Paden City High School
Encyclopedia
Paden City High School is a 7-12 grade, class A high school in Wetzel County
, West Virginia
in the small town of Paden City
.
Paden City High School opened its doors as a 9-12 school in 1951 and in 1952, PCHS had its first graduating class. PCHS continually is recognized for outstanding academic progress. It has received many recognitions for academics and has been named a W.V.D.E. High Achieving School and for the W.V.D.E. Annual Performance Index, PCHS received the status of "Distinguished School," which means it was the upper quartile for academic performance. Paden City High School has several West Virginia State Champions, Ohio Valley Athletic Conference
Champions (OVAC), and Mason-Dixon Champions.
The current structure that houses Paden City High School was completed in 1977, with an addition and remodeling project completed in 1988. The 1977 structure was built after the original structure that was built as Paden City Junior High in 1922, burned in 1975, more information on the current and past buildings is included below. After Paden City Middle School, which housed grades 6-8, was closed in 1993, grade 6 became part of Paden City Elementary School
, and grades 7 and 8 became part of the high school.
, Paden City High School houses grades 7-12 with an enrollment of 157.
The school's mascot is the wildcat, and the school colors are green and white.
The temporary building being very unsatisfactory created a strong sentiment favoring the construction of a new school building. Since similar crowding conditions existed in the schools of other Magnolia District communities, a bond issue for financing a district building program was laid on December 14, 1922. The building was erected and the interior partially completed at a cost of less than $70,000. It was further completed as need for space arose. During this period of expansion the State Department of Education authorized the establishment of the "Junior High School," with special permission being granted to include the tenth grade. Because the Tyler/Wetzel county line divides Paden City, juniors and seniors living on the Tyler side of the line had to travel to Sistersville and attend Sistersville High School, and juniors and seniors living on the Wetzel side of the line had to travel to Magnolia High School
in New Martinsville. Paden City found friends competing against friends and even brothers against brothers in athletic competitions.
During the years that the Junior High School served the educational needs of the community, parents and students envisioned the time when the change at the eleventh grade level would not have to be made. In 1949 a concerted effort with a vision of the formation of a four-year high school at Paden City was made. That effort was led by Ray Berger, Owen McKay, Jess Brown, Guy Nichols, and Dr. R.F. Miller. The state superintendent of schools approved the plan, and after three appearances Paden City finally had the high school it had long sought. The Wetzel County Board of Education approved the measure by a 3-2 vote. The measure was approved by the Wetzel County Board of Education only after the Paden City Lions Club volunteered to purchase typewriters and office equipment; and Owen McKay, speaking for the community, told the board of education that the citizens of Paden City would buy an athletic field for the school. With this beginning, the high school and athletic field became a community project that brought the city and its people together in a single purpose.
The annual Labor Day Celebration was started to raise money for facilities at the new school. Workers at Paden City Pottery and Paden City Glass gave money through payroll deduction plans to support the school. The amount workers gave may only have been $2 per week, but at a salary of $15 per week, that was a sacrifice. They did it because Paden City kids needed a school at Paden City. No state or county tax dollars were used to purchase or build the athletic field. As there was approximately a four-foot drop from one end of the property, which was to be used for an athletic field, to the other, the field had to be leveled off. A fence measuring 1,830 feet was installed, the field house was built, and bleachers were put up. It was estimated that it would take 80 months to pay the $17,300 cost of the land. In actuality the citizens of Paden City made the final loan payment in just 24 months. The light towers for the field arrived in a most unusual way. After raising $25,000 for the lights and the towers, they came by rail car to the south end of Paden City. A general call went out, and about 400 people carried the equipment, by hand, to the field. Men would work eight to ten hours a day at local industries and then work another six hours at the field to build bleachers.
In the fall of 1951, Paden City "High School" opened its doors for the first time. in Ray Berger, one of the moving forces behind the formation of the high school, became the first principal. Townspeople took fierce pride in the fact that they finally had their own high school and that high school students in Paden City could continue their education in their own community. Citizens were also concerned about education for all students in Paden City. In 1952, more than a year before the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court ruling Brown vs. the Board of Education, which integrated southern schools, Paden City High School was an integrated educational institution.
"Paden City High School exists because of the measure of support for education that was demonstrated in Paden City. People, who couldn't afford to give, sacrificed in the name of community education.- Owen McKay, Former PCHS Educator
Although Paden City High School now uses the wildcat animial, the nickname given by the semi-pro coach was actually in reference to hard working industrial workers that were called "Wildcats" in the industrial revolution. At the time, Paden City had many operating factories and was known as "Paden City- The Industrial Town," a slogan that was used to attract citizens and industry to the town.
In 1959, Wildcat sports teams captured the first of many crowns as they won the OVAC in both football and basketball. In the spring of 1960, in the state basketball tournament in Morgantown, the mystique of Wildcat teams began. The fan support in Morgantown was unsurpassed. All the businesses in Paden City were closed. Even the mayor and the police chief were there.
The new building with its definite modern style shows no resemblance of its predecessor but has nonetheless become a landmark in Paden City and the school continues to be a source for community pride in Paden City.
On May 1, 1977, the dedication of the present Paden City High School was held. The ceremony featured various guests, including Jack Dulany, superintendent of Wetzel County Schools; Ira Satterfield, the current principal of PCHS; Board Member Tim Miller; Rev. John Negley; and featured speaker, James Jeffers of the Class of 1964.
The new building departed slightly from the then-popular "OPEN CLASROOM" design of the 1970s era. The building features a spacious hall on the ground floor with a two-story open ceiling giving a view of the classrooms on both floors at once. The second floor consists of four major classrooms with another four down the hall. The gymnasium, band room, and shop rooms were not destroyed, although damaged, as they were protected by a firewall. The school also featured "wall-to-wall" carpeting, something unheard of in public schools until the 1970s.
In a short time trophy cases were installed on the first floor by various parents and the Paden City Boosters Association. Later, the Sprouse family donated trophy cases for the second floor commons area for athletic awards and the Paden City Band Patrons along with the family of John Nail (former Band Director) and the Paden City Boosters Association installed more cases on the second floor and in the band room to house the trophies of the Paden City High School Band.
Later in 1986, a bond levy in Wetzel County was passed giving money to re-build the other three county high schools and to add the addition of the Multi-Purpose Building to Paden City High School along with many other upgrades and remodeling projects with-in the main building. The Multi-Purpose Building complete with a cafeteria, common area and auditorium was completed and opened in 1988.
A public hearing was held in March 2010 with the Wetzel County Board of Education for purposes of getting an idea of how the community felt about the possible closure of Paden City High. 35 individuals spoke on the issue. All 35 expressed that they wanted to see Paden City High School remain open and operational. Well over 1,000 individuals packed the PCHS Gymnasium, including Paden City Citizens, PCHS Alumni, PCHS Parents, PCHS Supporters, Political Officials, also in attendance was over 99% of the Paden City High School Student body as well as many students from Paden City Elementary School. The Paden City High School Band was also in attendance and played the PCHS Alma Mater and Fight Song before the hearing began.
On April 19, 2010 the Wetzel County Board of Education voted 5-0 in favor of keeping PCHS open and operational, and to have the CEFP re-written to state that Paden City High School would remain open and not consolidate with another high school in the county district.
The Paden City Foundation's "Project Cornerstone" has remained together as a group even after the vote of confidence by the board of education. Project Cornerstone continues to work to raise funds and support to recognize the importance of and ensure the future of Paden City High School and Paden City Elementary School.
Tune: Far Above Cayuga's Waters
VERSE 1
By Ohio's Sunlight Waters,
Let our voices rise!
Paden City's sons and daughters,
Praise Her to the skies!
Through the years in all endeavor,
we will ever be;
Loyal to our Alma Mater,
Hail All Hail to Thee!
VERSE 2
Hallowed Halls that knew our laughter,
Chains of Memory,
Bind Us to thee Ever-after,
To Eternity.
Through the years in all endeavor,
we will ever be;
Loyal to our Alma Mater,
Hail All Hail to Thee!
VERSE 3
Where majestic hills assemble,
Raise our banner bright,
Cheer until the Heavens tremble,
for the Green and White.
Through the years in all endeavor,
we will ever be;
Loyal to our Alma Mater,
Hail All Hail to Thee!
PADEN CITY HIGH SCHOOL FIGHT SONG
Tune: Wave the Flag (for Old Chicago)
We're from Paden City High School,
The best school in the land!
We're the rough and ready Wildcats,
Together we will stand!
Wave high the green and white forever,
for dear old P. C. Fame,
Fight on for glory and for victory,
so the Wildcats win this game!
PCHS is a conference member of Ohio Valley Athletic Conference (OVAC) and Mason-Dixon Conference.
For Boys and Girls Track, PCHS is a member of the Ohio River Valley Track League.
PCHS is home to the Biggest Little Band in the Land, the Paden City Wildcat Band. While under the direction of Ross "Ed" Hood, Paden City was awarded a WV state championship title for Stage/Jazz Band in 1973 and for a second time in 1978, competing against bands from schools representing Class AAA. Under the direction of Ed Hood, the Paden City Marching, Concert, Pep and Stage Bands where the considered by many to be the best in the state, as they returned many times to Paden City from competitions with multiple awards during his era. After Ed Hood retired, the tradition continued under the direction of the late John Nail. The Paden City Band captured regional championships in the Marching Bands of America, placed 7th in the United States in 1985 at the Indiana Hoosier Dome after placing first at the MBA Pittsburgh Regional Championships in Penn Hills, PA. John Nail also directed the band in an unheard of "Undefeated" 1982 season, as the Paden City Band never received anything but first place trophies that year. Following the tragic death of John Nail, the Paden City Band was then directed by Douglas Carter, followed by Debra Pollock Price, and then Byron W. Philben. The Wildcat Band also made it to BOA Nationals in 2001 under the direction of Byron Philben, where they placed 10th. After Byron Philben left, the band was then directed for two years by Malissa A. Buckovenski, before current director Steven W. Jones took leadership of the band. Under the direction of Steven Jones since 2002, the Paden City Band has nearly doubled in size under his leadership and continues to place at competitions and festivals in West Virginia and Ohio and receive 'Superior' and 'Excellent' ratings at State Adjudication Festivals. The Concert Band over the past few years has received several Superior Ratings at the State Regional Ajudication Festival and the Marching Band continues to place at competitions in the state of West Virginia for High Honors in Marching and High Honors in Music, including the Sistersville / Tyler Consolidated High Oil and Gas Festival, Roane County High School WV Black Walnut Festival, Sissonville High School Invitational Band Festival, and the Ripley High School Viking Festival. In the area of music, Paden City High School offers to students: Marching Band, Concert Band, Jazz/Stage Band, Percussion Ensemble, Basketball Pep Band, Woodwind and Brass Ensembles, and Chorus.
Paden City High School also offers over 15 clubs to students including 'local' clubs such as the Ping Pong club as well nationally recognized chapters of the NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY, NATIONAL ART HONOR SOCIETY, and FUTURE BUSINESS LEADERS OF AMERICA.
Paden City High School has a competitive ACADEMIC QUIZ BOWL TEAM, which competes at Quiz Bowl Competitions in the area. PCHS is a host site for a Quiz Bowl Competition, which is held annually in the spring at PCHS, and is sponsored by PPG Industries and Bayer Credit Union.
PCHS also offers membership in academic honor societies for Mathematics (MU ALPHA THETA), English and Science as well as annual participation in the RESA SCIENCE FAIR and the West Virginia Department of Education's STATE SOCIAL STUDIES FAIR, which has three levels including the School Fair, Regional Fair, and State Fair. PCHS continually has winners in the Regional and has had several state winners. PCHS also sends participants to MATH FIELD DAY, which has a county, region, and state level. PCHS has had students compete on all three levels of Math Field Day, including the state level, most recently in Spring of 2010.
Despite being one of the smallest public schools in the state, Paden City High School has a history of athletic excellence capturing multiple state championships:
WV State Football Champs: 1970, 1979
WV State Boys Basketball Champs: 1960, 1973, 1987
WV State Cheerleading Champs: 1994, 1998
Donna K. Jones- COUNSELOR
Carmen Shepherd- SECRETARY
L. Fred King- 9-12 ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
Brent J. Croasmun- 7-8 ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
Steven W. Jones- BAND DIRECTOR/ DIRECTOR OF INSTRUMENTAL AND VOCAL MUSIC PROGRAMS
LEADERS OF CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT PCHS
Matt Ferrebee / Kathi Ferrebee- WILDCAT BOOSTERS ASSOCIATION PRESIDENTS
Rodney McWilliams- PADEN CITY FOUNDATION PRESIDENT
Susan Trowbridge- PADEN CITY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT
Wetzel County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 17,693 people, 7,164 households, and 5,079 families residing in the county. The population density was 49 people per square mile . There were 8,313 housing units at an average density of 23 per square mile...
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
in the small town of Paden City
Paden City, West Virginia
Paden City is a city in Tyler and Wetzel Counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia, along the Ohio River. The population was 2,860 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Paden City is located at ....
.
Paden City High School opened its doors as a 9-12 school in 1951 and in 1952, PCHS had its first graduating class. PCHS continually is recognized for outstanding academic progress. It has received many recognitions for academics and has been named a W.V.D.E. High Achieving School and for the W.V.D.E. Annual Performance Index, PCHS received the status of "Distinguished School," which means it was the upper quartile for academic performance. Paden City High School has several West Virginia State Champions, Ohio Valley Athletic Conference
Ohio Valley Athletic Conference
The Ohio Valley Athletic Conference is a high school sports league in parts of southeastern Ohio and northern West Virginia. The "OVAC" is the largest conference of its kind in the United States. Schools in the upper Ohio Valley supply over 12,000 athletes in various competitive athletic areas. ...
Champions (OVAC), and Mason-Dixon Champions.
The current structure that houses Paden City High School was completed in 1977, with an addition and remodeling project completed in 1988. The 1977 structure was built after the original structure that was built as Paden City Junior High in 1922, burned in 1975, more information on the current and past buildings is included below. After Paden City Middle School, which housed grades 6-8, was closed in 1993, grade 6 became part of Paden City Elementary School
Paden City Elementary School
Paden City Elementary School is a school located in the small town of Paden City, Wetzel County, West Virginia.Paden City Elementary is recognized as a West Virginia Blue Ribbon School, a West Virginia Exemplary School, and a WVDE High Achieving School. Paden City Elementary houses grades...
, and grades 7 and 8 became part of the high school.
, Paden City High School houses grades 7-12 with an enrollment of 157.
The school's mascot is the wildcat, and the school colors are green and white.
Establishment of PCHS
Educational opportunity was first offered in Paden City in a proverbial little red schoolhouse. This one-room brick building was located in the Wetzel County part of town, just across the highway from what is now the Wesleyan Methodist church. The second school was built on the back of the present school site. It was a four-room building of wood frame construction. About 1916 the school population had increased to such an extent that the four-room building was inadequate, and the J.R. Henthorne Building on Main Street was secured for school purposes. A few years later the Kannan Building on Fourth Avenue was rented since it afforded more space than the Henthorne Building.The temporary building being very unsatisfactory created a strong sentiment favoring the construction of a new school building. Since similar crowding conditions existed in the schools of other Magnolia District communities, a bond issue for financing a district building program was laid on December 14, 1922. The building was erected and the interior partially completed at a cost of less than $70,000. It was further completed as need for space arose. During this period of expansion the State Department of Education authorized the establishment of the "Junior High School," with special permission being granted to include the tenth grade. Because the Tyler/Wetzel county line divides Paden City, juniors and seniors living on the Tyler side of the line had to travel to Sistersville and attend Sistersville High School, and juniors and seniors living on the Wetzel side of the line had to travel to Magnolia High School
Magnolia High School (West Virginia)
Magnolia High School is a public secondary school in New Martinsville, West Virginia, United States. It is part of the Wetzel County Schools district and is located at 601 Maple Avenue. As of the 2009-2010 school year, enrollment is 463 students. The feeder school for Magnolia is New...
in New Martinsville. Paden City found friends competing against friends and even brothers against brothers in athletic competitions.
During the years that the Junior High School served the educational needs of the community, parents and students envisioned the time when the change at the eleventh grade level would not have to be made. In 1949 a concerted effort with a vision of the formation of a four-year high school at Paden City was made. That effort was led by Ray Berger, Owen McKay, Jess Brown, Guy Nichols, and Dr. R.F. Miller. The state superintendent of schools approved the plan, and after three appearances Paden City finally had the high school it had long sought. The Wetzel County Board of Education approved the measure by a 3-2 vote. The measure was approved by the Wetzel County Board of Education only after the Paden City Lions Club volunteered to purchase typewriters and office equipment; and Owen McKay, speaking for the community, told the board of education that the citizens of Paden City would buy an athletic field for the school. With this beginning, the high school and athletic field became a community project that brought the city and its people together in a single purpose.
The annual Labor Day Celebration was started to raise money for facilities at the new school. Workers at Paden City Pottery and Paden City Glass gave money through payroll deduction plans to support the school. The amount workers gave may only have been $2 per week, but at a salary of $15 per week, that was a sacrifice. They did it because Paden City kids needed a school at Paden City. No state or county tax dollars were used to purchase or build the athletic field. As there was approximately a four-foot drop from one end of the property, which was to be used for an athletic field, to the other, the field had to be leveled off. A fence measuring 1,830 feet was installed, the field house was built, and bleachers were put up. It was estimated that it would take 80 months to pay the $17,300 cost of the land. In actuality the citizens of Paden City made the final loan payment in just 24 months. The light towers for the field arrived in a most unusual way. After raising $25,000 for the lights and the towers, they came by rail car to the south end of Paden City. A general call went out, and about 400 people carried the equipment, by hand, to the field. Men would work eight to ten hours a day at local industries and then work another six hours at the field to build bleachers.
In the fall of 1951, Paden City "High School" opened its doors for the first time. in Ray Berger, one of the moving forces behind the formation of the high school, became the first principal. Townspeople took fierce pride in the fact that they finally had their own high school and that high school students in Paden City could continue their education in their own community. Citizens were also concerned about education for all students in Paden City. In 1952, more than a year before the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court ruling Brown vs. the Board of Education, which integrated southern schools, Paden City High School was an integrated educational institution.
"Paden City High School exists because of the measure of support for education that was demonstrated in Paden City. People, who couldn't afford to give, sacrificed in the name of community education.- Owen McKay, Former PCHS Educator
PCHS Students Become known as "The Wildcats"
The Wildcats, as Paden City students are called, inherited their name from a semi-pro football team in Paden City during the 1940s. They had played with such ferocity that they were given then name Wildcats by their coach - a term that endured at the new high school in 1951.Although Paden City High School now uses the wildcat animial, the nickname given by the semi-pro coach was actually in reference to hard working industrial workers that were called "Wildcats" in the industrial revolution. At the time, Paden City had many operating factories and was known as "Paden City- The Industrial Town," a slogan that was used to attract citizens and industry to the town.
In 1959, Wildcat sports teams captured the first of many crowns as they won the OVAC in both football and basketball. In the spring of 1960, in the state basketball tournament in Morgantown, the mystique of Wildcat teams began. The fan support in Morgantown was unsurpassed. All the businesses in Paden City were closed. Even the mayor and the police chief were there.
1975 Fire Destroys Paden City High School
January 8, 1975, marked a dreadful day in Paden City history. Fire destroyed the 53-year old high school building. However, while the body of the building lay cremated, the determination of Paden City's citizens again came to the forefront. Churches and other institutions rallied once again and provided space for classrooms. Classes were held in the PCHS Gymnasium, which was not destroyed by the fire, the Paden City Christian Church, Paden City Church of the Nazarene, St. Paul's Methodist Church, and the Mater Dolorosa Catholic Church. Portable classroom trailers were also brought in and placed behind Berger Football Field. Less than one week of classes was missed due to the fire.New Paden City High School Building Dedication Held in 1977
Rumor that the school would not be rebuilt after the fire brought such a public outcry that construction of a new school began almost immediately.The new building with its definite modern style shows no resemblance of its predecessor but has nonetheless become a landmark in Paden City and the school continues to be a source for community pride in Paden City.
On May 1, 1977, the dedication of the present Paden City High School was held. The ceremony featured various guests, including Jack Dulany, superintendent of Wetzel County Schools; Ira Satterfield, the current principal of PCHS; Board Member Tim Miller; Rev. John Negley; and featured speaker, James Jeffers of the Class of 1964.
The new building departed slightly from the then-popular "OPEN CLASROOM" design of the 1970s era. The building features a spacious hall on the ground floor with a two-story open ceiling giving a view of the classrooms on both floors at once. The second floor consists of four major classrooms with another four down the hall. The gymnasium, band room, and shop rooms were not destroyed, although damaged, as they were protected by a firewall. The school also featured "wall-to-wall" carpeting, something unheard of in public schools until the 1970s.
In a short time trophy cases were installed on the first floor by various parents and the Paden City Boosters Association. Later, the Sprouse family donated trophy cases for the second floor commons area for athletic awards and the Paden City Band Patrons along with the family of John Nail (former Band Director) and the Paden City Boosters Association installed more cases on the second floor and in the band room to house the trophies of the Paden City High School Band.
Later in 1986, a bond levy in Wetzel County was passed giving money to re-build the other three county high schools and to add the addition of the Multi-Purpose Building to Paden City High School along with many other upgrades and remodeling projects with-in the main building. The Multi-Purpose Building complete with a cafeteria, common area and auditorium was completed and opened in 1988.
Paden City High School Saved in 2010
In early spring of 2009, rumors started that Paden City High School would be merged with another high school in the Wetzel County School System. Every 10 years, West Virginia school districts must submit a Continued Education Facilities Plan (CEFP). The plan was constructed by a CEFP committee, made up of selected individuals within Wetzel County. Paden City High School and the City of Paden City had no representation on this committee that recommended the closure of PCHS by fall of 2012. When rumors started, the Paden City Foundation formed "Project Cornerstone" which was made up of community members, PCHS Alumni, and PCHS Supporters. For several months the project worked on fact finding and advertisement for reasons to keep Paden City High School open and operational as a 7-12 high school. (The name "Cornerstone" was chosen because the group believes PCHS is the cornerstone of the Paden City Community.)A public hearing was held in March 2010 with the Wetzel County Board of Education for purposes of getting an idea of how the community felt about the possible closure of Paden City High. 35 individuals spoke on the issue. All 35 expressed that they wanted to see Paden City High School remain open and operational. Well over 1,000 individuals packed the PCHS Gymnasium, including Paden City Citizens, PCHS Alumni, PCHS Parents, PCHS Supporters, Political Officials, also in attendance was over 99% of the Paden City High School Student body as well as many students from Paden City Elementary School. The Paden City High School Band was also in attendance and played the PCHS Alma Mater and Fight Song before the hearing began.
On April 19, 2010 the Wetzel County Board of Education voted 5-0 in favor of keeping PCHS open and operational, and to have the CEFP re-written to state that Paden City High School would remain open and not consolidate with another high school in the county district.
The Paden City Foundation's "Project Cornerstone" has remained together as a group even after the vote of confidence by the board of education. Project Cornerstone continues to work to raise funds and support to recognize the importance of and ensure the future of Paden City High School and Paden City Elementary School.
PCHS Mission Statement
PCHS stands by the thought that "The historical support of "The Wildcat Philosophy" identifies Paden City High School as one whose expectations for students are high. It is a school with vibrant and colorful legacy of the past and a window to the future for any who choose to attend."Alma Mater / Fight Song
PADEN CITY HIGH SCHOOL ALMA MATERTune: Far Above Cayuga's Waters
VERSE 1
By Ohio's Sunlight Waters,
Let our voices rise!
Paden City's sons and daughters,
Praise Her to the skies!
Through the years in all endeavor,
we will ever be;
Loyal to our Alma Mater,
Hail All Hail to Thee!
VERSE 2
Hallowed Halls that knew our laughter,
Chains of Memory,
Bind Us to thee Ever-after,
To Eternity.
Through the years in all endeavor,
we will ever be;
Loyal to our Alma Mater,
Hail All Hail to Thee!
VERSE 3
Where majestic hills assemble,
Raise our banner bright,
Cheer until the Heavens tremble,
for the Green and White.
Through the years in all endeavor,
we will ever be;
Loyal to our Alma Mater,
Hail All Hail to Thee!
PADEN CITY HIGH SCHOOL FIGHT SONG
Tune: Wave the Flag (for Old Chicago)
We're from Paden City High School,
The best school in the land!
We're the rough and ready Wildcats,
Together we will stand!
Wave high the green and white forever,
for dear old P. C. Fame,
Fight on for glory and for victory,
so the Wildcats win this game!
Athletics/ Activities
PCHS competes in the following WVSSAC sports: football, volleyball, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls track, baseball, softball, golf, cheerleading.PCHS is a conference member of Ohio Valley Athletic Conference (OVAC) and Mason-Dixon Conference.
For Boys and Girls Track, PCHS is a member of the Ohio River Valley Track League.
PCHS is home to the Biggest Little Band in the Land, the Paden City Wildcat Band. While under the direction of Ross "Ed" Hood, Paden City was awarded a WV state championship title for Stage/Jazz Band in 1973 and for a second time in 1978, competing against bands from schools representing Class AAA. Under the direction of Ed Hood, the Paden City Marching, Concert, Pep and Stage Bands where the considered by many to be the best in the state, as they returned many times to Paden City from competitions with multiple awards during his era. After Ed Hood retired, the tradition continued under the direction of the late John Nail. The Paden City Band captured regional championships in the Marching Bands of America, placed 7th in the United States in 1985 at the Indiana Hoosier Dome after placing first at the MBA Pittsburgh Regional Championships in Penn Hills, PA. John Nail also directed the band in an unheard of "Undefeated" 1982 season, as the Paden City Band never received anything but first place trophies that year. Following the tragic death of John Nail, the Paden City Band was then directed by Douglas Carter, followed by Debra Pollock Price, and then Byron W. Philben. The Wildcat Band also made it to BOA Nationals in 2001 under the direction of Byron Philben, where they placed 10th. After Byron Philben left, the band was then directed for two years by Malissa A. Buckovenski, before current director Steven W. Jones took leadership of the band. Under the direction of Steven Jones since 2002, the Paden City Band has nearly doubled in size under his leadership and continues to place at competitions and festivals in West Virginia and Ohio and receive 'Superior' and 'Excellent' ratings at State Adjudication Festivals. The Concert Band over the past few years has received several Superior Ratings at the State Regional Ajudication Festival and the Marching Band continues to place at competitions in the state of West Virginia for High Honors in Marching and High Honors in Music, including the Sistersville / Tyler Consolidated High Oil and Gas Festival, Roane County High School WV Black Walnut Festival, Sissonville High School Invitational Band Festival, and the Ripley High School Viking Festival. In the area of music, Paden City High School offers to students: Marching Band, Concert Band, Jazz/Stage Band, Percussion Ensemble, Basketball Pep Band, Woodwind and Brass Ensembles, and Chorus.
Paden City High School also offers over 15 clubs to students including 'local' clubs such as the Ping Pong club as well nationally recognized chapters of the NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY, NATIONAL ART HONOR SOCIETY, and FUTURE BUSINESS LEADERS OF AMERICA.
Paden City High School has a competitive ACADEMIC QUIZ BOWL TEAM, which competes at Quiz Bowl Competitions in the area. PCHS is a host site for a Quiz Bowl Competition, which is held annually in the spring at PCHS, and is sponsored by PPG Industries and Bayer Credit Union.
PCHS also offers membership in academic honor societies for Mathematics (MU ALPHA THETA), English and Science as well as annual participation in the RESA SCIENCE FAIR and the West Virginia Department of Education's STATE SOCIAL STUDIES FAIR, which has three levels including the School Fair, Regional Fair, and State Fair. PCHS continually has winners in the Regional and has had several state winners. PCHS also sends participants to MATH FIELD DAY, which has a county, region, and state level. PCHS has had students compete on all three levels of Math Field Day, including the state level, most recently in Spring of 2010.
Despite being one of the smallest public schools in the state, Paden City High School has a history of athletic excellence capturing multiple state championships:
WV State Football Champs: 1970, 1979
WV State Boys Basketball Champs: 1960, 1973, 1987
WV State Cheerleading Champs: 1994, 1998
Notable alumni
- Mark FunkhouserMark FunkhouserMark Funkhouser is a former mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, serving one four-year term from May 1, 2007 until May 2, 2011. Prior to serving as the city's mayor, Funkhouser served as Kansas City's city auditor.-Early life and education:...
, mayor of Kansas City, MissouriKansas City, MissouriKansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties... - W. Craig BroadwaterW. Craig BroadwaterWillard Craig Broadwater was a United States federal judge.Born in Elk City, Oklahoma, Broadwater graduated from Paden City High School in West Virginia and received a B.A. from West Virginia University in 1972 and a J.D. from West Virginia University College of Law in 1977. He was in the United...
, Federal Judge appointed by President Bill Clinton, Confirmed by the United States Senate in 1996 - Clark BarnesClark BarnesClark Barnes is currently a member of The West Virginia Senate, representing District 15 as a Republican, additionally Senator Barnes serves as the Minority Whip. On November 4, 2008, Barnes was reelected to the Senate’s District 15 winning by a comfortable margin...
, (Republican, Elkins) W.Va. State Senator, Former Candidate for Governor of West Virginia and prominent political figure in the state. - J. Ford Huffman, One of the founding editors of USA Today and highly acclaimed journalist
- Jeff CasteelJeff CasteelJeff Casteel is the current defensive coordinator for the West Virginia Mountaineers football team. Casteel also is the linebackers coach for the Mountaineers.-Early Life and Coaching:...
, West Virginia University Football Defensive Coach. Named 'Rivals' National Defensive Coach of the Year 2007. - Dr. Joyce Ice, Ph.D, Director, Art Museum of West Virginia University; former director of the Museum of International Folk Art, Santa Fe, New Mexico
- Dr. Michael Cunningham, MD, Associate Professor, Radiology, WVU School of Medicine
- Dr. Jarvis Moyers, Ph.D., retired from National Science Foundation, Washington, D.C., Director of Division of Atmospheric Sciences, lead the team that discovered the hole in the ozone layer.
Current Administration of Paden City High School
Jason "Jay" Salva- PRINCIPAL (since 2010, preceded by Warren L. Grace, Jr.)Donna K. Jones- COUNSELOR
Carmen Shepherd- SECRETARY
L. Fred King- 9-12 ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
Brent J. Croasmun- 7-8 ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
Steven W. Jones- BAND DIRECTOR/ DIRECTOR OF INSTRUMENTAL AND VOCAL MUSIC PROGRAMS
LEADERS OF CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT PCHS
Matt Ferrebee / Kathi Ferrebee- WILDCAT BOOSTERS ASSOCIATION PRESIDENTS
Rodney McWilliams- PADEN CITY FOUNDATION PRESIDENT
Susan Trowbridge- PADEN CITY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT
See also
- Wetzel County SchoolsWetzel County SchoolsWetzel County Schools is the school district within Wetzel County, West Virginia, USA.-Divisions:Wetzel County Schools is divided into four attendance areas: the Hundred area, the New Martinsville area, the Paden City area, and the Short Line area....
- Paden City Elementary SchoolPaden City Elementary SchoolPaden City Elementary School is a school located in the small town of Paden City, Wetzel County, West Virginia.Paden City Elementary is recognized as a West Virginia Blue Ribbon School, a West Virginia Exemplary School, and a WVDE High Achieving School. Paden City Elementary houses grades...
, Paden City High's Feeder School