.
Montcalm High School has a unique history. Montcalm High School was established in 1931 when seven rooms were built to accept 7-10th grade students. Mr. Mark S. Grimm was the very first principal.
In the Fall of 1945, Mr. Vernon Dunn took charge of the Montcalm Eagles and renamed the mascot and changed the school colors. Until the rename, Macadam was the school's and the town's name. In 1954, tax payers voted a bond issue and the entire west wing was added that included a bandroom, home economics center, library and three additional classrooms. It was during this time of change that the high school was expanded to a seventh through 12th grade school. In 1958 Montcalm High School presented their first 12th grade graduates. This is also the first year that Montcalm High School had a yearbook. In 1964 Montcalm High School had a newly completed auditorium/gymnasium, four classrooms and a teacher's lounge. In the Spring of 1964, Mr. Dunn was transferred to Spanishburg and Mr. Libby Price took command of the Generals.
In 1974 Mr. Gene Lee was appointed principal. During the late 1980's Bramwell High School was closed and the students were transferred to Montcalm High School. MHS was pleased to accept the Millionaires as Generals. Mr. Lee retained command of the growing army of Generals until the Fall of 1992 when Mr. David Harvey took over as principal. In 1994 MHS and Montcalm completed a school-community effort to establish the first MHS football team and the development and progress of a sports complex behind the school. Mrs. Judy Neal has been a devoted supporter for this project. In October of 1999, MHS Generals defeated the Hundred team during their Homecoming Football game.
When David Harvey became ill with brain cancer in the spring of 2000, James B. Strong took over command of the Generals and was principal for over a year. The name says it all folks, this man was strong in his convictions and devotion to the school. Mr. Strong left his job at the Board of Education and even postponed retirement to return to his beloved Generals. Most will remember that he was once a math teacher at the school and that he gave his daughter our school initials..MHS (Margaret Helen)when she was born while he was teaching at the school. Many parents compared Mr. Strong to the same leadership and strength found in Mr. Vernon Dunn. His firm and fair rules had every General saluting him. He loved to have fun with the students and sponsored a fun day where the entire school enjoyed games, refreshments and even monetary prizes. Jim attended as many school functions as possible and would even share the dance floor with his Generals, earning himself the title of "General Jim Jim the Dancing Machine." After a year as principal, his own health was a problem and he turned over the leadership of his Generals to Mary Terry in the fall of 2001. In the summer of 2003, Mrs. Terry left Montcalm High to accept the role of principal at Ceres Elementary School.
In July of 2003, Dr. Edward Webster took control of the Generals. He was a stern, but fair leader. He had many plans to guide the students towards a healthy and safe education process. In June 2004, Dr. Webster decided to leave our Generals to return to North Carolina to be with his family. In July 2004 Brenda Ash took charge of the generals. She is a fair but strict principal. She believes that education is extemely important and strives to maintain attendance so that the students can learn. In August of 2008 Mark Page took the lead of the Generals education. He and his Vice Principal Lovetta Currence encourage all students to do their best and all parents to contact them with any concerns. Welcome Mr. Page.
This history is in the making and changes will be made as the information comes in to me. You can email me at odle5@hotmail.com. I hope you will visit again soon.
A General’s History 1945-1964 Editor’s note: I recently was given the wonderful opportunity to meet a man who knows a great deal about Montcalm High School. Vernon Dunn was principal at MHS from Fall 1945 to Spring 1964. It was an honor and a true privilege I will not soon forget. A person once told me that Montcalm is like a virus that enters your blood and you work all your life to be rid of the feeling, but there is something about the town and people that you simply have to go back there. Mr. Dunn must have been infected with the “Montcalm Virus.”After Mr. Dunn's interview, be sure to read the interview with David Harvey. Enjoy!Vernon Dunn was born on December 30, 1909. He has seen “16 presidents take office and if Florida can get it’s election over with, I will see number 17.” Mr. Dunn is walking history. He is a quiet leader with a great deal of kindness in his heart. The resemblance in attitude, demeanor and looks to Spencer Tracey is overwhelming. His wife, Catherine Dunn is his Kate Hepburn in attitude and grace. They speak to each other in endearing tones and there is great warmth in their presence. I don’t think that either of them has ever met a stranger. They have been married for 62 years. I will try to remain unbiased in this story but it is very hard for me. I have met the man who named us Generals.
Q: When and where were you born?
A: I was born December 30, 1909 in Peterstown, West Virginia.
Q: Who were your parents?
A: Eola Dale and Cary Neal Dunn.
Q: Any siblings?
A: Four sisters, Beulah Brookman, Cleigh Peck, Sybil Via and Phyllis McDonald.
Q: How long have you lived in this area?
A: Always. I was a teacher first, then became a principal in 1937 at Bluefield High School.
Q: Mrs. Dunn, When and where were you born?
A: My name is Catherine Ballard Dunn. My parents were Clarence and Mabel Ballard. I was born on December 17, 1916 in Lindside, WV. I am the oldest of 12 children.
Q: How long have you been married?
A: We have been married 62 years.
Q: Any children?
A: We have one daughter, Julianna Peck.
Q: Mrs. Dunn, what was your occupation?
A: I was a school teacher in Tazewell County for over 30 years.
Q: Mr. Dunn, when did you come to Montcalm High School?
A: I came in the Fall of 1945.
Q: How long were you principal and teacher at Montcalm High School?
A: Well, let’s see, I went to Spanishburg in the Fall of 1964, so I was at MHS 19 years from Fall of 1945 to Spring of 1964.
Q: Can you remember when we received the Generals name?
A: Of course I can. I named you Generals after General Montcalm. We needed to change the name and I told the students about General Montcalm. We decided to become the Montcalm Generals in the Fall of 1945.
Q: How did we get our school colors?
A: Well, let’s see. Our boys had pink basketball uniforms because our colors were red and white and they somehow got washed together and ruined. When the boys went to play at the opposing team’s school, we had no uniforms and had to borrow their old ones. The other team ransacked the lockers to find uniforms. Well, if you can picture this, our boys were small and they (the other team) all had older and bigger boys. We still had only kids that went to the tenth grade and they were playing against boys in upper grades. Well, our boys went out there and everyone could see that the uniforms weren’t theirs. Some of the boys would have to hold onto their shorts with one hand and dribble the ball with the other. Some people in the bleachers laughed at them and I could see our boys were humiliated. When I got home I told my wife that our boys would never be embarrassed like that again. I called all the schools and located some uniforms. They were blue and white. That’s how we got blue and white for colors.
Q: Mr. Dunn, can you remember who created our school logo of the general profile?
A: I can't remember who exactly drew the general, but a student had worked really hard on creating a likeness of General Montcalm. We put the profile on the walls that fall. The students were really proud of the general. You have to respect a general!
Q: (Mr. Dunn was principal at Bluefield High School before coming to MHS.) 1945 brought the end of World War II. Did you have any students from Montcalm or Bluefield that were drafted?
A: Yes, I had some from Bluefield (with a heavy heart, Mr. Dunn continued) that were drafted; some boys that had either entered school at a late age or had failed a grade. I never thought that would be the last time I saw those boys alive. I have only a few regrets in my life and that is one of them.
Q: You were principal at MHS when Elvis became popular. Did any of the students go wild and try to imitate Elvis?
A: No, our boys were good. They didn’t go overboard to try to look like him.
Q: Were there any dress codes in your time as principal?
A: No, there was no need. The girls all dressed nice and neat and the boys were clean cut.
Q: Did you ever have any problems with desegregation?
A: No, not any problems like that at Montcalm.
Q: Did you have any bussing problems?
A: No, not what you mean, but let me tell you this story. I had a bus driver come into my office one morning and tell me that a child was misbehaving and he asked me to speak to the child. I went out and called the boy from the bus and asked if what the driver had told me was true. The boy confessed and I asked him if he would like to now have to walk to school everyday. He said no and I allowed him to get back on the bus after he apologized to the driver. Now here is the funny part...that kid was from another school. I had no more control over him than I did the man in the moon. I had no authority to remove him from the bus and make him walk, but the kid didn’t know that.
Q: Did you have any problem students that just wouldn't listen to your advise?
A: Yes, I had one young man who loved to sneak into the girls locker room and smoke. The girls locker room was located under the my office at the time. The problem is that the smoke would float up into my office. I would be at my desk and up would come curls of smoke. Well, I knew he was smoking because of the smoke curls wafting by my desk and I caught him in the locker room. I told him that I wanted to see him in my office and that I would call him when I wanted him. I would walk by this young man every day and give him a look and he would walk away. After a month of having him sweat it out, I finally called him into my office. I told him that I was going to have him arrested for attempting to burn down the school if he ever was caught smoking again. He never went down there to smoke again. You have to mean what you say to the students for them to respect you.
Q: You were also principal during the Sputnik Space Era. How did this affect students at MHS?
A: Our kids were kind of sheltered from the hype of all that space era. If any of them knew about it, they didn’t show too much enthusiasm.
Q: You were principal at MHS when President Kennedy was shot and died in Texas. What was the students’ reaction?
A: Our students reacted with quiet dignity. We were in small town West Virginia. Catherine Dunn responded: Most schools announced about Kennedy as school was letting out that day to keep the students from becoming too upset. I think that made the difference. (Mrs. Dunn was a teacher in Tazewell County Schools for over 30 years before her retirement.)
Q: I know that it has been over 35 years since you have been at MHS as principal, but are there any students names that you can recall?
A: Dillows, Faws, Barlows, Bowmans... Far too many names to remember and too many students I will never forget.
Q: Can you recall any special students that have affected you?
A: A student had broken a window and I knew he had broken the window. This kid had a bad attitude about school. There was not any doubt that he broke the window. So, I went up to him (name withheld to protect the guilty rascal) and asked him for the 35 cents to replace the window. He refused to pay it and said to get it from his daddy. I called the police and had the boy put in jail over the weekend. I hated to do it, but I had to take a stand with this boy. Monday was the court date. His father was a coal miner and could not afford to lose work to be in court or to drive his wife to the courthouse for the trial. I told the father not to worry, I would take his wife with me to the courthouse for the hearing on their son. (Yes, you read that correctly, the mother rode in the same car as the witness against her son to the courthouse in Princeton.) The judge found him guilty and ordered his parents to pay the 35 cents for the window and lodging fees of $7 for keeping him in jail. I had not seen that boy for many years until recently when he came up to me in a restaurant and told me that I changed his life. He seemed so happy to see me again. We talked about the incident and he told me that my reactions had taught him that right is right. You never know how you will affect a child under your care.
Q: Can you remember any problems with any parents?
A: Yes, one day I was helping the shop class build the house across from the school (it was later given to Mr. Dwight Glass our custodian) and I had a parent come up to me and tell me that he was there to beat me up. I told him to come with me into my office and we will see who beats who up.
Q: Anything happen during that visit?
A: He calmed down and realized that his son had lied to him. He told me he was going home to “beat the stuffing out of his son.”
Q: Have you ever revisited Montcalm?
A: I go there every year for the Homecoming Parades. Sis Laenan invites me and sends me a letter when the parade will be happening. This year they seated me in the Volunteer Fire Department Building, so I could see everything like a VIP. I have to go see my Generals.
Q: So they treat you like a celebrity?
A: I feel like Bill Clinton when these women come up to me and hug on me. It is good to see so many of my former students. I love to talk to all of them. I feel at home.
Q: Would you like to make a statement to all those Generals out there?
A: I just want them to know that I enjoyed being with them. Those were good years and I enjoyed every day that I spent at Montcalm. I loved being a part of their lives and I love them all. I still love them all.
Sadly, Vernon "Yank" Dunn passed away on September 20, 2003. He was 93 years old. He had devoted 41 years to the Mercer County School system. He never stopped loving the students that he guided through the schools and he never stopped being a general. Many students will tell you that he was strict and many more will tell you that he had a kind heart. There will be a vacant space in the fire department at the parades, but there will be an even larger vacant space in our hearts. We will miss you, Mr. Dunn.
David Harvey Interview David Harvey passed away on July 18, 2001. He was only 50 years old. David had taken command of the Generals in 1992 when Gene Lee retired. I had the opportunity to interview him for the newspaper that I was doing for the high school in 1999. I think that the following direct statement that he gave me says a lot about the man."I love this school and these kids. I deal with them every day. This school is the size to where I can get to know each student by name and understand their needs. If a child comes to me with a problem, I cry with them if they need to cry and I laugh with them when they need to laugh. Dr. Pantili and I work hard to help these kids on an individual basis. My door is always open to any teacher, student or parent. I am proud of this school and I am proud of these children."
David Harvey fought hard against his battle with brain cancer, but in the end, it stole his mind and his life. David attended every school function possible and he truly did care about each child. I think that this statement sums up his life..."He was a friend to all."
Thank you for visiting my page at Angelfire. Please come back and visit again! Please take the time to vote for your favorite teacher. Some of the now retired teachers were included for those who do not have students currently at MHS. Fellow General Jim McNew sent in some photos so be sure to check out the photos at http://www.angelfire.com/wv2/mhs/jim_mcnew_photos/ Thanks Jim for sharing the newspaper clippings and photos with all of us.
View My Guestbook
Sign My Guestbook
Montcalm High School Links
Montcalm High School Site
Pictures of Vernon and Catherine Dunn
More MHS Pictures
Jim McNew Photos
