Roger Lee Morral, Sr. 2-14-1986 

subject: Flood control--Virginia; Flood damage prevention—Virginia; Buchanan County (Va.)--History; Grundy (Va.)--Social life and customs; Levisa Fork Basin (Ky. and Va.); Big Sandy River Valley (Ky. and Va.); United States. Army. Corps of Engineers.

Ronald Cole is the operations manager for Virginia-Kentucky Broadcasting in Grundy, Virginia. He has been in broadcasting for over 26 years, primarily in Kentucky and Virginia. Cole was involved in broadcasting during the flood in Buchanan County, Virginia, in 1973. He received a phone call from the civil defense director, John Hash, warning of an impending flood due to heavy water systems moving in. Cole was responsible for opening the radio station early to announce the flood and provide information to the public.

Rubie Lee Norris (1916-2012). Then still living in a pre-Civil War house built by her great uncle near Topping on the Rappahannock River, Norris remembered riding the steamers to college in Fredericksburg and told vivid stories of clerking in her father’s store, which was supplied by steamers. 

Ruth Ann Toth and Holly Meadows, 10-8-1986 interviewed by M. Kline 

Scott Rotruck was born on August 7, 1955, in Huntington, West Virginia, and grew up in Keyser, West Virginia. He attended Potomac State College before transferring to West Virginia University (WVU) in 1976, where he attempted to join the football team, but an Achilles tendon injury ended his athletic career. Rotruck then pursued a career with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, where he worked as an engineer and later moved into management after completing his MBA.

Sherry Becker-Gorby was born on December 30, 1952, in Wheeling, West Virginia. She was raised outside of Wheeling in a predominantly farming area. Her father's passion for working with animals and being outdoors influenced her upbringing. Despite her father's family not being farmers, he moved them to a small acreage outside Wheeling to provide an experience of rural life. Sherry's mother grew up in town, but her family had agricultural roots among the Mennonites in Virginia.

Sue Branham, born on July 18, 1937, is the owner of The Corner, a ladies' and children's ready-to-wear business in downtown Grundy, Virginia. She purchased the existing business in March 1977 and continued to teach at Grundy Junior High School until 1991. Branham was directly impacted by the 1977 flood that occurred a month after she acquired the business. She resides on Route 83, outside the floodplain, and has been involved in the community's efforts to address the recurring flood issues. 

Susan Schmitt 2-24-1986 interviewed by M. Kline

Theodore Stump was born on April 7, 1949, and grew up in southern New Jersey. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Delaware. During his early years, he worked in various factories, including General Motors. In 1978, he relocated to West Virginia as part of the rural revival of the 1970s. Attracted by the promise of free gas, he moved to Doddridge County, where he quickly learned about the separation of land and mineral rights. Stump became involved in the local landowners’ association and began advocating for the rights of landowners against gas extraction companies.