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June 14, 1957: Newspaperman Cal Price Dies

Cal Price, Pocahontas Times
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Newspaperman “Cal” Price died in Marlinton on June 14, 1957, at age 76. Price—the longtime owner and editor of the Pocahontas Times newspaper—was known for his civic involvement and conservation endeavors, such as his famous “Field Notes” column and his panther and bear stories.

The 10,000-acre Calvin W. Price State Forest in southern Pocahontas County was dedicated in his honor in 1954.

Price is best remembered as a country editor. His father, William T. Price, had bought the Pocahontas Times in 1892 with his sons James and Andrew. William’s youngest son, Cal, began working with his brothers at the paper when he was just 16. Cal Price became the sole owner of the Times in 1906, at age 25. He served as publisher and editor for the next 51 years.

The Price family has remained prominent in the county.

After Cal’s death in 1957, his daughter Jane Price Sharp edited the newspaper until 1981 and continued to work with her nephew William Price McNeel through 2005, bringing an end to five generations of the Price family’s involvement with the Pocahontas Times.