Thursday, November 21, 1974
More than 200 cars, which probably meant close to a thousand people, visited Snowshoe Saturday and lots went on Sunday too. The changeable weather and pushed construction caused a little inconvenience to visitors but they could see great progress.
Chef for Princes Cooks for Students
By Andrew Gallagher
The Charleston Gazette
Marlinton – the man who used to serve meals to princes of Europe on the 100,000-acre Firestone Rubber Plantation at Harbel, Liberia, has, for the last five years, lived in relative obscurity here except for a local following.
The past year, senior students at Pocahontas County Highs School gave David Sheibly $40 in tips to express their thanks to the 54 year old chef for a special luncheon he prepared in their honor.
He is constantly called upon by local groups to cater dinners and special events. They say his special flourish adds zest to the meals.
Sheibly, who from 1946 to 1958, managed the country club on the Firestone family’s holdings on Africa’s West Coast, takes the accolades with calm detachment.
“I have no formal training in foods,” he said, during an interview at the high school 12 miles east of here. “It was all self-acquired from my Pennsylvania Dutch heritage.”
He said when official guests visited Liberia during his tenure there, the Firestone plantation was always one of the stops. He said he’s served dinners to the president of Liberia, Prince Phillip of Great Britain and Prince Bernhardt of the Netherlands, among others.
“And I had all the Firestones from top to bottom,” he said with a chuckle.
When he returned to the United States in 1958, Sheibly said he opened a restaurant in Christiansburg, Va., and then another, The Golden Gobbler, in Blacksburg, where he served students from VPI.
“I had a degree in landscape design from the University of Maryland, and I was always interested in agriculture. So, when I got out of the restaurant business in 1969, I bought a farm in Pocahontas County and went into semi-retirement.
At the same time, the principal of the high school, Fred Smith, was having his share of problems. He had a new high school, but no dietician or money. He heard about Sheibly from a county extension agent and told him the situation and asked him if he’d take the job.
“When he took over the program, we couldn’t give him any money at all,” Smith said, explaining there had been a funding problem with the board of education.
“After several months, the money became more available, and Dave ended the year with a $5,000 to $6,000 surplus.
“I agreed to set it up for one year and liked it so much, I decided to stay,” Sheibly said.
Smith interjected. “It couldn’t be for the money, because he received just nothing for his services.”
Sheibly says he serves normal hot lunch program food, but “just puts some added touches on.”
He’s begun a yearly program of serving a special banquet to the graduating seniors where the faculty serves the student.
“It adds a lot to student morale and the seniors left $40 in tips this last year,” said Smith. “The money went to the library.”
The place has quite an atmosphere now,” Smith said. “It’s a different atmosphere – he serves the meals with a flair.”
In addition to his regular duties, Sheibly prepares meals to carry for band members and athletes on trips. In his off time, he is constantly called upon by local groups to serve dinners and special banquets.
“We follow all government guidelines here,” Sheibly said. “But we try to add the flourishes that set the food apart from the general run-of-the mill type of program.”
WEDDING
Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Hodge, of Marlinton, wish to announce the marriage of her daughter, Sandra Lee Watson, to Melvin Lee Anderson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Melvin C. Anderson, of Marlinton. The double-ring candlelight ceremony was performed by the Rev. Richard Newkirk in the Marlinton Presbyterian Church Saturday, October 12, 1974.
BIRTHS
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Eugene A. Kirk, of Millersville, Maryland, a daughter, Laura Hood. The mother is the former Jane Kaye Michael.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. John Madison, of Harmans, Maryland, a son, John Monroe, II. John is the son of Mrs. Virginia Lovell, of Hillsboro.
DEATHS
Mrs. Addie Buckley Graham, 80, of Buckeye, a daughter of the late John B. Buckley and Elizabeth J. McNeill Buckley. Postmaster at Buckeye for many years, and she and her husband owned and operated Graham’s Motel and Restaurant at Buckeye. Funeral service from the Buckeye Presbyterian Church with burial in Mountain View Cemetery.
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Mrs. Mabel Whiting Pope, 94, of Renick, a daughter of the late George William and Elizabeth Bruffy Whiting. Service was held from the Jack K. Wallace Funeral home Chapel with burial in the Morningside Cemetery at Renick.
