I am immensely grateful for the family and friends I had in Keyser, West Virginia,
“the little railroad town that could”
Both of my parents dedicated their careers to teaching high school and college students about the history of our country, about our federal government, and about our democratic Constitutional rights.  Photos of my parents with teachers.

Dr. Dallas B. Shaffer
Chair of the Social Sciences Department of Potomac State College, with Department faculty, 1978

Jennie M. Shaffer
Vice President of the West Virginia Education Association,
with Keyser High School faculty,1982

Some friends we had in our little railroad town
who also dedicated their careers and lives to the service of our country

The Honorable Congressman Harley Orrin Staggers Sr, born in Keyser WV in 1907.  A Naval Aviator during WWII in both the Atlantic and Pacific.  He was the longest serving Chair (1966–1981) of the longest standing (Est. 1795) and most powerful Committee of our House of Representatives, the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce. It was later renamed the Committee on Energy and Commerce.

In his honor, the portrait above is permanently displayed in the Hearing Room for the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

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The Honorable Attorney Congressman Harley O. Staggers Jr., born in Washington, raised in Keyser.  House Judiciary Committee.
Graduate of Harvard and WVU College of Law.  Congressman Staggers Sr. and Attorney Congressman Staggers Jr. represented the Second District of West Virgina for more than forty years.

Behind-the-scenes sponsor for me and my brother.  He is why I am one of the founders of the National Energy Technology Laboratory.

Congressman Staggers Sr, one of the leaders of The Camp David Accords,
bringing lasting peace between Israel and Egypt

With the President of Egypt Anwar Sadat at
The Camp David Peace Accords

With the Prime Minister of Israel Menachem Begin at the Camp David Peace Accords

Congressman Staggers founding the Appalachian Experiment Station in Morgantown WV in 1952.  It would later become the Morgantown site of the National Energy Technology Laboratory

Congressman Staggers Sr. helping elect John F. Kennedy
as our 35th President of our United States

 Publications by my father Rev. Dr. Dallas B. Shaffer:

The Battle AT DROOP Mountain

This paper is about the need to protect the B&O Railroad -- Lincoln’s lifeline to the West. 
In 1967, another man who knew the value of protecting the B&O read this paper. 
My father became the Chair of the Department of Social Sciences
at Potomac State College, where this man was a former football coach. 

President Carter signing The Staggers Rail Act of 1980. 
Congressman Staggers deregulated and saved the railway industry of the United States.

The Battle AT DROOP Mountain

Lincoln and the Vast Question of West Virginia

”An Essay on Ending Racism”
by The Reverend Dallas B. Shaffer, PhD

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