William Henry Gorman, Monongalia County


Submitted by Ann Schwirian.


The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.
Chicago and New York, Volume II,
pg. 284

    William Henry Gorman.  While the teaching profession cannot be classed
as one of the important gainful occupations, it remains to-day as it always
has,perhaps the greatest opportunity for a personal service that will continue
its influence for good throughout succeeding generations.  A West Virginian
whose life has been largely devoted to education on this true basis of
personal service is William Henry Gorman of Monongalia County.  Mr. Gorman
was born in Grafton, Taylor County, Virginia, April 28, 1858.  He acquired a
common-school education.  He began teaching at the age of twenty-four.  His
first term was in his home school, in which he is teaching to-day, known as
the Flats School.  He has been a teacher for thirty-nine years, and has
missed only one term of consecutive service.  Altogether he has taught
twenty-seven years in his home district.

    Mr. Gorman cannot estimate in terms of tangible wealth the value of the
work he has done as a teacher.  However, he can point to many of his former
students, who received their early inspiration for bigger and better things
while in his school and are now doing well in the world of work and men.
Among these are his own four children.

    Always in his teaching he has emphasized the fact of personal
responsibility and a loyal performance of the duties of citizenship.