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Newspaperman Calvin Wells ‘‘Cal’’ Price (November 22, 1880-June 14, 1957) was the longtime owner and editor of the Pocahontas Times in Marlinton. He was widely known as a journalist and for his civic involvement and conservation endeavors. Calvin W. Price State Forest was dedicated in his honor in 1954.

Price is best remembered as a country editor. He wrote in his newspaper often and knowledgeably about conservation, his reputation as a naturalist arising from his famous ‘‘Field Notes’’ column and his panther and bear stories. His father, William T. Price, had bought the Times in 1892 with sons James and Andrew. At age 16, youngest son Calvin began working with his brothers, and he became the sole owner in 1906. He was the publisher and editor for 51 years.

William T. Price was a Marlinton native and the son of James A. Price, who came to Pocahontas County about 1828. The family has remained prominent in the county. After Calvin Price’s death in 1957, daughter Jane Price Sharp edited the Pocahontas Times until 1981. She continued to work at the paper with her nephew William Price McNeel, Price’s grandson and editor through 2005.

In 1939, Calvin Price was selected by the president of the National Editorial Association to appear on ‘‘We The People,’’ a New York radio show. He received an honorary law degree from West Virginia University in 1942. Other honors included being president of the West Virginia Newspaper Association and membership in the West Virginia Journalism Hall of Fame. Price died in Marlinton.

This Article was written by Louise Burner Flegel

Last Revised on December 08, 2015

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Flegel, Louise Burner "Cal Price." e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. 08 December 2015. Web. 29 April 2024.