Clay County, West Virginia         Biography of ROBERT E. SLACK 

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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. 518
Clay


ROBERT E. SLACK is bringing to bear the personal char-
acteristics and the executive and scholastic ability which
make for ideal administration of the affairs of the import-
ant office of which he is the incumbent, that of superinten-
dent of the public schools of Clay County, his residence and
official headquarters being at Clay, the county seat.


Mr. Slack was born in Kanawha County, this state, De-
cember 5, 1885, and is a son of William H. and Martha J.
(Huffman) Slack, both likewise natives of Kanawha County,
where they were reared and educated and where their mar-
riage was solemnized. The parents continued their residence
on their farm in Kanawha County until 1898, when they
sold their property there and removed to Clay County,
where they still reside on their well improved farm of 123
acres, not far distant from Servia, which is in the adjoining
County of Braxton. They are active members of the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church, South, and in politics the father is
a loyal supporter of the principles of the republican party.
Of their nine children seven are living: Lillie is the wife of
Mr. Hardway; Robert E., of this sketch, was next in order
of birth; George E. continues as a successful farmer in
Kanawha County, where he is also a popular teacher in the
rural schools; Henry C., who is associated in the work and
management of the parental home farm, was in the nation's
military service in connection with the World war, his
service having been principally at Camp Lee, Virginia;
James H., a fanner and teacher in Clay County, married
Miss Mary Rollyson; and Charles W. and Lewis C. are the
younger members of the parental home circle.


A vitalizing environment and discipline was that which
the home farm gave to Robert E. Slack in his childhood
and early youth, and after profiting by the instruction of-
fered in the public schools he attended the West Virginia
State Normal School at Glenville. He made a record of nine
years of earnest and effective service as a teacher in the
public schools, and in 1918 he was elected to his present
office, that of superintendent of the public schools of Clay
County, his able and progressive administration having done
much to raise the standard of the schools under his juris-
diction, and his professional enthusiasm gaining to him the
ready co-operation of the teachers and the people of the
county in general. He is aligned stanchly in the ranks of
the republican party, is affiliated with Henry Clay Lodge
No. 233, Knights of Pythias, and is a stockholder in the
Elk Electric Light & Power Company. Mr. Slack's name
remains inscribed on the roll of eligible bachelors in Clay
County.