OH, MY, WHAT A GRAND TIME EVERYONE HAD AT THE MONONGAH ALUMNI BANQUET!!

 

Despite Thomas Wolfe novel’s claim that “you can’t go home again. You can't go back home to your family, back home to your childhood, back home to a young man's dreams of glory and of fame, back home to the old forms and systems of things which once seemed everlasting, back home to the escapes of Time and Memory," I did.

The Monongah of my childhood comes alive every time I visit the dear hearts and gentle people of my hometown, as immortalized in the “Dear Hearts and Gentle People” song first published by Bob Cosby and His Bobcats. The lyrics that strike a chord in my heart:

 

I love those dear hearts and gentle people

Who live in my home town

Because those dear heart and gentle people

Will never ever let you down

 

I feel so welcome each time that I return

That my happy heart keeps laughin’ like a clown

I love those dear hearts and gentle people

Who live and love in my home town

 

I began as I do all my Monongah tours, with a visit to Mount Calvary Cemetery to place a rose on the grave of Monongah High teacher Mary Turkovich, who refused to let you not learn, as she put me through the rigors of, in succeeding years, math, algebra and geometry. But she also infused my soul with such a stiff determination that it helped me succeed in my 43-year newspaper career after my graduation from WVU Journalism School. And the math she drilled into me guided me to a financial success beyond the wildest dreams of a coal miner’s son with a cleft palate speech defect.

 

Unfortunately, the cemetery’s flat grave markers like Miss Turkovich’s have been overgrown by moss and weeds so I couldn’t find it, as I did year after year. One upright grave marker was broken into 4 or 5 pieces strewn on the ground. How sad.

 

I did put roses on the grave of my aunt, Frances Olesky Fazio, and her husband, Renzy Fazio, the best amateur golfer I ever played with. Frances and my father, John W. Olesky, Sr., were siblings.

 

And on the grave of Mother Agnes, the Sts. Peter and Paul nun/teacher who imbued a love of words in me that led to my journalism career. My mind still sees her careening past our Church Street home at breakneck speed in her brother’s jeep. Sister Agnes, as I called her, probably could have won the Indianapolis 500. Police often stopped her, but never arrested her. It would be like arresting God’s messenger on Earth.

And the grave of Joe Eates, godfather of my son, John Larry Olesky, along with his wife, Ann DeMary Eates, who I later visited at her Bridge Street home. It’s like being showered with grace and goodness to visit Ann.

While I was searching for Miss Turkovich’s grave Monongah High graduate Richard Weaver, Class of 1958, who recognized me from my photos in this blog, called me out by name. He was putting flowers on the grave of his parents, Thomas “Toddy” Weaver and Margarette Kann Weaver.

We had a nice conversation. Richard agreed about my assessment of Miss Turkovich’s quality teacher skills. Debbie Weaver Hurley is Richard’s sister. Diane Weaver Tennant is Richard’s daughter. Tracey Weaver Hanshaw and David Weaver are Richard’s other children.

Richard is retired from United Hospital Center and also graduated from Fairmont State. He lives in Fairmont. 

After Mount Calvary I made another annual Monongah stop at the homes of Amelia Shenasky Zentz, Class of 1938, who is 103 years old! She still has an amazingly sharp mind and memory. Behind her was a photo of the beautiful blonde that I remember when, as a child, I accompanied my mother, Lena Futten Olesky, to the P.P. Shenasky Grocery owned and operated by Amelia’s parents, Pete and Nell Shenasky. Amelia would let me put my tiny hand in a candy corn jar and keep whatever my hand didn’t drop. And it was free! I SO looked forward to showing up with Amelia behind the counter and the candy corn jar between us!

Every time I show up Amelia turns to her caretakers and says, “He’s my boyfriend.” When I give her a rose or a bag of candy corn I always say: “This is for my girlfriend.”

My next stop was to the Pike Street home of my cousin, Mary Chris Fazio Ramsey, and her husband, Tom Ramsey. Mary Chris was born on the floor a few feet from where I sat and chatted with her. Aunt Frances, unable to make it out the door for a trip the hospital, brought Mary Chris into the world in the dining room of her sister, Helen Olesky Kerkes, the world’s best nutroll baker who mailed those delicious treats to me in Ohio every Christmas for years, and Helen’s husband, Steve Kerkes of the Carolina family.

I always thought her name was Mary Chris because she was born at Christmastime but she corrected me on this visit. She had aunts named Mary and Chris and got both their names. But I like my erroneous version better that she was named for Merry Christmas.

After that I visited Susan Staron Sanders, the Angel of Thomas Street who has a huge angel statue in her back yard to prove she earned the title I gave her. This is one busy woman, helping everyone she sees. Susan is on Monongah’s Town Council, founder and president of the Monongah Christmas Lights committee responsible for almost 40 of those beautiful creations, including the pearl in a seashell on Church Street next to my childhood home. To me it represents Christ (the pearl) emerging from his grave cave (the seashell) for the Resurrection. We got together again the next day at the Monongah High Alumni Banquet.

Next in line was Ann DeMary Eates, Class of 1945, who I’ve extolled about when I discussed putting a rose on her husband, Joe’s, grave. My son and her godson, John Larry Olesky, was with me. She spent the entire visit telling my son was a great person and father I was. The last visit she spent telling me what a great son John Larry was. I wholeheartedly agreed with her.

Finally, up Bridge Street hill on Bridge Street Extension was the home of Ramona Fullen Michalski, Class of 1949, widow of Frank Michalski, former Monongah High football player and my defender against playground bullies at Sts. Peter and Paul School who made fun of my cleft palate speech defect . . . once. After Frank warned them that a repeat bullying would mean dealing with him I was never bullied the rest of my 8 years at P&P School. Frank is my hero in my memories forever for that.

John Larry and I finished up our magnificent Monongah montage in time to head to Fairmont and the home of Belinda Morris, daughter of my sister, Jackie Olesky Straight, Class of 1950, where Belinda’s husband Dave rounded up sumptuous fare from Muriale’s Restaurant, which provides the best Italian food in Marion County. Jackie’s other daughters, Lea Ann Straight Barnes with husband John Barnes and Susan Renee Straight, pharmacist at WVU’s Ruby Memorial for decades, and grandchildren were among about two dozen people who ate, laughed continuously and provided me with marvelous memories for years to come.

All that was just a warmup for the main event, the 99^th annual Monongah High Alumni Banquet which began 100 years ago in 1922 as the brainchild of Greta Martin Mike, who married one of the 3 barbering Mike brothers. In Knights of Columbus on Mary Lou Retton Drive, where it’s been since 2014 when West Chester venue well belly-up with another Banquet not far down the road. K of C came to the rescue. The Banquet has been in the Fairmont Hotel and the Ramada Inn in Morgantown, among other venues. Greta’s 1922 Banquet was in Mannington.

I got warm chats and hugs from Colette Stanley Melton, Class of 1970; Joann Davis Thompson, Class of 1962; Susan Staron Sanders, Class of 1971; Kathern Ahern Loss, Class of 1942; Kitty Ahouse Morrison, Class of 1968; Sue Ahouse Schrader, Class of 1971; Rosemary Raymond Pagliaro, Class of 1958; Jackie Olesky Straight, Class of 1955, my sister; and exhuberant handshakes from Dennis Basnett, Class of 1962; and Jim Roy Foster, Class of 1971, who made a face-bomb appearance while my son, John Larry Olesky, was taking a photo of me with Susan Sanders and Ahouse sisters Sue Schrader and Kitty Morrison. 

It felt like I struck the Friendship Mother Lode.

 

My oh my oh

I came from Ohio

And discovered a crowd

Made me laugh out loud

 

The 99^th Monongah High Alumni Banquet, first held in 1922 so this is 100 years later but covid canceled the 2020 Banquet. That makes it the longest-running high school reunion in West Virginia history.

Monongah High Alumni Association president Linda Lopez Gandy, Class of 1965, generously and graciously gave me public recognition at the beginning of the Banquet for pumping life into the lagging reservations by publishing article after article about the importance of not letting this great tradition die off for lack of attendance. And had me stand up to be recognized into a sea of hand-clapping. Thanks, Linda. I just couldn’t let this century-old tradition go out with a whimper.

Several dozen people came to my table to thank me for using the blog to help Lions keep track of Lions, which is the #1 goal of the blog in my mind. And to look at the picture frame with 2,000 revolving photos of Monongah High alumni, family and friends and the album with photos of previous Monongah High Alumni Banquets.

Always a highlight for me is the hug I get from Kathren Ahern Loss, Class of 1942, this time after I handed her the final rose that I saved for her among the 3 dozen that I brought from Ohio to Marion County to give to my favorite women.

It was delightful and heart-warming, once the Stepping Stones father-son musicians cranked up their wares, to see senior citizens shaking and laughing on the dance floor. We ain’t dead yet. Indeed, very lively.

As always I enjoy my visits with Susan Sanders, Kitty Morrison and sister Sue Schrader. And Rosemary Raymond Pagliaro, Class of 1958, who lived in our future Church Street home while we were renting next-door on Thomas Street. When Rosemary's parents Mary and Angelo Raymond moved to a mile north of Swisher Hill where they bought a home and set up a tavern on U.S. 19, my parents John W. Olesky, Sr. and Lena Futten Olesky purchased the Church Street home from Consolidation Coal Company. 

Rosemary’s brother, the late Bobby Raymond, Class of 1951, former Monongah High football player, and I were inseperable during our pre-school days. So much so that, when I began at Sts. Peter and Paul School in first grade, Bobby, not old enough to attend yet, ran away from home and came to the school to be with me. The nuns laughed and called his mother, Mary Raymond, to come and get the runaway.

Can’t go home again? I do it every chance I get and it never gets stale. Hell, I often have dreams about my childhood in Monongah. Really good and happy dreams.

Thanks, Monongah, and all the good friends and gentle people in my home town!

A grateful John Olesky, 89 but going 109 mph still, Class of 1950

ETHEL HERRON PASSES AWAY

 

Ethel Herron passes away

Ethel Rose Herron of Monongah passed away Friday, May 20 at her home.

Her parents were Troy and Hazetine Herron of Monongah.

Ethel’s daughter, Robin Elaine Herron, passed away in 2020.

Ethel’s obituary:

·         Ethel Rose Herron

·         February 24, 1938 - May 20, 2022

·         Ethel Rose Herron passed away on Friday, May 20, 2022., at her home with family in Monongah WV. She was the daughter of the late Troy and Hazetine Herron of Monongah WV. 

·         She is survived by her son, Charles Herron, of Monongah WV. Her grandchildren; Keith Herron, Ashley (Joshua) Boudreau, Samantha Mezzanotte, and Melinda “Poke” Herron; great grandchildren; Trevelyn, Jenna, Trenton, Amelia, Jane, Laura, Hadley, Luke and Ryleigh; nephews; Ralph (Kathy) Herron and family, Roger (Denise) Herron and Family.

·         She was preceded in death by her parents, daughter Robin Herron, brother Troy Junior (Flo) Herron, granddaughter Erica Herron. 

·         The family would like to thank WVU Hospice Nurses for all the love and care they provided.

110 TO ATTEND MONONGAH HIGH ALUMNI BANQUET 100 YEARS LATER!!!!

Guess who’s coming to dinner for the 99^th Monongah High Alumni Banquet on Saturday, May 29. No, it won’t be Sidney Poitier, Katharine Houghton, Spencer Tracy or Katharine Hepburn.

But it will be Linda Nottingham Willis, Class of 1964, and husband David Willis, Class of 1961. They sent in their reservations for the 99^th annual Banquet at the Knights of Columbus, 1529 Mary Lou Retton Drive in Fairmont. The MHS Banquet moved to K of C in 2014 after previous venue West Chester Village closed down shortly before the Reunion and K of C came to the rescue.   

Linda and Dave Willis were at the longest-running high school reunion in West Virginia in 2021, in 2016, in 2014, in 2011. So this will be their 6^th appearance in 11 years . . . that I have a record of. Probably more. Linda was on the MHS Alumni board of directors in past years, too.

The high school sweethearts have been married 57 years and have 2 sons and 3 grandsons. They live in their hometown of Worthington. They love vacationing in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Pauletta Ellison, Class of 1969, who lives in Fairmont, also sent in her reservation for the 2022 MHS Banquet, which will be her Lucky Seventh appearance. Her favorite places to visit, other than the annual Monongah High Alumni Reunion, are Smoke Hole and Seneca Rocks, two favorite West Virginia tourist sites of many.

Susan Staron Sanders, Class of 1971, also will be there. The Angel of Thomas Street lives 2 doors down from one of my childhood residences, and is the widow of Ron Sanders. Susan is on the Monongah Town Council, founder and president of the Monongah Christmas Street Lights Committee that put dozens of beautiful holiday lights all over Monongah to enjoy every Christmastime. She also has her hand in craft shows, bake sales, anything that will brighten the day for Monongah residents.

The Ahouse sisters, Kitty Morrison and Sue Schrader, will take a break from their trips around America and other countries to show up, too. Mary “Kitty” Ahouse Morrison, Class of 1968, lives on Lyndon Avenue in Monongah. Susan Ahouse Schrader, Class of 1971, lives in Mount Bethel, Pennsylvania, after decades of residing Piscataway, New Jersey and having a home-away-from-home in Stoney Lonesome section of Monongah.

Debra Williams Hockenberry and her husband David Hockenberry will be there, too. Debra started high school at Clay-Battelle but came to Monongah High to graduate. They have been married since 1988.

Brenda Mills, Class of 1970, will be there, too. She lives in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania but grew up in Four States while attending Monongah High. Brenda was at the 2021, 2018, 2017, 2016 Monongah High Alumni Banquets, too. Sheila Mills, who lives in Martins Ferry, Ohio, is Class of 1968 and has attended recent MHS Banquets, too. Bea Mills, Class of 1951, attended the 2011 and 2006 MHS Banquets.

Of course the Monongah High Alumni Board of Directors and their spouses or guests will be there, too. That starts with Linda Lopez Gandy, Class of 1965, Alumni Association president, and Alumni Association treasurer Donna Davis, Class of 1961. Other board members on the dias hovering above the rest of the tables include vice president Delores Edwards, secretary Connie Cameon, board members William Davis, James Gandy, Class of 1964, Dave Raddish, Class of 1958, married to Luann Felton Raddish, Class of 1961, Carol Spatafore, Nick Scrivo and Lorraine Day Patton, Class of 1961. Dave and Luanna live in Fairmont.

Henry Lipinski, of the famous Lipinski Monongah High family of athletes, gets credit for Linda and Jim Gandy living a long married life together. As Linda once told it:  “When Henry Lipinski told me when I was young, ‘See that boy down there helping his mom wash windows? That’s the boy you marry, best boy in Monongah.’ I was smart and listened to him. Love you forever and ever, Jim.”

Some happily ever after story, huh?

I counted only 74 at the Labor Day Weekend Banquet in 2021. And 100 years after the first Monongah High Reunion Banquet there will be 110 on Saturday for the 2022 version! Great job, Linda and Donna!

Last, and I hope not least, is me, John Olesky, Class of 1950, who lives in the Akron, Ohio suburb of Tallmadge and publishes this Monongah High Alumni blog that gets 3,000 hits a month from readers. If you attend, stop by my table and we’ll have a chat.

 

 

ROSE COMMODORE CAIN PASSES AWAY

 

Rose Marie Commodore Cain, Class of 1950, passed away Thursday, May 12.

 

Rose was a Westinghouse/North American Phillips retiree and later volunteered at the WV Caring Hospice Resale Shop.

 

Rose’s parents were Dominick and Dominica Commodari. Her siblings are Don Commodore, Tom Commodari (who kept the original family name), Jim Commodore, also Class of 1950, who passed away n 2014, and Joe Commodore.

 

Only Don and Tom, both Class of 1958, have not passed away. Tom lives in Monongah and Don lives in Rock Creek, Ohio.

 

Rose was the widow of William Paul Cain. Their daughter, Mary Pat Cain, passed away in 2017. Another daughter, Beverly, lives in Rivesville, just like my sister, Jackie Olesky Straight, Class of 1955. Rose’s brother, William Cain, Jr., lives in Metz near Mannington.

 

She was buried in Independent Order of Oddfellows Cemetery in Enterprise.

 

Other Class of 1950 members that I know have passed away include Robert “Satch” Kasper, Barbara Jean Baczuk, Mary Bienkoski Domico, Bill Birdsell, Kathleen Blagg Goldstein, Walter Brzuzy, Deloris Butcher, Martha Jean Carpenter, Jim Commodore, Anthony “Plumber” DeMary, Jr., Theresa Demus, Richard Garrett, Eva Geraldine Fullen Ross, Lawrence “Sonny” Godby, Jr., Lucille Herron Anderson, Barbara Glover Rombola, Pat Kiehl Williams, Joe Manzo, Iris Martin, sisters Ann Manuel Richardson and Virginia Manuel Eddy, Patty Meredith Wills, Tom Orsini, Bill Pringle, Paul Rankin, my Monongah High prom date Nancy Robinson Saunders, Harold Spragg, Jim “Judge” Starcher, preacher’s son Lyman Wadsworth and Jim Wimer.

 

There were only 45 in our Class of 1950 so the survival list is getting very thin.

 

I’ve talked to Tony Eates, Donald “Jake” Halpenny, Frank Franze recently.  Reva McDougal Ash still lives in Marietta, Ohio. Mary Ann Puffenbarger Moore lives in Fairmont. Patty Urban Utz lives in Maryland, I believe. I visited Leatrice Yokay Greaser in her Fairmont home last year. Anna Currence Sutton, lives in Conyers, Georgia, and Bernice Grandstaff Maranville in North Carolina and Katherine Toothman Crim in Michigah, last I heard, but I can never be sure. It took me 11 days to find out about Rose’s passing even though I've been at Monongah High Alumni Banquets with here and communicated with her off and off even in 2022. I lost track of Arnold Morgan in Florida years ago.

 

Rose’s obituary:

 

Rose Marie Cain, 90, of Fairmont, passed away Thursday, May 12, 2022. She was born on June 14, 1931 in Monongah, the daughter of the late Dominick and Dominica Commodari.

Rose retired from Westinghouse/North American Philips and afterward volunteered at the WV Caring Hospice Resale Shop. She is a lifetime member of the VFW 629.

Rose is survived by her children, Beverly Ann Hoffman and William Paul Cain, Jr. and his wife Connie; grandchildren, Gary A. Hoffman II and his wife Tracy, Julie Nicole Hout and her husband Jeremy, Eric S. Hoffman and his wife Stacia, Faith A. Minigh and her husband Andrew, Jason W. Cain and his wife Amanda, and Julia Anna Cain; great grandchildren, Adam Hoffman, Aaron Hoffman, Elizabeth Hout, Nathan Hout, Dominica Cain, Taliah Cain, and Jill Cain; brothers, Donald Commodore and his wife Patricia, and Thomas Commodari and his wife Jean; and a sister-in-law, Yvonne Commodore.

In addition to her parents, Rose was preceded in death by her husband, William Paul Cain; daughter, Mary Patricia Cain; brothers, James Commodore and Joseph Commodore; and a son-in-law, Gary A. Hoffman.

Memorial donations can be made to WV Caring, 1406 Country Club Road, Fairmont, WV 26554.

A graveside service will be at the I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Enterprise on Saturday, May 14, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.domicofh.com .

CATCHING UP WITH THE BRZUZY FAMILY OF MONONGAH

 

At my request Regina Brzuzy, daughter of Stephen and Eva Blanche Hostutler Brzuzy, provided updated information on the Brzuzy family of Monongah.

Regina is retired after being a kitchen helper at WVU Hospitals, a Big Lots cashier. She graduated from Fairmont East High and Fairmont State University and lives in Fairmont.

Stephen and Eva met at what then was the First National Bank. Eva worked there and Stephen was a customer who eventually would only go to Eva when he came to the bank, where Eva began her days there in 1964.

Stephen and Eva, who later worked at A&P and J.C. Murphey in Fairmont over the years, were married in 1967. Regina, born in 1968, was their only child. Eva, who passed away in 2010, is buried in Fairmont’s Mount Carmel Cemetery, sometimes called Holy Cross Cemetery.

Their father, Wladyslaw “Walter,” owned and operated PNA Tavern, as in Polish National Alliance, in the same businesses under one roof with Hanus Grocery and Joe Hanus Garage across the street from Thoburn School and down the block from P.P. Shenasky and Monzo grocery stores and a block away from Fazio Grocery at the bottom of Jackson Street hill.

There were 9 Brzuzy children born to Stephania Zuzak Brzuzy and Wladyslaw/Walter.

Regina’s parents passed away in 2015 (Stephen) and 2010 (Eva).

Stanley Brzuzy passed away in 2014.

 

Walter Brzuzy, Class of 1950, passed away in 1986 in Monaca, Pennsylvania.

 

Edith Brzuzy Bland, mother of Stephania Zuzak Brzuzy, passed away in 2008 after moving to Texas.

 

Winnifred Few, born in New York City, was Edith’s daughter. Winifred is an NYC Cathedral High and Harvard University graduate HHand lives in Dickinson, Texas.

 

The late John Brzuzy lived in Richmond, Indiana and was a star athlete at Fairmont West when the Brzuzy family moved to Country Club Road in Fairmont. Johnny retired from the Scott Boy's Club in 1992 as the executive director. He was a Fairmont State College graduate with a passion for golf, fishing and hunting. Johnny had 4 children and 3 stepchildren.

 

Also deceased are sisters Freda Brzuzy Rogers, Class of 1945, Edith Brzuzy Bland and Laura Brzuzy Yereb; brothers Chester Brzuzy and Edwin Brzuzy; and sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Eva Blanche Banny Hostutler  Brzuzy, Robert Rogers, Ruth Ann Brzuzy, Ralph Yereb and Cecelia Brzuzy.

 

Son Walter Brzuzy, in my Class of 1950, was houseman for the poker games at the PNA Tavern. When the West Virginia Highway Patrol made too many visits after getting complaints from wives unhappy with their husbands losing so much coal miner money in the poker games, the Brzuzy family an enclosed room behind the bar, out of sight of everyone, with a buzzer at the bar that got pushed when the police showed up so that the poker players removed the money from the table and the cops had no proof of illegal gambling.

I remember the day that Walter Brzuzy had my father beat with the cards showing in 5-card stud, plus 2 down cards, and bet about 2 weeks pay anyway when he raised Walter’s bet. Walter folded. My father never told me what poker hand he had, even on his deathbed in my Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio home where spent his final 7 months. That was the poker code. Never tell so they don’t know if it was a bluff or the real thing. My father, John W. Olesky, Sr., was so good at poker, memorizing cards, that the mad money he gave my mother when he got home at 2 a.m., which she put away, provided $2,200 to upgrade our Church Street kitchen and living room and floor furnace.

Walter was an excellent pitcher for the Monongah High baseball team. And basketball shooter from what today would be the 3-point line despite a low ceiling that most visiting players hit when they took their long shots. 

Another son, Johnny Brzuzy, father of Stephanie Few, was well-known and highly regarded for what he did for Boys Club programs in Indiana.

Regina retired 9 years ago because her MS became too difficult.

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. 

LAST CHANCE. IT'S NOW OR NEVER!!!

 

CATCHING UP WITH FRANK FRANZE . . . AGAIN

 

I got a call from the blue from Frank Franze, Class of 1950, who lives in Slidell, Louisiana. We had a warm and fuzzy chat about our lives today and memories of our days of roaming as Monongah High students in the faceitiously named Gang That Terrorized Marion County. Frank and Donald “Jake” Halpenny were the chaffeurs for the roaming teen gang.

We would sneak into drive-ins (except for two who had to be in the vehicle), “borrow” watermelons to eat while skinny-dipping in the river and got thrown out of a Clarksburg theater, but I put that one on Ronnie “Cooley” Delovich, with his “Be nice; don’t fight” remark to the theater manager.

 

Others in the gang were the late Lawrence “Sonny” Godby, Lawrence and Regina Boone Godby’s son and the late Jackie Godby Lusczynski’s brother; Steven “Bucky” Satterfield, who lives in St. Albans after retiring from a long career as a West Virginia Highway Patrolman; Anthony “Tony” Eates, who is retired and living in Fairmont with wife Lucy; the late Robert “Satch” Kasper, who had a successful career sitting at the bargaining table for Ford Motor Company before retiring to his homes in South Lyon and Grand Lake (Presque Isle), Michigan; the late Joe Manzo, who survived the Korean war; the late Tom “Judge” Starcher, who began his prowling in Carolina; and me, the runt of the litter.

Frank no longer drives a car after his brother-in-law had a heart attack and drove off the road and into the woods with his wife in the truck with him. Fortunately a first responder was driving behind the brother-in-law and went into action immediately. But the brother-in-law passed away a month later. So Frank decided to stop driving “because I didn’t want to kill anybody.”

Another member of the gang was the late Bob “Satch” Kasper, my friend for 84 years who exchanged 2 Christmas cards with me since 1955. Frank hadn’t heart about Bob’s passing in March so I was the bearer of the sad news. “I liked Bob,” Frank said.

Frank hasn’t been in contact with fellow Lions recently. “You’re the first I’ve talked to in 4 years,” he told me.

Frank has “a ladyfriend who cooks, cleans and drives me to the doctor.” Frank had been taking care of another ladyfriend who had a stroke till it got to be too much of a drain on him even though he’s “doing fine.”

Frank’s daughters in Slidell and Alabama call to check on him daily. “I got out to dinner a little bit,” Frank said. “I live pretty good.”

Frank married 3 times but was never divorced because he out-lived all three. He survived a leg infection in 2015, too, caused by banging his shin on a fishing dock. Hardy stuff, Frank.

Frank grew up in Four States, moved to Jasper, Texas and, finally Slidell.

Kathryn Ann Manuel Marshall, Class of 1960, is Frank’s cousin.  

It you want to catch up with Frank and share Monongah High memories his phone number is (985) 201-7882.

DARRELL KEITH UTT PASSES AWAY

 

Darrell Keith Utt, Class of 1969, passed away Thursday, May 5. He was born in Buckhannon but lived in Shinnston till his death.

Darrell was chief radio telecommunicator for the West Virginia State Police till his 2007 retirement. He was in the Army during the Vietnam War.

His widow is Olive Marie Moore Utt. They have two daughters.

Darrell’s parents, sister Linda Campbell, brother Ronald David Utt and a brother and sister in infancy predeceased him.

Darrell’s obituary:

Darrell Keith Utt, 70, of Shinnston, passed away on Thursday, May 5, 2022.  He was born October 19, 1951 in Buckhannon, son of the late James Wesley Utt and Edna Pearl (Fox) Utt.

Darrell was a Chief Radio Telecommunicator for the West Virginia State Police until he retired in 2007.  He attended Charity Baptist Church.  Darrell loved spending time with his children, grandchildren and great granddaughter.  He loved the outdoors and hunting and fishing with his nephews.  Darrell served in the United States Army and was a Veteran of the Vietnam War.

Darrell is survived by his wife, Olive Marie (Moore) Utt, of Shinnston; two daughters:  Elizabeth Wallace and husband Russell of Clarksburg and Amy Utt and companion Austin Nicholas of Shinnston; one sister, Patricia Green of Webster Springs; grandchildren:  Morgan Lamb, Abigail Howell and husband Caleb, Hannah Crofford, Sierra Postlethwait, Alivia Postlethwait, Amelia Utt; great granddaughter, Gracelyn Howell and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Darrell is preceded in death by a sister, Linda Campbell; a brother, Ronald David Utt; sister-in-law, Marion Lou Richardson Utt and also a brother and sister at infancy.

Family and friends will be received at Dorsey Funeral Home, 701 S. Pike St., Shinnston, on Monday, May 9, 2022 from 2:00pm to 8:00pm. Service will be at Dorsey Funeral Home,  Tuesday, May 10, 2022 at 11:00 am with Pastor Dan Adkins officiating.  Interment will follow at Shinnston Memorial Cemetery.

Military Honors will be provided by the US Army and Harrison County Honor Guard.

 

Dorsey Funeral Home in Shinnston handled the arrangements.

TRISTEN ORME IS NORTH MARION PROM QUEEN

 

Tristen Orme was crowned queen of the 2022 North Marion High prom.

Tristen was on the Grant Town fire truck at the 2018 Monongahfest parade.

Tristen’s parents are Breanna Stewart and the late Chris Orme. Breanna is the daughter of Shelly Yankie, which makes Shelly the grandmother of Tristen.

Shelly is the grandmother Lion with the most grandchildren, 11! I did an article a while ago by Lions and their grandchildren.

Shelly’s other grandchildren are Arhylah, Dolvrielie, Zaira, Aunavyn, Demarus, Safarah, Ottilie, Adelaide, Euridice and Kira.

Shelly started at Monongah High school but, after her freshman year, Monongah joined Mannington, Fairview, Farmington and Barrackville to form North Marion so she’s a 2002 North Marion graduate. But once a Lion, always a Lion.

Shelly heads the Monongah PACE project which does so much good work for those who need it. PACE vice president is Chuck Tice, Teresa Palmer is treasurer and Janet Bailey was secretary till she passed away.

Shelly also was vice president of Susan Staron Sanders’ amazing Monongah Christmas lights committee which got so many street lights up for the holidays that astronauts can see Monongah from Mars before Shelly stepped aside for Carolyn Tice while Shelly took her of her ill mother, Mary Myers Yankie, who later passed away. Janet also was in that group before she passed away.

Shelly’s siblings are Chris Toothman, David Yankie, Sylvia Barr, Franklin Hammond,  1984 North Marion graduate Terry Yankie, 1987 North Marion graduate Barbie Yankie and 1989 North Marion graduate Kim Yankie Hawkins and the late Kenneth and Ronnie Yankie.

Shelly also helped organized my July 2021 J&J&Lions get-together in the Monongah Town Hall attended by 40 Lions, family, friends and former classmates. Along with Susan Staron Sanders, as usual, Jim Roy Foster and Sue Ahouse Schrader. J&J stood for John (me) and Jackie (my sister Jackie Olesky Straight, Class of 1955, who lives in Rivesville.