Author: Legacy Synthesis

Mike McKiernan has a reputation as an outstanding educator, mentor, coach and friend. His peers know him as a serious professional who constantly seeks improvement. He is innovative and tries new things such as starting the Latin American History class at Handley. He is the recipient of the Stewart Bell Excellence in Teaching Award for exceptional performance in classroom teaching.

A graduate of William and Mary, he holds Master’s degrees in Classical History and in Education Administration. A member of the Social Studies department since 1998, he mentors and collaborates with new faculty. He takes time to ask them how things are going, what he can do to support them, and reminds them that the life of a teacher is hard but good.

Mike has coached girl’s cross country, indoor track and outdoor track. His cross country teams participated in the state meet six of the seven years he coached. His teams have won one state championship, five regional championships and 21 district titles. The Winchester Star named him Coach of the Year for the sixth time after Handley won its fourth straight Class 4 Northwestern District track title in 2022.

Jeffrey Keller, Virginia’s Teacher of the Year in 2023, stated: “There aren’t too many veteran educators who still connect with students the way Mr. McKiernan does. Walk by his classroom in the morning and you will see it packed with students who just want to get an extra few minutes talking with Mr. McKiernan about movies or track or music or you name it.”

Eddie Manuel was the President of the Class of 1949. He played junior varsity football and basketball before earning his varsity monogram as the manager of the football teams from 1946-1948 coached by Hunter Maddex.

Eddie served with the U. S. Army during the Korean War. He returned to Winchester after the war and married Polly Simpson, an elementary teacher with Winchester Public Schools.

Eddie was a letter carrier with the U. S. Postal Service for 33 years. He joined Braddock Realty following his retirement.

A faithful member of the Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, he served several terms on the church council. He was a member of the Winchester Parks and Recreation Board and was active with the Winchester Little League Football program.

Eddie was a founding member of the Shawnee Lions Club. He wanted those who could not leave work during the day to have an opportunity to experience membership in the Lions organization.

Eddie had an idea to create an organization of supporters who could provide the students of Handley with opportunities to excel on the playing fields and with scholarship funds to pursue higher education after their Handley years. He was one of the founders of the Judges Athletic Association (JAA) and became the organization’s first President in 1957.

Since its inception, the JAA has awarded over $2.3 million in scholarships and over $1 million in equipment and uniforms to the athletic department. Every student athlete in every sport at Handley during the last sixty five years has been impacted by Eddie Manuel’s work with the Judges Athletic Association.

The JAA recognizes not only student athletes but also the contributions of individual members of the community who have provided support to the student athletes at Handley. The Eddie Manuel Outstanding Service Award has been presented annually by the JAA since 1991, the year of Eddie’s death.

Britani Myers had an outstanding high school athletic career. She was undefeated competing at the district level for indoor and outdoor track over four years. She earned 19 regional titles in indoor and outdoor track.

Britani earned seven state titles.  In 2010, the 4×400 relay set a state outdoor record. She won the 500 meter indoor title in both 2011 and 2012 when she set the state record.

She became the first female to win both the 400 meter and 800 meter at the state outdoor championship in back to back races in her senior year.

A highly recruited athlete, she accepted a scholarship to Virginia Tech where she received all ACC honors as a freshman on the distance medley team. She moved to Tennessee after one year at Virginia Tech and graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a degree in History and Secondary Education. Britani taught world history at Wilson Central High School in Lebanon, Tennessee in addition to coaching the school’s track and cross country teams.

Britani married Garett Marvin in 2017 and they have their own company, Tri-Star Moving, the highest rated moving company in central Tennessee. They share their business success by supporting charitable projects in the Nashville area. They help to support several youth athletic programs and sponsor events throughout the year such as golf tournaments and school fundraisers. The company provides moving assistance to families with severely ill members and families recovering from natural disasters such as tornados and flooding.

Britani and Garett live on their Tennessee homestead near Mount Juliet with their three children.

Hunter Maddex was born in Jefferson County, West Virginia and chose to attend nearby Shepherd College where he earned his bachelors degree in 1934. He participated in football, basketball and track while at Shepherd and became Shepherd’s first All American in football.

Hunter came to Handley in 1938 after teaching and coaching at Charles Town High School and earning his masters degree at Columbia University. He was head football coach at Handley for two years with a 6-9-1 record before he entered the Army Medical Corps during World War II.  He returned to Handley in 1946 after three years of military service.

The 1946 football team had a record of 8-1-0 under Coach Maddex and assistant coaches “Snag” Sargent and Dick Kern. Beginning that year, Handley won 66% of its football games over the next 15 years.

Hunter was Handley’s head coach for 515 basketball games. His teams won 61% of their games over 26 seasons.

Throughout the 1960’s, Hunter was head coach and Athletic Director for John Handley High School. Hunter became the Assistant to Superintendent Jacob Johnson in 1967. He retired in 1974.

David Rice, Handley Class of 1979, recently wrote that Hunter Maddex was the Knute Rockne of Handley High School. “He guided hundreds of young people, not just in athletics, but in life and he did so with a sense of humor, a sense of history, and as a friend.”

The Judges Athletic Association established its Hall of Fame in 1980. It was named the Hunter Maddex Hall of Fame in honor of the legendary coach and administrator who had served the students of Handley and Winchester Public Schools for 36 years.

Ron Lindon was a native of Hazard, Kentucky. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at Virginia Tech before earning his Master’s degree in Secondary School Administration at Radford University.

He started his teaching and coaching career at Radford High School in 1967. The football teams won Group AA state championships in 1971 and 1972 while he was the assistant coach.

Coach Lindon came to Handley to teach math and to be an assistant coach in the fall of 1976. However, he was selected to be head coach when Steve Wilt left during the summer of 1976 to become defensive coordinator at Shippensburg University.

The Winchester Star reported in 2003 that Coach Lindon led the Handley football team through its most successful era. He compiled a record of 142 wins, 67 losses, and 1 tie during his 19 years as head coach. His teams earned 2 state championships, 3 regional championships and 7 district championships. His 1994 state championship team, the last that he coached, finished the season with a record of 14-0.

Coach Lindon became Handley’s Athletic Director in 1995 when Jimmy Omps retired. Todd Hill, who succeeded him as football coach, stated that Coach Lindon tried to attend every athletic event in order to support the students and not let them down.

Ron Lindon died in 2003 at the age of 59 after a short battle with cancer. His colleague Paul Brown described him at the time as a man with an open heart and open mind to everyone. Brenda Neal said that gender was never an issue with Coach Lindon. He was a gentleman, a teacher, and a friend.

Matt Shiffler, a member of the 1994 team, stated that Coach Lindon taught players how to overcome adversity, win with humility, lose with grace, and love each other.

Described in the Handlian as the “Symbol of Handley athletics” and the Judges’ Number One Fan, Coach Lindon is remembered for his smile and his constant support for the students and the teams.

Gaven Largent began playing guitar at age 8, resophonic guitar at age 9, and at age 13 was invited to perform with Rhonda Vincent and the Rage on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry. While still in high school, Largent performed with several bands including Bud’s Collective and Lonesome Highway.

After graduating from Handley in 2014, he toured with Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper for a year before joining bluegrass super-group Blue Highway. It was with Blue Highway that Gaven received a Grammy nomination for their album, “Original Traditional.”

After a three-year international tour playing dobro with Blue Highway, Gaven joined Dailey and Vincent on both dobro and banjo. He then joined The Dan Tyminski Band with Maddie Denton (fiddle), Jason Davis (banjo), and Grace Davis (bass).

Gaven Largent has become a highly sought-after studio musician. His dobro playing has been described as once in a generation. In addition to dobro, Gaven is accomplished on the banjo, guitar, and mandolin and is a world-class vocalist.

Though touring and session work keep Gaven busy, he is also a respected luthier building dobros in his woodworking shop.

”Playing music full time has been a goal and dream for me since I was eight years old when I started, and to do it now seems surreal. I hope I can make all the family, friends and fans proud!”

A lot of names come to mind when we think of people who have shown enthusiastic support for Handley over the last century. However, one name comes to mind when we think of the people who have always had fun doing it.

Shelly Lee grew up in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania. She earned her BS in Health and Physical Education K-12 at West Chester State College. She earned her Masters of Education at the University of Virginia.

Shelly arrived in Winchester in 1973. The first person she met was Denny Lee at the Winchester Recreation Park. He and Jim Barnett hired her as a lifeguard and swim coach.

Shelly taught Health & Physical Education at Daniel Morgan Middle School from 1974 until 2007. She coached 7th & 8th grade girls basketball and track for 25 years and directed intramural programs for swimming, fishing, bowling, and tennis.

She helped to start and coach the first swim team at Handley in 1997. She also coached Handley girls cross country from 1997-1999 and was assistant coach for girls distance runners in track.

After Daniel Morgan, Shelly taught Physical Education at Virginia Avenue Charlotte DeHart Elementary School from 2007 until 2019. She retired after 45 years of teaching and coaching in Winchester Public Schools.

Shelly has been involved with the Youth Development Center where she has worked with skiing programs, the Gymnastics Club and Gym Shows.

Shelly recently described being able to know and to follow students from elementary school to Handley as “a true joy.” She continues to attend as many Handley events as possible where she always projects her positive attitude, her enthusiasm, and her “Go Judges!” spirit.

Dick Kern graduated with the Class of 1938. He earned a football scholarship to VPI where he was recognized as the Most Outstanding Blocking Back in the State of Virginia. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering while part of the Cadet Corps and the football team.

Dick received offers from the Lions and the Eagles to play professional football following graduation, however, he chose to enter the U. S. Army in 1942. He served in North Africa and in Italy. He was discharged from the Army with the rank of Major having been awarded a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart for his service.

Major Kern returned to Winchester after the war. He joined his father and brother Henry to start the Kern Motor Company in 1946. He also served as an assistant Handley football coach for Hunter Maddex and Snag Sargent.

Dick served on the boards of the Virginia Automobile Dealers Association and the Washington Automobile Dealers Association. He was nominated by the VADA as the Time Magazine Quality Dealer of the Year for his community service.

He was one of the founders of the Judges Athletic Association that has served Handley athletes with donations and scholarships since 1958. He was inducted into the Hunter Maddex Hall of Fame in 1986.

In 1961, he was a founder of the Winchester-Frederick County Youth Football League. The program is still teaching the game to area youth today.

Dick served on Winchester City Council for 16 years. He was Vice Mayor and helped guide the City with his common sense business experience.

Along with his close friend Russ Potts, Dick founded the Apple Blossom Sports Breakfast that is a key event of the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival. He was a member of the Apple Blossom Sports Breakfast Hall of Fame.

Dick passed away at the age of 100 in 2020 leaving a legacy of community service.