In the photo are members of the Bill Stewart family and close friends as well as the West Virginia University players

The late Bill Stewart was enshrined at the New Martinsville Museum as the first recipient of the Wetzel County Hall Of Fame.

The museum had a mural on side of the New Martinsville with a picture of Bill Stewart after winning the Fiesta Bowl against the Oklahoma Sooners, just after Rich Rodriguez resigned a few days earlier to coach at Michigan.

Stewart, the quarterback, and assistant coach took over the week of the resigning and led them to a 48-28 victory that helped him become the West Virginia Mountaineers’ head coach.

After the Fiesta Bowl win, Stewart would lead the Mountaineers to three straight 9-4 seasons before being forced out.

During the inaugural ceremony, the two Mountaineers that held him up after the exciting win – Sam Morrone and Andy Emergy – were on hand, along with former WVU Athletic Director Ed Pastilong, Noel Divine, Owen Schmidt and Pat White, as well as Stewart’s bride Karen and their son Blain Stewart along with many, many family and close friends and hundreds of area residents.

I was thrilled to be one of many that was on hand on this historic day. Mrs. Stewart also recently opened the Interstate 79 exit near Morgantown in a ribbon cutting ceremony named in her husband’s honor before taking part in Wetzel County Museum’s inaugural Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

The stories that were told and the humbling words from Mr. Pastilong, Owen Schmidt, Pat White, Sam Morrone and Andy Emery were all memorable. But, to me, the talk of his best friend and Godfather of Blaine, Dennis Balcerek, brought tears to my eyes a few times during his speech. It was a wonderful experience and one that I will never forget.

I went to my River High School Saturday for my class reunion. The only thing I wish is that there were more class members from 1973 their. I guess it wasn’t just my class that didn’t have many present. My Aunt Joy graduated from Magnolia (way back when), and she said there were not many their also.

What is the problem? I know if you live far away it’s sometimes hard to get the time off, but if you live close, you should go.

Labor Day celebrations were held all over the country, and in are area, Paden City had a wonderful parade and activities all day. I wish I could have went, but I had company coming for a cookout and couldn’t attend. However, I was a union man for Local Union #1785 coal mine in Clarington for 27 years and support Labor Day.

My cookout was pretty good except for a few that couldn’t come, but the wife and I enjoyed the company that came and we had a great time, along with the gospel singing that probably kept others from coming.

After two weeks of football, River stands alone with a perfect 2-0, while our former state champions Magnolia haven’t won a game yet. I haven’t been to one yet, because I was at other county schools covering. But this week, Lord willing, I will be there to cover the Blue Eagles and hope things start going their way.

They are improving as well as the winless Hundred Hornets and Paden City Wildcats, but they each have gotten better – look out when they do.

There are still lots of games yet to be played by everyone, not only in football, but soccer, cross country, golf and volleyball too. If I haven’t seen you at a game, I will soon. Good luck area teams.