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Alderson-Broaddus
College |
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News and Events Barbour County Businessman Gives To Scholarship Endowment
Scholarship Endowment - A. Houston Booth (center) and wife, Wylorae (second from left) present a check to A-B President Dr. Stephen Markwood (fourth from left) to endow a scholarship in their names for Barbour County students who attend A-B and major in business administration or marketing. They are pictured with Melody Jones (far left), CPA; and Mike Hudnall (far right), President, Freedom Bank of Belington. Local businessman, A. Houston Booth, is sowing seed in hopes of a great economic harvest in Barbour County. Booth recently pledged $500,000 for scholarships to Barbour County students who attend Alderson-Broaddus College and major in business administration or marketing. As part of Renewing the Promise: the Campaign for Alderson-Broaddus, Booth’s generous gift has not only a lasting impact on the economic growth of the Appalachian region, but also has the potential of changing student’s lives. “I have a vision to bring business back into the county,” said Booth. “I want to help young men and women develop the skills needed to manage and market their own businesses right here in Barbour County.” Born and raised on a farm in the Stringtown community of Belington near where he now resides, Booth attended a one-room school located at the foot of Laurel Mountain known as the Laurel Hill Grade School from 1924-1932, and graduated from Belington High School in 1936. He furthered his education by attending various schools for professional development, but his only degree received in college was from the University of Hard Knocks at Alderson-Broaddus College. He left his family’s farm in 1941 and worked for the Celanese Corporation, Cumberland, Maryland, for three years. He returned to Barbour County in 1944 when he purchased the farm where he now lives. From 1946-1948 he taught institutional farm training to World War II GIs in Barbour County through the West Virginia University Extension Program. In 1948, he joined International Harvester Company and managed a farm dealership for three years. He then accepted a job with Southern Sates Co-operative as a store manager trainee in Philippi. He quickly moved up the ladder within Southern States to store manager, district manager, and finally as regional manager, a position he held until he retired after 33 years of service in 1983. During his time with Southern States, Booth was responsible for the modernization and updating of services to farmers in 20 different stores, increasing sales from $10 million to $30 million over the course of 23 years. “I want my gift to make a difference in the lives of others, so they too can achieve the same amount of success I have had during my lifetime,” said Booth. Booth’s brother, Herbert C. Booth, graduated from A-B in 1949. Interestingly enough, Coyle paid for his first year of tuition at A-B with potatoes. “Coyle is very intelligent and always made good grades,” said Houston. “After high school, he wanted to further his education, but our family could not afford to send him to college. The Dean of Students at that time came to our farm wanting Coyle to attend Alderson-Broaddus. My parents told the gentleman that as much as they’d like to send Coyle to college, they simply didn’t have the money. After much discussion, the Dean of Students and my parents made a deal that if we’d supply the college with potatoes for an entire year, Coyle could attend classes at A-B. So, Coyle worked the fields, cultivating the soil, and harvesting enough potatoes to supply the college cafeteria for the year,” said Houston. Booth’s wife, Wylorae, also attended A-B for one year and has a deep commitment to following her husband’s lead in giving back to the A-B community. “Like Houston’s family, my family was also poor,” said Wylorea. “My father was a cattle farmer and my mother tended to the gardens and housework. We want to share with others how important an education is to the furthering the future of the area.” Although he is retired, Houston is very active in many organizations in Barbour County. He is a member and past president of the Barbour County Farm Bureau; past member of the Board of Supervisors of the Tygart Valley Soil Conservation District; past member of Wes-Mon-Ty Resource Conservation and Development; member of the Barbour County Livestock Association and the West Virginia Livestock Association, member of the Board of Directors of the Belington Bank, and the Barbour County Office for Economic Development. He is also a member of the Belington Baptist Church. He has been very active in state and community affairs serving at past president of the West Virginia Association of Agriculture Industries; past president of the West Virginia Farm Supply Association; the Board of Directors of the West Virginia Petroleum Council; past member of the Board of Directors of the West Virginia Poultry Association; and past member of the Belington and Clarksburg Kiwanis Clubs. In 1980, he was named “Oil Man of the Year” by the West Virginia Petroleum Council for his work in legislative issues dealing with the legislature effecting farmers and retail petroleum dealers. He holds an Honorary State Farmers Degree in the Future Farmers of America. He is a member of the Belington Masonic Lodge #125, a 32nd Degree Mason, and a Shriner. In 1993, Booth was named “Chamber Member of the Month” by the Barbour County Chamber of Commerce. That same year, his farm was selected as the “Soil Conservation Farm of the Year” by the Tygart Valley Soil Conservation District. In 1994, he was honored by the West Virginia Poultry Association with a Life Membership for his distinguished service to the state’s poultry industry. In 1997, he was inducted into the West Virginia Agriculture Industry Hall of Fame in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the Agriculture Industry of West Virginia. A plaque will be displayed in Withers-Brandon Hall honoring Booth’s generous contribution to A-B. “In marketing there’s a slogan ‘Nothing happens until someone sells something’…I want that to be remembered for generations to come,” said Booth. |
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