Students, alumni rally to save 'V' on mountain

Students, alumni rally to save 'V' on mountain

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CENTERVILLE — Erosion is threatening Viewmont High School's mark on the mountain, but a group has come together to preserve the integrity of the "V."

The structure of the "V" has been damaged by the elements during the 40 years since it was installed, and family members of the man who directed the original construction in 1973 are putting together the restoration efforts.

“The ‘V’ is stable as deemed by a geological engineer, but that might not necessarily be the case as the erosion continues to wipe out all of the dirt and rock underneath it — whether it be 5 years or 20 years, who knows," said organizer Bryce Trump. "We want to stabilize the ground so it won’t keep eroding.”

Trump's father, Robert Trump, was a contractor in Centerville when he was approached about putting the "V" on the mountain in 1973. Five years after he poured the concrete for the "V," he died in a tragic accident.


The 'V' is stable as deemed by a geological engineer, but that might not necessarily be the case as the erosion continues to wipe out all of the dirt and rock underneath it — whether it be 5 years or 20 years, who knows.

–Bryce Trump


Since then, Bryce Trump said the "V" has had a special place in his family's heart — especially because most of the family members have ended up attending Viewmont High School. Bryce Trump's son, who is also Robert's youngest grandson, is spearheading the effort as an Eagle Scout project.

The Trump family has been working with the community for the restoration and has the support of Viewmont High School and the city council, Bryce Trump said.

“Originally the city had an agreement with Viewmont High School that Viewmont would take care of (the "V") and maintain it and everything for like a 10 year agreement. Well, 40 years later, no one has done anything about it,” he said. “The city council actually had to dig up the documents from 1973 to take a look at it.”

He said alumni and others in the community have been supportive of the project.

Boy scouts will be cleaning out loose gravel and rocks that are under the "V" on Saturday, and students from Viewmont High School will get the mesh and rebar ready for the concrete to be poured next week.

He said the "V" is lit up every year for homecoming and graduation. During the summer, students paint it red, white and blue for the Fourth of July.

“There are over 30,000 Viewmont alumni and the reaction from everyone I have talked to has been very positive,” he said. “The bottom line, I think, is the vast majority of alumni don’t even know what is going on or know that there has been a lot of erosion going on up there.”

The group is accepting donations online through the Davis Education Foundation to cover the costs of the new concrete and landscaping.


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