For 125 years, WVU Potomac State College has been “the College on the hill,” with unparalleled views of the City of Keyser. The College itself remains a picture postcard waiting to be taken from any angle, surrounded by the ancient and lush Appalachian Mountains.
A peaceful and serene campus, the sounds of a busy Metropolis are foreign and forgotten to those who work and attend class here. Instead, the noises heard here are the laughter of students vibrating through the green space of the Quad, the neighing of horses playing in nearby fields, baby goats crying after their mothers, the rise and fall of cheers during sporting events, and even the sound of trickling water from nearby streams. Add to that oratory mix the new chimes of a clock tower on the edge of campus, wafting sweetly as the melody echoes through the mountain ridges.
A clock tower on the campus of WVU Potomac State College has long served as a symbol of tradition and academic pride. Perched atop a building that once housed classrooms, offices, a library, and a gymnasium, the original tower reflected Potomac State College’s enduring legacy since its founding in 1901 and its integration with West Virginia University in 2005.
Now, thanks to a generous gift from the late Kenneth Haines, a new modern clock tower chimes again. This time, the tower stands by itself just outside the newly renovated Church-McKee Arts Center in a dedicated plaza, adorned with benches and a guiding compass artfully crafted into the setting. The tower acts as a proud timekeeping sentinel and can be spotted from nearly every angle of campus from its position off Arnold Street.
“Ken, as he was known to us in the Ebert family and Keyser in general, was that supremely close friend who was an integral part of our extended family. He was always a part of our holidays, especially during Christmas, our weekly Sunday meals -he was a master salad maker- and was there whenever we needed him,” said Duke Ebert. Duke and his wife, Debra, are the executors of Haines’ estate. As such, they saw to it that Haines memory was honored by fulfilling his wish to continue to “give back to Potomac State College. Our family history with Ken started with my father meeting Ken through the Rotary Club in the 1950s and continued until Ken’s passing in 2021, so we shared many decades of friendship and memories with Ken."
Debra and Duke Ebert at the dedication of the Haines clock tower
Ebert said his relationship with Haines was personal and rooted in an importance in higher education.
“Ken and I shared several trips to Washington, D.C. to see the monuments and the Smithsonian. We enjoyed many a chess game and hours listening to classical music and talking about the literary classics. Ken also assisted me during my education at Potomac State College in 1970-72 by arranging work study jobs at the language house and the newly built Mary F. Shipper library, applying, and receiving a Benedum scholarship, and becoming a member of the PSC honorary fraternity, Sigma Phi Omega,” he said.
During his career, Haines was awarded with numerous distinctions, including a Fulbright Fellowship, WVU PSC’s Outstanding Professor in 1992, and the Distinguished Service Award in 1989. He was also recognized on the Duke Anthony Whitmore Henry Louis Gates Jr. Achievement Wall.
Through his estate, Professor Haines made a transformational bequest to the College, resulting in the creation of the clock tower plaza in front of the Church-McKee Arts Center. Anchored by an elegant clock tower and resonant chimes, the space serves as a place for reflection and is indicative of Haines' personal belief in the power of “place, beauty, and belonging.”
Ebert, a 1972 alumnus of Potomac State, noted that “First perceptions are so important. That includes physical projects that create a pleasing image. While new buildings are at times necessary and well-received, special one-time projects like Ken’s clock tower provide a different and pleasing alternative. Like any unique structure, it helps define and allow for multiple uses.”
Ebert recalled that “I have nothing but the best memories of life as a student at PSC. The campus quad, the residence halls, the Mary F. Shipper library, and all the attendant academic buildings, including the Language House, are still some of my favorite life moments,” he said. “The education I received and especially the professors I had while a student left a lasting impact on me. The campus has only become more vibrant over time with the addition of the new dorms, the conversion of the baseball field, and certainly the upgrades at the Church-Mckee Arts building. Potomac State is in good hands as a welcoming campus, but also a college that offers an excellent education in so many diverse fields.”
The Eberts were present at the recent official dedication of the clock tower and parklet named in honor of Haines.
“Ken’s involvement in the Keyser community and PSC was immense,” Ebert said. “I would be remiss if I didn't mention Ken’s recognition and the honor of receiving his honorary doctorate from WVU. It meant so very much to him to be recognized as the only faculty member in Potomac State’s 125-year history to receive such an honor. Ken was a pillar of both the local community and a trusted and respected professor and mentor at Potomac State College. A true scholar and man of letters. Few persons attained as much in life as Ken, both socially and educationally. Potomac State College and Keyser were blessed to have had Ken dedicate his life to them.”
Haines’ philanthropic vision to enhance and beautify the plaza area began with the first phase: the revitalization of the clock tower itself. Haines’ contribution not only preserves a piece of the College’s history but also breathes new life into the heart of campus, ensuring future generations will continue to gather, reflect, and be inspired beneath its timeless presence.
Haines devoted nearly his entire academic life to WVU Potomac State College. After graduating in 1950, he returned in 1952 as a faculty member in the Department of Foreign Languages and English, where he inspired generations of students over a distinguished 44-year teaching career. Upon his retirement in 1996, he was named Professor Emeritus – a title reflecting his unwavering commitment to education, mentorship, and campus life. He also served as president, secretary, and treasurer of the PSC Alumni Association.
Ebert said it was one of “Ken’s most cherished wishes to provide a lasting gift to PSC that could be seen, enjoyed and used by the public and especially the students.”
“His great love for teaching and the arts allowed him to bestow the clock tower and study space at a focal point of the Church-McKee Arts building. He envisioned a space where students, faculty, and the public could sit, listen, study, and enjoy his gift to Potomac State,” he said. “It is truly a unique focal point for not just Church-McKee, but for Potomac State as well. A tribute, as well as a photogenic site for memories and events for decades to come. The plaque is a fitting tribute to Ken and highlights his many contributions and philanthropy to Potomac State College. Well done.”
An engraved plaque at the plaza and clock tower site in part reads:
“WVU Potomac State College honors the remarkable generosity of Kenneth F. Haines, alumnus of 1950 and professor emeritus of foreign languages and English. His dedication to students, scholarship, and the humanities has left a lasting imprint on this campus and will continue to inspire all who pass through these grounds and enjoy this dedicated clocktower plaza in his memory.”
In addition to enhancing the physical landscape, Haines ensured that his legacy would support students for generations to come. He established the Kenneth Franklin Haines Memorial Scholarship, an endowed fund aiding WVU Potomac State College students, with preferences to those majoring in the Arts and Sciences. He also supported the Dr. Nancy M. Miller Memorial Scholarship.
At WVU Potomac State College, scholarships are more than financial aid; they are acts of belief in a student’s potential. Thanks to the generosity behind the Dr. Nancy Miller Memorial Scholarship and the Kenneth F. Haines Memorial Scholarship, students are empowered to pursue their education with purpose and pride, while honoring the legacy of Dr. Miller and Mr. Haines.
The scholarships were made through the WVU Foundation, the nonprofit organization that receives and administers private donations on behalf of the University and its affiliates. For more information regarding how to donate to WVU Potomac State College, please reach out to Dr. Megan Webb at mwebb9@mail.wvu.edu. For further information on the Endowment Spend Policy, Advancement Fee, and Endowment Management Fee, please visit the Foundation’s website at www.wvuf.org.