Tag Archive for: Boys State

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A Proud Supporter of ALMBS – Oce Smith

Oce Worthington Smith Jr.
Oce Worthington Smith Jr.

FAIRMONT — Oce Worthington Smith Jr., 76, of Fairmont, passed away on Tuesday, October 14, 2014, at the Arbor’s at Fairmont Nursing Center.

He was born in Barrackville, on January 4, 1938, the son of the late Oce Worthington Smith Sr. and Norma “Polly” Margaret Lough Smith.

Mr. Smith was preceded in death by his loving wife, Carol Ann Bunner Smith.

Oce was raised on a farm in the community of Monumental on the outskirts of that town and was very proud of his heavy American Indian and English/Scots-Irish heritage. He graduated from the old Barrackville High School in a class of 24 students, graduated from Fairmont State College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and went on to do his post-graduate work in political science at West Virginia University.

It is difficult to figure how he ever got out of high school and college, even though the length of the legislative sessions were then only 30 days every year or every other year. There were then no Interim Committee Sessions, and the Special Sessions were rare to none. But with the liberal allowance of the Marion County Board of Education and the State of West Virginia, he managed to sandwich in the positions of the first Head Page of the state House of Delegates, as well as close periodic visits to Washington, D.C., to work on Capitol Hill for U.S. Senators Matthew Mansfield Neely and Jennings Randolph, a few positions in the off seasons with every governor whom we had in the ’50s through the beginning of the ’90s and, of course, his half century, plus, association with the current Fairmont Times West Virginian and the writing of personal editorial and feature columns and book excerpts for them and other publications.

Mr. Smith began his career as a sportswriter, and acted once in a repertory company in Summer Stock in the Poconos with some Academy Award winning players. He taught school briefly, and was a licensed Realtor and property appraiser for more than 25 years. Finally, he gave up everything except his legislative work and his newspaper and writing profession, along with still maintaining a busy speaking and lecturing schedule, because he “can’t get around adroitly as he used to.”

He was the senior member of the board of directors of the North Central West Virginia Airport Authority, a former president of the Fairmont Board of Realtors and he served on the board of directors of the Marion County Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of Fairmont Masonic Lodge 9 A.F.&A.M., 32nd-Degree Mason within the Scottish Rite Bodies, Wheeling Consistory and the Beni Kedem Temple, A.A.O.N.M. Shrine. He was also a lifetime member of the Fairmont State University and West Virginia University Alumni and Letterman’s Associations.

Oce was Protestant by faith and helped found the National Legislative Services & Security Association in the early ’70s, and was the last living founder still in office. He was the longest serving legislative officer in West Virginia and perhaps in the United States and was Sergeant-At-Arms of the House of Delegates, starting in January of 1967, following many years of service with the House in a number of other posts.

Oce has been honored with the distinguished “Award in Letters” by the Fairmont Arts & Humanities Commission; the “Alumni of Achievement” Award by Fairmont State University; he has a covered bridge named for him in his native Barrackville; has been chosen by The State Journal as “One of West Virginia’s Fifty-five Greatest Assets.” He has been declared the “Official Walking Encyclopedia of the History of Marion County” by the Marion County Commission for his “Lifetime of Work and Achievements on Behalf of the Citizens of Fairmont, Barrackville, and Marion County.” He was granted the “Certificate of Dedication to the Protection of Wildlife” by the West Virginia Wildlife Association.

Mr. Smith was inducted into “The Order of the 35th Star,” the highest honor which can be bestowed by the state of West Virginia, by Governor Joe Manchin III. He was named “Democrat of the Month” by the Marion County Democrat Men’s Club and was named a “Distinguished West Virginian” by two different governors. Oce received the 32nd prestigious “Tony Beard, Sr. Memorial Award” by the National Legislative Services & Security Association,” the most elevated honor which can be given by the legislative services and security profession in America. In 2008, he was chosen as a Presidential Elector of the West Virginia Democratic Party.

Through the influence of friends across the country, he was on a close corresponding basis with a great many of the best known names of the day in politics, athletics and the entertainment world. He was involved with the families of almost all of the major political candidates in West Virginia of the last 55 years, including having traveled much with the Kennedy family in 1960. Oce was a television election and political analyst, and has spoken in 42 states to various gubernatorial and legislative groups on behalf of the state of West Virginia.

It has been said that Oce Smith knows more people, or is known by more people, aside from the Governor and the two U.S. Senators than anybody else in the state.

Oce is survived by his son, Oce Smith III and his wife Shelly of Morgantown and his two grandsons, Oce “Sonny” Smith IV and Joey Smith.

Serving as honorary pall bearers will be Jim Moon, John Veasey, Bob Stoltz, Robin Stoltz, Andy Kniceley, Mike Caputo, John Roberts, Congressman Nick Rahall and Congressman Alan Mollohan.

The family will receive friends at Ford Funeral Home, Ford Chapel, 201 Columbia St., Fairmont, on Friday, October 17, 2014, from noon until 8 p.m. and on Saturday, October 18, 2014, from noon until 2 p.m. The funeral service will be held in the funeral home on Saturday, October 18, 2014, at 2 p.m. A committal service will follow at Monumental Cemetery in Monumental Community.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.FORDFUNERALHOMES.com.

Source: The Exponent Telegram http://m.theet.com/obituaries/oce-worthington-smith-jr/article_d796c61c-54d3-11e4-be67-6b7d22542e6c.html?mode=jqm

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WVU President Gee speaks at ALMBS 2014

Dr. E. Gordon Gee served as president of The Ohio State University from 1990 to 1997 and again from 2007 to 2013. Prior to his service at Ohio State, he led Vanderbilt University (2001-2007), Brown University (1998-2000), the University of Colorado (1985-1990), and West Virginia University (1981-1985). He returned to WVU to serve as president for a term in January 2014, and was confirmed as the permanent president in March 2014. Gee has served in higher education for more than three decades and in 2009 was named by Time magazine as one of the top-10 university presidents in the United States.

Born in Vernal, Utah, Gee graduated from the University of Utah with an honors degree in history and earned his J.D. and Ed.D degrees from Columbia University. He clerked under Chief Justice David T. Lewis of the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals before being named a judicial fellow and staff assistant to the U.S. Supreme Court. In this role, he worked for Chief Justice Warren Burger on administrative and legal problems of the Court and federal judiciary. Gee returned to Utah as an associate professor and associate dean in the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University, and was granted full professorship in 1978. One year later, he was named dean of the West Virginia University Law School, and, in 1981, was appointed to that university’s presidency.

Gee has been a member of several education-governance organizations and committees, including the Big Ten Conference Council of Presidents, the Inter-University Council of Ohio, the Business-Higher Education Forum, and the American Association of Universities. He was chair of the American Council on Education’s Commission on Higher Education Attainment and served as co-chair of the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities’ Energy Advisory Committee. In 2009, Gee was invited to join the International Advisory Board of King Adbulaziz University in Saudi Arabia.

Active in a number of national professional and service organizations during his tenures, he has served on the boards for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc., Limited Brands, and the National 4-H Council. In 2011, Gee was appointed to serve as secretary on the Board of Directors of Ohio’s economic development program, JobsOhio. In 2011-2012, he was asked by Governor Kasich to chair both the Ohio Higher Education Capital Funding Collaborative and the Ohio Higher Education Funding Commission. And in December 2012, he was asked to serve on the Columbus Education Commission.

Gee has received a number of honorary degrees, awards, fellowships, and recognitions. He is a fellow of the prestigious American Association for the Advancement of Science, the world’s largest science organization. In 1994, Gee received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Utah, as well as from Teachers College of Columbia University. In 2013, he received the ACE Council of Fellows/Fidelity Investments Mentor Award and received the Outstanding Academic Leader of the Year Award on behalf of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. He is the co-author of 11 books, including Law, Policy and Higher Education, published in 2012. He is also the author of numerous papers and articles on law and education.

Gee’s daughter, Rebekah, is the Medicaid Medical Director for the State of Louisiana, and an assistant professor of Public Health and Medicine at Louisiana State University. She is also a Norman F. Gant/American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology/IOM Anniversary Fellow.

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Post Everlasting

About a month ago, Dale F. Lutman passed away in the hospital at the age of 65. He was a member of his local Methodist church and a member and past Commander of Alderton-Dawson American Legion Post No. 60.

He enjoyed Bingo nights, off-roading in his 4-wheeler, and hunting. He had two daughters, Jody McClintock and Ashleigh Lutman, one sister, Debra Dick, three grandchildren, Michael McClintock, Jr., Cole Franklin McClintock, and Jaxon McClintock, and one niece.

He was born on June 14, 1946 in Martinsburg. He’s the son of the late William Franklin and Anna Lou Etta Lopp Lutman.  He graduate from Berkely Springs High School and served in the U.S. Navy. He was also a Vietnam veteran and a retired warehouseman of AT&T. Mr. Lutman had put in his time and service, went past the call of duty, and passed away in his home state.

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The Legionnaire Blue Cap

The Legionnaire Blue Cap Award is a prestigious achievement, presented to those with years of service in the Legion. Such an honor can only be bestowed onto those in the Legion with a lifetime of dedication, leading by example, and servitude. Some things that are looked at in nomination for the award are offices held, committee appointments, and other awards.

A noble man in nomination for this award can only be addressed as William F. Lancaster, Jr. of Post No. 71. A man of the Legion with such offices as Post Adjutant, Post Delegate, District VAMC Cookout, and District Representative Civic Affairs shows how well he fits for the award. He has been going to National Conventions for 10 years and Department Conventions for 15 years. He was awarded by his post the PUFL (Paid-Up-For-Life) which serves as his dues for the Legion for the rest of his life.

Straight out of high school, William F. Lancaster, Jr. enlisted in the U.S. Navy only 3 days after completing his education in 1946. A friend to Mr. Frank Buckles, the last remaining World War 1 veteran in the United States, Mr. Lancaster has visited Mr. Buckles several times as well as house-sitting his family’s farm after he passed away while they were in Arlington National Cemetery for the ceremony.  Mr. Lancaster has shown his dedication, fulfilled his obligations, and is now vying for the prestigious award of the Legionnaire Blue Cap.

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The History of Flag Day

The Fourth of July was traditionally celebrated as America’s birthday, but the idea of an annual day specifically celebrating the Flag is believed to have first originated in 1885. BJ Cigrand, a schoolteacher, arranged for the pupils in the Fredonia, Wisconsin Public School, District 6, to observe June 14 (the 108th anniversary of the official adoption of The Stars and Stripes) as ‘Flag Birthday’. In numerous magazines and newspaper articles and public addresses over the following years, Cigrand continued to enthusiastically advocate the observance of June 14 as ‘Flag Birthday’, or ‘Flag Day’.

On June 14, 1889, George Balch, a kindergarten teacher in New York City, planned appropriate ceremonies for the children of his school, and his idea of observing Flag Day was later adopted by the State Board of Education of New York. On June 14, 1891, the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia held a Flag Day celebration, and on June 14 of the following year, the New York Society of the Sons of the Revolution, celebrated Flag Day.

Following the suggestion of Colonel J Granville Leach (at the time historian of the Pennsylvania Society of the Sons of the Revolution), the Pennsylvania Society of Colonial Dames of America on April 25, 1893 adopted a resolution requesting the mayor of Philadelphia and all others in authority and all private citizens to display the Flag on June 14th. Leach went on to recommend that thereafter the day be known as ‘Flag Day’, and on that day, school children be assembled for appropriate exercises, with each child being given a small Flag.

Two weeks later on May 8th, the Board of Managers of the Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution unanimously endorsed the action of the Pennsylvania Society of Colonial Dames. As a result of the resolution, Dr. Edward Brooks, then Superintendent of Public Schools of Philadelphia, directed that Flag Day exercises be held on June 14, 1893 in Independence Square. School children were assembled, each carrying a small Flag, and patriotic songs were sung and addresses delivered.

In 1894, the governor of New York directed that on June 14 the Flag be displayed on all public buildings. With BJ Cigrand and Leroy Van Horn as the moving spirits, the Illinois organization, known as the American Flag Day Association, was organized for the purpose of promoting the holding of Flag Day exercises. On June 14th, 1894, under the auspices of this association, the first general public school children’s celebration of Flag Day in Chicago was held in Douglas, Garfield, Humboldt, Lincoln, and Washington Parks, with more than 300,000 children participating.

Adults, too, participated in patriotic programs. Franklin K. Lane, Secretary of the Interior, delivered a 1914 Flag Day address in which he repeated words he said the flag had spoken to him that morning: “I am what you make me; nothing more. I swing before your eyes as a bright gleam of color, a symbol of yourself.”

Inspired by these three decades of state and local celebrations, Flag Day – the anniversary of the Flag Resolution of 1777 – was officially established by the Proclamation of President Woodrow Wilson on May 30th, 1916. While Flag Day was celebrated in various communities for years after Wilson’s proclamation, it was not until August 3rd, 1949, that President Truman signed an Act of Congress designating June 14th of each year as National Flag Day.

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Guns or Roses? Women in the Work and Military Forces

 

We’ve all seen them, the iconic and commanding images of a woman clad in anything but traditional, WWII period garb, rebelling by flexing her arm in resistance to the mechanical, German army and maybe even privately to American men, as well.  This celebrated image is of “Rosie the Riveter”, a stubborn symbol of the woman who can work to support herself, “her man” at war, and the rest of her family, too.

According to History.com, American women “entered the workforce in unprecedented numbers during World War II, as widespread male enlistment left gaping holes in the industrial labor force.”  From the perspective of women in the late thirties and early forties and from that of women today, perhaps the rise of the Germans served them positively.  Had they not had the chance to show the men in control that they really could “do it”, they would likely not have been given the privilege to “do it” again.  After women successfully served as a dovetail to what was previously a jagged line of industrial occupation, they marched on to join the men in America’s fight for freedom.  Yes, woman served as vital contributions to our forces in the fight against Germany.

History.com explains that “some 350,000 women joined the Armed Services,” and that “the aviation industry saw the greatest increase in female workers.”  This was possible not only because women had verified their competence in the field of industry, but also because America’s leaders were “impressed by the British use of women in service.”  After proving to be sufficient members of the Army, woman marched further, for the Coast Guard and Marine Corps “soon followed suit, though in smaller numbers.”

Today, of course, around twenty percent of the American military is made up of women, and the numbers are accelerating positively.  While we may think we are done with women’s rights or even close to being done with them or, for that matter, anyone’s rights, we should probably think again.

Ben Frye, Editor

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The Women Behind the Scenes

          If you’ve visited Headquarters this week, chances are you’ve met or at least seen Mrs. Sonja Adkins also known as “the Popcorn Lady”. She was in charge of selling campaign materials to the candidates, and now she is in charge of putting together the packets the Citizens will receive at the end of the week. She also takes care of paperwork for Boys State, and she assists in selecting the award recipients. She is a very hardworking woman and one who whose work is invaluable to the success of Boys State.

          Mrs. Adkins has a love for Boys State that is indescribably strong. Just sitting there talking with her is enough to know her passion for this program rivals, if not surpasses, any other. She has served for twelve years at Boys State, where she has held the positions of campaign store worker and manager, and she has also helped with some of the Americanism programs.

Her first year working at Boys State was a happy accident. She was (and still is) a member of the American Legion, and her fervor for patriotism and Americanism made her stand and she was told she needed to come to Boys State to see what it is. In her first few years she not only helped run the store, but gradually took over for the previous owners when they were no longer able. Since then, she has attended every Boys State seminar since and greatly enjoys it.

One of her most memorable moments during her time working at Boys State was meeting Medal of Honor recipient Woody Williams, our evening speaker. She believes he is one man who deserves absolute respect.

Mrs. Adkins told me that in all her years of working here, she has continued to learn, and has learned more about the government and elections than she ever has before. She said it is better for us to know about the government, and involvement in government is a great teacher. To quote this amazing woman, “You don’t really ever stop learning about government.”

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ALMBS State Primary Election Results

 

********** (NATIONALIST) **********

GOVERNOR
DALLAS KOKOSKA. . . . . . . . . 44 23.66

SECRETARY OF STATE
(Vote For Not More Than ) 1
JACOB “Mr Gravy” SMITH . . . . . . 107 58.47

AUDITOR
(Vote For Not More Than ) 1
ALEX “A-Mac” MACDONALD . . . . . . 50 27.17

TREASURER
(Vote For Not More Than ) 1
MICHAEL FOUTS . . . . . . . . . 95 51.91

COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE
(Vote For Not More Than ) 1
WILLIAM G SLONAKER . . . . . . . 88 47.83

ATTORNEY GENERAL
(Vote For Not More Than ) 1
DONALD “The Waterboy” BOUCHER. . . . 77 41.40

JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT
(Vote For Not More Than ) 5
PHILIP WILSON
TOY REID
ZAC WILCOXEN
DAVID-MICHAEL BUCKMAN
WILL SHAFFER

********** (FEDERALIST) **********

GOVERNOR
(Vote For Not More Than ) 1
DAMIAN COOKE . . . . . . . . . 45 26.32

SECRETARY OF STATE
(Vote For Not More Than ) 1
JACK MCGEE . . . . . . . . . . 168 100.00

AUDITOR
(Vote For Not More Than ) 1
JOSH “J Watts” WATSON . . . . . . 99 58.93

TREASURER
(Vote For Not More Than ) 1
CHARLIE “Not the Hunchback” HAGEBO . . 51 29.82

COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE
(Vote For Not More Than ) 1
AARON “Tater Salad” WHITTAKER. . . . 71 41.28

ATTORNEY GENERAL
(Vote For Not More Than ) 1
JOEL M. WHETZEL . . . . . . . . 48 28.24

JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT
(Vote For Not More Than ) 5
AUSTIN PATTERSON
ZACH PARRUCCI
TOMMY CAIN
J.R HAMILTON
SETH BLAKE

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The American Flag; In a Class all its’ Own

 

Today, the Boys State Citizens were treated to a seminar on the American Flag. The session taught the proper way to treat and dispose of the American flag. The Citizens were also allowed to see a very moving ceremony in which grave markers from different time periods and different wars.

The lesson mainly taught about the Flag Code, which is a set of rules that dictates how the flag is to be treated. The flag code has many regulations which, when followed, ensures that the flag is displayed properly and treated with the upmost respect. One of the most important rules is that the flag should always be the highest flag on a flag pole, so it is the first flag raised and the last flag lowered. Another is that it should always be on the right of any other flags it is displayed with.

The ceremony that followed the lesson is one in which grave markers from many different wars had flags placed within them.  Several people that were veterans or had family serving in the military were given the honor of placing one of the flags within the markers.

This class was one that was both informative and moving, and hopefully inspired pride in the Citizens for both the flag, as well as the many who have fallen for it.

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ALMBS and ALARGS Participants Excel

CONGRATULATIONS to the following 2011 State Journal EQT Students of Excellence: Joshua M. Childs (Morgantown High School), Stephen M. Ferguson (Phillip Barbour High School), Austin L. Hickman (Huntington High School), Vincenzo J. Pizzuti (Brooke High School), Adriane M. Rine (Tyler Consolidated High School), and Cameron C. Viney (Elkins High School). These six individuals listed that they were a member of The American Legion Mountaineer Boys State or The American Legion Auxiliary Rhododendron Girls State.

We would like to congratulate them on their achievements and wish them well in their adventures in life. We hope that they keep in contact with our programs, and we are proud to have been apart of their High School experience. As a State Journal EQT Student of Excellence, each of these individuals received a $1,000 scholarship towards their higher education.

We join The State Journal and EQT in saluting these seniors.

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