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Otis Rice
Go back to Otis Rice
Jun 06, 1919
Otis Kermit Rice was born in Hugheston
1945
Otis Rice received an M.A. in education at WVU Other events that happened on or around 1945 Alderson-Broaddus College (now University) established the first baccalaureate nursing program in West Virginia William "Wally" Barron was discharged from the army as a sergeant Normantown won unclassified basketball tournaments against all Florence Blanchfield received the Distinguished Service Medal Bill Blizzard was appointed president of UMWA District 17 Harry Brawley became director of political affairs at Charleston radio WCHS Bill approved for a city-county hospital in Huntington Fannie Cobb Carter became dean of women at National Trade and Professional School for Women and Girls in Washington Extension of Route 39 linking Richwood to Marlinton was finished Oliver Chitwood published the first volume of A Short History of the American People George W. Hand became the president of Fairmont State College Ann Flagg graduated from West Virginia State College (now University) U.S. Forest Service reports 8.7 billion board feet of timber volume Gunner Gatski played at Auburn University General Dwight D. Eisenhower vacationed at the Greenbrier resort hospital upon returning from Europe Alberta Pierson Hannum wrote Spin a Silver dollar: The Story of a Desert Trading Post The name Happy Retreat was restored after being named Mordington by Isaac Douglas The West Virginia Health Department assumed advisory medical supervision of state hospitals Joseph Hodges began serving as director of the Roman Catholic Diocesan Mission Band in Richmond, VA Italian POWs were repatriated, and many returned to America Maryat Lee graduated from Wellesley College in religious studies Big Bill Lias purchased Wheeling downs racetrack on Wheeling Island Dora Ruth Parks became the executive secretary of the Library Commission The United Zinc Smelting Corporation ceased operations in Marshall County Bernard McDonough began a concrete business in Houston The UMWA proposed a royalty to 10 cents per ton of coal to be paid to the union to provide medical services in the coalfields The Monongahela Power & Railway Company changed to Monongahela Power Company, discontinuing street car business The first issue of the bi-monthly National Hillbilly News appeared Eleanor Roosevelt began serving as U.S. representative to the United Nations Louis Jordan composed "Salt Pork, West Virginia" The one-room Cave School located in Germany Valley, Pendleton County, closed Julia Davis published The Shenandoah Julia Davis published The Shenandoah The Strayer Report recommended basic reforms in the delivery of public education in West Virginia The Sunrise mansion and adjoining mansion were acquired by the Salvation Army Legislation to protect the environment from surface mining was enacted The state of West Virginia purchased the Sweet Springs property and established the Andrew S. Rowan Memorial Home Clint Thomas began working in the state capitol as messenger for the Department of Mines Morris Harvey College (now University of Charleston) enrollment was at 2,000 students There were 225 students enrolled at West Liberty Kelly Miller was hired to coach at West Virginia State Victorine Louistall became the first African-America female to earn a graduate degree from WVU Reported 6,000 wild turkeys in West Virginia M.J. Horsch became president of West Virginia Institute of Technology John Ross Eakin suffered a stroke, ending his National Park Service career
1955
Otis Rice served as president of the West Virginia Historical Society Other events that happened on or around 1955 167th moved to Martinsburg Huntington's Memorial Field House hosted the state boys basketball tournament Bluestone State Park joined state park system Clarksburg constructed Buffalo Lake Legislature considered declaring TV cable companies to be public utilities subject to regulation by Public Service Commission Sutton Dam completed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Cedar Creek State Park joined state park system Petersburg fish hatchery noticed different color trout in hatchery's rainbow trout Judge Ben Moore ruled against racial discrimination at Sky Chief Restaurant at Kanawha (now Yeager) Airport The black bear became the state animal Croatian Cultural Club founded in Benwood Mutation of normal-colored rainbow trout was discovered Lester Hayes Jr. caught a 52.5 inch, 43 pound muskie in the Elk River Gunner Gatski earned All-Pro honors in football The Night of the Hunter was adapted to film Elizabeth Hallanan became a member of the State Board of Education Storer College was closed William Hoffman wrote his first novel, The Trumpet Unblown All institutions of higher learning in West Virginia except Glenville State had enrolled African-American students Coach Cam Henderson left Marshall College (now University) Bernard McDonough bought the O. Ames Company in Parkersburg Logan County surpassed McDowell County as the leading coal producing county in the nation Mildred Mitchell-Bateman was invited to return to Lakin State Hospital after leaving to further studies Green Bank was chosen for the National Radio Astronomy Observatory Pardee & Curtin built the first all-electric single-band sawmill in the state at Curtin, Webster County. Leonard Riggleman became the Charleston Gazette's West Virginia Man of the Year West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission adopted its current name West Virginia State and Bluefield State integrated the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Sumner School closed after the Brown v. Board of Education decision William P. Tams retired Theatre West Virginia was founded as the West Virginia Historical Drama Association Morris Harvey College (now University of Charleston) built its first dormitory The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations combined as AFL-CIO Billy Edd Wheeler received a B.A. in English from Berea College Lawrence R. McHugh, S.J. became president of Wheeling College (now Wheeling University) George Wolfe was discharged from the army The 130th Troop Carrier Squadron (130th Airlift Squadron) was formed The West Virginia Lobotomy Project ended The Sugar Grove site was selected for a radio telescope Tunney Hunsaker moved to Fayetteville
1957
Otis Rice began teaching at West Virginia Institute of Technology Other events that happened on or around 1957 Emile Hodel became editor of the Beckley Post-Herald Michael Benedum built the Bridgeport Civic Center Reorganization transferred state mental health and penal institutions to Department of Mental Health and the Commissioner of Public Institutions Weirton Steel purchased Browns Island for $40,000 S. Maude Kaemmerling willed 3,135 acres of land in Canaan Valley to West Virginia for recreational use FMC developed new source of brine at Bens Run City National Bank opened its doors under President Donald Shonk Bishop mine explodes again Jim Comstock founded the weekly West Virginia Hillbilly Deer restocking program ended Roy Bird Cook received the Award of Merit from the West Virginia Library Association Little Jimmy Dickens left the Grand Ole Opry Irvin Dugan retired as newspaper artist Donald Duncan's sons took over the Duncan Yo-Yo Company Fairfax Stone dedicated as state historic monument and became state park Gunner Gatski played football one year for Detroit The Knights of the South Branch was organized to revive medieval jousting Roy Lee Harmon wrote Unto the Hills Logan High School and its field house and athletic fields were constructed on Hatfield Island Ken Hechler moved to West Virginia to teach at Marshall College (now University) The first interstate highway construction contract in the state was awarded on I-64 for a bridge across a road in Cabell County Jean Lee Latham was awarded the Boys' Clubs of America Junior Book Award for Trail Blazer of the Seas The McClains were approached by WVU professors who feared that early West Virginia histories would be lost if not reprinted Kyle McCormick wrote The Story of Mercer County John Norman served on the aircraft carrier Saratoga A group from West Virginia and Ohio purchased land to establish a college with an independent board of trustees, now Ohio Valley University Marbon Chemical is built The announcement of plans to merge the Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York Central System was made Filippo Colasessano's son began selling pepperoni rolls in his Fairmont lunch spot The Division of Disease Control began a statewide polio vaccination program The Kanawha River bridge was opened in Winfield Red Ribble stopped photographing southern West Virginia The Wm. M. Ritter Lumber Company company stores were sold The Wm. M. Ritter Lumber Company coal reserves were leased to the Island Creek Coal Company Jay Rockefeller went to the International Christian University in Tokyo Shenandoah Downs purchased land north of Charles Town Race Track for night harness racing WVU Rod Hundley became All-American in basketball Jim Sprouse began practicing law Beckley radio station WAJR increased to 5,000 watts Ernest T. Weir died The last high school basketball was played under the African-American West Virginia Athletic Union Benjamin Starks founded the Beacon Journal in Charleston The Federation of Labor and Industrial Union Council agreed to combine as the West Virginia Labor Federation, AFL-CIO West Virginia State College lost its federal land-grant status Stanley H. Martin became president of West Virginia Wesleyan College The Whipple mine shut down and the company store closed The Winfield bridge was completed WSAZ radio switched affiliation to NBC
1960
Otis Rice received a Ph.D. in history at Univ. of Kentucky Other events that happened on or around 1960 Chauncey H. Browning's unexpired term in the Supreme Court ended The Conference of Appalachian Governors was formed The President's Appalachian Regional Commission, PARC created, led by FDR Jr. The position of state archeologist was created by state legislature Tony Boyle became vice president of the UMWA Chauncey H. Browning was Chief Justice of the state Supreme Court Clay County was producing 900,000 tons of coal Jack Fleming became general manager of WAJR radio in Morgantown Construction on the Summersville Lake and Dam began. Construction on the Summersville Lake and Dam began Greer Lime Company was formed The Greer Lime Company began production at Key The Glen Rogers Mine was closed by the Old Ben Coal Corporation Partner D. Ray Hall sold Gravely Motor Plow and Cultivator Company to Studebaker Weirton had highest population in Hancock County at 28,201 Vera Andrews Harvey replaced Roy Lee Harmon as poet laureate The campus of Storer College was added to the Harpers Ferry National Historic Park The United Hospital Center was erected The state population fell to 1,860,421 Frank Hutchison's "Alabama" became a major county hit for Cowboy Copas Storer College buildings were added to the Harpers Ferry National Park Kanawha County peak population at 252,925 Governor Smith was the Democratic state chairman Tom Kromer returned to Huntington from Albuquerque John L. Lewis retired as the president of the UMWA Arden Cogar Sr. started the Webster County Wood Chopping Festival D. K. Shroyer became president of Beckley College (now Mountain State University The City-County Building in Ohio County was dedicated Plum Orchard Lake Wildlife Management Area purchased by the West Virginia Conservation Commission The N&W operated its last steam equipment The Chesapeake & Ohio and the Baltimore & Ohio began a gradual consolidation that eventually included Western Maryland Wm. M. Ritter Lumber Company was sold to the Georgia-Pacific Corporation Jay Rockefeller returned from the International Christian University in Tokyo Rocket boys Homer Hickam, Roy Lee Cooke, Willie Rose, Jim O'Dell Carroll, Quentin Wilson and Sherman Siers won top prize at the National Science Fair for their exhibit "A Study of Amateur Rocketry Techniques" Reported 110,000 Catholics in West Virginia St. Marys population peaked at 2,442 Fred Schaus left as basketball coach at WVU Mary Lee Settle wrote Know Nothing The Preston Railroad line was abandoned South Charleston's population peaked at 19,180 Weirton population peaked at 28,201 Jerry West was unanimous choice for first-team All-American Jerry West co-captained the undefeated U.S. Olympic team West Liberty State College enrollment exceeded 1,000 for the first time The West Virginia Music Educators Association began the movement to adopt "The West Virginia Hills" as the state song Wheeling Steel plants stretched for 30 miles along the Ohio River Henry Aaron was appointed conductor of the Wheeling Symphony There were 1,000 students enrolled at West Virginia Institute of Technology Patrice Harris was born in Bluefield John McKay became head coach at University of Southern California
1967
Otis Rice served as president of the West Virginia Historical Association Other events that happened on or around 1967 Patch Adams graduated from George Washington University Appalachian Volunteers took over many county anti-poverty programs Walter Barnes retired from serving as president emeritus of the Folklore Society Maurice Brooks published The Life of the Mountains Robert C. Byrd was elected secretary of the U.S. Senate Democratic Caucus The state capitol building annex was torn down Marmet Hospital became part of General Hospital (now Charleston Area Medical Center) Samuel Cooper was named West Virginian of the Year by the Charleston Sunday Gazette-Mail Fine arts building and dining hall were finished at Fairmont State College (now University) Frank George was featured on his first recording Grave Creek Mound State Park created Charles Haden served on the Monongalia County Board of Education Charles Haden first became a member of the faculty of WVU College of Law Chuck Howley played for the Dallas Cowboys in the "Ice Bowl" Sam Huff retired from the Washington Redskins Charles James II modernized the James Produce Company with computers and refrigerated trucks Hugh Curry became president of Kanawha Valley Bank Ellie Mannette migrated to the U.S. Catherine Marshall wrote Christy A new dormitory was constructed at Marshall University The Marshall University Library was remodeled and expanded John Brooks Cottle died Mountaintop removal mining began in West Virginia Ruth Ann Musick stopped serving as editor of the West Virginia Folklore Journal and retired from Fairmont State John Norman became involved in medical research concerning organ transplants Eldora Nuzum was named president of the Association of Newspaper Editors of West Virginia A par-3 nine-hole golf course opened opened at Pipestem State Park Jay Rockefeller married Sharon Percy The Soupy Sales Show was taken off nationally West Virginia Legislature recognized the Secondary Schools Activities Commission as a legal entity Clarence C. Elmore, the state Alcoholic Beverage Control commissioner, was indicted on charges of income tax evasion. Red Sovine wrote "Phantom 309" Miles Stanley returned to West Virginia from Washington West Virginia adopted a corporate net income tax Reported 7,100 people were employed in textile-related jobs in West Virginia A nine-hole golf course opened at Twin Falls State Park Cecil Underwood announced his candidacy for governor C. W. Ferguson III became circuit judge The West Virginia Highlands Conservancy was incorporated
1976
Otis Rice became book review editor of West Virginia History Other events that happened on or around 1976 A craft sales shop was established at the Culture Center in Charleston Ruth Ann Musick published Coffin Hollow It was discovered that Friars Hole Cave connected with Snedegars Cave Glade Creek Mill was dedicated Excavation at Grave Creek Mound by the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey identified a moat surrounding the mound K. K. Hall granted injunctions against a wildcat coal strike The Raleigh Register and Post-Herald of Beckley were sold to Clay Communications Recorded 26 instant libraries serving the residents of West Virginia Corridor E (now I-68) was completed as part of the Appalachian Development Highway system Kanawha Valley Bank moved into the new One Valley Square building Logan County began production of the drama, The Aracoma Story Harley Warrick painted a Mail Pouch sign in the State Museum Three new justices were seated on the five-member court after the general election Kathy Mattea entered WVU Irene McKinney published her first book of poems, The Girl with the Stone in Her Lap New Mennonite Congregation started in Monroe County The Midwives Alliance of West Virginia was founded Alan Mollohan married Barbara Whiting Morgan Morgan's log house was restored by the Berkeley County Historical Society The Morgantown Dominion Post began publishing once a day Two cougars were captured in Pocahontas County The Greenbrier Historical Society moved its museum from the city library to the North House Breece D'J Pancake entered the creative writing program at University of Virginia Jayne Anne Phillips enrolled in the University of Iowa's Writers Workshop A stone was dedicated in Lewisburg to honor Dick Pointer's heroism Pricketts Fort State Park opened during the 1976 Bicentennial Elinor Horwitz wrote Contemporary Folk Artists Soupy Sales hosted ABC's Junior Almost Anything Goes Chris Sarandon was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar and a Best Acting Debut Golden Globe Award for Dog Day Afternoon Red Sovine wrote the song "Teddy Bear" Anne Spencer's Lynchburg home was listed on the National Register of Historic Places The West Virginia State Farm Museum was started by Walden Roush The Stifel family deeded the Edemar estate to Oglebay Institute for a fine arts center Boyd Stutler's John Brown materials were acquired by the State Archives The Ohio Valley Unitarian Universalist Congregation was chartered by the Unitarian Universalist Association Control of the WAJR company was transferred to the Greer family heirs Uncle Homer Walker performed at the Smithsonian Institution Festival of American Folklife Charles W. Ferguson II died WesBanco became a bank holding company The Archives and History moved to the Culture Center The West Virginia Department of Culture and History was created by legislature Jim Comstock first tried to sell the West Virginia Hillbilly newspaper Wheeling Downs began dog racing The WVSSAC reestablished the girls state basketball tournament The Graham House was added to the National Register of Historic Places Barry Vance moved permanently to West Virginia John Chambers went to work for IBM John McKay became coach of Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1985
Otis Rice became a member of the editorial board of Filson Club Quarterly Other events that happened on or around 1985 The Pocahontas Times became one of the first papers in West Virginia to switch completely to the use of computers Pruntytown Correctional Center reopened Mary Lou Retton was inducted to the U.S. Olympic Committee Hall of Fame Rock Lake Pool was closed by its owner Cynthia Rylant wrote The Relatives Came Revival of the Sagebrush Roundup radio show was first held The Old Salt Sulphur Springs resort was added to the National Register of Historic Places Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel filed for bankruptcy Blakers Mill was moved to Jackson's Mill Frederick A Reichle purchased property at Timberline Predecessor banks were renamed United National Bank Robert Phalen became president of UMWA District 17 WAJR launched the Metronews Radio Network Melvin Lentz became wood chopping champion The Pence Springs prison closed and all inmates were transferred to the Alderson Federal Prison for women Meredith Sue Willis wrote Only Great Changes Ellie Schaul was was awarded the 1985 West Virginia Juried Exhibition Governor’s Award
1986
Otis Rice became vice chairman of the Kanawha County Bicentennial Commission Other events that happened on or around 1986 Kathy Mattea's song "Walk the Way the Wind Blows" became her first major hit McCoy's Mill was listed on the National Register of Historic Places Congressman Alan Mollohan was appointed to the House Appropriations Committee Mount St. George was added to the National Register of Historic Places Regular national broadcasts of Mountain Stage began on National Public Radio Zebra mussels were introduced from Europe to the Great Lakes by commercial barge traffic Henry Payne was runner up for the Pulitzer Prize. The Peter Tarr furnace was partially restored. A new division was created within the PSC to provide assistance to public water and wastewater providers. The Smoot Theater stopped serving as a movie theater The State Supreme Court ruled on Cook v. Heck's regarding the firing of workers United National Bank joined with Intermountain Bankshares and Kanawha Banking and Trust The Education Foundation changed its name to West Virginia Historical Education Foundation Pence Springs Resort property was purchased and renovated as a hotel Thomas W. Cole left as president of West Virginia State College (now University) Roomier pens making use of natural features were installed at the West Virginia State Wildlife Center at French Creek The West Virginia Turnpike accommodated about 5 million cars WVU Mountaineer Field football stadium expanded to 63,175 seats A master's degree in business administration was first offered at West Virginia Wesleyan College Rachael Worby became music director of Wheeling Symphony The Henderson Hall historic district was added to the National Register Robert C. Gillespie became president of West Virginia Institute of Technology Katherine Johnson retired from NASA Conchata Ferrell married Arnie Anderson, a sound mixer
1988
Otis Rice became a member of the board of advisers at the WVU Library Other events that happened on or around 1988 George Balsama became president of Beckley College (now Mountain State University) The Islamic Center of West Virginia opened in Charleston The WVU Mountaineers finished the regular football season unbeaten for first time The school of nursing at Ohio Valley Medical Center closed Nat Reese received the John Henry Award The Crain v. Bordenkircher case changed state policies regarding the prison system Melvin Lentz became wood chopping champion
1991
Otis Rice received the first Virgil A. Lewis Award of the West Virginia Historical Society Other events that happened on or around 1991 Cynthia Rylant won the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for nonfiction for Appalachia: The Voices of Sleeping Birds St. John's Chapel near Sweet Springs resort in Monroe County was added to the National Register of Historic Places as a part of the Lynnside Historic District Congress created the National Scenic Byways program to recognize national and state roads of special scenic value Leon Sullivan was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom The Andrew S. Rowan Memorial Home was closed Jerry West was named to the WVU Sports Hall of Fame The West Virginia National Guard was activated during the Gulf War The Whipple Company Store was listed on the National Register of Historic Places Jesco White appeared in the film Dancing Outlaw A flood wall was built at Williamson Meredith Sue Willis wrote Quilt Pieces Melvin Wine was chosen as a National Heritage Fellow by the National Endowment for the Arts Laurence Yep published The Star Fisher
1992
Otis Rice became vice president of the West Virginia Historical Education Foundation Other events that happened on or around 1992 Phyllis Reynolds Naylor was Awarded the Newbery Medal for Shiloh Eldora Nuzum retired from the Elkins Inter-Mountain The North Central Association approved baccalaureate degrees in business administration, elementary education, liberal studies, and psychology at Ohio Valley University Henry Payne was runner-up for the Mencken Award Charlotte Pritt left the state Senate Dyke Raese was inducted into the WVU Hall of Fame The National Labor Relations Board ruled on unfair labor practices in the Ravenswood Strike Richard Freeland re-entered the recording business when he started Freeland Records Jay Rockefeller successfully backed the Coal Act to ensure continued funding of the UMWA health insurance Cynthia Rylant was awarded the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for children's fiction for Missing May Fred Schaus was named to the WVU Hall of Fame
1999
Otis Rice received the first Governor's Award for Outstanding Contributions to West Virginia History or Literature Other events that happened on or around 1999 Phyllis Curtin won a Lifetime Achievement Award at Governor's Awards for Culture, History and the Arts
2000
Otis Rice received an honorary doctorate from WVU Other events that happened on or around 2000 Theatre West Virginia celebrated the 40th anniversary of Honey in the Rock and the 30th of Hatfields and McCoys Welch Emergency Hospital became Welch Community Hospital Jerry West retired from the Lakers The Records Management and Preservation Board was created An expansion was completed at the Industrial Home for Youth George Lundy S.J. became president of Wheeling Jesuit University The Wheeling National Heritage Area was created Laurence Yep published Dream Soul
Jul 22, 2003
Otis Rice was named West Virginia's first Historian Laureate
Sep 22, 2003
Otis Rice died in Charleston View Articles by Existing Key Dates or Specify Your Own Date Range |
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