By SAMANTHA PERRY
There’s a phrase that’s often heard in our newsroom: “All roads lead to Bluefield.” Reporters and editors will make this quip when a connection is found between a famous person and our city or region.
In spite of our majestic hills and small-town atmosphere, these links happen more often than one might think. Frequently it seems like wherever we go, and whatever we do, we find someone who has fond recollections of southern West Virginia and Southwest Virginia.
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My first encounter with this phenomenon occurred long before my employment with the Bluefield Daily Telegraph. I was a young teen, traveling with my parents to watch the West Virginia University Mountaineers play in a Peach Bowl game in Georgia. After debarking from the plane, we boarded a shuttle bus to the hotel.
Passengers on the bus were few — me, my parents and another lone gentleman. He was dressed in a distinguished manner, unobtrusive but obviously upper middle-class or above. His accent proclaimed his British heritage; his white cane a disability.
As the bus pulled away from the airport, he and my father began chatting. I’m sure he picked up on our southern West Virginia accents.
After a few moments of conversation, the British gent politely asked from where we hailed. My father hesitantly replied, “Bluefield, West Virginia.” My dad was always extremely proud of our heritage, but in this case I could sense a small pause as he quickly pondered whether or not he needed to detail the geographic location.
In an instant, we realized no more explanation was needed.
“Nature’s air-conditioned city!” the Englishman replied, his tone perking up with exuberance. He had heard of our unique community, and its 90-degrees Lemonade Days promotion. As he and my dad engaged in a friendly conversation, I edged closer to my mother.
“How does a guy from England know about Bluefield?” I whispered in her ear. She quickly gave me “the look” and a quiet shush for my 13-year-old rudeness, whether overheard or not.
In the hours after the bus ride, the encounter stayed on my mind. The Englishman seemed so worldly to me — like a character in a movie — it was hard for me to fathom that he knew of a little place called Bluefield. I was still thinking of the man’s excitement about our cool climate a few hours later when my parents allowed me to venture to a mall connected to our hotel via a crosswalk.
I was both empowered and nervous about my solo venture to the plaza. It was great that my parents trusted my maturity but I was a little scared to be alone in the big city.
Less than 50 feet after exiting the crosswalk into the mall, my jitters disappeared. In that instant, I spied a familiar face from a community even smaller than Bluefield — its little sister down Route 52, Bluewell.
Walking toward me was Chuck Lohr of Bluewell Pharmacy, a longtime family friend. Like us, Mr. Lohr was in Atlanta for the bowl game. But I think he, too, was surprised to run into me at a Georgia mall. I told him where my parents were, and we exchanged pleasantries — just like we would have at the store in Bluewell.
As I walked away I believe I stood a little taller, a little prouder. Suddenly, I didn’t feel so alone and out of place.
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In my years here at the Daily Telegraph I have learned that famous connections to southern West Virginia and Southwest Virginia are not so rare. Many esteemed individuals are proud to have called the region home.
We all know of Nobel Prize winner John Nash, the subject of the acclaimed film “A Beautiful Mind,” and renowned author Homer Hickam, who penned the Rocket Boys novel made into the popular motion picture “October Sky.” But there are many others.
In my days as Lifestyles Editor I had the privilege of interviewing several notable people who once called the region home, such as Anna Stuart of Bluefield, known for her role as Donna Love on the soap opera “Another World,” and Rusty Harmon, with ties to Bluefield, Va., manager of Hootie and the Blowfish during the band’s “Cracked Rear View” heyday.
And connections to our region continue. When the movie “Atonement” was garnering accolades, I was overwhelmed by the opportunity to interview Phyllis Hodges of Athens, the aunt of young 2007 Academy Award nominated star Saoirse Ronan.
Last year, I was also honored to speak with Holly Kiser of Coeburn, Va., winner of the Bravo television reality series “Make Me a Supermodel.” Holly was the focus of several stories that appeared in the Daily Telegraph and our women’s magazine Prerogative.
Many area residents are huge fans of the Fox television show “Glee,” perhaps showing a little bias due to star Jayma Mays’ hometown connection to Grundy, Va. (Mays was also featured on the cover of the autumn 2009 edition of Prerogative.)
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The celebrity links to our region, and its well-known name across the globe, should make us all proud.
Small towns do not make us inferior. They make us special, and unique.
Samantha Perry is managing editor of the Daily Telegraph. Contact her at sperry@bdtonline.com.
