Theme "Celebrate the Foundation" In honor of the Foundation's 25th Anniversary
Editor's Note: This is a special edition of the newsletter to remind everyone of the Hall of Fame process so that all can participate. There are 2 changes from the process described in our 2009 newsletter: the name and address for mailing or emails has changed from Mike McGee to Steve McGee and the date for submission of nominees has moved up to March 15th to allow each member to participate. We also want to remind everyone of the reunion dates: The 2nd half of this update is included to provide that information.
2010 Hall of Fame Process
Criteria
Must have been a student, faculty/staff or community member. Achievements/Contributions (in at least one of the following areas):
1. Personal and/or professional growth 2. Academic success
3. Contributions to the community 4. Achievements in entertainment or sports that brought/bring recognition of the Kelly Miller spirit to an audience 5. Sustained contributions (over 20 years) in money donated or service.
Nomination process: 1. A letter on nomination must be postmarked by March 15, 2010 explaining how the nominee qualifies; 2. A second letter of support from someone recognizable by the board; 3. Send nominations to Steve McGee; 4. Selections will be presented a the reunion banquet.
Approval:
At at joint meeting of the KM Association & Foundation Boards, 60% of votes will approve each entry into the hall of fame. Write-in ballots of current (paid) members, sent to Steve postmarked by April 11, 2010 or received by April 15th will be accepted (US mail or email).
Send nominations and letters of support to: Steve McGee 409 Stealey Av Clarksburg, WV 26301-3462 Or sxm4660@msn.com
Reunion Dates and Activities
Reunion Activities: Thursday, July 15, 2010 to Sunday, July 18, 2010. For those planning to spend extra time in Clarksburg, we have reserved rooms on Wednesday, July 14th and Monday, July 19th.
Costs: $80.00 for all events. This represents a 7% increase over the last reunion of two years ago due to a slight increase in hotel fees for events. We will offer Banquet-only tickets to families of Hall of Fame inductees and to past scholarship reciepients and a guest. Banquet-only ticket prices are to be determined. This $80.00 price does not include the golf outing or the Foundation Social, our two fundraisers.
All rooms are reserved at $70.00 per night; this represents a 1% change from 2008.
Golf on Friday, July 16, 2010 at the Clarksburg Country Club is $70.00.
The Foundation Social will be Friday, July 16th, after the banquet.
The Association Needs Your Dues!
Please remember our plea from 2008 to have all members pay the $10 dues for the 2 year membership. Note in the Hall of Fame discussion on page 1 that only paid members can vote.
Beginning this year, we will only send newsletters to members who have paid. This necessity is being dictated by our stringent economic conditions.
In our next newsletter we will also include a process to pay dues even if you cannot attend the reunion. You will also be able to make contributions to the Foundation; We need your support!
Foundation Golf Tournament Changes Venue
When you see Frank Starks or Sonny Donaldson next, please thank them. Why? They're responsible for switching the golf tournament from Bel Meadow Golf Club to The Clarksburg Country Club. Not only is it a nice track for golf, the club also offers nicer amenities for the luncheon and awards celebration after the golf. We may pull some participants from as far away as Cleveland. We have a great time and this time it is on a very desirable golf course with lots of good friends. What more could you ask for-except to possibly play with June Edwards! The Kelly Miller Golf Tournament will be held Thursday, July, 16, 2009. 9 AM Shotgun Start!
The Kelly Miller Association is hosting a picnic on Friday, July 17, 2009 at Veterans Park in Clarksburg. This event is planned to network and stay in touch with old friends-really old friends. The date was picked to coincide with the golf tournament on Thursday. Come to Clarksburg, visit family, join us for a special treat of eating with classmates.
Association grants Ione B. McGee Scholarship
The Kelly Miller Association joined Washington Irving, Roosevelt Wilson, Victory, Notre Dame and the current Robert C. Byrd high school alumni in awarding scholarships to worthwhile high school graduations.
These scholarships are granted on a one-time basis and are designed to just encourage students to continue on to post-secondary schools.
In the fall meeting during October of 2008, the Association President, James Williams, asked Frank Starks and Barbara (Davis) Dillard to coordinate the activities during the spring 2009 RC Byrd Banquet to award scholarships. Those activities will not only include the nomination of the Kelly Miller award winner(s) for a vote by the Association but also the coordination of events and activities that will ensure proper lead time for notification of the event so that many Kelly Miller alumni may attend.
At the meeting on March 27, 2009, the Association chose as a winner of the $500 Ione McGee scholarship: Tanisha Bland. Tamika Roy was selected as the winner of the $500 scholarship sponsored by the Colonel Thomas Mayfield family.
Hall of Fame 2008 Inductees
We took the initial step to preserving our long heritage with the induction of 11 members int the Kelly Miller Hall of Fame in 2008. Inductees are as follows:
Elaine Hilson Blue is a nationally known playwright, poet, author and painter.
Mark Hanna Cardwell has an unparalleled record of achievements at Kelly Miller and West Virginia State during his 20 year coaching career.
Taylor H. Cox is an extraordinary man, a scholar and successful businessman with several companies, including Motown Records and Coca-Cola.
Mercedes Davis Forte came to Kelly Miller in 1935 as the third grade and music teacher and led the band and choir until closing in 1956.
B'Alma Jones, who died on May 16, 2008, was the Home Economics and eighth grade teacher at Kelly Miller.
Duncan Huey Kyle (1877-1956) was an extraordinary man of keen intellect, possessing a desire to teach and having a strong desire to achieve-a man ahead of his time.
Colonel Thomas H. Mayfield is one of the original Tuskegee Airmen. He devoted 29 years to military service in the Air Force and retired in 1970.
Ione Bowyer McGee, beloved English teacher, graduated with the first Kelly Miller graduating class as valedictorian in 1920.
Emmett Bismark Saunders came to Clarksburg to become principal of Kelly Miller School in 1919.
Willie H. (Buddy) Smith was a sports legend at Kelly Miller and West Virginia State.
Robert (Bob) Wilson has a record of accomplishments that surpass any sports figure in West Virginia.
