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VISTA
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1963
The VISTAs (Volunteers in Service to America) began Other events that happened on or around 1963 The Centennial year closed and virtually all elements of the program had been successfully completed Patch Adams spent two weeks in a psychiatric facility for depression President's Appalachian Regional Commission (PARC) recommendations sent to President Johnson Appalachian Hospital network saved by the Board of National Missions of the United Presbyterian Church Appalachian Volunteers organized Only 417 nesting pairs of bald eagles could be found in the U.S. W. E. Blackhurst published Sawdust in Your Eyes W. E. Blackhurst was the first commentator for the Cass Scenic Railroad Florence Blanchfield received the West Virginia Distinguished Service Medal A new student union building was built at Bluefield State College (now University) Tony Boyle was elected president of the UMWA Ruby Bradley retired from the army Elk River Coal & Lumber Company sold its sawmill at Swandale to Georgia-Pacific Expansion of Cabell Huntington Hospital increased the size to 280 beds and 48 bassinets Centennial Golden Trout received first widespread stocking Mower Lumber Company purchased Cheat Mountain Club Jim Comstock ran for unsuccessfully for Congress Phyllis Curtin sang at the meeting of the Music Educators National Conference in Charleston Julius DeGruyter wrote A Brief History of Kanawha County and the Kanawha Region Dolores Dowling became secretary and administrative assistant of the Veterans Administration regional office in Huntington Thomson Newspapers of Canada purchased all three Fairmont papers Ann Flagg returned to teaching at Evanston Consolidated School District and Southern Illinois University The department led the effort to organize a crafts fair at Cedar Lakes The book, Mountain Heritage was published Patrick Gainer published The West Virginia Centennial Song Book of 100 Songs Patrick Gainer recorded Folk Songs of the Allegheny Mountains for Folk Heritage Recordings Earl Andrews became president of the Pennsylvania Glass Sand Corporation at Berkeley Springs Legislature authorized counties to cooperate with local governments and the federal government Land on Maryland Heights was added to the Harpers Ferry National Historic Park The widows of Edward and Walker Long and William D. Brike took charge of Huntington Newspaper Publishing Charles Hodel was named to the West Virginia Press Association's Hall of Fame The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals who ruled in State ex rel. Slatton v. Boles that the state policy is to "protect and reclaim juveniles" and will be treated as delinquents rather than criminals Kanawha Records began to record authentic indigenous mountain music as performed by contemporary West Virginia musicians Reynolds Memorial Hospital opened a new facility in Glen Dale The National Youth Science Camp was founded in Pocahontas County The West Virginia Chapter of Nature Conservancy was founded by volunteers The Greenbrier Historical society re-formed after disbanding during the Civil War New buildings of the Ohio Valley College (now University) were occupied on a permanent campus The Libbey-Owens-Ford glass bottle plant closed in Charleston Jim Comstock found a preserved baby and the two female mummies in a barn in Philippi. The West Virginia Centennial showboat, Rhododendron, plied the Kanawha, Ohio and Monongahela Rivers Spanky Roberts was assigned to Griffis Air Force base The St. Albans Archeological Site was first identified by Samuel D. Kessel Salem College received full accreditation by the North Central Association of Secondary Schools and Colleges Devid Selby married Claudeis "Chip" Newman WVU Rod Thorn became All-American in basketball Boyd Stutler published West Virginia in the Civil War Legislation to protect the environment from surface mining was enacted Rod Thorn became the second pick in the first round of the NBA draft and went to Baltimore Bullets The Unitarian Universalist church in Morgantown was built Geoffrey Hobday left the Charleston Symphony Orchestra The Charleston Symphony Orchestra was led by a season of guest conductors The first Water Festival was held at Hinton Billy Edd Wheeler recorded "Coal Tattoo" Wheeling Hospital set up the first intensive care unit in West Virginia The Shott brothers revived their WHAJ-FM The Widen mine and railroad ceased operation WVU at Parkersburg became the first of WVU's Appalachian Centers A naval radio station was established at Sugar Grove Ellie Schaul helped decorate the Centennial Showboat Rhododendron
1964
The federal Economic Opportunity Act was signed into law Other events that happened on or around 1964 Pearl Buck founded the Pearl S. Buck Foundation French Carpenter record, Old-Time Songs and Tunes from Clay County, West Virginia, released Ted Cassidy secured television role on The Addams Family Maryland Pimlico Race Course installed lighting to compete with newer tracks C&O acquired the Western Maryland Railroad Swimming pool at Chief Logan State Park opened Congress passed the Civil Rights Act Roy B. Clarkson published Tumult on the Mountains: Lumbering in West Virginia, 1770-1920 Legislature enacted law that authorized election of delegates to a state constitutional convention Work began at Parkersburg to make U.S. 50 a four-lane highway Ellis Dungan married Elaine Runner North Hall was completed at Fairmont State College Part four of Flora of West Virginia was published The Food Stamp Act was passed, making the program permanent U.S. Forest Service published reports on West Virginia forests, stating that 74% of the state was forested Harry B. Heflin retired as president of Glenville State College An addition to the Pioneer Center at Glenville State College was completed The Hazel Atlas Corporate Headquarters in Wheeling was donated to the West Liberty State College Homer Hickam graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute with a B.S. in industrial engineering Ella Holroyd was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Music by Concord College Sam Huff began his career with the Washington Redskins Schools in West Virginia were considered fully desegregated The Better Roads Amendment was voted on in the general election to provided money for the "building and construction of state roads and highways" Don Redman died A radiocarbon date estimated the Kanawha Madonna to be around 350 years old Elizabeth Kee retired from Congress John Knowles wrote Double Vision: American Thoughts Abroad Supreme Court ruling State ex rel. Smith v. Gore required equal apportionment in the election of delegates to a constitutional convention and derailed a move to draft a new state constitution The number of state senators was set at 34 The U.S. Library Services Act was amended to provide funds for library education and library construction Hartman Hall was built at Beckley College (now Mountain State University) The National Bank of Commerce purchased the old Kanawha County library property in Charleston The N&W acquired the Nickel Plate in a merger that included the Wabash Railroad, the Wheeling & Lake Erie, the Akron, Canton & Youngstown and the Pittsburgh & West Virginia John Norman joined the surgical team at Boston City Hospital Oscar Mairs and Hillis Youse recorded the Luther Elkins petroglyph site. Joe Powell became state director of the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO. Leonard Riggleman retired as president of Morris Harvey College (now University of Charleston) Chuck Ripper quit Standard Printing & Publishing Co to be full-time freelance artist The Rock Lake Pool remained racially segregated after the Civil Rights Act Jay Rockefeller came to West Virginia as a poverty volunteer with Action for Appalachian Youth The West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey first began extensive excavation on the St. Albans archeological site The Soupy Sales Show weekday morning show debuted in New York Lawmakers created a 17th state senate district in Kanawha County Bill Campbell beat Ed Tutwiller in golf in the U.S. Amateur Championship Final Miles Stanley organized the AFL-CIO Appalachian Council Western Pocahontas Corporation and Pocahontas Land Corporation donated land for Twin Falls State Park Morris Harvey College (now University of Charleston) began offering an associate degree in nursing The Valley Falls State Park area was acquired by the state Cyrus Vance became deputy secretary of defense under Robert McNamara Wheeling Dollar Saving & Trust acquired South Wheeling Bank and Trust The state purchased the old Wheeling Custom House and leased it to the West Virginia Independence Hall Foundation. Charles Gabor became conductor of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra Henry Aaron left Wheeling
1965
The first VISTA members started work in West Virginia Other events that happened on or around 1965 Jim Sprouse was elected chairman of the state Democratic party William "Wally" Barron stepped down from position of governor and opened a law office
1968
VISTA volunteers had streamed into rural and hard-pressed areas of West Virginia Other events that happened on or around 1968 Frederick M. Staunton, publisher of the Charleston Daily Mail, retired Chief Logan State Park gained state park status Denomination adopted the name Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Orval Brown was released from the state mental hospital at Weston Stephen Coonts earned a B.A. at WVU George Crumb was award the Pulitzer Prize for Echoes of Time and the River: Four Processionals for Orchestra Phyllis Curtin sang with the Charleston Symphony Opera Phyllis Curtin was named West Virginian of the year with George Crumb by the Charleston Sunday Gazette Mail Home Demonstration clubs changed name to Extension Homemaker Clubs National attention was brought to the issue of mine safety Fesenmeier sold its brewery to Little Switzerland Brewing Company Two-year associate degree in forestry was developed at Glenville State College Five high schools were consolidated into Gilmer County High School The last Gravely tractor rolled off the Dunbar assembly line Charles Haden served on the Monongalia County Board of Education Roy Lee Harmon wrote Rhymes of a Mountaineer The Modern Budget Amendment made the governor responsible for preparation of the state budget West Virginia's first spring gobbler season began Sonny Hyde transferred to the state Department of Natural Resources to work on Outdoor West Virginia (now Wild Wonderful West Virginia) The Jones Diamond left the Smithsonian to be on exhibition at the State Fair Linsly School relocated to Banes Hall in Wheeling The present entrance to the Lost World Cavers was dug through a hill Joe Manchin's family shoe store burned A new academic building was constructed at Marshall University Enrollment at Marshall University reached 8,177 Irene McKinney received her bachelor's from West Virginia Wesleyan College M. Blane Michael graduated from New York University M. Blane Michael began working at Sullivan & Cromwell in New York R. E. Fisher died leaving the Moorefield paper to Pheobe Fisher Heishman and husband David Mountain Artisans was founded John W. Saunders became president of Beckley College (now Mountain State University) replacing D. K. Shroyer The National Bank of Commerce built a new building known as Commerce Square in Charleston New Vrindaban began as a project of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness The New York Central System merged with the Pennsylvania Railroad to create the ill-fated Penn Central The annual Nature Wonder Weekend was first held in North Bend State Park Nylon precursor chemical stopped being produced at Belle Works Logging on Otter Creek began again Pilgrim Glass Corporation plant manager Karel Konrad introduced cranberry glass Radio station WVWC, licensed to West Virginia Wesleyan College, went on air The last case of polio in West Virginia was reported James Rexrode's works were displayed at the Shenandoah Valley Folklore Society at the Harrisonburg Arts and Crafts Festival Spanky Roberts retired from McClellan Air Force Base The West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey conducted another extensive excavation on the St. Albans archeological site David Selby appeared in Dark Shadows James A Butcher became president of Shepherd College (now University) Governor Hulett Smith proposed $150 million bond issue for school construction and state facilities improvement. Grace Martin Taylor retired from Morris Harvey College (now University of Charleston) Norman L. Fagan suggested a Theater West Virginia show based on the Hatfield-McCoy Feud The Evangelical United Brethren Church merged with the Methodists forming the United Methodists, becoming West Virginia's biggest denomination There were 240 Evangelical United Brethren Churches in West Virginia, at the time of their merger with the Methodists Kendall Vintroux retired from the Charleston Gazette The WAJR facilities moved to the Greer Building West Virginia counties reasserted their control over economic opportunity commissions and community action programs, as local officials react to War on Poverty WesBanco was incorporated Wheeling Downs reopened Jon Dragan founded Wildwater Expedition Unlimited at Thurmond Bill Withers was discharged from the U.S. Navy in San Jose Runway expansion for jet airliners began at Kanawha Airport Chuck Yeager became a brigadier general Keith Ham leased 130 acres in Marshall County for the establishment of a rural retreat Nick Saban led the Monongah High School football team to a state championship victory over Paden City High Helen Chilton graduated from Denison University Charleston Section of the National Council of Jewish Women undertook “Appalachian Corridors,” the first exhibition to expressly curate the work of Appalachian artists
1971
ACTION became the federal agency that oversaw VISTA and the Peace Corps Other events that happened on or around 1971 Wild boars were released by the Department of Natural Resources as a game species for reclaimed surface mines M. Blane Michael served as assistant U.S. attorney, Southern District of New York A $30 state clothing allowance reached about 44,000 welfare children Morgantown Glassware Guild closed John Norman was named the Charleston Sunday Gazette-Mail West Virginian of the Year Phase I of the WVU Personal Rapid Transit project was completed William Page Pitt retired Nick Rahall graduated from Duke University Cecil Roberts began working at Carbon Fuel's No. 31 mine in Winifrede C. Donald Robertson was indicted on federal charges of taking kickbacks on FHA low-income housing assistance An extended care facility was added to St. Francis Hospital Alex Schoenbaum and Ray Danner merged their companies to form Shoney's Big Boy Enterprises The first permanent building of Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College was dedicated in Williamson Leon Sullivan was appointed to the board of directors of General Motors Both Honey in the Rock and Hatfields and McCoy were performed by Theatre West Virginia The woolen mill in Parsons closed Charleston returned to the International League in baseball An editorial advisory board for the West Virginia History was created The Coliseum basketball arena was completed at WVU Robert Kreis instituted Wheeling Symphony's first concert tours Bill Withers released his first album, Just As I am WVU at Parkersburg separated from WVU to the state's first community college Chuck Yeager was assigned as U.S. defense representative to Pakistan John Zontini was inducted into the West Virginia Sports Writers' Hall of Fame Barry Vance began spending summers painting in the Shenandoah Valley Clyde Ware's second novel, The Eden Tree, was published
1993
The federal Corporation for National and Communities Service was created to oversee AmeriCorps and domestic programs Other events that happened on or around 1993 Putt-putt golf and games center opened at former Rock Lake Pool Cynthia Rylant won the Newbery Medal Sam Snead was named golf professional emeritus upon return to the Greenbrier The state corporate net income tax rate was at 9% A broad national agreement between UMWA and Bituminous Coal Operators Association was negotiated Richard Eddy became president of UMWA District 31 Richard Hunt bought Whipple Company Store and renovated it for tourism Meredith Sue Willis wrote Deep Revision Margaret Workman received the West Virginia Prosecuting Attorneys Association's Excellence in Criminal Justice Award WVU at Parkersburg awarded its first BS degrees in elementary education "Diamond Teeth" Mary McClain issued her first recording, “If I Can’t Sell It, I’m Gonna Sit Down On It” Evan Jenkins changed from Republican to Democrat and won a seat in the House of Delegates Toni Stone was inducted into the International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame
2005
100 VISTA workers were active in West Virginia Other events that happened on or around 2005 Only 16 bald eagles observed in West Virginia There were 66 commercial banks and 6 savings institutions in West Virginia Charleston Daily Mail's circulation was about 25,000 The Gazette's daily circulation was 50,737 City National was the fifth largest bank in West Virginia About 700 registered part-time students at Eastern West Virginia Community & Technical College The circulation of the Elkins Inter-Mountainn was 10,483 Circulation of Times West Virginian was 12,500 25,138 permits were issued to trail users for the Hatfield-McCoy Trail The Hinton News circulation was reported at 4,200 Enrollments at Marshall University exceeded 16,000 The circulation of the Martinsburg Journal was 21,500 Only three mine fatalities occurred in West Virginia, the lowest number in history The Moorefield Examiner had a circulation of 4,600 State Police reported 629 uniformed members and 325 civilian employees The textile industry employed fewer than 500 people The sale of raw fur exceeded $1 million in West Virginia The Tri-State Racetrack had 1,757 video lottery machine The West Virginia Archeological Society had 200 members The Beacon Digest had a circulation of 30,000 About 50 companies accounted for more than 80% of the state coal production The number of papers in the state had declined to 24 dailies and 61 weeklies Enrollment at Schools for Deaf and Blind was 180 There were 362 students enrolled at the School of Osteopathic Medicine The West Virginia State Medical Association had more than 2,800 members There were 28 species of mammals, reptiles, fish and birds at French Creek Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel employed about 3,400 people WVU at Parkersburg enrollment was 3,800 West Virginia University Tech had a total of 2,003 full-time students The Herald Dispatchof Huntington had a circulation of 37,000 Yeager Airport served 325,000 passengers annually with 80 flights daily View Articles by Existing Key Dates or Specify Your Own Date Range |
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