Class of 1971 may make joint donation for Monongah’s Christmas lights

Susan Sanders, Class of 1971, who is spearheading the fundraiser to pay for erecting Christmas lights in the town of Monongah, is exhorting her 1971 classmates to make a donation as a group.

Susan writes:



“Hello, my wonderful class of 1971. Here is a copy of the letter going out to businesses for donations. I think it would be wonderful for our class to do a donation as a group for our town. Anyone wanting to join in, let me know.”

Susan lives in Monongah with husband Gene Sanders.


Brenda Urban, Class of 1971, who lives in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina offered to join the 71ers’ effort to light up Monongah for Christmas. The Facebook post by Brenda, a Fairmont State business administration graduate:



Susan Sanders

“Our wonderful town of Monongah is wanting to shine for the Christmas Season, which is wonderful! Susan Sanders is writing letters and posting them for any donations to make this possible! If anyone in our spirited High School Class of Monongah 1971 would like to contribute a donation for this cause, you may contact Susan at 304-365-2074. Any checks or money orders would be made out to The Town Of Monongah with Christmas lights donation in the memo field! Let's be a spirited class and give Monongah the shining glory that it deserves for the Holidays! Thank you so very much. Your support is very much appreciated!”

The faceplate and strap to hold the light is $45 apiece plus 1 receptacle for $25. My Mary Turkovich math says that’s $115 to get one Christmas light up and ready to brighten Monongah for Christmas.

Brenda is Stanley Urban, Jr.’s daughter and Stanley Urban, Sr., long-ago proprietor of Urban’s Grocery south of the UMW Hall, is Brenda’s grandfather and Stanley, Jr.’s father. Brenda's brothers are Greg Urban, Class of 1966, who lives in North Carolina, and Mark Urban, Class of 1966, who lives in Indiana. Brenda also has a daughter, Jennifer Urban.

 

Brenda Urban

Brenda’s grandfather and Andrew Urban were brothers. Andrew is the father of Patty Urban Utz, Class of 1950, and the son of Peter Urban, the only survivor of the 1907 Monongah mines explosion. Peter later died in a mine slatefall.

Brenda was once married to Jimmy Clay Fullen, Class of 1972, who lives in Indiana. Ramona Fullen Michalski, Class of 1949, who lives in Monongah and is the widow of Frank Michalski, who began with the Class of 1948, is Jimmy’s cousin.

Patty is enjoying retirement in Springfield, Virginia with husband John Utz, a West Point graduate who retired as a Lt. Colonel. Patty's brother, Michael A. Urban, passed way in 2008.

Josephine Smolanovich Jurasko Urban is Class of 1932, the same year that Julia Urban graduated from Monongah High.