Former RV FFA Advisor honored
Honor: Long time River View FFA advisor Raymond Griffith was recognized at the November FFA and alumni meeting held at River View High School on Friday evening, Nov. 13 following a meeting of the school’s chapter and dinner. Pictured are Bob Buxton who taught with Griffith and was an FFA advisor at RV from 1971-2005, current RV FFA advisor Jim Rich, RV FFA chapter President, Amy Johnson, RV FFA alumni President Walter Doughty and current RV FFA advisor Allyssa McMullen. Beacon photo by Mark Fortune
WARSAW – During a combined meeting of the River View FFA Chapter by President Amy Johnson and the River View FFA Alumni, alumni President Walter Doughty thanked volunteers for their many hours of work on the Bowman School restoration project and the school was dedicated to former River View FFA advisor Raymond Griffith.
A framed certificate for Griffith reads, “The River View and River View FFA Alumni are pleased to dedicate the restoration of the Bowman One Room School House to Raymond Griffith, in honor of the dedication and passion for Agriculture Education and the River View FFA, dated November 13, 2015”.
The certificate is signed by River View FFA Alumni President Walter Doughty and River View FFA President Amy Johnson.
RV FFA Alumni President Walter Doughty recognized some of the volunteers that have helped make the restoration project possible: Jim Rich, Chuck Wiseman, James Smith, Jeff Beckman, Robbie Latham and several others. Smith and Rich were both awarded a lifetime membership in the alumni organization. Doughty said of the pair, “I can’t say enough about the work that they have done on that building.”
Doughty said that he thought Griffith, “Dreamed of teaching at least one class in that schoolhouse. We hope to still make that possible.”
According to former published newspaper articles, many believe that the earliest Bowman School stood on the north side of the present U.S. Route 36 and between the south bank of the Walhonding River and the present U.S. 36, probably in lot 2 of the 4th quarter of Bethlehem Township. The school was bought by Newton Speckman and L. C. Shaw, both teachers in Coshocton County, and moved by them several hundred yards north to the Speckman-Shaw farm where it was used as a bunkhouse, meeting place, etc.
The school now sits on River View Schools property and boasts a new roof that looks like the original slate roof, the siding has been replaced, the original joists hold up the roof and work will be continued on interior siding, flooring and more with the goal to retain the look of a one room school of that era as much as possible. Doughty asked that anyone who might have information as to what a one room school may have looked like inside to contact him, the River View FFA or any of the volunteers.
Doughty said about recognizing Griffith, “It was Mr. Griffith’s dream that we move the school from the Speckman farm up here to River View. He was a wonderful teacher as far as the Vo-Ag department at River View. I think he was one of the most influential agricultural people in the community. He was well respected. I know that my son and I went to hear him speak because he would go out and give talks. The boys and the girls both respected him. It was almost hard for me to call him Ray; I don’t think Robert, my son, can call him Ray. He asked us to call him Ray but it’s Mr. Griffith to me.”
mark@coshoctoncountybeacon.com
Category: Clubs & Organizations
