
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 1, 1993                   TAG: 9310280309
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

MOUNTAIN STATE'S BRAGGING RIGHTS

WELL! Looks like West Virginians can't be referred to any more as "Illiterate hillbillies" now that the new SAT scores are out. Darn! What will those from other states (particularly this one) do for something to kick around? Looks like those West Virginians kicked some tail in both '92 and '93!

Being born and bred in West Virginia, I've always known that we could outdo folks in whatever we tried. We just didn't find it all that necessary to be competitive.

Get rid of your preconceived notions, folks. West Virginians don't run around in overalls with one strap unfastened over torn, flannel shirts. Most all have indoor plumbing, and they don't speak with a nasal twang saying, "I jest got this yere k-ar outen the garage and hit's still broken." The women are not always barefoot and pregnant. In reality, we look real good! West Virginians can read, write and do arithmetic as the scores clearly indicate. And they are independent - that's why it's West Virginia.

SANDRA TUCKER-MAXWELL

ROANOKE

by CNB