Ohio County, West Virginia    Biography of Howard J. McGINNIS

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The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., 
Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 120

HOWARD J. McGINNIS has become an influential figure
in the educational affairs of his native state, and his peda-
gogic and executive powers are being effectively used in
his present important office, that of president of the West
Virginia State Normal School at West Liberty, Ohio Coun-
ty, an institution of which due record is made in the gen-
eral historical department of this publication.

Professor McGinnis was born on a farm near Glenville,
Gilmer County, this state, and the date of his nativity was
April 4, 1882. The family lineage traces back to John Mc-
Ginnis, who, as an orphan boy, came to what is now West
Virginia nearly a century ago and who here passed his adult
life as a farmer in Gilmer County, where his death occurred
when he was well advanced in years. On his old homestead
farm was born his son John H., father of him whose name
initiates this review, and the son passed his entire life on
this ancestral farmstead, which is still in the possession of
the family, with the exception of a minor area. John H.
McGinnis, a man of strong mentality and sterling char-
acter, died at the age of sixty years, and his wife survived
him a number of years.

The early education of Prof. Howard J. McGinnis was
acquired in the public schools of his native county, and
there he was graduated in the State Normal School at Glen-
ville as a member of the class of 1906. In 1915 he was
graduated in the University of West Virginia, with the
degree of Bachelor of Science, and later he completed a
post-graduate course in the great University of Chicago,
from which he received the degree of Master of Arts.
He has been actively engaged in educational service in
West Virginia for twenty years, and his career in his pro-
fession has been marked by consecutive advancement in
subjective success and objective influence. For four years
he continued to teach in the rural schools, a basic
work of major importance; for three years he was prin-
cipal of the Fourth Ward School at Morgantown; for two
years he was superintendent of the schools at Bridgeport,
West Virginia; for one year he held a similar position at
Harrisville, Ritchie County, West Virginia; for five years
he was instructor in rural education and registrar at the
State Normal School at Fairmont; and in November,
1919, he was elected president of the State Normal School
at West Liberty.

Professor McGinnis has given earnest and valuable serv-
ice also in connection with the work of teachers' county
institutes and in other educational assemblages and organi-
zations. He is an active member of the National Teachers
Association and also the West Virginia State Teachers Asso-
ciation. He is a republican in general politics, but not
super-partisan in local affairs; his religious faith is that
of the Methodist Episcopal Church; and he is a member
of the Phi Sigma Kappa College fraternity. At West Vir-
ginia University he was elected to the honorary scholarship
fraternity, Phi Beta Kappa, and at Chicago University he
was similarly honored by election to the professional edu-
cation fraternity, Phi Delta Kappa. Mr. McGinnis is also
a member of the Odd Fellows and the Masonic lodges.

His fondness for athletics, in which he has taken active
part, enhances his value as an educator of youth. He is
an enthusiast in his profession and has the ability to in-
spire enthusiasm in the students who work under his super-
vision, as well as in the teachers with whom he is associated
in service.

Professor McGinnis wedded Miss Nellie A. Weisman, who
was born in the State of Illinois, and who was a teacher
under his supervision while he was connected with the public
schools at Morgantown, she being a graduate of Austin Col-
lege, Illinois. Professor and Mrs. McGinnis have two chil
dren: Alma Christine and Helen Virginia.