Burch High School

Burch High School
Old Burch High School
Location
Burch High School: 1 Bulldog Boulevard Old Burch High School: Eutaw Avenue Delbarton , West Virginia 25670 United States Burch High School: 37°40′38″N 82°10′45″W Old Burch High School: 37°42′41″N 82°11′08″W
Information
School type	Public, High School
Established	1921 (1921)
Status	Closed
Closed	June 2011 (2011-06)
School board	Mingo County Board of Education
Grades	7 to 12
Language	English
Campus	Town
Color	Red   white   blue
Athletics	Basketball, Football, Baseball, Volleyball
Mascot	Bulldog
Team name	Burch Bulldogs
Rivals	Tug Valley High School Matewan High School Williamson High School Gilbert High School
Newspaper	Bulldog's Bark
Yearbook	The Bulldog
Feeder schools	Burch Middle School
Website	BHS Alumni Forum Website

Burch High School (BHS) was a public high school in Delbarton, West Virginia. It was closed in June 2011.

History

In 1916, under the leadership of Lee District board members James A. Farley, Bill Maynard, John Pinson, District Supervisor Lacy Chapman, and Superintendent of Schools Sam Curry, the plan for a new high school was started.

In the fall of 1918, Frank Totten and Claude Dove, principals of the Rock House and Upper Elk schools respectively, were brought to Mingo County to organize the new school. These two principals organized a third-class high school in 1919 at Rock House. In the fall of that year, they moved the new Rock House High School to Upper Elk with Claude Dove as principal. After moving, Rock House High School was promoted to a second-class high school.

In the fall of 1921, Rock House High School moved back to Rock House as a first-class high school and the school's name was changed to Burch High School.

The first graduating class, in 1922, comprised twenty-one students. Of this 1922 class, two became attorneys, five went on to become doctors, and twelve became teachers. James Bertram "Bert" Curry (1901–2004), the valedictorian of the class, became a very successful carpenter, and lived to the grand age of 103 years.

Burch High School shared its halls and classrooms with Burch Junior High for many years. In June 1987, Burch High School and Burch Junior High School separated. Burch Junior High remained in the same building while Burch High School moved to a new facility adjacent to the existing Mingo County Vocational School in Airport Bottom, approximately 3 miles south on Route 52. The BHS class of 1987 was the last class to graduate from the old school while the class of 1988 was the first to graduate from the new Burch High School, after starting off the year at the old building.

In June 2011, Burch High School closed its doors for the last time. The 90-year-old school was consolidated with Gilbert, Matewan, and Williamson high schools to form Mingo Central High School, which opened in August 2011. The new school sits at an elevation of 1,940 feet on a 90-acre site along the King Coal Highway in Delbarton, WV (approx. 7 miles southeast of Delbarton).

Principals

• Claude Dove
• O. C. Van Camp
• R. E. Remish
• H. D. Fleming
• Marion D. West
• W. A. Collawn
• Troy Floyd
• Wayne B. Curry
• Henry C. Justice
• James Blevins
• Bradford Justice
• Jada Hunter
• W.C. Totten
• Jim Fletcher
• Tag Keith
• Don Gillman

School Anthem

The School Anthem of Burch High School was adapted from Sam Houston State University's "Alma Mater". It was most commonly played or sung at Burch High School class assemblies and sporting events.

"Hail to Burch High School, Hats off to you,
Ever you'll find us, Loyal and true;
Firm and undaunted, Ever we'll be.
Here's to the school we love.
Here's a toast to thee!"

Athletics

Burch High School earned five state basketball titles.

Basketball

BHS won the first-ever basketball state title by a Mingo County high school in 1957 (Burch (27-1) 58, Barrackville (24-4) 54), under coach Bill Young. John Maynard, a future Burch head coach, played on that team under the old Class B division.

Burch then won the Class A title in 1989 (Burch (23-2) 70, Bishop Donahue (20-5) 61), with Coach John Maynard; then two more in 1991 (Burch (23-3) 67, Peterstown (25-1) 53), and in 1993 (Burch (24-3) 70, Doddridge Co. (14-12) 42), under Coach Mike Smith. On March 16, 2011, the Bulldogs played their final basketball game. Burch played its final home basketball game, on February 25, 2011, against Regional Christian School of Delbarton, WV.

State Basketball Titles

Old Class "B"
1957 (State Title) vs. Barrackville (58-54 FINAL)

Class "A"
1989 (State Title) vs. Bishop Donahue (70-61 FINAL)
1991 (State Title) vs. Peterstown (67-53 FINAL)
1993 (State Title) vs. Doddridge County (70-42 FINAL) 1994 State Runner-Up ( Doddridge County ) 1998 State Runner-Up ( Mullen's )

Boys' Basketball Coaches

• L. T. Hulenbright (Only lost 1 game in 1922)
• Bill Young (Old Class B State Championship 1957)
• Charles Hale
• John W. Maynard (Class A State Championship 1989.)
• Mike Smith (Second best school record in 1982, 19 of 20 games. Class A State Championship 1991, 1993.)
• Kevin Hatfield

Girls' Basketball Coaches

• Sally Farley (Lost 1 game in 3 years.)
• Lucille McDonald
• Bill Smith (Won Burch's only girls state title in 1990)State Title 50–48 over Montcalm