Tribute to Educator Planned at HOF Ceremony

A special tribute will be presented at the Oceana High School Hall of Fame induction ceremony in honor of Paul Ray Blankenship, educator, historian, genealogist, and writer, who passed away Sept. 30, 2010. The ceremony will take place on May 7, 2011, at 7 p.m. in the Oceana Middle School auditorium.

Blankenship was inducted into the Oceana High School Hall of Fame on June 1, 2000. He was asked to serve on the Hall of Fame selection committee in 2001, and in 2002, he was elected as vice-chairman. He became the HOF chairman in 2003, where he carried out his duties until his death.

Blankenship was a 1958 graduate of Oceana High School, as well as a graduate of Concord College and Marshall University. He taught at Oceana High School for twenty-five years. His love and devotion to the school was acknowledged when he was asked to speak at the final commencement exercises in May 2002.

His many other contributions include helping to organize the Oceana High School Alumni Association and the Captain Ralph Stewart Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution. He was a charter member of both organizations. He was a member of the Wyoming County Genealogical Society and helped to establish the Wyoming County Historical Museum. In 1976, he received the "Distinguished West Virginian" award from then-Governor Arch Moore, for his work on the state bi-centennial celebration. Recognized in 2000 by the West Virginia Department of Culture and History, Charleston, West Virginia, he received the History Hero Award for "contributions toward the preservation of our history and culture."

"Blankenship loved Oceana High School," said Hall of Fame Chairman Ira Cook, who is also a long-time friend of Blankenship. "He devoted his time and energy to preserving the history of the school as well as the local area. It is because of his loyalty that we pay tribute to Paul during the sixteenth annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony. We are grateful for his many contributions and we acknowledge his accomplishments. He will be missed."