Greenbrier Community School is honored to again recognize the history and great legacy of Bolling by introducing the Bolling – Clay Scholarship. This scholarship will be an annual scholarship for any primary aged student who is a descendent of a Bolling School student or teacher. The first scholarship will be offered in the Fall of 2023.
Bolling High School in Lewisburg had an extensive history in Greenbrier County. Mr. Edward Bolling, born in Greenbrier County in 1855 and educated at schools in Richmond, Virginia before attending Morgan State College in Baltimore, returned to Lewisburg in the 1880’s and became the principal of the then Lewisburg Colored School. He served as both an educator and principal for fifty years. In addition to his dedicated work at the school, Mr. Bolling was an active member of the community involved in many religious and social organizations. In 1932, following the death of Edward Bolling, Earl Charles Clay became principal of the Lewisburg Colored School which he renamed Bolling Junior High and Elementary School in honor of Mr. Edward Bolling. Born in 1903 in Greenbrier County, Earl Charles Clay attended West Virginia State College and received his Masters degree from Virginia State College. In addition to being principal at Bolling, Mr. Clay taught chemistry. In the Spring of 1933, the Greenbrier County Board of Education decided to add a tenth grade for the following term at Bolling Junior High and Elementary. The add-a-year policy continued until 1935 when Bolling became a four year high school. In May 1936 fourteen graduates became the first alumni. Bolling High School officially closed in 1963. Since 1936, Bolling High School graduates, and its teachers, have brought honor and dignity to the Greenbrier Community, our state and nationwide.
Visit www.greenbriercommunityschool.org for more information.
