WHEELING – In 1954, Ralph Edwards Sr. was in the midst of his high school career at Blessed Martin High School in East Wheeling when history stepped in.

At the same time, the United States’ high courts were embroiled in legal wrangling to end segregation in schools. In 1955, Edwards and two of his Blessed Martin classmates – James Mayfield and John Galloway – walked through the doors of Wheeling Central Catholic High School as the first black students to attend the school.

They were the only black students to do so that year, which was their senior year. Tuition was $12.50 a year.

Edwards said it was an honor to be chosen by the Sisters of St. Joseph, who taught at Blessed Martin before it closed, to attend Central. Ironically, the segregated Blessed Martin High was located across the street from Central’s gymnasium on 13th Street.

The transition into Central went smoothly for Edwards and his friends, but not everyone in the community embraced the idea of desegregation.

“I grew up in East Wheeling and it was a great place to live. I still live there,” Edwards said. “We had our own stores, barber shops and things like that, but we couldn’t go uptown and eat at Louie’s Hot Dog. That was just the way it was.”

Change was slow in some segments of society, but Edwards relished his time at Central.

“The nuns at Blessed Martin were great. And the Marist Brothers at Central had a profound effect on the rest of my life. Later, when I entered the Army, I wasn’t afraid to take orders. I was used to that with the brothers,” Edwards quipped.

Edwards claims to have been a decent basketball player in school, serving as a scrappy point guard. In his earlier years of schooling, Edwards said he played against all the Catholic grade schools and enjoyed that they wound up at Central together.

“We all got along pretty good. There were some schools that wouldn’t play you because of having blacks on the team,” he said.

The only real drawback to his senior year at Central was the fact there were no black girls in the school, according to Edwards. He said most of the girls went to Wheeling High School when Blessed Martin and Lincoln High were closed. That didn’t deter Edwards, who met his future wife, Saundra, after walking her home from the drugstore where she had gone to buy ice cream for her father.

“I knew her sisters but I always thought she was the prettiest one. We’ve been married for 55 years. It’s not that way today with young people. But I say if you care enough, if you love them, then you should get married. Marriage isn’t a life sentence,” Edwards said.

The couple raised three children: Ralph Jr., Brett and Sonia, all who live and work locally. Five grandchildren complete the family.

After high school, Edwards spent six years in the U.S. Army Airborne Division. He returned to his hometown where he worked at various jobs including at Sylvania Electric, UPS and Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel until downsizing started there. He then found his calling working in the security business, and today he owns and operates Golden Eagle Security Agency Inc. in Wheeling.

His successful business includes private investigations and courier services. At 77, Edwards has no intention of slowing down and said he can take care of himself in a sometimes dangerous occupation. He credits much of his success to good parents, his wife and his Catholic school education.

“My father used to tell me to be the best at what you do. If you want to be a bum, don’t be a half bum! I tell young people that good morals are better when you carry yourself well. That means showing respect … dressing nice for church, things like that,” Edwards added.

Edwards said he was honored last year to have been inducted into the West Virginia All Black Schools Sports and Academic Hall of Fame for his contribution to history.

Wheeling Central will celebrate its own 150 years of history on Saturday with a Knights Reunite dinner at WesBanco Arena on Saturday. The event is sold out.