Kyle Lovern Success Story

KYLE LOVERN

Kyle Lovern graduated from Williamson High School in the spring of 1974. He grew up in the little community of Nolan in Mingo County. Lovern wasn’t sure if he wanted to go to college. Things were different then and many were not encouraged to further their education after high school.

Lovern decided to enroll at Southern at the Williamson campus and take some classes in the spring semester of 1975. He really enjoyed those first classes. Then he discovered he was eligible for financial aid.

He started as a full-time student in the Fall of 1975. He was also a work study student in the Physical Education Department under Rodney Varney at the Williamson Fieldhouse.

He said he had many fine instructors at Southern like Varney, the late Jim Webb, James Bartlett, Mike Paffenberger, Frank Allara, Joan Carr and many others. At that time, Southern was attended by many students from the Mingo and Pike County areas. The students socialized in the recreation area and intramural sports like basketball and flag football were popular activities. Lovern said the Williamson campus even had a student newspaper published by the Journalism class that he was a part of. This helped him in the future when he became a journalist.

The flood of 1977 was devastating for the college and those who were taking classes in April of that year. The Tug Valley area was never the same, but the college rebounded and resumed classes just a few weeks after the horrendous flood waters destroyed the first floor of the Williamson campus.

Lovern received his Associate Degree in 1978. A few years later, he continued his education and  received his Bachelors Degree from Bluefield State College.

“I have had a unique and blessed career. That includes becoming editor of my hometown newspaper –  the Williamson Daily News. I also served as Regional Editor for the Williamson paper, Logan Banner, Coal Valley News in Madison and Independent Herald in Pineville,” Lovern said.

Lovern was also a former radio announcer for WXCC and WBTH in Williamson and eventually became the news and sports director for those stations. He also was a play by play announcer for the former WVKM in Matewan.

Lovern worked with two local hospitals in public relations and marketing. He was also a substitute teacher and coach for Mingo County Schools.

Most recently, Lovern worked for the W. Va. Attorney General’s office as the Field Representative for that office in the southern part of the Mountain State.

He is  also a published author with four books published and was on the regional best sellers list. One of  his books was featured on the popular nationally syndicated radio talk show Coast to Coast.

He was also the recipient of the 2011 King Coal Community Service award.

“Giving back to the community was always important to me,” Lovern said. “I have been a board member and past president of the Tug Valley Chamber of Commerce, coached in local youth sports leagues and also a past member and president of the Williamson Rotary Club.”

Lovern is in the Williamson High School Athletic Hall of Fame and serves on the board of directors and is vice president of that organization.

“Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College helped me further my education and guide me toward a successful future in the Tug Valley area. The college is indeed an asset to southern W.Va. for I am sure that many others have also benefited from its outstanding service to our community,” Lovern concluded.