Eight Inducted into the OHS Hall of Fame

The Oceana High School Hall of Fame committee will induct eight new members into the school's Hall of Fame on Saturday, May 12, in the Oceana Middle School Auditorium at 7 p.m. A dinner reception will be held at 6 p.m. in the OMS cafeteria.

This year's honorees are: Debra Kay Cook, class of 1970; Randall Topping, class of 1966; Virginia C. Smith, class of 1941; Darrell W. Lester, class of 1966; James Cook, class of 1982; Thomas Layne Tyree, class of 1972; Jewell Whitten Lusk, class of 1954; and Kevin B. Lusk class of 1984.

DEBRA KAY COOK

Debra Kay Cook, Class of 1970, is the daughter of Flo Cook of Kopperston and the late Harry F. Cook. She is a 1980 graduate of Concord College, where she received a B.S. degree in Language Arts and Speech/Drama (7-12). She received an M.S. in Vocational Education (7-12) and Cooperative Education (7-12) in 1984 from Marshall University. Ms. Cook also attended various other colleges to enhance her educational skills.

Ms. Cook has been employed by the Wyoming County Board of Education for 26 years, where she is a hearing specialist, working with students who are deaf or hearing impaired. "I really enjoy working with these students," Cook commented. "At times it can be very challenging, yet rewarding. Cook says she hopes that as an educator she has in someway made an impact on her students' lives.

Cook is first vice president/membership chair of the Oceana High School Alumni Association, and received a Spirit Award from the Association in 2005. She enjoys traveling, reading and golfing.

During her four years at OHS, Cook says she had some great teachers, made some lifelong friends, and has wonderful memories which she will carry with her for the rest of her life. "I feel my experience at OHS, along with the support of my family, has contributed to the successes I have had since graduating from high school as well as today," Cook remarked.

RANDALL TOPPING

Randall Topping is a 1966 graduate of Oceana High School. He is the son of Mildred Womack, Woodrow Womack (stepfather, deceased), and Gilbert Topping (father, deceased). He is married to Brenda Cook and they are the parents of two children, Randall Van Topping II, 37, and Megan Topping, 24.

After leaving OHS, Topping attended Beckley College on a basketball scholarship and graduated in 1968. He joined the Navy in 1968 where he served until he entered WV Tech in 1973. He graduated summa cum laude from Tech in 1985 with a degree in electrical engineering technology.

After school, Topping went to work for U.S. Steel Mining Company. He worked there for 28 years as an engineer, assistant superintendent, division superintendent of long wall engineering, and corporate manager for U.S. Steel.

While employed with U.S. Steel, Topping developed a special college program called AIM (Applied Industrial Management) as a high school developmental tool, allowing students to earn up to 30 hours through Southern West Virginia Community College. He worked as manager of surface facilities and service, and retired in March 2006. He currently works for a contractor.

Topping is very active in the community, serving as associate pastor, youth pastor and music director of the Turkey Ridge Baptist Church. He likes to minister to the elderly at the local nursing home and the Wyoming County Youth Camp. He is also a volunteer minister to the Beckley Federal Prison.

VIRGINIA C. SMITH

Virginia C. Smith, Class of 1941, is the daughter of the late George Wayne and Letah Chambers Cook, who were longtime residents of Oceana. In high school, Smith was a cheerleader and charter member of the OHS Band. After graduating from OHS, she enrolled at Marshall College, where she received a B.S. in 1945. She also received her masters and vocational certification from Marshall. While at Marshall, she became a member of the Chi Beta Phi, Kappa Delta Pi, and Delta Kappa Gamma, all honorary organizations.

She taught 32 1/2 years in the Wyoming County School system, first at Glen Rogers High and then at Oceana High.

Ms. Smith been active in the community as well. She has been a member of the Oceana Woman's Club and the Wyoming County Retired Teachers. She has worked on many programs for Oceana's students including plays and pageants, assemblies and patriotic programs.

She was the organizing regent of the John Cooke Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).

Through the years, Smith has been very active in the Oceana Methodist Church, serving as choir member, youth director, Sunday school teacher, president of the Women's Society of Christian Service, church trustee, and church historian.

Smith's family has a long history with Oceana High School. Her mother and father are graduates; her brothers and sisters are graduates. her three sons, Thomas Jr., Douglas and Eric are also graduates. Smith continues to live in Oceana on the Smith Farm.

DARRELL W. LESTER

Darrell Lester is a 1966 graduate of Oceana High School. He is the son of Verna Lamb Lester of Kopper City Bottom and the late Wallace Lester. Lester is the oldest of seven children. He was married to Anna Mae Maynard Dancy. They have one child, David, and one grandson, Zachary.

While at OHS, he attended Wyoming County Vocational School his junior and senior year. He was previously employed by Peabody for 28 years. While working at Peabody, he was assistant shift foreman. He was chosen for the title of Big Chief at the last Pow Wow in 2002, which was also the 85th birthday of his mother.

Lester is an eight-year survivor of a bone marrow transplant. He is a dedicated member of the Oceana High School Alumni Association, where he serves as second vice president. He comments that he enjoys his work with the Oceana Alumni Association and keeping the school tradition alive. He is also a member of the Oceana First Church of God.

JAMES COOK

James Cook, Class of 1982, is the son of Donnie Cook of Virginia and Arbutus Brown of Oceana. He is married to Dawn Michele and they have four children, Callie Beth, Jamie Michele, Kris Ellen and Erin Daytona.

He worked for his grandfather, Otis Cook at Otis Cook Motor Sales from 1981-82 and is currently a career military enlistee with the U.S. Air Force.

After graduating from high school, Cook attended technical school in Denver, Colorado, NCO Leadership School, K.I. Sawyer AFB, Michigan, Advanced Digital Techniques, Dyess AFB, Texas, and several other leadership, computer and radar schools. He also attended courses at McMurry University and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University which helped him earn a degree in Avionic Systems Technology from Air Unversity..

Cook has received numerous awards and citations; including, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Air Force Good Conduct Medal, and Distinguished Graduate Award for maintaining a 4.0 GPA during quality assurance evaluator courses, and the 2006 OHS Alumni Spirit Award.

He has belonged to several organizations including the Oceana Jaycees and is presently on the Dyess Elementary PTA and is a charter member of the OHS Alumni Association.

Cook has contributed much to community service, starting early in his career--the first one being Meals-on-Wheels. He has participated in helping the local elementary schools, Brownies, and volunteered as an official during Special Olympics events held on Dyess AFB.

He and his wife currently reside at Dyess AFB, Texas, where they watch the church nursery one Sunday a month and help with events and project of Girl Scout Troop 1325.

THOMAS LAYNE TYREE

Thomas Layne Tyree, Class of 1972, is the son of Joy Ann Bailey Tyree and the late Eric Lane Tyree. During his high school years, Tyree excelled in academics as well as athletics, earning memberships in academic organizations and is recognized in the area for his athletic abilities. He was a key player in the 1970-71 and 1971-72 OHS Indian football teams to the WV State Football Playoffs.

Tyree attended Concord College on a football scholarship where majored in biology. After three years at Concord, he was accepted to dental school at West Virginia University. He moved his family, wife, Cheryl, and two daughters, Traci and Tanya, to Morgantown in July 1975.

After leaving Morgantown, he and his family moved to Kenova. There he opened a dental practice in May 1979. According to Tyree, ironically, this small town boasts the win over Oceana High in the 1971 state football playoffs. In spite of this, he says his family blended in rather well and his dental practice thrived.

While staying active in the Huntington Dental Society, Tyree has held nearly every office at one time or another including president 1990. He also served on several committees for the WV State Dental Society, and has served a term on the Board of directors of the WVU Dental Alumni.

He is an avid golfer and still plays weekly with his friends from dental school. He also enjoys hunting and fishing. Tyree says his happiest times are with his family, especially his grandchildren, Donivan, 3, and Kyleigh, 2.

JEWELL WHITTEN LUSK

Jewell Whitten Lusk, Class of 1954, is the daughter of late Frank and Rachael Whitten.

She was a homemaker until the late 1960's, until she became a part-time Singer sewing teacher and from that, she rose to become the first female Singer store manager in her region. She owned her own Singer franchise for 20 years. During her nearly forty years in the sewing machine business, she taught hundreds of women to sew and tailor.

She has been an active member of the Parkersburg business community. She was the first female admitted in the Parkersburg Kiwanis Club and remains a faithful member.

Lusk has been an active community service volunteer. She supports Habitat for Humanity and has served as a board member, painter/carpenter/ditch digger for Habitat housing projects. She took pride in participating in Women Raise the Roof, the first women-only built house in Wood County.

She has been a member of the local American Cancer Society Board, has cooked for the Salvation Army on Thanksgiving morning for many years, and served as cook and hostess for Emmanuel Baptist Church for many years.

She is an active member of the Eastern Star, Parkersburg Women's Club and is a reader for fourth grade students at Worthington Elementary School.

She is a member of the Emmanuel Baptist Church where she holds many positions and continues to be active in her church. She has served on the Board of the West Virginia Baptist Association and has also served as moderator for the Parkersburg Baptist Association. She was presented the lifetime achievement award by the Parkersburg YWCA/Altrusa Women of Excellence for 2006.

Lusk is married to Raymond Lusk, Class of 1950, and they are the parents of four children, Neva, Jeff, Keith and Greg. Her motto has always been "You can do anything you want to do."

KEVIN B. LUSK

Kevin B. Lusk, a 1984 honor graduate, is the son of Landon and Jean Lusk of Oceana. He graduated from WVU with a bachelor's degree in business education and a major in accounting in 1988. He received a master's degree in business administration from the University of Pittsburgh in 2000.

After graduation from WVU, he accepted a position with the Pittsburgh office of Price Waterhouse (currently known as Price Waterhouse Coopers).

During his eight years with Price Waterhouse, he became a certified public accountant and progressed to manager in the firm's audit practice. His primary responsibilities were performing, financial auditing services for a variety of clients including large manufacturing companies and privately owned middle-market companies.

In 1996, he left Price Waterhouse Coopers to join Weirton Steel, then a 1.3 billion dollar integrated steel manufacturer, at the time, the largest private employer in the state of West Virginia. He held a variety of management positions in accounting and finance, human resources and strategic planning.

He accepted the position of Corporate Controller at Universal Stainless and Alloy Products in 2002. He was responsible for the company's accounting and finance operations and public company reporting requirements with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Lusk accepted the position of vice president and controller at Basis 100 Inc. in Pittsburgh in 2003. He was part of the management that negotiated and closed the sale of Basis 100 to a large West Coast mortgage company in 2004.

He became the chief financial officer for All-Clad Metalcrafters in 2004. He is a member of the American and Pennsylvania Institutes of Certified Public Accountants, the West Virginia University Alumni, and a charter lifetime member of the Oceana High School Alumni Association.

He and his wife, Sandy, have been married for eight years. His children are T.J., Alex and Krissa. His family attends St. Anthony's church in Follensbee.

Lusk says that he is very honored by the nomination for induction into the Oceana High School Hall of Fame. He stated, "As I look back on my life, the education, experiences and influences I had at OHS, they played a major role in allowing me to achieve my many goals."