Early-onset Gearheadism

[Twosheds]

"Do you want the doggy or the little airplane?"

"Mo-om! It's a Grumman F9F Panther! Now get it right."

"Did your brother say you could play with that?"

Tragically, the early warning signs of Gearheadism were unknown in West Virginia in the '50s.

Poor Lassie was ignored.

 

[big6]

Where in West Virginia did you live in the '50's?

I lived in Beckley in the '50's, '60's and 70's... Left the state in the early 70's and retunred in the mid 70's and left for good in 82...

 

[bgbassplyr]

Either of you know a Bob Carr from Beckley?

 

[Twosheds]

My family moved from the Beckley area, Mt. Hope, I think, to Morgantown in '44 or so. There we stayed until the mid '70s. I spent a year or so in Pendleton County.

I still think of myself as a West Virginian. Can't get the mountains out of my mind.

Don't know Bob Carr.

 

[DNK]

John, your dad a prof?

 

[Twosheds]

Don, Dad taught at WVU for 31 years, eventually becoming a full professor near the end. Without a doctorate. Ten years teaching Junior High and High school in the Beckley area and that makes 41 years in WV education.

He had a withered arm from polio. His Dad knew that Dad couldn't work in the mines so he made sure Dad went to college in the thirties.

Died in '94 at 83.

 

[DNK]

Good friend of mine went to Morgantown . Grad about 77-79

 

[big6]

I don’t know Bob Carr either but his name sound familiar… What did Bob do or were did he work in Beckley?

What was your father’s name and when did he teach at Beckley Junior High? What did your father teach at WVU? My brother (1973) and father-in-law (football player for WVU in the early '50's) both graduated from WVU. I graduated from Fairmont State, now Fairmont University in 1974 and taught Industrial Arts at Beckley Junior High the 1981-82 school year.

I am very found of the mountains as well. I was born in Norton, VA in ‘52 and dad had previously relocated the family to Beckley in 1947. Driving from Spartanburg to Norton as soon as I arrive in the majestic mountains I feel at home… Most of my wife’s family lives in Beckley and we go back at least once a year to visit.

 

[DrEntropy]

I knew a Bob Carr, but he was a career Air Force guy. Retired to California.

Wheeling was part of our neighborhood, several pals went to WVU... late '60's to early '70's. I bet there's LESS than "6 degrees" in here someplace. :wink:

 

[Twosheds]

big6, Dad, Francisco Herrera, taught many subjects at Mt. Hope Junior High/High school (Civics, French, Woodworking, Spanish, English, etc.) from '34-'44. Don't know if he ever taught at Beckley Junior High. Mt. Hope is 10 miles from Beckley.

He taught French and Spanish at WVU from '44-'75. He had many students who played football, including NFL Hall-of-Famer Sam Huff. As a student at WVU in the early thirties he tutored Joe Styduhar, another NFL Hall-of-Fame player.

Your brother or Father-in-law could have had Dad for Spanish.

You are lucky to still have relatives to visit in The Mountain State. Enjoy it.

 

[bgbassplyr]

Re: Bob Carr,

After the service, he went to work for IBM in Charlotte. Tom Watson would always hire ex military first.

 

[DrEntropy]

Probably a lot of guys with the same name.