WOODROW WILSON HIGH SCHOOL HISTORY

Paul J. Vennari

Paul Vennari, in the 1950s

This obituary was taken from the Register-Herald. Mr. Vennari's biography in the West Virginia Blue Book in the 1950s, from which the above photo was taken, gives a birthdate of March 26, 1915.

Paul J. Vennari, 85, of 415 Woodlawn Ave., Beckley, died Sunday, Dec. 31, 2000, at the Sunbridge Pine Lodge Nursing Facility following a short illness.

Born March 26, 1916, at Lumberport, he was the son of the late Joseph and Mary Vennari.

Mr. Vennari attended West Virginia public schools, attended West Virginia Wesleyan College and received a bachelor of arts degree from Salem College, attended Marshall University Graduate School, and received a master of arts degree from West Virginia University in administration and physical education. Mr. Vennari was a former teacher and coach for one year in McDowell County ools, and a teacher and coach in Mercer County for five years.

Mr. Vennari was a teacher, principal and coach in Raleigh County for over 38 years, having retired as a principal at Stratton Junior High School, was a former assistant principal at Beckley Junior High School and was a drama teacher at the school.

He was a former football and basketball referee in West Virginia and parts of Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia for 40 years.

Mr. Vennari was the past president of the Southern Coal Fields Officials Association and officiated high school, college and national playoff games. Upon retirement from officiating Mr. Vennari was named commissioner of the WVIAC. Mr. Vennari was colorful and disciplined, and was always positioned to make the right call. He had the ability to diffuse difficult situations and was always able to get along with coaches, players and fellow officials.

Mr. Vennari had served as vice president and president of the WVEA, vice president and president of the West Virginia Association of Classroom Teachers, vice president of the National Association of Classroom Teachers, member of West Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals, West Virginia Association of School Administrators, West Virginia School Board's Association, and executive director for the West Virginia Association of Elementary School Principals.

Mr. Vennari had served 10 years (five terms) in the West Virginia House of Delegates. He was currently serving as a board member of the Raleigh County Board of Education, a position he has held for three terms. He was also active in the Silver Haired Congress and Legislature.

Mr. Vennari was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, having enlisted in 1942, served in the Pacific Theater of Operation, and received the rank of lieutenant colonel USMC, retired.

He was an avid golfer and was a member of Glade Springs and Black Knight Country Club. He also was a member of St. Francis deSales Catholic Church in Beckley.

Survivors include his wife of 44 years, Mildred "Mickey" Vennari; a brother, Jimmy Vennari and wife, Martha, of Pomeroy, Ohio; and several nieces and nephews.

A funeral liturgy will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Francis deSales Catholic Church, Beckley, with the Rev. Father Perry Mallacaman as celebrant. A rite of committal will follow at Sunset Memorial Park Mausoleum, Beckley.

Friends may call 6 to 9 p.m. today at Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Beckley, where a Christian prayer service will be at 8 p.m.

Pallbearers will be Donnie Shupe, Larry Ciccarelli, Jimmy Parker, Malvin Ross, Jerry Richmond, and Sen. Bill Wooton. Honorary pallbearers will be Lester Vaught and Dwight Dials.

Arrangements by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, Beckley.

Noted Educator Passes Away

The Raleigh County school system lost one of its premier educators, principals, administrators, referees and coaches on New Year's Eve.

Paul J. Vennari, county Board of Education member and former member of the WV House of Delegates, died Sunday, Dec. 31, 2000 at the Sunbridge Pine Lodge Nursing Facility on Stanaford Road in Beckley. He was 85.

Vennari was well known throughout the community, and indeed throughout much of the state, thanks to the many things he had been involved in throughout his long and fruitful life.

"For as long as I can remember, Paul Vennari has been involved in education," said acting Raleigh County superintendent Charlotte Hutchens. "He's definitely going to be missed."

Vennari was a teacher, principal and coach in Raleigh County for over 38 years, having retired as a principal at Stratton Junior High School, and was a former assistant principal at Beckley Junior High School where he was also a drama teacher.

Vennari was also well known in the sports world, having been a former football and basketball referee in West Virginia and parts of Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia for 40 years. He was the past president of the Southern Coal Fields Officials Association and officiated high school, college and national playoff games. Mr. Vennari, upon retirement from officiating, was named commissioner of the WVIAC.

Those who worked closely with him over the years said he was "colorful and disciplined," and had a keen knack for getting along with others.

"Paul had always been a real out-going, gregarious person. The kind of person that gets your attention or that you notice in a crowd," said former Raleigh County superintendent Dwight Dials. "People liked Paul because he was fun to be around. Nobody was a stranger to him."

Dials said that Vennari had a lot of wisdom from his years working in the school system.

"Paul really liked kids, liked the school business, and just got a lot out of life," Dials said. "He was a one-of-a-kind man, and you seldom meet someone like Paul."

Born March 26, 1916, at Lumberport, Vennari attended WV Wesleyan College, received a bachelor of arts degree from Salem College, attended Marshall University Graduate School, and received a master of arts degree from West Virginia University in administration and physical education. He was a former teacher and coach for one year in McDowell County Schools, and a teacher and coach in Mercer County for five years.

Vennari had served as vice president and president of the WVEA, vice president and president of the West Virginia Association of Classroom Teachers, vice president of the National Association of Classroom Teachers, member of West Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals, West Virginia Association of School Administrators, West Virginia School Board's Association, and executive director for the West Virginia Association of Elementary School Principals.

Vennari had served 10 years (five terms) in the West Virginia House of Delegates, and was also active in the Silver Haired Congress and Legislature. He was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, having enlisted in 1942, served in the Pacific Theater of Operation, and received the rank of lieutenant colonel USMC, retired.

Vennari is survived by, among other relatives, his wife of 44 years, Mildred "Mickey" Vennari.