Thanks to former Lions everywhere, everyone in the 1967 Black Diamond Recognition page has been identified. Now I can continue converting the print edition into a future online album.

Thank you.

John Olesky, Class of 1950

When Pamm Yanero Bragg, Class of 1969, has a birthday, she gets Monongah’s No. 1 band, Jenna Won’t Sing, to perform “Happy Birthday” at her home.

Well, since Ron Yanero is part of the Jenna band, that isn’t a surprise.

Jim Pulice, Class of 1969, retired Monongah Middle School principal and son of Jim Pulice, Class of 1948, and Greg Patrick, Class of 1970, also showed up. Jim and Greg have been together musically since elementary school.

Jim, Greg, drummer Bobby Bonasso of Carolina and Pamm went to Sts. Peter and Paul Elementary and Monongah High together.

 

Pamm’s father was Fred Yanero, who had the two-story house that I passed on the right as I walked on Pike Street Extension on my way across the two bridges that took me over Mill Fall Creek in both directions and along an unpaved road till I reached the Mill Fall home of my uncle, Frank Loss, and my aunt, Gezala Futten Loss, to pick up milk fresh from their jersey cows on their 100-acre farm.

Jim was married to the late Donna Westfall.

I have 13 Monongah High birthdays on my list for October, including Mary Frances Miller Myers, Class of 1951, on Oct. 9 and Jay Holman, Class of 1971, on Oct. 11.

The October Lions with birthdays:

If your name is not on this list, email John Olesky at jo4wvu@neo.rr.com  with your full name, including maiden name, your birthday date, your graduation year and your current hometown.

October

 

2 – Stanley H. Vance, Class of 1964

7 – Sherry McIntire, Class of 1975

8 – Valerie Vandetta Aldridge, Class of 1973

9 – Mary Frances Miller Myers, Class of 1951

11 – Felix Colisino, Class of 1947

11 – Jay Holman, Class of 1971

12 – Brenda Manzo, wife of Danny Manzo, Class of 1957

20 – Leona “Duckles” Davis Schooley, Class of 1953

21 – Dorman Keith Beckner, Class of 1942

21 – Ken Slovekosky, Gilmer County High Class of 1976.

26 – Lori Hawkins Ice, Fairmont East graduate living in Carolina

29 – Robert Boydoh, Class of 1956

31 – Patty Steele McCombs, Fairmont East graduate who lives in Monongah

 

November

1 – Tom Dean, Class of 1949

5 – John Olesky, Class of 1950

8 – Diana Pishner Walker

10 – Tony Orsini, Class of 1946

14 – Ann Marie Mascak Davis, Class of 1955

17 – John Todd Moats, North Marion Class of 1985

20—Hellen Snider Carpenter, Class of 1950               

20 – Kathryn Toothman Crim, Class of 1950

22 – Mike Ahouse, Class of 1968

23 -- Antheai Justice Turner, North Marion 1982

25 – Gerald Nelson Hartley, Class of 1955

27 – Roy Foster, Class of 1945

28 – Danny Fullen, Class of 1961

29 – Dave Westfall, Marcia Westfall Michalski’s son

 

December

2 – Adam Michna, 1980 North Marion graduate

2 -- Mareia Wilmouth McDougal, Class of 1964

4 – Ronald Pearse, Class of 1961

4 – Jay Michalski, 1980 North Marion graduate

5 – Duane Harbert, Class of 1951

8 – Brenda Urban, Class of 1971

11 – Paulette Colanero O’Connor, Class of 1966

13 – Otis “Sarge” Shaver, Class of 1948

14 – Bev Morgan Colisino, Class of 1974

16 – Barbara Sweede, Class of 1956

16 – Shelvy Maze Cunningham, Class of 1964

16 – Henry Moore, husband of Beth Pritchard Moore, Class of 1975

18 – Bill Cameon, Class of 1960

20 – Mike Hess, Class of 1975

22 – Frances Wimer Miller, Class of 1951

23 – Jim Fullen

25 – Chris Shamrock Henning

27 – John Yokay III, son of John Yokay, Class of 1953

January

6 – Jeanette Barr Baczuk, Class of 1940

13 – Beatrice Salisbury Mills, Class of 1951

17 – Susan Colaneri Monell, Class of 1949

18 – Arlene Marteney Decker Edgell, Class of 1951

?? – Marie Bee Zwiegel, Class of 1951

18 – Bertha Pazdric Sullivan, Class of 1954

18 – Greg Vandetta, Monongah mayor, husband of Debbie Manzo Vandetta, Class of 1973

19 – Joe Martin, Class of 1957

19 – Joann Thompson, Class of 1962 

22 – Jo-Jo DeMary of Monongah, who lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee and is married to Yvonne King DeMary

24 – Marcia Michalski Westfall, Class of 1974

24 – Mark “Hooch” Aldridge, Class of 1973

29 – Kitty Ahouse Morrison, Class of 1968

 

February

1 – Debra Manzo Vandetta, Class of 1973

2 – Sylvia Edwards, Monongah grad living in Idamay

3 – Debbie Weaver Hurley, Monongah grad living in Monongah with husband Milton Hurley

3 – Rebecca Urish Anderson, Class of 1971

8 – Tom Fleming, Monongah grad living in Bridgeport

9 – Bob Nichols, Class of 1964

10 – Bonnie Nicholson Moats, Class of 1960

11—Linda Renay Hess Postlethwait, Class of 1968

15 – Jerry Koloskie, Class of 1975

17 – Larry “Danny” Eates, Class of 1970

18 – Mark Tarley, North Marion grad

20 – Harold Dean Kniceley, Class of 1960

21 – Eva Huey Jarvis, Class of 1975

24 – Mary Kelly, Monongah & North Marion

29 – Betty Sikinow Cunningham, Class of 1954

 

March

5 – Phil Colanero, Jr., Class of 1963

5 -- Doris Carpenter Rogers, Class of 1971

6 – Karen Fitzwater Pausch, Class of 1961

9 – Richie Basagic, Class of 1975 

9 – Brian Evans, Monongah graduate married to Patty DeMary Evans

11 – Benny C. Morgan, Class of 1948

15 – Donna Colvert Davis, Class of 1961, married to 1958 MHS grad Bill Davis

15 – Clarence William “Bill” Woods, Class of 1952

22 – David Haines, Class of 1964

25 – Sandy Cook, Class of 1959

25 – Richard Fitzwater, Monongah graduate

28 – Josephine Popovich Jones, Class of 1952

 

April

 

4 – Charlotte Walker Cahill, Class of 1954

5 – Bernie Fullen, Class of 1963

9 – Paula “P.J.” Hickman, North Marion 1983

11 – Leo Kubiet, Class of 1942

12 – Linda Sawyer Duckworth, Class of 1966

14 – Lyla Cosner Howell, Class of 1958

16 – Becky Shelosky Carvillano, Class of 1961 

30 – Shirley Knight Ritterhouse, Class of 1954

 

May

4 – Freddie Jane Colosino Villers, Class of 1964

5 – Frank Franze, Class of 1950

6 – Jerry Loss, Class of 1956

12 – Arlene Kitchin, main squeeze of Joe Martin, Class of 1957

14 – Donna Post Swiger, Class of 1955

14 – Mike Jurasko, Class of 1957

14 – Virginia Belle Littleton Curtis, Class of 1957

17 – Colette Stanley Melton, Class of 1970

20 – Linda Tomlinson Stevenski, Class of 1955

21 – June Paxton Rogers, Class of 1948

27 – Ed Graffius, Class of 1971

28 – Terri Orsini Saye, Class of 1972

29 – John Woods, Class of 1957

30 – Dave Westfall, Class of 1948  

 

June

1 – Parma Kay Fetty, Class of 1973

3 – Jim Birdsell, North Marion grad from Monongah; married to Angela

5 – Ann “Peaches” DeMary

7 – Kenneth Kincaid, Class of 1968

8 – John Koloskie, Jr., Class of 1944

8 – Pat Slovekosky Morris, Class of 1970

13 – C.L. “Roy” Parker II, North Marion Class of 1982

13 – Rick Morrison, son of Kitty Ahouse Morrison, Class of 1968 

14 – Pamela Morrison Bombardiere, Class of 1967

14 – Regina Levelle Humphrey, Class of 1973

14 – Regina McCoy Murphy, Class of 1973

17 – Delmas Gene Hartley, Class of 1979

17 – Dennis Jones, Class of 1954

20 – Shirley Ann Woods Merchant, Class of 1953

23 – Ramona Fullen Michalski, Class of 1949

23 – Kathryn Manuel Marshall, Class of 1960

23 – Ron Manzo, Monongah grad

23 – Frankie Vandetta, North Marion grad

 

July

3 – Susan Ahouse Schrader, Class of 1971

4 – Barbara Fleming Marsh, Class of 1947

5 – David Gowers, Class of 1971

5 – Bill Meredith, Class of 1957

7 – Alex Fazio Huff, North Marion 2005 grad

10 – Mary Fleming Toothman, Class of 1960

14 – Ted Nagel, Class of 1954

14 – Bentley Evans, Class of 1978

18 – Larry Zickefoose, Class of 1968

20 – Catherine Reckart Boyce, Class of 1973

21 – Robin Huffman Satterfield, Class of 1973  

16 – Jean Nagel Viglianco, Class of 1949

19 – Jane Pritchard Moore, Class of 1975

29 – Pete Basagic, Class of 1972

 

August

1 – Kim DeMary Clowers, Class of 1979

3 – (Agnes) Jean Larry DiLaura, Class of 1950

5 – Robert Tennant, Class of 1971

6 – Wauneda Evans, Patty DeMary Evans’ mother-in-law

7 – Dorie Mike Whetsell, Monongah graduate

8 – Sandra Ashcraft, Class of 1964

9 – Paula Kerns Fazio, Class of 1979

12 – Angelo Catania, Class of 1943

16 – Debby Morrison Harden, Class of 1966

17 – Twins Earnest Hayes & Chester Hayes, both Class of 1965

18 – Jim McDaniel, Class of 1960

18 – John Fazio, Class of 1970

19 – Greg Postlethwait, Class of 1964

19 – Barbra Eller-Hanning, Monongah grad

20 – Irene Fazio Preolitti, Class of 1966

20 – Connie Warash, Class of 1975

29– Pat Meredith Wills, Class of 1950

30 – Beth Pritchard Brooks, Class of 1978

30 – David Harbert of Idamay, Farmington grad

 

September

 

1 – Claude Domico, Jr., Class of 1959

6 – Dave Domico of Monongah, Fairmont West grad married to Andrea Justice Domico

7 – Mary Louise Orsini, Class of 1948 (honorary)

7 – Phillis Tarley, North Marion grad from Idamay living in Fairmont

8 – Fred Moorehead, Class of 1964 

8 – Jackie Olesky Straight, Class of 1955

13 – Karen Manzo, Class of 1974

14 – Suzanne Barr Loss, Class of 1948

14 – Jim Shaver, Class of 1954

15 – Bettie Hensley Lowther, Class of 1948

17 – Patti DeMary Evans, Class of 1972

20 – Greg Patrick, Class of 1970

23 – Sally Wood Tarley, Class of 1959

24 – Joe Fazio, Class of 1974

25 – Marylee Hertzog Gwinn, Class of 1948

25 – Jim Davis, Class of 1964

26 – Nathaleen Cameon Oliverio, Class of 1948

27 -- Bonita Lavencheck Waybright, Class of 1968

29 – Dietta Harden Goush, Class of 1959

29 – Pamm Yanero Bragg, Class of 1969

Oh, Brother; basketball star, too

Well, I knew that Nick “Brother” Saban quarterbacked Monongah High to the 1968 state football title, one of five in Lions history.

But it wasn't until I looked at the 1967 Monongah High Black Diamond yearbook, which I will convert to an online album in a month or longer, that I realized that Brother also was a starter on the basketball team that went 17-3 that season.

Nowadays, “Brother” collects about $8 million a year as Alabama football coach.

He played his football at Kent State before working his way up to becoming the No. 1 college football coach in America, although Ohio State’s Urban Meyer is trying to unseat him.

Father of Monongah’s Paula Burton Morgan passes away

Alvin Burton, Sr., of Rachel, father of Paula Burton Morgan, who lives in Monongah with husband Billie Lee Morgan, 1974 Mannington High grad, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 23.

An unrelated Burton, apparently, who graduated from Monongah High:

Dottie Woody Burton, Class of 1968, whose last address I have is Dale City, Virginia.

 

Alvin's obituary:

Alvin Junior Burton

Born: June 10, 1942
Died: September 23, 2015

Alvin Burton, Sr. 73, of Rachel, passed away Wednesday, September 23, 2015, at Monongalia General Hospital. He was born June 10, 1942 in Fairmont, the son of the late James Burton and Mary Elizabeth McCaulley Burton.

Alvin was retired from the City of Fairmont, having been employed for the Street Department for 33 years. He loved to hunt, fish and travel. He was also a member of the Jewel City Church in Shinnston.

He is survived by his wife Susan McHenry Burton whom he married on March 26, 1983, 6 children : Alvin Burton, Jr. of Fairmont, Karen Hays and husband Russell of Fairmont, Shelly Sturgeon of Fairmont, Paula Morgan and husband Billie of Monongah, Robin Burton of Fairmont, and Holly Jones and husband Shawn of Rachel, one sister: Mary Lou Minor of Fairmont, 14 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren, 1 great great grandchild, and several nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his faithful companions, Lucy and Buddy.

In addition to his parents, Alvin was preceded by a daughter: Susan Mays, a sister: Katherine Rogers, and a brother: James W. Burton, III.

Friends may call at the Hutson Funeral Home in Farmington on Friday from 2-9 p.m. where funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday with Pastor Robert Shingleton officiating. Interment will follow at the Grandview Memorial Gardens in Fairmont. Online condolences may be accessed at www.hutsonfuneralhomes.com

 

West Virginia worst state for teachers

West Virginia is the worst state for teachers, according to a WalletHub survey that compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 13 key metrics.

The Mountain State placed 39th in Academic and Work Environment, last in Job Opportunity and Competition and near the bottom in salaries for teachers, even after adjustment for cost of living.

Kentucky, another mountainous state ranked 15^th.

Even sadder, according to the National Center for Education Statistics about a fifth of all new public-school teachers leave their positions before the end of their first year and nearly half never last more than five years.

Findings:

Overall Rank	State	‘Job Opportunity & Competition’ Rank	‘Academic & Work Environment’ Rank
1	Massachusetts	9	3
2	Virginia	2	14
3	Minnesota	3	10
4	Wyoming	4	13
5	New Jersey	20	2
6	Iowa	7	15
7	Wisconsin	13	8
8	Pennsylvania	1	22
9	Kansas	23	7
10	Maryland	12	17
11	Illinois	18	12
12	New York	5	26
13	Vermont	37	1
14	Utah	14	20
15	Kentucky	16	19
16	New Hampshire	34	6
17	North Dakota	35	5
18	Nebraska	31	11
19	Montana	29	16
20	Michigan	8	35
21	Delaware	15	30
22	Ohio	26	21
23	Indiana	11	33
24	Missouri	21	27
25	Texas	17	32
26	District of Columbia	10	46
27	Florida	25	31
28	Colorado	41	9
29	Arkansas	32	23
30	Alabama	18	40
31	Nevada	6	50
32	Idaho	24	36
33	Tennessee	33	28
34	Connecticut	48	4
35	Alaska	22	47
36	California	28	44
37	Georgia	29	45
38	Washington	39	29
39	Maine	49	18
40	Louisiana	27	49
41	Oklahoma	35	42
42	South Dakota	43	25
43	New Mexico	40	41
44	Rhode Island	46	24
45	South Carolina	38	48
46	Hawaii	44	38
47	Oregon	45	37
48	Mississippi	47	43
49	Arizona	42	51
50	North Carolina	50	34
51	West Virginia	51	39