MOUNDSVILLE — Decades of experience on the job have left local educator and pastor Mike Eskridge with lots of support from the community to which he’s given so much.

Eskridge was recently honored with several awards, most recently the Dorothy Dakan Sedosky Spirit of History Award through the Marshall County Historical Society, as he plans to retire after a 33-year career teaching history locally. After several years teaching at various educational facilities, Eskridge has taught eighth-grade West Virginia history at Moundsville Middle School for the past 16 years.

The Spirit of History award is granted to Marshall County educators who encourage students to independently study history and get involved in community efforts, or for teaching history beyond what a normal student would be exposed to.

Eskridge is the fourth recipient of the award. He said that of all the honors he’s been granted, the Spirit of History award means the most to him, coming from his own community.

“I’ve been blessed with state and international recognition, but this is probably the most special, because it’s Marshall County,” Eskridge said. “It’s home. To be recognized by my peers here was special to me. Dorothy (Sedosky) was an awesome lady. To have her name on the plaque and to be recognized by the Marshall County Historical society is a feather in my cap. I couldn’t go out a better way.”

Eskridge has also been honored in recent years by the Lions Club. For his work with the Leo Club, sponsored by the Lions, he had been recognized by Lions Multiple District 29, representing the state, which presented him with the Leonard Jarrett Award, as well as the Melvin Jones award from Lions International.

Those are the two highest awards a Lions Club member can receive.

Eskridge was also instrumental in coordinating local outings. Under a program eskridge started, 12 students each year go on a three-day field trip to the state capitol during the legislative session to watch how the legislative process works. Additionally, students under Eskridge also tour local sites such as city hall, the county courthouse, and the Chamber of Commerce.

“I was always a hands-on learner, myself,” Eskridge said. “I think the more the kids see things firsthand, they have it a lot easier, rather than just reading and doing that type of work.”

Gary Rider, past president of the Marshall County Historical Society, said the time was right to recognize Eskridge for his many accomplishments.

“Mike’s retiring this year, and this is our chance to get him before he leaves — it’s quite an honor,” Rider said. “These are the people who, in the classroom, inspire students in our schools to be involved, to learn to love history.”

The award was named in honor of Dorothy Sedosky, who Rider said “lived and breathed the history of Rosby’s Rock,” a landmark in the county where the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad was completed.

Leading the Leo Club at MMS, Eskridge said his students have taken first place at state competitions for the past 11 years, having been established for 13.

“The first year, they gave us a plaque and said, ‘You came in second.’ I don’t like to come in second,” Eskridge joked.

“After that, we’ve come in 11 years, first place, which is a great accomplishment.”

The Leo Club was instrumental in local efforts to raise money during last year’s flooding in southern parts of the state, raising $12,000 for Elk View Middle School.

“We’ve been blessed with great history teachers in Marshall County since I’ve been here,” Eskridge said.

“We’re strong. We’ve had a lot of good teachers who’ve led the way here, for me and Gary.”