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| Cause of Death: cachexia carcenoma of lung |
| Burial: 1981 Hilltop Cemetery, Hinton, WV |
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Individual:
from THE HISTORY OF SUMMERS COUNTY, WV 1984:
"John E. Faulconer (20 April 1903-4 July 1981), born in Hinton, West Virginia, was the son of Dr. Edward Newman and Clyde Campbell (Flannagan) Faulconer. With the exception of two years spent at White Sulphur Springs, where his father owned and operated a drug store, he lived his entire life in Hinton. Always interested in sports, he personally appeared before the Board of Education and requested that the sport of football be played at the school. He was the school's first three-letter man, earning letters in football, basketball and baseball. He also ranked eighth in West Virginia playing tennis. Entering West Virginia University in 1923, his education was interrupted by the death of his father, and at the end of two years, he returned to Hinton to assume the responsibilities of his family. Known nationally as the editor of the Hinton Daily News, Faulconer's newspaper career started quited by accident when he accepted a part-time job as sports editor. In less than one year he was made editor, the youngest in the nation at that time. After 15 years as managing editor, he accepted a position as assistant to J. G. Fredeking, who had a variety of business interests. In 1947, he and his brother, Thomas, purchased the Hinton Daily News and, in less than two years, tripled the circulation and volume of business to make Hinton the smallest city in the nation with a daily newspaper. This also made Hinton the second highest per capita circulation in the nation. His personal efforts and editorials in the paper resulted in many achievements for community betterment which led many to dub him as "Summers County's Patron Saint". His personal efforts for community betterment are far too many to list. His greatest achievement brought about the construction of Bluestone Conference Center and Pipestem State Park. The National Observer first called Faulconer "Father of Pipestem", a 20 million dollar resort complex which is listed as one of the ten best parks in the nation. Being an avid golfer, at age 77, he shot in the middle 70s. Faulconer was married to the former Eleanor Wilson. They had one daughter, Nancy Pettry, and one granddaughter, Jamie. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Hinton.
-Submitted by James R. Pettry
PORTRAIT hanging over registration desk at Pipestem State Park with plaque that reads:
"Mountain Man of West Virginia - John E. Faulconer - Painted by David Holmes - Donated by the Pipestem Foundation."
PLAQUE INSCRIPTION in the Faulconer Room at Pipestem State Park:
"The Faulconer Room named in memory of John Edward Faulconer 1903 - 1981
While editor of the Hinton Daily News he inspired the development of Pipestem State Park. He was the Public Relations Director for Pipestem from its completion in 1970 until his death, and through his work Pipestem achieved national recognition. Completed Dec 1982"
LETTER FROM JOHN F. KENNEDY dated May 31, 1960 to John E. Faulconer:
(displayed at Pipestem State Park)
"Dear Mr. Faulconer: I wish that I could make a special return visit to West Virginia just to thank you personally for all the help you gave me during the crucial weeks of the West Virginia campaign. Since this is impossible for now, I hope you will accept this small token of my appreciation for your effort in my behalf which resulted in the all important victory on May 10th. You may be sure, I will never forget my experience in West Virginia or the many friends such as yourself I was privileged to meet. With every good wish, John F. Kennedy" (Enclosure: signed JFK picture with "Thanks, Jack" written on it.)
OBIT from The Beckley Post Herald, Beckley, WV July 6, 1981:
John E. Faulconer
HINTON--The founder of Pipestem State Park and one of West Virginia's most esteemed historians died Saturday after a two-month illness. John Edward Faulconer, 78, of 502 Summers St., who served as a columnist for the Beckley Post-Herald since last November, was pronounced dead at Summers County Hospital. A native of Hinton, Mr. Faulconer managed to raise funds to "get Summers County noticed," including the Bluestone Center. His most noted achievement was the creation of Pipestem, acclaimed as one of the 10 best family vacation resorts in the nation. Hinton was the center of much of his fundraising activity, which included helping build the city hall, a 4-H Camp and city sewage system. Mr. Faulconer once said of his native Hinton: "We're probably the biggest little town in the state. We have everything we need". The former owner of the Hinton Daily News, Mr. Faulconer was honored in May at Pipestem with a portrait by Canadian artist David Holmes. The portrait of the resort's founding father - titled "The Mountain Man of West Virginia: - now hangs at the resort. Born April 20, 1903, in Hinton, he was a son of the late Dr. Edward Newman and Clyde Campbell Faulconer. He was graduated from Hinton High School in 1923, spent two years at West Virginia University as a pre-med student before returning to Hinton in 1926 to become managing editor of the Hinton Daily News where he held that position until 1937 when he left the paper to manage Hinton Insurance Agency and other business interests for 10 years. In 1947, Mr. Faulconer and his brother, Tom, purchased the Hinton newspaper where he served as publisher and editor until 1973 when the newspaper was sold. In 1974, he became public relations director of the Pipestem State Park and held that position at the time of his death. Mr. Faulconer had served his 17th year as a member of the advisory board of the state Department of Highways, was vice chairman of the board and a director of the National Bank of Summers. He helped organize the Mountaineer Travel Council and had served on its board of directors, organized the Summers County Boys Scout Council and the City/County Chamber of Commerce, had received countless awards and citations including a special award in 1973 by the West Virginia Department of Commerce for outstanding contributions to the development of tourism in West Virginia. He was a sport fan and an avid golfer. He had played 303 different golf courses during his lifetime, was a member of the Presbyterian Church in Hinton, Masonic Lodge, Loyal Order of the Moose, Hinton Elks Lodge, served as district deputy to the grand exalted ruler and a past exalted ruler and a member of Phi Sigma Kappa Fraternity. Survivors include his wife, Eleanor Wilson Faulconer, a daughter, Mrs. Nancy Pettry of King George, VA.; two brothers, Dr. Newman Faulconer of Greenville, S.C., and Thomas Faulconer of Hinton, and a granddaughter, Jamie Pettry. Services will be Tuesday at 2:#0 p.m. in the First Presbyterian Church in Hinton with the Rev. Stewart McMurray officiating. Burial will be in Hilltop Cemetery. Friends may call today from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Ronald Meadows Funeral Parlors in Hinton and at the church one hour prior to services. The family will receive friends from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Any contributions of sympathy should be made to the Hinton High School scholarship fund in Faulconer's name at the National Bank of Summers. Pallbearers will be members of the board of directors of the National Bank of Summers.
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- Title: The History of Summers County, WV 1984
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