SUMMERS COUNTY, (Hinton News) – As Concord’s mission expanded to embrace new academic programs, its name was changed to reflect increased service to the people of our region: Concord State Normal School became Concord State Teachers College in 1931, Concord College in 1941, and Concord University in 2004. Meanwhile, the Summers County school system evolved from the one-room schoolhouses to the comprehensive high, middle and elementary schools. The vocational careers of Concord grads tracked these changes.
The writing of two of these alumni is notable: John H. Webb’s To Spin a Web and Charles Saunders’ research that the SC Historical Society published in One-Room Schools of Summers County. Webb’s memoir testifies to the learning in rustic settings and the challenges of classroom discipline, which he described at length. Spitting on the floor and down inkwells was common and difficult to control especially when the teacher was sometimes guilty. Not surprisingly, behavior common outside the school would infiltrate the classroom.
Irvin S. Maddy. taught social studies and would serve successively as principal of Sandstone, Talcott and Hinton high schools and for eleven years as county superintendent. Maddy’s career spanned a tumultuous time with World War II and the integration of public schools. Like teachers before him, Maddy was not only a leader in the schools but also in the greater community. His son Stan, himself a Concord grad, shared that his father was commander of the local National Guard unit that was activated during the War and sent to guard the Panama Canal, a critical link in our country’s war-time supply chain.
After the War, Maddy returned to Summers County and led the gradual integration of the schools. Although a process certainly not without flaws, integration in Summers proceeded without the open conflict evident elsewhere.
One explanation for the relatively peaceful integration was the role played by sports. Prior to integration, Maddy and Everett Crawford, principal and coach at Lincoln School, cooperated in the use of athletic facilities. Because Lincoln’s gym was too small for games, Perry Memorial Gym at HHS was used where, according to Stan Maddy, the Lincoln athletes displayed skills superior to those of the Bobcats. After opening the gym, Maddy and his son Stan stayed to watch the games that were often refereed by Harold Beasley, an HHS coach and teacher. Similarly, the Little League Dodgers and Lincoln’s elementary school basketball teams excelled. Even today, residents remember the dignity and names of Lincoln’s coaches and players.
Notably, Charles Saunders, principal of Central Elementary and later county superintendent was prominent in the organization of Little League baseball and elementary basketball. Working his way through Concord, Saunders farmed to supplement his teacher’s salary. He never lost his empathy for students from families of modest means.
Concord’s role as a teacher’s college has provided Summers County with numerous effective educators. Mary Lou Barbery was born in Athens in 1929. Marrying Billie George Reid, Mary Lou graduated from Concord College in 1950 with a bachelor’s degree in Biology. While at Concord, she was a cheerleader and once served as homecoming queen. Starting her teaching career in Covington, Virginia, Mrs. Reid soon came to Hinton High School and had a career as a respected teacher and administrator that lasted several decades. Similarly, Gloria June Cales Willey graduated from Concord in 1957 and taught for 34 years. Many Summers County youth learned to type in her classes.
Concord grads impacted residents by rendering tremendous service to the community. William P. “Bill” Mathews was a 1946 graduate of Hinton High School, who attended and graduated from Concord in 1951. Mathews used his education at Concord to go on to WVU and the Illinois College of Optometry. Practicing optometry in Hinton for many years, Mathews demonstrated a high appreciation for education by serving on the Summers County Board of Education. Dr. Mathews exemplified public service by filling leadership roles Chamber of Commerce and Episcopal Church in Hinton.
Several Concord graduates entered the ministry, a second calling for those who had prepared to be teachers. For example, William “Bill” Fox graduated from Concord with a degree in history with a minor in political science in 1962. Later, Fox went back to Concord and completed a degree in education. In a thirty-year career, Fox taught, served as principal and was superintendent of Summers County schools for a short period of time. In addition to the education field, Fox was one of the most prominent Concord graduates to enter the ministry. For fifty-five years, Fox pastored the Bluestone Baptist Church in Jumping Branch and even today recalls how Concord helped develop the “reasoning” and “critical thinking” that proved so crucial in teaching the Bible. Retired from full-time ministry, Fox continues to occupy pulpits when needed. Other ministers such as Ronald Cobb, a two-sport athlete as a collegian, Leo Farley, Robert Rodes and Abraham Lilly also earned Concord degrees and followed the teacher-to-preacher path.
Gradually, the diversification of Concord’s curriculum would be evident in the careers of Summers Countians. Dr. D.K. Cales worked in the yard office of the C&O to pay his tuition, attended dental school, established a practice in Rainelle and became a major stockholder in City National Bank. Glenn Lowe and Tom Briers became successful in business. Today, 454 Concord graduates are living in Summers County, and they are active in almost every facet of the county’s life. We wish space would allow us to mention everyone, but perhaps they are the subjects of future articles.
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