Mary Daugherty Poling was a member of the Philip Barbour High School Class of 1964, the first in school history. Her record of academic excellence throughout her public school years was exemplified by her winning the Golden Horseshoe award. During her senior year at PBHS, Mary joined the charter group of the National Honor Society. She also served as secretary for the FHA, and was a member of the school’s TV Toss-Up Team and the SPQR Latin organization.
She went on to earn her bachelor’s and then master’s degrees from West Virginia University in preparation for a return to Barbour County to teach mathematics at her alma mater. Her distinguished career in the classroom at Philip Barbour spanned from 1968 to 2002, as Mary accepted multiple faculty leadership roles, including department chair responsibilities, with her 34 years of dedication culminated in her selection as Barbour County’s 1984-85 Teacher of the Year. As her tenure as an educator drew to a close, she began a new career of service in the state legislature.
First elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates from the 40th District in 2000 (later redistricted to District 47), Mrs. Poling went on to serve six terms representing all of Barbour County and part of Tucker County from 2001 to 2014. Her background in academics helped elevate her to the influential position of House Education Chair in 2007.
Since her retirement from the legislature, Mary has remained active in community service, including two terms as President of the Barbour County Retired School Employees organization. Her love for and background in farming helped her to become a 4-H All-Star in her youth and later a local volunteer 4-H leader. Today, she remains active as co-owner and operator of Wedgewood Farm in Moatsville, with her husband William “Bucky” Poling. They are the parents of two sons, William “Frank” Poling and Edward “Eddie” Poling.
She went on to earn her bachelor’s and then master’s degrees from West Virginia University in preparation for a return to Barbour County to teach mathematics at her alma mater. Her distinguished career in the classroom at Philip Barbour spanned from 1968 to 2002, as Mary accepted multiple faculty leadership roles, including department chair responsibilities, with her 34 years of dedication culminated in her selection as Barbour County’s 1984-85 Teacher of the Year. As her tenure as an educator drew to a close, she began a new career of service in the state legislature.
First elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates from the 40th District in 2000 (later redistricted to District 47), Mrs. Poling went on to serve six terms representing all of Barbour County and part of Tucker County from 2001 to 2014. Her background in academics helped elevate her to the influential position of House Education Chair in 2007.
Since her retirement from the legislature, Mary has remained active in community service, including two terms as President of the Barbour County Retired School Employees organization. Her love for and background in farming helped her to become a 4-H All-Star in her youth and later a local volunteer 4-H leader. Today, she remains active as co-owner and operator of Wedgewood Farm in Moatsville, with her husband William “Bucky” Poling. They are the parents of two sons, William “Frank” Poling and Edward “Eddie” Poling.