Two graduates from Paden City High School have been selected to receive the 2024 Paden City High School Distinguished Alumni Award to be presented during the annual Alumni Weekend slated for Sept. 20th and 21st in Paden City. Danny Glover, Class of 1985 and Doug Snider, Class of 1991 will receive the annual award given to those who exemplify the values and virtues of education, particularly those of the public schools in Paden City.
Each recipient is being recognized for their educational and career accomplishments, service to their respective communities and efforts each has undertaken for the betterment of humanity. A special aspect of this year’s winners is the roles they are playing in the on-going situation regarding the viability and future of their alma mater, Paden City High School. Snider, was a key expert witness in the hearing that took place on July 25 in the matter of a group of Paden City individuals and organizations versus the superintendent of Wetzel County Schools concerning a closure of PCHS. He gave expert testimony in the hearing that supported the findings of the US Environmental Protection Agency and the WV Department of Environmental Protection which helped gain a favorable ruling from the circuit court. Glover, likewise, using his expertise in journalism, has been a key proponent of the cause and making sure the facts of the situation are being published accurately and with full disclosure to the public and very wide circulation of readers throughout the United States.
Danny Glover is a 1985 graduate of PCHS where he played trumpet in the band, helping the group to continue its winning tradition and garnering multiple Grand Championships in marching contests throughout West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania. He also played on the Wildcat football team his senior serving as backup noseguard. After graduation, he earned a degree in journalism from West Virginia University and the prestigious Perly Isaac Reed School of Journalism and later a master’s degree in journalism and public affairs from American University in 1994. He started his journalism career with The Tampa Tribune and also worked part-time for the Dominion Post (Morgantown) during his college days and interned at the former Charleston Daily Mail. He later served as the political reporter for the Dominion Post before moving to the nation’s capital to be a reporter on Capitol Hill. He worked for Congressional Quarterly and National Journal for most of his career. Glover’s interest in blogs and social media led to an appearance on CNN and publication in The New York Times, The Washington Post and other news outlets.
Glover became a social media strategist after leaving National Journal and earned a fellowship to the John Jay College of Law’s Center on Media, Crime and Justice in New York. He has been a writer, editor and strategic communications specialist for the Federal Aviation Administration since 2012 and is a drone pilot. He has published an on-line children’s book and has blogged about adoption from Guatemala, religion from Russian, and Navy life from aboard the USS Kearsarge. He writes a personal newsletter about the Bible and the Internet, and most recently has reported on attempts to close his alma mater, Paden City High School.
Some of Danny’s remembrances of Paden City High School include his favorite teacher, Mr. Starcher where his love of American history and government was born. He added, “it was an honor to have
been part of the band.“” The highlight of his sophomore year was placing in the top 10 at the Regional Marching Bands of America competition in Pittsburgh to perform that night in the finals among a field of bands from North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York and achieving the highest placement for a West Virginia band ever at that date (7th place). Glover also noted that while in high school, he attended the Wetzel County Career Center in the electrician’s program and earned his journeyman’s license. “I’ve been blessed beyond any measure I ever expected as a boy from Paden City High School and my alma mater helped lay the foundation for all of it!”
Danny lives in what he refers to as “the other Virginia” with his wife, Kimberly and their three children.
Doug Snider is a member of the PCHS Class of 1991 where played football, basketball and baseball. He was also a member of the National Honor Society. Upon graduating, he enrolled at Fairmont State College as a Safety Technology major before transferring to Marshall University to complete his undergraduate studies when he graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Safety Technology in 1995.
Sinder’s career spans several years and in varying positions in the field of safety. He obtained an internship at Bayer in the Industrial Hygiene department while attending Marshall University and then was hired as an Industrial Hygienist at Bayer’s Newark, OH facility. He later accepted a position as Safety Manager for Tyco Healthcare in Augusta, GA. Two years later, he relocated to Charlotte, NC after accepting a promotion to the Fire & Security Division of Tyco as a Regional Environmental Health and Safety Manager covering 50 locations for SimplexGrinell and ADT security. From there Doug accepted a promotion to the corporate level of Tyco Fire & Security as the EHS systems and program manager globally for the firm. In 2007, Snider was promoted to Director of EHS for Tyco’s International service businesses across North American which encompassed 300 locations and more than 17,000 employees across the U.S. and Canada. He stayed in that position until 2015 when the company was restructured. From Tyco, Snider was named the Director of Safety, Health and Environment for the Pump & Power and Climate control divisions of Sunbelt Rentals before leaving the company to pursue private consulting work and seek out acquisition possibilities in his field of expertise.
Snider’s dream of owning his own company came true when, in 2019, he purchased Precision Tank Service which is an environmental compliance company that performs required testing and calibration for the retail gasoline outlets all across North and South Carolina along with Virginia. Five years later, Snider sold the company to D&H United Fueling Solutions and is currently service as a Safety consultant for the new owners.
Doug has been married to Valerie (Sine) Snider for over 25 years and resides in North Carolina. Together they raised a son Keaton, who is a senior at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington. They also enjoy the company of canine companions, Pipperoo and Scotter McGhee. In his spare time, Doug has enjoyed many years of coaching youth baseball and football and also enjoys playing golf.
Glover and Snider, when told of their awards, were surprised and humbled by the selection. Doug noted, “I am very honored but truly believe the award should be given other folks instead. I am very happy to play a part in the recent happenings surrounding our high school and it my honor to help all
parties understand the environmental test results that pertain to Paden City High School.” Glover added, “I am completely surprised by the announcement of this award. It is a great honor and I appreciate, so much, the committee selecting me to receive the award this year.”
Danny Glover and Doug Snider will be honored with the presentation of the award at the Paden City High School Alumni Association annual Green and White Banquet to be held on Saturday, September 21, 2024 in Jesse Brown Hall on the campus of PCHS. Doors open for the banquet at 5:00. Dinner will be served at 5:30 with the program beginning at 6:30 which will include the DAA presentations and class speakers from the honored decade classes. Tickets are required for the banquet at a cost of $25 each and can be purchased at the Paden City Public Library, WesBanco-Paden City or by contacting any of the Alumni Association officers.