David Kurtz

A former teacher is making good on a promise he made years ago to his students at West Virginia University at Parkersburg.

David Kurtz, who taught American government and constitutional law for seven years from 2004 to 2011, told his students he would throw a 250th celebration party, provided he wasn’t dead.

“At some point early on during my classes, I joked that if I was still alive in 2026, I’d throw a party for my former students to celebrate America’s 250th birthday. I fondly remember all the excitement with our bicentennial in 1976,” Kurtz said. “The students got a big kick out of the idea, but it seemed so far away at the time.”

The promise was repeated to classes over the years and former students have asked and reminded him if there was going to be a party, Kurtz said.

“Well, it looks as if I will likely still be alive in a month, so I am starting the planning to hold some sort of get-together for any of my former students who might be interested,” he said.

Kurtz, who also served on the Wood County Board of Education, has arranged with the college to throw a party beginning at 11:30 a.m. July 2, first in the college conference room just inside the front doors, then continuing at 4 p.m. when the school closes, near the big clock in front of the school. If it’s raining, the party will move to a part of the campus that has a roof, he said.

“I plan on providing hot dogs, Mister Bee potato chips, birthday cake, cookies and who knows what else,” Kurtz said. “I also plan to offer a $25 gift certificate to the WVU-P bookstore, which has a lot more stuff than just textbooks, to any of my former AmGov or ConLaw students who attend that day.”

Invitations have gone out to the students, he said.

“I realize that at this point in your life, many of you are working, so I have tried to set this up so that you can make an appearance during your lunch hour or after work,” the invitation said.

Even if no one shows, “I must keep my promise and do something to commemorate the USA making it to 250 years old,” Kurtz said.

Warren Bigley, a former student who served on Parkersburg City Council, remembers Kurtz’s pledge for the 250th celebration. Bigley will be at the party.

Kurtz had written on a black board “July 4, 2026” prior to the constitutional law final exam that evening, Bigley said. It was a long time ago, Bigley said.

“He said ‘after the final exam, I’ll tell you what that means,'” Bigley said.

Bigley, friends with Kurtz on Facebook, would remind him of the pledge over the years.

Kurtz served two terms on the board of education before teaching at the college.

Classes would begin with the “Ssong of the night” sung in the hallway. Songs would have a connection to government, said Kurtz, who worked for the Treasury Department at the time he was teaching.

Kurtz is the finest example of a political science teacher, Bigley said. Kurtz taught the subject matter without political bias, Bigley, who used Kurtz’s teachings on city council, said.

“I always thought he was the perfect professor for political science,” Bigley said.