Van Lear High School

Van Lear's Independent School System was an anomaly. The system, with four grade schools and one high school, while independent of the county's public school system operated under the close, albeit benevolent, scrutiny of Consolidation Coal Company which owned most of Van Lear and its mines. Forest Pendleton Bell was the school system's first superintendent bringing with him from his native Hartford, Kentucky, several teachers, including Richard Starr Jordan, Margaret Motter, Nathan George and Mattie Duke.

The women teachers lived in a house called the Teachery.

Van Lear High School was opened in 1921 and graduated its first four seniors in 1924. They were Bertha Bradley, John O'Bryan, Manford Picknell and Lacy Williamson.

Superintendents who succeeded Bell were C. V. Snapp, Jess Holland, Verne Horne and Hysell Burchett. Burchett served as superintendent until the high school closed in 1968.

The Van Lear Bankmules had an active sports program including football, basketball and baseball. They were known throughout the Big Sandy as tough opponents regardless of the sport.

---