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  Oral History Interview: Bill Ragette

  Bill Ragette

  This document is a transcript of a statement given by Bill Ragette at a public hearing conducted by the West Virginia Department of Energy on June 28, 1988, in Lincoln County. The purpose of the hearing was to give residents a chance to voice their opinions concerning an application by two coal companies to strip-mine at Six Mile Creek in Lincoln County. Bill Ragette argues against the permit, saying it would have adverse effects on the environment. He also mentions individuals such as Lloyd Kitchen, Oscar Fry, Denver Sloane, & Delbert Burchett.

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  Oral History Interview: David A. Rahall

  David A. Rahall

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning West Virginia business history. At the time of the interview, David Rahall was employed at Amsbary's (a men's clothing store) and was the manager of the 321 Shop. He discusses: the business itself; employee training; delegation; suppliers; computers in business; pricing; how the business has changed over time; and business practices.

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  Oral History Interview: Flara Ramey

  Flara Ramey

  These are a part of a series of interviews which Diana Parnicza conducted in the course of her project concerning Appalachian caregivers. Flara Ramey (referred to as Caregiver #6 in the interview) discusses: her family and her childhood; detailed information about caring for her husband and the people who help her care for him; why she decided to care for her husband at home rather than in a hospital; her husband's employment in timber, carpentry, and mining; some mention of church; and other topics.

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  Oral History Interview: Hester Ramey

  Hester Ramey

  These are a part of a series of interviews which Diana Parnicza conducted in the course of her project concerning Appalachian caregivers. Hester Ramey (listed as Caregiver # 1 in the interview) discusses: her family, a very detailed discussion of taking care of her disabled mother-in-law (Genoa Ramey) who has suffered several strokes; a survey called the family environmental scale (a series of 90 true-or-false questions designed to give an impression about the interviewee's family life); and other topics.

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  Oral History Interview: James Anthony Rappold

  James Anthony Rappold

  This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia. James A. Rappold discusses: coal companies and coal mining; his childhood; his family; West Virginia towns such as Ansted, Montgomery, and Hawks Nest; his work experiences as an ice man and steel worker; some New River Gorge history; and other topics.

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  Oral History Interview: Edward H. Ratcliff

  Edward H. Ratcliff

  This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia. Following a brief autobiographical sketch, Mr. Ratcliff discusses: his beginning involvement with the republican Party; county offices held and their duties; work with various party leaders; relations with the local Democrats; the method of delegate selection in Kentucky; feelings toward the 1980 Republican Convention; the role of religion in Eastern Kentucky politics; his work to re-elect Louie Nunn as governor in 1979; future growth for the party; and his forecast of the November election (briefly discussing Ronald Reagan).

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  Oral History Interview: Callie and Glenn Ratliff

  Callie and Ratliff

  This interview is one of series conducted concerning West Virginia religion. This folder is unorganized, containing two separate sections and one unnumbered page. Callie and Glenn Ratliff started a church during the Great Depression. They describe the building in the interview, including remodeling it and paying for it. There is some discussion of the Great Depression itself, but the interview also includes information about the Nazarene Church, differences they see between that Church and the Catholic Church, African-Americans and the church, Sunday School, their opinions on how to get people to go to church, World War II and Hitler, people they knew, their children, much information about politics and the Church, tithing (their opinions about it and their experiences doing it, including how they believe God has rewarded them for it), as well as other subjects. The interview ends with a discussion about a Turkish family they knew.

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  Oral History Interview: Josephine Marsh Rayford

  Josephine Marsh Rayford

  This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia. This interview is about Camp Washington Carver in Clifftop, WV. Josephine Marsh Rayford discusses: her work at the camp; her education; her employment history as a teacher in WV (including at Garnett High School & Stonewall Jackson High School); the history of the camp; individuals associated with the camp; activities at the camp; integration at the camp; an injury she suffered; and other topics.

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  Oral History Interview: Hallie E. Ray

  Hallie E. Ray

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning rural life in West Virginia. Mr. Hallie E. Ray discusses his life history including childhood games, types of communication and transportation used in the early twentieth century, food, farm products, school, church, and entertainment.

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  Oral History Interview: Carrie Graham Reardon

  Carrie Graham Reardon

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning education in West Virginia. Mrs. Reardon is a graduate of Concord College and taught school from 1917 until 1960. At the time of the interview, she was residing in Beckley, West Virginia. The interview deals with Mrs. Reardon's teaching experiences. She also discusses family background and some of the antiques which are in her posession.

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  Oral History Interview: Ruby B. Reeler

  Ruby B. Reeler

  This interview is one of series conducted concerning Oral Histories of African-American women who taught in West Virginia public schools. Mrs. Ruby B. Reeler first started teaching at Grandview School in West Virginia in 1952 and has been employed in several other schools since then. She gives us detailed information about her family throughout the interview, including family life, her feelings about each of her parents, a story about a woman taking advantage of her mother, meeting and marrying her husband, her children, and her current relationship with her husband, who she takes care of because of his sickness. Her childhood is another large topic, and she recalls growing up on a farm, Christmas during her childhood, her growing awareness of racism, and punishments she faced as a child. She also tells us about her education in detail. She remembers prom, sports, music, academics, and teachers during high school, and then her time at Storer College, a black college in West Virginia. She then moves on to her career in teaching, telling us why she chose a career in elementary education, the desegregation of schools, racial tensions at her schools, tensions between her and other teachers & school administrators, her teachings methods, how teaching has changed over time, and why she retired. She also had a career in the City Council and belonged to a number of organizations. Race relations is another important focus, and she tells us about segregation, racial slurs and a lesson she gave about them in her class, the racial climate of Harper's Ferry (West Virginia), and problems African-Americans face because of their race. There are numerous other discussion points as well, such as: moving to Charles Town; church and religion; comic books; old time radio shows; World War II (including the Pearl Harbor attack); women's rights; her self-perceptions and her perceptions on her life; as well as many other topics.

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  Oral History Interview: Beulah Reynolds

  Beulah Reynolds

  This interview is one of a series conducted with former employees of the Huntington Owens-Illinois, Inc. glass bottle factory. Mrs. Reynolds was 74 at the time of the interview, and discussed her work at the Owens-Illinois Glass Plant, including the working of the machines, how her pregnancy affected her work, race relations at the factory, and an injury. She also talks about labor unions and her family.

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  Oral History Interview: Ella Reynolds

  Ella Reynolds

  This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia. Mrs. Ella Reynolds discusses: her family; her father's employment history (including as a foreman for C. & O. Railroad); clothing; her education; Morris Harvey College; old and new businesses in Barboursville (WV); her first exposures to technologies such as airplanes, cars, and telephones; churches; brief discussions of politicians, World War I, & World War II; a brief discussion of the Great Depression; a hanging (execution); a brief discussion on doctors and medicine; gardening and hunting; and other topics as well.

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  Oral History Interview: Marshall Reynolds

  Marshall Reynolds

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning the Marshall University Society of Yeager Scholars. At the time of the interview, Mr. Marshall Reynolds was president of the Chapman Printing Company and chairman of Key Centurion BankShares. He discusses: his education; his employment history; a brief section on his military service; individuals such as Dale Nitzschke, Joe Hunnicutt, John Hall; his support for the Yeager program and Yeager scholars in general; his thoughts on leadership; influences of growing up in West Virginia; education in West Virginia; and other topics.

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  Oral History Interview: George W. Rice

  George W. Rice

  This interview is one of a series titled the Veterans History Project. George W. Rice was a World War II veteran in the United States Marine Corps. He discusses: brief information about his experiences before the war; being drafted; detailed information about his military training; very detailed information about his service and experiences during the war in the Pacific campaigns; catching hepatitis from drinking bad water; hearing that the war was over; his life and employment after the war; a brief discussion of his friends in the service; and other topics.

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  Oral History Interview: Evelyn Richards

  Evelyn Richards

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning West Virginia communities, focusing on Ceredo. At the time of the interview, Mrs. Evelyn Richards was a real estate agent at Real Estate Professionals. She discusses: her job and real estate in general; Rocco's Restaurant in Ceredo- Kenova, which is the main focus on the interview); Frank Lucente (a friend and part owner of Rocco's); other restaurants and restaurants in general; and a section on West Virginia politicians (such as Bobby Nelson, Al Espositio, and Jay Rockefeller).

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  Oral History Interview: James Bolding Ritchie

  James Bolding Ritchie

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning West Virginia town histories. This interview focuses on Huntington, West Virginia. Mr. Ritchie, born in Scottstown, Ohio, spent most of his life in Huntington, West Virginia. Topics covered in this interview include the Depression, the 1937 flood in Huntington, prohibition, prominent Huntington citizens, and the development of Huntington during the last fifty years (1924-1974).

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  Oral History Interview: Delmer Robinson

  Delmer Robinson

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning West Virginia communities, focusing on Ceredo. At the time of the interview, Delmer Robinson was the food editor of the Charleston Gazette. He discusses: his job; restaurants in West Virginia (such as Rocco's, Gatsby's, Permon's, Rebels & Redcoats, the Greenbrier, and Rax Roast Beef); ethnic food; alcohol in restaurants; as well as restaurants and economics.

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  Oral History Interview: Nancie Smith Robinson

  Nancie Smith Robinson

  This interview is one of series conducted concerning Oral Histories of African-American women who taught in West Virginia public schools. Mrs. Nancie Smith Robinson taught at a number of public schools, including one in Mound Bayou, Mississippi. She gives us very detailed information about her family, including their jobs and education, family reunions, white relatives, Christmas, parenting, her children participating in the Civil Rights Movement, and her family life. Her education is discussed in detailed as well; she attended Douglass High School and Bluefield State College, and recalls her teachers and her social life. Her teaching career is an important focus and she gives very detailed information about her career history, including Glenmount High School, Douglass High School, Jefferson School, and Marshall University. She also remembers the desegregation of schools and discusses race relations and how her race has affected her life. There are numerous other discussion points as well, and some of them include: churches; Mound Bayou; a brief story about not being allowed to be on a bowling team in Huntington; why she left Mound Bayou; a job designing kitchens; the Great Depression; World War II (including some information about rationing & the USO); her perceptions on her childhood; segregation; Camden Park (an amusement park in Huntington, WV); politics; information about Huntington, West Virginia; women's rights; people who influenced her; her self-perceptions; her thoughts on her life; ambitions she has; thoughts on teaching; and many other topics.

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  Oral History Interview: Robert Robson

  Robert Robson

  This interview is one of a series conducted with former employees of the Huntington Owens-Illinois, Inc. glass bottle factory. Mr. Robson worked at Owens for twenty-nine years, before which he was employed at the St. Claire Glass Company in Ceredo, Ohio. In the interview Mr. Robson describes his experiences at both factories as a skilled worker: a mold maker. The mold makers had their own union and enjoyed more status and a higher salary than the other workers at Owens. Mr. Robson ends the interview with his forecast for the economic climate of Huntington, West Virginia.

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  Oral History Interview: Ester Rogers

  Ester Rogers

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning rural life in West Virginia. Mrs. Ester Rogers, a long-time resident of Hurricane, West Virginia, is a retired employee of H. L. Greens variety store in Huntington, West Virginia. During this interview, she discusses her family history, childhood experiences, the Depression, and World War II.

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  Oral History Interview: Jim Rogers

  Jim Rogers

  This interview is one of a series conducted concerning West Virginia Vietnam veterans. In this interview, Dr. Jim Rogers discusses: his education and employment history; a brief section on his military training; a very detailed discussion of his involvement with Vietnam Veterans of America (which is the bulk of the interview); a discussion of Agent Orange; other Vietnam veteran organizations (such as the National League of Families); a brief section on the political situation in the Philippines at the time; a lecture & slide presentation based on his return visits to Vietnam; and other topics.

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  Oral History Interview: Fred Rohrig

  Fred Rohrig

  This interview is one of a series titled the Veterans History Project. Fred Rohrig served in the army just after World War II. He discusses: his military training; very detailed information about his service (mainly in Germany, but also Switzerland); other soldiers he knew; detailed information about his family (some of whom served in wars); baseball; his experiences after the war; his employment as a core maker; and other topics as well.

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  Oral History Interview: Patricia Rosebourgh

  Patricia Rosebourgh

  This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia. This interview is about Camp Washington Carver in Clifftop, WV. Patricia Rosebourgh discusses: her employment history (including full-time culinary arts instructor at the Charleston Job Corps Center and executive director of the United Way Agency in Charleston); her educational history; how she came to work at Camp Washington Carver; her experiences at the camp (as a teacher and when she was a child); people associated with the camp; students at the camp; segregation and integration at the camp; gender issues at the camp; and other topics.

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  Oral History Interview: Patricia S. Rose

  Patricia S. Rose

  This interview is one of series conducted concerning the Oral History of Appalachia. Patricia Rose was a retired physical education teacher, born in 1938. She grew up in coal mine camps in Wharton, W. Va. in Boone County during the 1940s and 1950s. Her father was a non- union mine foreman. There were 10 children in her family, and she gives a lot of information about everyday life in the camps, and also goes back to discuss life in her grandparents' time and their hardships. Schools of the time are described in detailed, and a lot of emphasis is put on the strong community there and buildings, activities, size, etc. of the coal camp. Memories of strikes are included from a child' view. She is a very proud West Virginian. Pat's maiden name was Setzer, her mother's maiden name was Harless, her maternal grandparents Sutphin, maternal great-grandmother Susan Workman. She also discusses her experiences as a teacher.