Joseph Slash Sr.

Joseph Autumn Slash was born on June 29, 1919. He graduated from Douglass High School in 1937 as the class valedictorian.

After high school, Slash attended Bluefield State College, where he majored in mathematics education and graduated magna cum laude.

Slash began his teaching career in 1943 in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Later that year, he had an opportunity to return to Douglass High School as a math teacher, assistant football coach, assistant basketball coach and head baseball coach.

Slash was a lifelong student as well as educator. While teaching and coaching at Douglass, he attended Marshall College for graduate school and received his master’s degree in 1952. He also completed other post-graduate work at Cleveland State University and the University of Pittsburgh. Slash also was awarded his Doctor of Pedagogy degree in 1984 from Marshall University.

In 1955, Slash was appointed the principal of Douglass High School and served until the school was closed. He was appointed to many other positions in the school district before he was promoted to superintendent of Cabell County Schools on March 2, 1977. Slash was the first Black county school superintendent in the history of West Virginia. As superintendent, Slash led efforts to open the Cabell County Vo-Tech Center.

Slash retired in 1982 after 37 years of service in the Cabell County public school system. In retirement, he established Slash Construction Co. and served as the president and CEO of the company until his passing in 1986.

Slash was married to Clara Rose Slash. The couple had three children, four granddaughters, several great grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews. Slash and his family also were faithful members of First Baptist Church.