Joseph Wayne Ohr
Joseph Wayne Ohr was born on June 14, 1911 in Hamilton Ohio to Pauline and Joseph Bernard Ohr. His family moved to Irvine in 1919 when his father got a job at the L&N Railroad. He has two sisters, Florine Holt and the late Dorothy Stevens. He married Edwina Davis in 1945 and they had two children. Joedy and Tennye, two grandchildren, Christi Hellard and Keith Ohr, as well as one great grandchild, Tyler Hellard. Joseph attended Ravenna and Irvine Elementary Schools and went on to the Estill Institute at the present site of the Estill County Middle School.
Joseph played both basketball and baseball in high school and mused that he was sometimes confused on whether he was playing for Irvine H.S. or Estill H.S.as it depended on which one went broke that year.
Joseph’s diploma is from Estill County High.
After graduation, Joseph went on to play baseball at the University of Kentucky where he was a charter member of the Lamba Chi Fraternity. He received both his BA and MA form the U of K.
Joseph began his teaching career in the fall of 1933 when the new Irvine High School opened. He later became the principal and stayed in the position for the next 21 years. He often said that Irvine High with its 10 classrooms, large study hall and gymnasium was showplace for schools in Eastern Kentucky.
As the principal, Joseph always considered himself to be fortunate, to have an outstanding faculty, who put an emphasis on learning and held high expectations for themselves and their students.
Joseph began his long coaching career in 1933 as an assistant coach and moved up to head coach in 1941. Joseph coached the basketball, baseball, football, track and golf teams. His basketball team recorded 401 wins and 265 losses. In 1948 he coached his team to the basketball team to the state tournament.
One of Joseph’s favorite coaching memories includes the 1947-1948 basketball game when Irvine High beat Clark County. He remembers the team being so popular that people milked their cows early and brought their lunches in order to get a seat in the gym. By the time the game started people stood on ladders looking in the windows because the gym was filled to capacity.
Joseph served as secretary-treasurer of the Kentucky High School Coaches Association for 27 years. He was honored by being named a charter member of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association’s “Sports Hall of fame” in 1988. Joseph was further recognized when the gym at the new Estill Springs Elementary School was named in his honor.
Joseph is a longtime member of the Irvine First Christian Church and has been a member of the Irvine-Ravenna Kiwanis Club for more than 50 years with 43 years of perfect attendance.
Estill County’s history is filled with the achievements and memories of Joe Ohr’s guidance and leadership. Over the years, his students still recall his unique style of teaching American History. Joseph never used notes, always gave oral tests, and most importantly had a talent for bringing history to life for his students. He has left a positive mark on the thousands of students who passed through the doors of Irvine High School. He represents what a true educator is by his love for his students, his love for learning and his love for the sports he played and coached.
After the consolidation of the school system in 1971, Joseph held the position of Secondary Supervisor until his retirement in 1976.
Joseph played both basketball and baseball in high school and mused that he was sometimes confused on whether he was playing for Irvine H.S. or Estill H.S.as it depended on which one went broke that year.
Joseph’s diploma is from Estill County High.
After graduation, Joseph went on to play baseball at the University of Kentucky where he was a charter member of the Lamba Chi Fraternity. He received both his BA and MA form the U of K.
Joseph began his teaching career in the fall of 1933 when the new Irvine High School opened. He later became the principal and stayed in the position for the next 21 years. He often said that Irvine High with its 10 classrooms, large study hall and gymnasium was showplace for schools in Eastern Kentucky.
As the principal, Joseph always considered himself to be fortunate, to have an outstanding faculty, who put an emphasis on learning and held high expectations for themselves and their students.
Joseph began his long coaching career in 1933 as an assistant coach and moved up to head coach in 1941. Joseph coached the basketball, baseball, football, track and golf teams. His basketball team recorded 401 wins and 265 losses. In 1948 he coached his team to the basketball team to the state tournament.
One of Joseph’s favorite coaching memories includes the 1947-1948 basketball game when Irvine High beat Clark County. He remembers the team being so popular that people milked their cows early and brought their lunches in order to get a seat in the gym. By the time the game started people stood on ladders looking in the windows because the gym was filled to capacity.
Joseph served as secretary-treasurer of the Kentucky High School Coaches Association for 27 years. He was honored by being named a charter member of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association’s “Sports Hall of fame” in 1988. Joseph was further recognized when the gym at the new Estill Springs Elementary School was named in his honor.
Joseph is a longtime member of the Irvine First Christian Church and has been a member of the Irvine-Ravenna Kiwanis Club for more than 50 years with 43 years of perfect attendance.
Estill County’s history is filled with the achievements and memories of Joe Ohr’s guidance and leadership. Over the years, his students still recall his unique style of teaching American History. Joseph never used notes, always gave oral tests, and most importantly had a talent for bringing history to life for his students. He has left a positive mark on the thousands of students who passed through the doors of Irvine High School. He represents what a true educator is by his love for his students, his love for learning and his love for the sports he played and coached.
After the consolidation of the school system in 1971, Joseph held the position of Secondary Supervisor until his retirement in 1976.