Horizons Youth Services

Charleston Job Corps Center Director Curtis Price, a true champion of the Job Corps program

It is with great sadness that the Charleston Job Corps community notes the death of Center Director Curtis Price Jr., 63, on May. 30.

Price, a native of Charleston whose 27-year Job Corps career began at the Charleston Job Corps Center, returned to head the center in April 2012.

This past February, Price was among 24 honorees recognized at the Governor’s 10th Annual Civil Rights Day for “Advancing Civil Rights through Advocacy.”

During his Job Corps career he served as center director at six different Job Corps centers, including Charleston; Delaware Valley in New York; Westover in Massachusetts; Gary in Texas; Potomac in Washington, D.C.; and Penobscot in Maine.

Additionally, he has served as director of student support services and vice president of government and community relations for Management & Training Corp., a major operator of Job Corps centers.

Price began his Job Corps career at CJCC, serving as an employability specialist/job developer at the center. Prior to joining Job Corps, he served as the equal employment opportunity administrator for the state of West Virginia, Governor’s Office; director of the recreation program at Central Charleston Community College; and head men’s basketball coach at West Virginia State University.

Many in the Charleston community remember Price for his exceptional talent on the basketball court during the 1960s and early 70s.

He was a star player on the Charleston High School teams, including the 1968 state championship team coached by Lou Romano, and was named a Street & Smith's first-team All-American. Although he suffered a severe knee injury his senior year in high school that ended hopes of playing basketball professionally, he did go on to play three seasons for the University of West Virginia, averaging 7.7 points per game for his entire career there, and 10 points per game his senior year.  

However as important as his basketball career was to him, his education took a higher priority. Price earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education/social studies from WVU.

Price used basketball and his coaching experience to connect with students and staff at Charleston Job Corps, making a free-throw competition, with prizes for the winners, part of the center’s Monday business meeting.

Price’s wife noted that, despite his declining health, Price always maintained his focus on the success of the students and staff at the Charleston Job Corps Center.

Pete Calvo, president of Horizons Youth Services, which operates the CJCC, said, “Mr. Price has been a great champion of the Job Corps Program for many years, and will be deeply missed.”