHS forever.

 

 

The bust was given to the school by Mildred Dunn many years ago.  As the story goes, maintenance workers had installed new tiles on the second floor hallway and forgot to put the auditorium door stops back in place. 
Then one day one of the doors was swung open to far and hit the pedestal, which supported Washington Irving’s bust.  The bust fell to the floor and shattered to pieces.

1985 - What else took place this year?  Remember the big flood in Clarksburg?

 

 

This photo from 1985 in Clarksburg shows the construction of what is now the Thunderdome at Washington Irving Middle School. At the time of this photo, WI was still a high school and students didn't have the luxury of a school cafeteria, which was part of this project when finished. 
Photo was furnished by Dick Duez.

Before the Thunderdome was built.  

 

 

Note how much the pine trees had grown, in the following photo. 

The trees were 40 years old in this photo.

The pine trees were removed in 1985 when new windows were installed.

This is a sketch of WI High School after the Thunderdome and cafeteria were added.  The sketch was done by a WI art student.

Yearbooks 1983 through 1989 will be posted soon.

1987 - Coach Al Castallana retires.

1989 - Mr. Tony Marchio became the new principal at Washington Irving High School.

 

I was thrilled to learn about his new position, because I grew up with Tony and his sister Mary.  He was probably the most intelligent and kindest kid in the neighborhood. He was always so polite and never had a bad word to say about anyone.  Everybody loved Tony.   Another thing I remember about him, is that he always kept his clothes so clean.  Yes, he ran the hills, built forts and played baseball like the rest of us, but he never seemed to get dirty.  He was a gentlemen in every respect.

 

 

Tony graduated from WIHS in 1965 and many years had passed since I last spoke with him.  I was always curious how he felt about returning to his Alma Mater as principal in 1989.  Several months ago, I got in touch with Tony. I was seeking help on the final years of Washington Irving High School and had questions like, "was Orie McConkey' s fern still there?" What better person to ask.  Tony was kind enough to offer his assistance and to answer all my questions.

Read what he had to say:

 

BECOMING PRINCIPAL OF WI

By Tony J. Marchio, class of 1965

                When I retired after 41 years as an educator, I was a happy man. I was beginning a new chapter in my life with all the joys and perks of retirement and had survived my years of working with good health and great memories. I felt very fortunate that I had truly loved every phase of my career.  While every year presented new challenges and excitement, there was no period of time in those 41 years that held more meaning or evoked more emotion than my tenure as the principal of my alma mater, Washington Irving High School.

                First of all, WI had always been a big part of my life.  All my siblings attended school there as did all three of my children.  I graduated from WI with the class of 1965 and returned in 1973 as a classroom teacher for nine years. I have nothing but wonderful memories of great friends and classmates, professional and caring teachers and colleagues, and incredible students whom I taught.  Those memories had a profound influence on my life and on my career.

When I assumed the helm of WI as principal in 1989, it was truly an honor, but as an alumnus, I felt a keen sense of responsibility.   Keeping the WI tradition and reputation alive was a duty that I felt very deeply.  Mr. McConkey’s imposing fern overflowing in the corner of the office relentlessly peering over my shoulder was a constant reminder that it was now my responsibility to keep our school “thriving” and “flourishing.”

There is a real mystique about WI that is hard to capture in words.  The long, glorious history of our school and the respected academic reputation that has always characterized WI is not found in every community.  A long list of very renowned faculty members has shaped the lives and careers of hundreds of graduates who have distinguished themselves in every imaginable profession around the world. Graduates can recall with ease a favorite teacher who demanded excellence but earned their respect and admiration.  They talk about the boys’ steps and the girls’ steps and the senior steps as if they just climbed them yesterday.  Marching into the auditorium for an assembly while Miss Nutter played the piano taught us what it meant to behave formally and to be respectful and reap the civilizing effects of ceremony.  The pep rallies were intense, especially when we were playing that awful Victory High School, and just about everyone I know has a story about the swimming pool in the basement.   Every facet of the school seems etched into the minds of WI graduates, and I believe that everyone affiliated with the school sensed that they were in a very special place.  

                An American author once wrote, “I did not know my own home until I left it,” and it was not until I moved away that I truly came to appreciate what an extraordinary place I had left behind.  Few communities feel the long, rich history of their high school like we have, and not many communities celebrate the 100^th anniversary of anything.  But here we are, planning a celebration that will bring home hundreds of proud graduates and evoke cherished memories like few places can.  Though many of us have gone our separate ways and have left West Virginia, we have one experience that binds us all together in a very special way----we have all received the foundation for our lives in the same place with pretty much the same effect upon us all. 

                I came to realize something else that I wish I had known earlier and which might have relieved a lot of my stress.    I often wondered how that one fern could last for so many years and then realized that the secret to its longevity and maintenance lay in the strong network of roots beneath the flowing green leaves.  It was those long, deep roots that kept the fern so vibrant and healthy, and it is the long deep roots of WI graduates who continue to love and support the school that keep WI blossoming and alive.  The memories of WI graduates, fostered by dedicated caretakers like Carolyn Burnside, Roleta Meredith, Tim Cork, and Barbara Kroll and many, many others who have helped preserve and celebrate the glorious history of WI, have provided the nourishment needed to sustain that WI spirit and keep it shining for generations to come.    I have no doubt that one day generations after us will be celebrating the 200^th anniversary of Washington Irving with the same passion and enthusiasm that we are celebrating it today. 


1990 Memoirs

1990 - Staff

 

1990 - The first ever state-wide teachers' strike began on March 8th.

1990 - Seniors.

 

1990 - 1989 WI Head Football Coach Mr. Gene Alkire.

 

1989 - Football Players.

 

 

 

1989 - 1990 Football and Basketball Schedules.

 

 
1990 - 1989 Cheerleaders.

1989 - Majorettes and Drum Major.

 

1990 - 1989 WI Marching Band.

 

1989 - 1990 Homecoming Queen and Court.

 1990 - Head Basketball Coach Mr. Brad Underwood.

1990 - Basketball Team Boys Varsity.

1990 Basketball Team Girls Varsity.

1990 - 1989 Girls Volleyball Team.

1990 - 1989 Soccer Team.

1990 - 1989 Wrestling Team.

1990 - Tennis Teams.

 

1990 - 1989 Cross Country Team.

 

1990 - 1989 Track Team.

1990 - Baseball Team.

 

 Class of 1990.

 

The Class of 1990 lines up outside the Rose Garden Theatre.
 

 
1990 - Principal Mr. Tony Marchio presents Susan Dennison with her diploma.

 1990-1989 Memoirs Staff.

 

 
 

1991 - Memoirs

1991 Memoirs Staff.

 

1991 Teachers and faculty.

 

1991 Seniors.

The following pictures were taken from the 1991 WI Memoirs yearbook.

 

1992 - Memoirs.

1992 - WI High School Faculty.

1992 - Teachers.

1992 - Seniors.

1992 - Clubs, Choirs and Committees.

Homecoming and Prom Queen.

1992 -1991 Sports and Support groups.

1992 - Washington Irving Baseball Team.  They were Sectional Champions, Big Ten Conference Champions and Harrison County Champions.

 

Also in 1992 - The Class of 1962 held its 30 year reunion.

 

 

 

Robert C. Byrd High School was built in 1994.

1994 - Memoirs.

1994 - Memories Yearbook Staff

1994 - Teachers.

1994 - Seniors.

Homecoming Queen and her Court.

1994 - Prom Queens.

1994 - 1993 Sports.

The WI Wrestling Team.

1995 - The final year at Washington Irving High School.

  1995 - Teachers.

1995 - Seniors.

 

 

1995 - Honored students.

 

1995 - Student Council.

1995 - Clubs.

1995 - Sports.

Homecoming Queen and Court 1994.

1995 - WI Marching Band.

1995 - Prom Queen and Court.

 

The Class of 1995.

 

The Principals at WHIS over the years.

  

                                                            1914 to 1946                                   Orie McConkey 

                                                            1946 to 1966                                  Kenneth Cubbon 

                                                            1966 to 1967                                  Maynard Duckworth  (temporary) 

                                                            1967 to 1972                                  James E. Bennett 

                                                            1972 to 1989                                  Sam Scolapio, Jr. 

                                                            1989 to 1992                                  Tony J. Marchio 

                                             1992 to 1996                                  Leon Pilewski*

 

                                                *   The last class to graduate from WI was the class of 1995;

                                      however, students attend WI until January 6, 1996,  before

                                      moving to Robert C. Byrd High School.  Leon Pilewski

                                      continued as principal during this time and became the

                                      principal of RCB.

 

 

1996 - The final volume of Memoirs

The 1996 Yearbook Staff.

1996 - Principal and Assistant Principals.

1996 - Teachers.

1996 - Seniors.

1996 - Clubs.

1996-95  Sports and support.

Homecoming.

Pictured below is the old Washington Irving High School.  It is now a middle school.

 

2014 - Even though I posted the following once before, I feel it deserves another look.

 

In closing out the history on Washington Irving High School, I would like for you to read the following written by a formed principal at WIHS and contributor to this history project.

 

WASHINGTON IRVING HIGH SCHOOL:

 

CONSOLIDATION AND THE FINAL YEARS

By Tony J. Marchio

 

            Every chapter in the history of Washington Irving High School was momentous and significant as were those final years.  One impetus for the dramatic changes that characterized the final days of WI came when the US Government announced in 1990 that the Federal Bureau of Investigation Fingerprint Identification Division would be located in the Clarksburg area.  The community scrambled in anticipation of the new complex that would bring over 3,000 badly needed jobs to the economically struggling area.  Several community meetings were held throughout the city to discuss how Clarksburg should prepare for a sudden influx of new residents who would be much more racially and socially diverse.  Every meeting seemed to generate new and interesting thoughts on what our community could do to make our area more attractive and accommodating, such as restaurants, cafes, specialty stores, and spas. There was one thing, though, upon which everyone agreed----our schools had to be top notch. 

 

            Both city high schools---Washington Irving and Roosevelt-Wilson---were excellent schools that had been nominated for prestigious national awards in their final years, but it was their aging facilities that new residents who did not know of their history or reputation might find unappealing.  A citizens’ committee studied the issue of building a new school and proposed to the school board that a new high school be built to consolidate the two schools into one new, state-of-the-art academic facility, and in 1991, the citizens of Harrison County passed a bond to build such a school.

 

            Before I became the principal of Washington Irving, I was the principal of Roosevelt- Wilson High School, beginning my tenure there in 1985.  I knew very little about the school except that it was a cross-town rival and a fierce competitor in every sport.  It wasn’t until I became principal there that I realized that Roosevelt-Wilson had a long, glorious history of its own.  Built in 1918, it was a true community school and the devotion of the residents and alumni was incredible.  The school was comprised of bright, thoughtful, wonderful students and dedicated, caring teachers. It was a school full of life and character, and the RW fans were loyal and rabid.  The news that the school would be consolidating with WI was very difficult for the RW community to fathom.  A lot of thought and planning went into trying to make the transition as smooth and painless as possible. 

 

            It is important to note that Roosevelt-Wilson did not fade quietly into the night but went out in a blaze of glory.  It was said by many that the last RW boys’ basketball team was one of the best in the schools’ long history.  The Prexies finished the regular season 21-1 and played their final game against Washington Irving before a jam packed gymnasium at Lincoln High School. Hundreds of fans who were not able to get into the game stood outside to listen as the crowd roared inside.  Both teams had superb seasons that year with several blue chip players on each side, but RW won the hard fought game and went on to the final four of the state high school basketball championship in Charleston, knocking off several large schools along the way.    While the RW team did not bring home the state championship, it was no surprise when the school was awarded a trophy for having the best cheering section.  When RW closed, the students did not enter WI through the back door; instead, they came with a lot of pride and an illustrious history of their own. 

 

      The official consolidation began in 1990 with optimism and hope.  While the merger of two former rivals would be difficult, the opportunities that come from combining two great schools were endless.  While there were some bumps in the road initially, the students adjusted amazingly well. By the time the first homecoming game rolled around, boys from both sides of town were on the football field, girls from both schools were on the homecoming court, and the WI marching band played the RW fight song as a tribute to the combined student body before the game started.  The crowd cheered wildly, and a new chapter in the history of both schools had begun. 

 

            One order of business in those early days that seemed to unify the student body was the selection of the colors and the mascot for the new high school.   The school board had already selected the name---Robert C. Byrd High School.  The long time senator from West Virginia was an icon in the state.  When Senator Byrd passed away in 2010, he had served 51 years in the US Senate, and with his six years in the House of Representatives, he was the longest serving congressman in history. More importantly, he had achieved incredible stature and enormous power.  Senator Byrd had held a number of Senate offices, including majority and minority leader and president pro tem. But the post that gave him the most satisfaction was chairman of the Appropriations Committee with its power of the purse, a post he gave up only as his health declined. He unapologetically used that power and influence to help the people of West Virginia by funneling millions of dollars into the state for new highways, federal offices, research institutes, and dams. Senator Byrd commented that he had helped funnel millions of dollars to other states and that it was now West Virginia’s turn. In an interview in 2005, when he was asked what he considered his proudest Senate achievement, Senator Byrd said it was his efforts to bring federal money to West Virginia. “I’m proud I gave hope to my people,” he said.  Naming the high school after him seemed to be the right thing for Harrison County residents to do.  They had reaped the rewards of his power by the relocation of the new FBI center within its borders. 

            To help with consolidation and other student issues, I formed a student advisory committee early on to meet with me on a regular basis.  I wanted the students to be the eyes and ears of the school and to advise me on any issues they felt would help the school to run smoothly.  It was this committee that I turned to to develop and implement a process for selecting the colors and mascot of the new high school.  The students responded to the request with excitement and enthusiasm.  They sensed that this was going to be a part of history and were eager to participate. 

            The committee determined that the first step in the process should be to get a sense from the entire student body of significant factors to consider in making these important selections.  A large roll of paper was stretched across the hallway on the second floor for students to write comments and make suggestions for the committee to consider in establishing the selection process.    When the paper was collected, clear themes began to emerge.   

As to school colors, many of the students suggested a combination of colors from both schools.  Other students thought that using completely different colors would be more appropriate.  Both of these recommendations were considered, but when the committee looked at various combinations of the WI gold and blue and the RW red and gray, nothing appealed to them. They did consider blue and gray for a long while, but a recently consolidated high school in Charleston selected those colors, so the students ruled it out.  Identifying completely different colors seemed a little more appealing, and the students went about combining various colors.  After a lot of discussion, the committee gave the student body ten color combinations to consider.  Color splotches were posted on large poster boards throughout the school, and again, students were invited to write their opinions on the poster boards. 

Excitement and enthusiasm grew steadily among the students and the comments became more passionate and “colorful.”  In the end, three clear favorites emerged.  Black and silver seemed to be a clear favorite of the freshman class but was not popular with the upperclassman.  The advisory committee suggested strongly that the freshman be ignored, and I had to override them on that.   The second selection, orange and blue, was a favorite of the athletes.  The cheerleaders, however, campaigned heavily for blue, green and white.  A fierce campaign ensued, and the debates were lively and frequent.  Everyone seemed to have an opinion, but when the vote was taken by the entire student body, the decision was made by a narrow margin---- blue, green and white were selected as the colors for the new school.  I remember discussing the decision with the art teacher, Georgette Griffith, and she said she felt the color selections were perfect.  She noted that in the architectural rendering of the school, the sky was bright blue, the grass was a vibrant green, and the school building itself was white.  It seemed a natural choice. 

Selecting a mascot was a more interesting enterprise.  The students sensed the importance of selecting the right mascot.  They discussed how the mascot would give the students, parents, teachers and administrators a sense of pride, loyalty, and belonging, and that those feelings often last with students long after their high school days are over. Comments from the entire student body had one overarching recommendation.  The students wanted the mascot to be easily recognizable.    While the students were proud to be called Hilltoppers, it was hard to actually depict the beloved WI Hilltopper.  Some folks said the Hilltopper was actually a ram that lived in mountainous regions of the country.  Others said the name came from the school’s location “on the hill”.  For a few years, one of the parents dressed up as Mr. Hilltopper in a top hat, coat tails, and a cane.  Whatever the original intent, the image of a Hilltopper was not always apparent.  So with this new mascot, the student body wanted no uncertainty; it had to be obvious.

From a long list of possible mascots, the student body narrowed the field to three possibilities, each connected to the name of the school in a unique way.  The first option was the Cardinals.  The cardinal was not only the state bird, but a play on the name Robert Byrd.  The second option was the Senators, and while that might have worked nicely with the school’s namesake, the image of a senator mascot was again a little hazy.  The third choice and the overwhelming favorite of the student body was the American Eagle, the symbol of our government of which Robert C. Byrd was such an important member.  I gulped when the suggestion was made and tried to maneuver around it, but the students loved it. I explained to the committee that the eagle was once the mascot of a long-time cross town rival of both schools and would probably be met with some resistance and criticism.  When I finished my long, passionate explanation, there was silence in the room, and finally one student spoke up.  The student said that in his opinion what I had said was more of a reason for us to consider the eagle than not.  He explained that two great schools have come together, and now we have the opportunity to include the third, making Robert C. Byrd a high school that will represent the entire community.  It was hard to argue with that logic, and when the vote was taken, the decision was nearly unanimous.  The eagle had landed and the new school had been given its identity 

Over the next few years, the student body came together as one, and WI, like RW before it, went out in style.  All of the athletic teams thrived in those final years.  The 1993 football team posted an impressive 7-3-1 season and was crowned Big Ten and Harrison County Champs. The boy’s basketball team had a string of winning seasons, and went out in a blaze of glory.  The 1995 team, with a 17-4 record, won the county and Big Ten championship and a trip to the state basketball tournament in Charleston only to lose to Wheeling Park in the first round.  The illusive state championship was not to be, but the team was a source of pride for the students, fans and community and a fitting ending to glorious athletic achievements of WI.

More importantly, however, the academic program continued to flourish.  WI maintained its reputation for academic excellence to the very end with several new and innovative classes added to the curriculum.  On December 15, 1995, the student body emptied the halls of WI for the final time giving the teachers some time to pack up their belongings to make the move to their new home by January 5^th.    

Robert C. Byrd High School has two large archive rooms containing an assortment of memorabilia commemorating the glorious history of both WI and RW, but the spirit of those schools will forever live in the hearts and souls of all of those who attended them.  As the doors closed on these two schools, another one opened and a new history began.  Robert C. Byrd High School has been open now for 18 years now and has a history and identity of its own, but the foundation of that school is the solid reputation and community support and love for the two schools that came together to create its formation.   

 

This WIHS History project will be continually added to for several more months. 

tpcork@bellsouth.net 




I would like to express my appreciation to the following people for their support in helping me put together this history on Washington Irving High School.
This project would not have been possible without their help.
Words could never express my true feelings and gratitude for their support.  

Mary Marchio Godfrey for use of her use of her 1957, 58, 59 and 60 yearbooks.

      
Gladys Williams for use of her 1968, 69, 70 and 71 yearbooks.

      
Judy Daugherty Kimler for use of her father's 1929 yearbook and for the hours of work she spent helping with this project.

Timothy Paul Elliott for use of his 1978 and 1979 Yearbooks.

David Kuhl for helping gather information and yearbooks, plus helping with the editing.
 

Robert (Bob) Kuhl for use of his 1949, 50, 51 and 52 yearbooks.
 

Linda Holden Suter for use of her 1965 yearbook and other information related to WI.
 

Blair Holden for use of his 1964 yearbook.
 

Charlotte Fleming for sending her husband Richard's WI related items dating back to 1946 when he graduated from WIHS.
 

Charles M. Ferrell for the 1921, 22, 23, 39 and 46 yearbooks and so much more.

Jim Brown for use of his 1954, 55 and 56 yearbooks.
 

Dick Duez for the wonderful WI pictures he sent me over the years.

Connie Coffindaffer Ferrell for the 1928, 1929, 1930 and 1931 yearbooks.

Tony Marchio for his help on explaining WI's final years and for sharing so much more information on WI.
 

Chris Marchio for use of her 1988, 90 and 91 yearbooks.

Thomas Spelsberg for his book "The Myth of Race" and the support he has given me.

Joy Gregorie DeFazio for her support and her help in locating yearbooks and much more.

Harriett Stout Noel for information on the WI class ring and seal.

Roleta Smith Meredith for posting these segments in the WI Newsletter each month and for the use of her yearbooks.   Plus so much more.
 

Diana Shablack for the 1950 pictures of the big snow and all the emailing she did to find yearbooks for me.
 

Bill Wilson for the wonderful scanned pics from 1975.

Jim Alvaro for his support and help.

William L. Seckman III for use of his dad's 1933 yearbook and his 1961 yearbook.

Jean Wells Himmel for offering the 1927 thru 1930 yearbooks.

William Fields for the 1943, 44, 45 and 46 yearbooks.

Nancy Van Horn Stunger for use of the 1953 yearbook.

Jerry Franklin Mick for use of the 1967 yearbook.

Cheryl Miller Barry for scanning the 1936, 37, 38 and 72 yearbooks for me.

Cindy Miller Murphy for scanning the 1936, 37, 38 and 72 yearbooks and sharing so much more.

David McMunn for allowing me use of the 1916, 17, 18 and 20 yearbooks which belonged to Stewart McReynolds.

Donna Stanley Meredith and her husband John for use of a 1966 yearbook.

Sharon Posey Underwood for offering a 1974 yearbook.

Sandi Fox Smith for offering a 1966 yearbook.

Randall Martin for use of his 1973 and 1974 yearbooks.

Carol Ann Shinn Schweiker for use of a 1925 yearbook.

Gloria Hunter Kennedy for the pictures she sent.

Shannon Beam Jackson for her yearbooks 1994, 1995, and 1996.

Jody Buffington for her help in locating yearbooks.

Penny Shanaman Donnelly for coping the 1919 yearbook and sending it to me.

Janet White Davis and Bob Davis for use of a 1935 yearbook.

Aretta Radcliffe Jaranko for use of a 1940 yearbook and other related articles.

Janell Jaranko for the scanned articles she sent me.

Lucy Wallace Ropp Hornor for her help in obtaining yearbooks.

Renee and Will Hornor for use of a 1981 and 1982 yearbook.

Trey Hornor for use of a 1977 yearbook.

Rebecca Hornor Messe for use of her 1991 & 1992 yearbooks.

Nancy Gibson Barr for all the very special help she provided to me.

Levina Chapman Gibson for spending time with me on the phone.  At the age of 106 and a WI Graduate, she had so many wonderful stories to share.

Arrena Jo Kirkpatrick Gaston for use of her 1947 yearbook and for the opportunity to meet one sweet lady.

Sam Scolapio, Jr.  for used of the 1970, 1971, 1974 and 1984 yearbooks.

Also to the many people who gave me support through their kind words as I worked on this project.

To my father Wilbur Ellsworth Cork Jr. who graduated from WIHS in 1927.  He was my inspiration and motivation in putting this history together.

And especially to my wife Judy Holden Cork for her help and patience while I worked on this project for well over 3000 hours.

My sincere thanks and deepest appreciation to each of you.    
                                         
Tim Cork