From Martha Jane Becker's book "Bramwell - The Diary of a Millionaire Coal Town" we learn that Mr. Dwight McCormick was born on 22 February 1904 in Waiteville, Monroe County, West Virginia. His early childhood was spent on the family farm in Waiteville. After graduating from Sweet Springs District High School in Gap Mills, West Virginia, he enrolled in Alderson Baptist Academy at Alderson, WV, where he distinguished himself on a baseball scholarship. He then attended Concord College and earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree. He followed this formal education with post graduate work at Duke University earning a M.A. in School Administration in 1935. Upon graduation from Concord College, he taught three years in McDowell County before coming to Bramwell in 1931. He met his wife to be, Martha Ellwood, also on the Bramwell Faculty, whom he married in 1935 in the Duke University Chapel.

According to Martha Jane Becker's book, if you ask Mr. McCormick what his accomplishments were as principal of Bramwell High School that made him most proud....he would probably name the many changes that took place during his administration. He would no doubt give credit to his many students, his faculty and the great community spirit. Dwight McCormick loved Bramwell High School and the town of Bramwell and believed in the people. He served several terms as mayor of Bramwell. He is credited with the leadership in community improvements that provided maintenance and growth of an outstanding fire department, street improvements, beautification projects, emergency rescue service; while providing the administrative leadership for the outstanding growth of the community's Bramwell High School for over thirty five years. He is remembered and admired by thousands of his former students for his outstanding administrative leadership while principal of Bramwell High School.

Mr. D. W. McCormick of Mercer County, W.Va. was the Republican Candidate for West Virginia State House of Delegates from Mercer County in 1958.

Mr. McCormick retired in 1968, following a massive heart attack. After his partial recovery, he spent the next three years directing a reading program at Bluefield State College where he was also seeking financial aid for the college. In August 1976 he and his wife left Bramwell to live in Houston, Texas with their daughter. Dwight W. McCormick died June 1, 1977, at the age of 72. Mr. McCormick and his wife, Martha ( 1907 - 1981 ) are buried near their Bramwell home at the Woodlawn Cemetery in Bluewell, WV. ( Birth/Death records confirmed through Social Security Death Index. )

Martha Ellwood McCormick
( Photograph from BHS 1953 Junior/Senior Prom.)