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just another Warwood brat, son of Clyde and Vera,

running the streets with Moe, Rudy, Mario, Bill, and Ray near North 20th

pacing the courts at the YMCA under his dad’s skeptical eye

lettering in three sports at Warwood High: OVAC All-Star in football

Y-counselor at Oglebay luring young Miss Luhan to a family-weekend dance: 1950

claiming WLSC’s Mr. Hilltopper Award: 1953

ignoring an English prof’s non-recommendation to graduate school: “Thon, you’d

be better off pumping gas!”

responding with an MA in Chemistry from North Carolina State and a Ph.D.

degree in Biochemistry from WVU

securing 31 patents while at Mobay

making the lovely Miss Luhan his bride in 1956?

being father—great and grand- to Leslie, Emily, Hannah, and Colby

golfing with Hank, Don, Dick, Andy, Rollie, and Bob

drinking beers and playing pool at Beck’s and Bernie’s

winning billiards championships with Nelson

teaching Sunday-school at Warwood United Methodist for fifty-six years

smoking billows away from bicentennial heart-attack

running the roads with Bill to repair

winning “Take-up-another-Sport” trophies with Jack, Art, Gray, and Dave

eating at Fig’s

dinner-dating with the Farnsworths and Kepners

serving on multiple Boards of Directors

making fruit jams. apple-butter, and ketchup

“Let(ting) There Be Light!”

lovingly petting dogs

being Departmental Chair, School Director, and Dean with Bob, Larry, Dave, Les,

Andy, and John

taking the reins at three colleges: Bluefield, WLSC, and JCC

having Campbell Hall dedicated in his honor: 2012

affirming family and friends: reaffirming faith

being inducted into the Wheeling Hall of Fame:

now standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the likes of the Stifels, Schenck, Oglebay,

and Marsh:

not too shabby for a former Warwood brat–

(no telling what he could’ve done with a gas-pump nozzle in his hand!)

 

 

David J. Thomas is a Professor of English at West Liberty University, who is entering his thirty-third year of teaching on the collegiate-level.  Originally from Burgettstown, PA, Thomas has lived in West Virginia since 1975.  He attended West Liberty State College for a BA in English and History in 1975, Eastern Kentucky University in 1975, Marshall University for an MA in  American Literature in 1977, and West Virginia University for a Ph. D. in Modern American Literature in 1992.  He was also graduated as a Masters Naturalist in 2010 from the WV DNR.  He was elected as the Professor of the Year at WLSC/WLU four different years.  He also published a book of poetry, . . .only the trying. . . in 1991.  He has additionally published over one hundred poems and articles in the past third of a century.  Moreover, he is an award-winning poet, essayist, and cook.

8 Responses

  3. Mark Sobray

    Such an awesome tribute. It took me a moment to realize you were talking about a long-time family friend. Clyde truly played an important role in my life and I was always proud of our relationship. Not living in Wheeling, we don’t see each other much. But when we do cross paths, we laugh as we fondly recall stories of family trips and events. Thanks for sharing.

  4. Christina Fisanick Greer

    He was president for most of my student years at WL. I think of him as the students’ president because he was often out and about on campus. Nicely done, Dave.

  5. JACK HATTMAN

    A GREAT PICTURE OF A GREAT MAN. HIS POSITIVE INFLUENCE ON COLLEGE,COMMUNITY,FAMILY AND FRIENDS CANNOT BE OVERSTATED. IN ADDITION TO BEING AN INVENTOR,EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATOR,TEACHER, AND TOTAL CLASS ACT, HE IS ALSO ONE OF THE KINDEST AND COMPASSIONATE OF MEN.

  6. Jay D

    I’m old enough to remember Dr. Campbell’s dad keeping order at the Saturday morning “Y” at Warwood Grade School. My recollection is cloudy but I’m pretty sure he shared an old picture with us showing him in his youth doing a handstand on the big YMCA sign on top of that building on 20th street.
    His son, the subject of this article, not so long ago often parked his car near my Warwood home and took off for his jog. He’s seen often around Warwood and it appears he knows everyone and everyone knows him.. as a friend. Always smiling and cordial. I hope there are more of him, in so many ways, on the horizon.

    • Bill Hanna

      Bill Hanna

      This is a marvelous poetic portrait of a truly remarkable man and one whom I am truly honored to call a friend. Dave, you have captured the essence of him perfectly, and everyone who has been fortunate enough to know him certainly will agree.

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