Author: Legacy Synthesis

Described as creative in his instruction, focused, intellectual, fun, and a faithful teacher, David Pleacher taught math at Handley for 33 years. Beginning in 1973, he taught calculus and later taught the first computer programming class at Handley using two TRS-80 computers for 15 students. He chaired the mathematics department from 1983 – 1995.

Angela Cutshaw, a former student and currently a teacher in Winchester Public Schools, stated, “Mr. Pleacher challenged me to study and pursue scholarly ideas. He held students to a high standard, applauded our achievements, and encouraged us when we failed to understand. He was not content to teach the same each year. He evolved, contributed, researched, wrote, and tried new things.”

David enjoyed sponsoring the Games Club, the math competitions, and Intramural Bowling. He created the Handley Math Page, his math website that he continues to maintain.

David’s work was recognized outside of the halls of Handley. He received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics Teaching from President Ronald Reagan and was selected to participate in the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation Math Institute at Princeton University.

He received the William C. Lowry Outstanding Mathematics Teacher Award from Virginia Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the Tandy Corporation’s Technology Scholars Award, and the Winchester Rotary Club’s Teacher of Influence Award.

After retiring from Handley, David and his wife Carol moved to Colorado where they volunteered with various organizations and visited 55 of the 63 national parks. 

David recently wrote: “Throughout my 33 years at Handley, I had the distinct pleasure of working with an exceptional faculty who was dedicated to educating the young people of Winchester.  During most of my years, there was very little turnover among the faculty, which speaks well of the learning environment, the support of the administration, and the quality of our students.  Many of the teachers in the math department taught together for 25 years or more.  “I am indebted to my students, whose curiosity, enthusiasm, and work ethic fueled my own love for teaching.  Handley pride is real, and I am proud to call myself a Handley teacher.  I have countless memories of my days at Handley, including the opportunity to teach all three of my own children and the children of many colleagues and church members.  Handley was a source of pride for the entire community and you don’t find that in most locations around the country.”  

Gertrude Ritter graduated from the Winchester High School in 1917. She took a postgraduate course there in 1917-1918.  An accomplished pianist, she took violin lessons playing on her grandfather’s fiddle and played violin in the first high school orchestra in Winchester.

A member of Phi Beta Kappa, she received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Randolph-Macon Women’s College in June 1922. After her graduation from R-MWC, she continued her education at the University of Virginia during the summer of 1924 and the American Academy at Rome, Italy during the summer of 1926. She married Alan Peery in 1929.

Miss Ritter was a member of the original faculty of Handley High School. She taught Latin from 1922 until 1954 when she became Assistant Principal in charge of guidance and the supervision of instruction. She retired as Assistant Principal in 1965.

During her 43 year career with Winchester Public Schools, Gertrude Ritter Peery was responsible for the preparation of a high school course of study and for the development of chapel program.  She was faculty advisor for the Executive Council for 27 years, sponsor for six classes and a coach for girls’ basketball.

Mrs. Peery served as President of the local chapter of the American Association of University Women and President of Winchester Education Association. She was President of the Virginia Division of the Classical Association and a speaker before the National Classical Association at St. Louis, Missouri. She served on the Board of Directors of Randolph-Macon Women’s College.

She was a member of the Fredericktown Garden Club and Kiwanis Ki-wives. She was the Quota Club’s “Woman of the Year” in 1949.

She was an active member of Preservation of Historic Winchester, the Winchester-Frederick County Historical Society, the Shenandoah Arts Council, and the American Legion Auxiliary.

After her retirement, she and her husband traveled extensively. Mrs. Peery died in Winchester in 1988.

Harold Patton spent his life serving his country, building a family business, and making Winchester a better community in which to live. He was a three sport athlete at Handley participating in football, basketball and track and was inducted into the Hunter Maddex Hall of Fame in 1990.

Harold served in the Headquarters of the US Army’s 29th Division in the European Theater during World War II and was the recipient of a Bronze Star for meritorious service. He was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and served as the local commander.

After returning from Germany, he married Laura Jean Forney, Handley Class of 1940. Harold and Jean owned and operated Patton’s Furniture Sales and Patton’s Moving and Storage. For over 65 years, Patton’s Furniture Sales in downtown Winchester has been managed by three generations of the Patton family, all of whom have been Handley graduates.

Harold was very active in the community. He was President of the Winchester-Frederick County Chamber of Commerce. He was a director of the Commercial and Savings Bank, the Valley of Virginia Bank, and Dominion Bank. He was on the original board of the William and Henry Evans Home and he worked with the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival for many years.

Harold was on the first Board of Trustees of Shenandoah College and Conservatory when the school relocated from Dayton, Virginia. As the treasurer of the building fund for eight years, he was instrumental in the development of Shenandoah’s Winchester campus.

Harold was an active member of the Braddock Street United Methodist Church. He served as Chairman of the Official Board, Chairman of the Finance Committee and
Chairman of the Trustees.

Jimmy Omps was voted “Most Likely to Succeed” by the Class of 1953. He played basketball at Handley for Coach Hunter Maddex and was manager of the football team before going to Shepherd College.

Jimmy was a three-year basketball starter for Shepherd making a career average of 76% of his free throws. He was a member of Shepherd’s first track and field team in 1954 and served as the trainer for its undefeated 1955 football team. He was inducted into the Shepherd University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1991.

After receiving his undergraduate degree from Shepherd, Jimmy went on to earn a Masters of Education degree from the University of Virginia. He returned to teach math at Handley in 1959 and worked with Coach Maddex as an assistant football coach and JV basketball coach. When Coach Maddex retired in 1967, Jimmy became varsity basketball coach and athletic director.

The Hunter Maddex-Jimmy Omps Gymnasium at John Handley High School is named for the two remarkable coaches and athletic directors. Hunter Maddex and Jimmy Omps coached at total of 664 varsity basketball games for Handley between 1946 and 1974. Their teams won approximately 63% of all games played.

Coach Omps was the Athletic Director at Handley until his retirement in 1995. The Shepherdstown Chronicle described him as “a symbol-statesman of the athletic excellence that was Handley High for many years” in an article published in August 2023. The article continued: “he’s more than a well-respected gentleman, who when mentioned among the sport’s dignitaries and greats in Virginia, can bring a smile to the faces of those who played for him, participated in games he officiated or knew him from his years at Shepherd.”

The Virginia Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association selected Coach Omps as the Athletic Administrator of the Year in 1977. At the recommendation of the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association Past Presidents, he was selected as the individual to receive the organization’s top award, the Thomas E. Frederick Award of Excellence, upon his retirement in 1995.

Coach Omps was the first person to be inducted into the Hunter Maddex Hall of Fame twice. He was inducted as a player in 1992 and as a coach in 2016.

Hudson Miller attended Handley during the height of the Great Depression. All he wanted to do when he attended Handley was play football for the school team and graduate.

The Miller family was not affluent. Many young men in that era opted to drop out of school to work if they could find a job but his mother, Margaret Catherine Miller, would not allow him to do so. She was a graduate of the Winchester High School and was a kindergarten teacher at John Kerr School.

The Millers opened their home on South Cameron Street to boarders when Hudson’s father, Ernest, could not find work as a carpenter. Wanting to help the family, Hudson took a job in the morning delivering the Washington Post and a second job delivering the Winchester Evening Star in the afternoon. Hudson gave up his goal of playing football for Handley in order to help his family get by during the depression.

Several of the boarders who lived at the Hudson home worked at the Virginia Woolen Mill on Piccadilly Street. Hudson graduated in 1935 and obtained a job at the mill shortly after graduation.

The Virginia Woolen Mill made blankets for the Army during World War II. Hudson was not drafted as he was involved in the production of essential war supplies. He became a supervisor at the mill and was employed there when the mill closed in 1957.

Hudson moved his family to Maryland for a short time before returning to Winchester to start a driver education school that he ran until he retired. He told his grandchildren that he had started driving when he was 13 years old because his father did not like to drive and had let him become the chauffeur for the family.

Hudson did not get to play football for Handley but he did graduate. His grandson said he was a good person, a great father and a wonderful grandfather. His daughter and 5 grandchildren followed him and became Handley graduates.

As President of his class, a member of the National Honor Society, and a member of the football team, Clint Nichols’ class selected him as their Most School Spirited. He was awarded the Quarles Cup at graduation for demonstrating exemplary service and devotion to Handley.

Clint ‘s leadership in service organizations began when he was President of the Key Club. He was the first youth member elected to Board of Directors of Blue Ridge Habitat for Humanity.

Clint was selected for 10-week internship with U.S. State Department in the United States Embassy in Lima, Peru while a student at Roanoke College.Following graduation, he served as Special Assistant/Personal Aide to Senator John Warner of Virginia. He worked as a Consultant and National Press Advance Representative on three Presidential campaigns.

Clint graduated from the University of Richmond Law School in 2013. He served on the Executive Board as Editor of the Law Review and was a member of the John Marshall American Inn of Court. He clerked for the Honorable Henry E. Hudson in the U.S. District Court for Eastern District of Virginia and in private practice as a partner with Hancock, Daniel, and Johnson, P.C. in Richmond.

Clint always enjoyed working with youth. He served on the Alliance Board of the Massey Cancer Center, the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Comfort Zone Camp. He also served on the Steering Committee of Roanoke College Richmond Alumni Chapter.

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Richmond recognized him as one of the “Finest Honorees” and the Richmond Magazine named him as one of six “Up and Coming Young Citizens” in 2016.

Clint married Anny Irons in Lewisburg, West Virginia on June 8, 2019. Their son, Willis, was born on May 22, 2021. Clint passed away unexpectedly in Richmond, Virginia nine days after Willis’ birth.

The Clint Nichols Fellowship was formed at Roanoke College in 2021 in his memory so that future Roanoke College students could experience the same professional experiences he had enjoyed.

Clint’s brother, Jeremy (Class of 1997), and good friends from Handley formed the Clint A. Nichols Memorial Scholarship fund to provide a scholarship to a Handley senior who embodies the same love of community, joy of life, and leadership that Clint exhibited every day. The first $10,000 scholarship was awarded in May 2022.

Lillie, the daughter of Ed and Marianne Matthews, was an AP Scholar with Distinction and member of the National Honor Society at Handley. She was a member of the Interact Club, a community service organization, for four years.

Lillie ran on the cross country, indoor track and outdoor track teams. She was on the 2012 AA Outdoor Track State Championship team and a part of the state record setting 4×100 meter relay team. She received the Maddox-Perry Athletics and Academic Excellence Award and the Bill Johnson Unsung Hero Award in 2011-2012.

Lillie graduated from the University of Virginia in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology. She was a volunteer at Students for Stop Hunger Now and the Madison House Medical Services at UVA Hospital while an undergraduate.

She was a Princess in the Court of Queen Shenandoah LXXXVIII during the 2015 Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival.

Lille worked as a physical therapy technician at Spectrum Physical Therapy until 2018 when she entered medical school at Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. She scored in the top 10% of applicants nationwide taking the Medical College Admissions Test. She became a member of the Hobart Amory Hare Medical Honor Society. Her research projects were in gastroenterology, telemedicine and cystic fibrosis. 

Lillie is currently in her second year of Internal Medicine Residency at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. She lives in Winston-Salem, North Carolina with her partner and 3 cats.

When told her “Handley Notables” article would be published with that of her high school coach, Mike McKiernan, Lillie commented: “I think it’s adorable that I happen to be running in the Winchester Star with Coach Mckiernan. He was an incredible teacher, coach and mentor to me.”