FIRST HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA IN HISTORY IN MONONGAH

 

James Bruce McDaniel was in the first high school graduation class in Monongah history, in 1922. His future wife, Adrian Millicent Currey McDaniel, graduated in 1923.

They were students in the same building we attended in the 1950s, 1960s and till Monongah High closed after the 1979 graduation. It was called West Monongah High then. Later, just Monongah High. And several additions to the building over the years to accommodate the famous Monongah High bands, the gymnasium that looked more like a revamped swimming pool, etc.

And these were more than just paper diplomas. James B.’s son, James C. McDaniel, said the two diplomas weigh a combined FIVE POUNDS. That’s more like a plaque of honor to hang on the wall with sturdy hooks! James C. still has the two weighty diplomas in his Behobothbeach, Delaware home. When Jim’s photo of his dad’s diploma didn’t reproduce clearly enough for my standards Jim turned the job over to Nancy Riley Basnett, Class of 1960, who did a fantastic restoration job on the diplomas for both Jim’s dad and mother.

The Class of 1922 included Greta Martin Mike, founder of the Monongah High Alumni Banquet that still exists today, 100 years later.

And Ocie Bennetta Riggins, Helen Currey Sanderbeck, Edith Sandy Finlayson, Frankie Hall Hamrick, Olga Hayhurt Shriver, Helen Ice Moone, Irene Joyce Waltz, Nellie Bavely Maiolo, Genevieve Martin Dean, Olga Millan Fleming, Mary Oakes Pennell, Edith Piggott Wilfong, Margaret Robinson Malb, Virgil Higgs, Harold Keller, Howard Martin and Fay Wilson, later in charge of the First National Bank of Monongah and the father of Betty Wilson Feltz, who married the fantastic Monongah High football coach Jim Feltz, who brought Monongah High state titles in 1952 and 1955 and whose son, Jay Feltz, quarterbacked the 1973 state title team. Other MHS state football titles came in 1968, with future Alabama football coach Nick Saban as quarterback, and 1969, with Kerry Marbury playing a major role in both titles.

James Bruce McDaniel was so enamored with President Teddy Roosevelt that he had the nickname of Ted McDaniel when he was stationmaster in Mononogah for the trolley line that ran from Fairmont to Clarksburg. Fare was a dime.

Jim/Ted was the father of James Caroll McDaniel, Class of 1960, who lives in Behobothbeach, Delaware, with Lewes the principal small towns in Delaware's Cape Region. Aaron Jefferson was James Caroll McDaniel’s grandfather.

James Caroll McDaniel married Mary Faust McDaniel, who grew up in Monongah but first met Jim at Anne Arundel Community College in Arnold, Maryland.

 

Air Force retiree Jim’s siblings are Jo Ann McDaniel Huff, Class of 1949, who married Robert Huff and passed away in 2019; Mary Jane McDaniel Pritchard; and Donald McDaniel.

Jim C.’s mother, Adrian, and sister, Joann, have passed away. Jim C. will be 80 in August and Robb will be 70 this year. All are Monongah High graduates who were students in the same building where Jim B. graduated from then-West Monongah High School.

Mary Currey McDaniel's sister was Ava Currey Cogar, married to Fred Cogar and living on Cottage Avenue. Ava and my mother, Lena Futten Olesky, who lived across Camden Avenue (U.S. 19) on Church Street with John W. Olesky, Sr., were best friends and often sat on our back porch and talked of many things.

Ava was the lay assistant in 1924 when St. Stanislaus Church priest Father Lawrence Michalski asked Mother Mary Ursula, Mother Mary Arsenia and Sister Mary Clara to begin St. Stanislaus School. It later was renamed Sts. Peter and Paul School.

It’s timely and appropriate that I will be bringing copies of the 1922 and West Monongah High diplomas to the 99^th Monongah High Alumni Banquet at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 28 at Knights of Columbus, 1529 Mary Lou Retton Drive in Fairmont since this is 100 years later for the longest-running high school reunion in West Virginia history. It will be in an album of previous Monongah High Reunions including the 50^th anniversary gathering of the Class of 1938.

If you come to the Banquet I’ll be there so stop by for a chat. I also will have a picture frame with ONE THOUSAND revolving photos of Monongah High alumni that you can check out if you wish. And a large framed photo of the Monongah High Lion atop this blog. And anything else I can think of that might enhance your Banquet experience. The Stepping Stones band will provide music for dancing after we eat our dinners. And you can bet there will be plenty of conversation by former classmates, including many who have maintained contact decades after their graduations from Monongah High.

Be there or be square!

John Olesky, Class of 1950, who lives in the Akron suburb of Tallmadge, Ohio after a 43-year newspaper career.