Official Website of the Alderson-Broaddus Battlers

Alderson-Broaddus Battlers Hall of Fame

Class of 2011 Class of 2010 Class of 2009 Class of 2008 Class of 2007 Class of 2005 Class of 2004 Class of 2003 Class of 2002 Class of 2001
Class of 2000  Class of 1999  Class of 1998  Class of 1997  Class of 1996  Class of 1995  Class of 1994  Class of 1993  Class of 1992  Class of 1991 
                 

 

 

Class of 2011: Dave Barksdale, Terry Johnson, David Lamport, Susan Ross

  • David Barksdale- Dave Barksdale served as coach of the A-B men’s basketball team for seven years from 1976-1983. When he came to A-B, he brought in a fast-breaking style of play that took A-B to the top of the conference in scoring offense and tenacious man-to-man defense. Dave was a point guard for the 1962 Woodrow Wilson High School team that won the WV state championship. He later returned to coach his alma mater, winning 5 state championships and finishing as state runner-up three more times; his teams made 11 straight state tournament appearances. In total, he won 335 games in 17 years. He now is an assistant coach at Mountain State University in Beckley, whose team recently finished as NAIA national runner-up.
  • Terry Johnson- Terry Johnson came from Cowanesque Valley High School in Pennsylvania and was a two-sport athlete at A-B. Upon arrival, Coach Funk named Johnson captain of the Battler baseball team all four years. Playing catcher, he batted .300+ each year and was named to the WVIAC First Team three times. Terry also was a member of the bowling team, earning a team WVIAC Championship in 1973 and representing the conference at the NAIA National Tournament. While in high school, he was an outstanding four-sport athlete, earning him election into the Tioga County Sports Hall of Fame in 1998. Following high school, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corp, spending 13 months in Vietnam and received two purple hearts among many honors.
  • David Lamport- Dave Lamport came to A-B from Portsmouth, England, finishing his career as one of the most outstanding midfielders in Battler men’s soccer history. He was named to the WVIAC All-Conference First Team twice, WVIAC Player of the Week twice, and was recognized as a WVIAC Senior Scholar Athlete. Lamport also served as captain during his senior year. Following his playing career, he served as a volunteer assistant coach while completing his physical assistant rotations. Lamport was also an outstanding student, graduating summa cum laude with a major in medical science; he was also named A-B’s Outstanding Male Physician Assistant student, Silver Key Honor Society honoree, and Dean’s List honoree for eight semesters.
  • Susan Ross came to Alderson-Broaddus from nearby Bridgeport High School, where she was an outstanding two-sport athlete in track and basketball. She was named to the All-Harrison County First Team, the Big Tean All-Conference Team, and received WV All-State First Team honors. In 2007 she was named one of the top 25 girls basketball players in Harrison County history. While playing for the Lady Battlers, Ross was named to the WVIAC All-Conference First Team and All-Tournament team in both 1989 and 1990. An outstanding guard, she scored 1156 career points, placing her in the top ten in that category, while also snagging 205 rebounds, dishing 248 assists, and shooting 78% from the foul line.

 

Class of 2010: Kenneth Hibshman, Carolyn Mair, Laura (Granger) Miller, David Smith

  • Kenneth J. Hibshman- Ken Hibshman was a three-sport athlete at Elco High School in Myerstown, PA, playing basketball, soccer, and baseball. Following high school, he enrolled at Mitchell Junior College and played soccer. His team finished sixth in the country, he was named All-American, and later inducted into that school’s Hall of Fame. When Ken came to A-B, he had the opportunity to play both baseball and soccer. During his first season, the soccer team tied Davis & Elkins for first place in the Conference. During the 1974 season, he was named All-Conference and All-south. He was also named to the Battlers’ All-Time soccer Team when A-B celebrated its 25th Anniversary of Soccer in 1990.
  • Carolyn S. Mair- Coach Carolyn Mair, a Judson College graduate, came to Alderson-Broaddus in 1991 to teach physical education and coach women’s basketball. She also coached volleyball for three years. As volleyball coach, she earned an overall record of 77-43 and was named WVIAC Coach of the Year in 1994. Her record as women’s basketball coach was 116-80 and was named Coach of the Year in 1998. Her 1997-98 team compiled a perfect 19-0 regular season record, won the regular season championship, and was selected as the Number One Seed in the East Region. A-B was also selected to host NCAA Division II Regional Women’s Basketball Tournament in 1998.
  • Laura (Granger) Miller- Laura Granger came to Alderson-Broaddus as an outstanding three sport-athlete at Shady Spring High School. She was an outside hitter for the Lady Battler Volleyball Team, being named All-Conference and All-Tournament all four years. She was also named MVP of the WVIAC Volleyball Tournament her junior year. Laura also had great success on the softball diamond, being named All-Conference and All-Tournament all four years. During her freshman year, the team played in the NAIA Regional Tournament and during her junior year, the team went undefeated during the regular season. She also received the Senior Scholar Athlete Award.
  • David C. Smith- David Smith came to Alderson-Broaddus from North Allegheny High School as a three-sport athlete. He played midfielder for the A-B Soccer Team and was named to the All-Conference and All-South teams in both 1977 and 1979. The team also won the Conference Championship his senior year, playing the nationals, but losing to the eventual national champions. Dave was named to the Battlers’ All-Time Soccer Team when A-B celebrated its 25th Anniversary of Soccer in 1990. He was invited to the 1978 Olympic Try-Outs in West Chester, PA and was also drafted in the third round by indoor soccer team, the Pittsburgh Spirit. 

 

Class of 2009: Terry Cole, Lowell Pitzer, Chiquitta Walker, Gary Washington

  • Terry L. Cole- Terry Cole was a three-sport All-State athlete at nearby Grafton High School, excelling in football, baseball, basketball, and golf. While at A-B, he played both basketball and baseball. On the baseball diamond, he was a three-time First Team All-Conference second baseman. He holds the College’s All-Time record with 78 stolen bases during his career. During his senior season, he batted .378, stole 30 bases, and was named “Player of the Week” twice. Terry was also named the One Valley bank Senior Scholar Athlete. After graduating from A-B, Terry served as baseball coach at Grafton High School, and guided his team to the Regional finals his first year.
  • Lowell S. Pitzer- Barbour County native son Lowell Pitzer was a member of the Alderson-Broaddus Basketball team while a student at A-B. It was after his graduation from A-B that he truly excelled in athletics. He began his career in coaching, by coaching the golf team at Philip Barbour High School then moved on to teach and coach at Fork Union Military Academy for 20 years. He then served Belhaven College in Mississippi for 4 years, and has been at Missouri Baptist University since 1990, where he has served as men’s and women’s basketball coach, athletic director and coordinator of health and physical education. While at MBU, he was named “Midwest conference Men’s coach of the Year” in 1992.
  • Chiquitta R. Walker- Chiquitta Walker was a two-sport All-State athlete at Valley High School in Smithers, WV, excelling in both track and basketball. At A-B, she was known for being the second all-time leading scoring in school history, with 1,649 points. At A-B, she was named WVIAC “Player of the Year” in 1998 and was named to the first All-Conference Team three consecutive years. While Chiquitta wore the Blue and Gold, the team had a incredible record of 58-17 and earned the 1998 Regular Season Basketball Title with a perfect record of 19-0. In 2007, she was named to the WVIAC “25 at 25,” honoring the 25 greatest Women’s Basketball players in the Conference’s 25-year history.
  • Gary K. Washington- Washington, DC native Gary Washington played three years of basketball in high school and was named “Most Outstanding Player” his senior season. At A-B, he started two years for the battlers and served as co-captain his senior season. During his senior season, he led the WVIAC in scoring with 22.6 points per game and was named to the All-WVIAC First Team and to the Central Five NAIA All-Star Team. He was also named NAIA All-American Honorable Mention and led the Battlers in shooting with a field goal percentage of 49% and a free throw shooting percentage of 85%. In all, he played 51 games wearing the Blue and Gold, averaging over 16 points per game.

 

Class of 2008: George Cockerill, Mark DeFazio, Barrington Gaynor, Rhonda Peck

  • George E. Cockerill- A native of Webster Springs, West Virginia, George Cockerill came to Alderson-Broaddus because of his influence of Coach Rex Pyles. Rex worked his magic to make it possible for him to attend A-B. George was a four-year starting guard on the Battler basketball team and scored a total of 1,145 points. While he was a member of the basketball team, the team’s record was 105-39, and the team made two appearances in the NAIA National Tournament in Kansas City. He also played baseball four years as a catcher and even had a try-out with the Baltimore Orioles. In addition, he also played for the Philippi Red Sox. After his graduation from A-B in 1957, he served in the United States Army and for the opportunity to coach basketball. In 1960, he began his career with Ford Motor Company and retired after 35 years.
  • Mark A. DeFazio- Mark DeFazio was an outstanding four-sport athlete at Roosevelt Wilson High School. His high school basketball coach, Tim Brinkley, encouraged him to come to A-B, and then he would have the opportunity to play both basketball and baseball. He also had the opportunity to participate in track at A-B, as well. As a guard on the basketball team, he was known for his quickness and scored 362 points. On the baseball diamond, he alternated between second base and shortstop. He served as head basketball coach at Lincoln High School for nine years and compiled an overall record of 133-77. He then served the school as Athletic Director for twelve years and during one year was named Athletic Director of the year by the West Virginia Coaches Association. He is currently principal of Bridgeport High School.
  • Barrington L. Gaynor- Barrington Gaynor came to Alderson-Broaddus after having served as captain of the Jamaican National Soccer Team. At A-B, he played right back for the Blue &Gold, and was named All-Conference and All-American for four seasons, only the second soccer player in school history to receive such an honor. The two-year captain was also named to the NAIA National Tournament Team. He was a member of the team that placed second in the 1988 NAIA National Tournament, and was a member of the 1991 National Tournament Team. Barrington was known for his quickness and unselfishness on the field. Not only was he outstanding on the soccer field, he was outstanding in the classroom, graduating with a degree in computer science in 3 ½ years.
  • Rhonda N. Peck- Beckley native, Rhonda Peck, played volleyball and basketball and ran track at Woodrow Wilson High School. She knew Alderson-Broaddus would provide the kind of college environment she needed, including an athletic scholarship. While at a-B, the middle hitter was named WVIAC Player of the Week several times during her play on the court and was also named All-Conference, All-Tournament, and WVIAC Player of the Year her senior year. In 1990, she was named an NAIA Honorable Mention All-American, the first female volleyball player in West Virginia to receive this honor. After graduating from A-B in 1991 in sports medicine, she returned to receive a degree in education in 1995. She is currently Head Volleyball Coach for Eastmoor Academy in Columbus, Ohio and is a teacher for Columbus City Schools. 

 

Class of 2007: Judith (Bowles) Funk, Douglas Little, David Rhodes, Douglas Rhodes

  • Judith (Bowles) Funk- When Judi Bowles enrolled at Alderson-Broadus in 1953, she had no idea that her life would be entwined with A-B forever. A graduate of Huntington East High School, she has been a life-long Baptist destined for A-B. While a student at A-B, she was a cheerleader and a member of the Tour Choir. She married Jack Funk in 1956 and has faithfully served as a “Coach’s Wife” ever since, going above and beyond the call of duty. She has hosted student athletes in her home, cooked hundreds of meals, and altered ad washed uniforms for years as well as other ways of helping too numerous to mention. She and Jack still travel with all the A-B teams as much as possible. Judi Funk truly bleeds “Blue and Gold.” Twenty members of her immediate family have graduated from Alderson-Broaddus. She still finds time to volunteer in the community, including being active with Philippi Baptist Church.
  • Douglas A. Little- A native of Parkersburg, Doug knew he wanted to Alderson-Broaddus after visiting campus. While a member of the Battler Baseball Team, he compiled an overall average of .304. He was named to the All-Conference First Team twice. He has served as Head Baseball Coach at Potomac State College in Keyser for the past ten years. He has compiled an overall record of over 300 wins. Potomac State has won the NJCAA Region XX Baseball Championship eight of the nine previous years Doug has been at the helm. He has been named the American Baseball Coaches Association Regional Coach of the Year seven times and in 2005, he was named by the Mid-Atlantic Professional Scouting Bureau as their “Coach of the Year.” He has had numerous players continue to play at four-year colleges, JUCO All-Americans, and several drafted by professional organizations.
  • David and Douglas Rhodes- Twins, Dave and Doug Rhodes, were All-State Soccer Players at North Regional High School in Blairstown, New Jersey. Both held numerous state records and were featured in Sports Illustrated “Faces in the Crowd.” They then moved their game to Alderson-Broaddus, receiving many All-Conference honors during their four years on the field. Both were named to the Battlers’ All-Time Team during A-B’s 25th Anniversary of Soccer. Dave was also a member of the wrestling team at A-B, and Doug was a member of the swimming and diving team. Both were active with the TKE fraternity as well as other campus organizations. They worked together to found the Sarasota Football club, which currently has over 450 members. They have continued to play in state and national soccer tournaments, and their team even won the National Championship in the over 40 Division in 2001.

 

Class of 2005: Gary Higginbotham, Tammy (Rogers) Martin, James Thomasson

  • Gary R. Higginbotham ’73- Gary Higginbotham was an outstanding athlete at Freedom Junior/Senior High School in Pennsylvania. He followed in his brother’s footsteps to Alderson-Broaddus. While a student at A-B, he earned three letters in baseball as an outfielder, and led the West Virginia Conference in hitting his freshman year. He was named to the WVIAC All-Conference Team in 1970. Gary received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Secondary Education from A-B in 1973. Following his graduation, he began teaching for Charles city Schools in Virginia, where he also coached wrestling and baseball. He spent twenty-seven years teaching and coaching at Meadowbrook High School. At Meadowbrook, he coached baseball from 1981 until 1995, earning 163 wins, the most ever by a Monarch baseball coach, and is also the winningest coach in any sport at the school. He also had thirteen straight seasons with a losing record. Gary also served as Athletic Director at Meadowbrook, and became a face on the school’s Wall of Fame in 2003. He is currently the Head Principal at Ravenswood Middle School in West Virginia.
  • Tammy (Rogers) Martin ’90- Tammy Rogers attended Philip Barbour High School where she was known for her participation on the court, both basketball and tennis. She was a guard on the basketball team and was known for her quickness, defensive ability, and number of assists. She qualified for the State Tournament as a tennis player. She then enrolled at A-B, where she was a member of the tennis, softball, and basketball teams. Tammy graduated from A-B with a bachelor’s degree in physical education and health. She also received a master’s degree from West Virginia University. She is in her fourteenth year as a teacher and coach in the Barbour County School System. She has coached boy’s and girl’s tennis and softball for the Colt athletic program. She is currently the girl’s basketball coach and has been named Big Ten Coach of the Year on numerous occasions. She is best known for her role as Athletic Director, where she is one of the few female athletic administrators in the entire state.
  • James N. Thomasson ’90- Jim Thomasson attended Parkersburg South High School, and was a member of the Patriot Basketball Team. He was named All-Conference two years, and set a state SSAC record for most consecutive free throws made -54- a record which still stands. While at A-B, he was a member of the Battler Basketball Team, and was known for his free-throw percentage and long-range shooting. He still holds the A-B record for career free-throw percentage at 86.7%. Jim was named the WVIAC Senior Scholar Athlete, and his team won the WVIAC Tournament his senior year. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1990 in secondary education and sports medicine. Jim also received his master’s degree in health education from Penn State University, and is working on his principal’s certification. He currently teaches health and physical education at Middletown High School in Pennsylvania and is the school’s cross country coach. He has also coached both basketball and track at Middletown. 

 

Class of 2004: Richard Eaton, Lawrence Goodrich, Ernest Nestor, Peter Tarasi

  • Richard A. Eaton ’86- Rich Eaton enrolled at Alderson-Broaddus only because a soccer scholarship opened up at the last minute. While a freshman, his team beat both nationally ranked William & Mary and Penn State. During his sophomore year, the team went to the National Tournament and placed third, losing in the semi-finals in double-overtime. He was named All-Conference and All-South four years and was named All-American three years. The midfielder also played for the East Team in the Senior Bowl in Cleveland, Ohio. Rich received his Bachelor Science degree in Physical Education from A-B in 1986. He was named to A-B’s All-Time team in 1990, and played professionally for seven years. He is currently CEO of Britannia Soccer USA. He as his wife, Cyndi, and children, Christopher and Cayley, life in Jeffersonton, Virginia.
  • Lawrence F. Goodrich, Jr. - Larry Goodrich played soccer for Fox Chapel High School, and while a freshman, his team won the Pennsylvania State Championship. He also received All-State and All-WPIAL Honors. While a Battler, Larry was named to the All-Conference and All-South Teams, and was an All-American nominee. His freshman year, the Battlers finished fourth in the National Tournament. He was named to the A-B All-Time Team in 1990 and was often referred to as “most feared defender.” He was a member of the TEKEs at A-B, and graduated in 1971 with a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and physics. Following graduation, he served as Assistant Soccer Coach at A-B under Head Coach Lee Cook. Larry still continues to play soccer and has coached all three of his sons. He has been a pilot for Delta Airlines for the past 25 years, and he and his wife, Jan, live in Marietta, Georgia.
  • Ernest L. Nestor, II- A native of Philippi, Ernie Nestor was a member of the Philip Barbour High School football and basketball teams. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education from A-B in 1968, and was a member of the basketball and golf teams. While at A-B, he discovered his true passion of coaching basketball. He started his coaching career at Ravenswood High School in West Virginia. His career then took him to John Bassett High School in Virginia, James Madison University, Wake Forest University, University of California, George Mason University, back to Wake Forest, and University of South Carolina. He is currently Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Elon University in North Carolina. He is in his 37th year of coaching basketball, and has coached many All-Americans and NBA players. He and his wife, Janet, live in Stoney Creek, North Carolina.
  • Peter J. Tarasi- Pete Tarasi came to Alderson-Broaddus from Springdale High School outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. During his senior year, he was co-captain of the team, and set a WPIAL record for scoring 22 goals that year. While at A-B, the forward was named to the All-Conference and All-South Teams. He was named MVP of two tournaments, and was a member of the team that finished fourth in A-B’s first appearance in the National Tournament in Quincy, Illinois. Pete was named to A-B’s All-Time Team in 1990, and when doing so, Coach Bobby Gray said, “Pete was known for his outstanding left foot. His volley shots will always be remembered.” He graduated from A-B in November of 1971 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education. While at A-B, he was also a member of the TEKEs.  Pete is currently Supervisor of Emergency Services for Allegheny County Mental Health Services in Pittsburgh, where he and his wife, Ann, live. 

 

Class of 2003: Angelo Basile, Michael Hince, Pamela Noble, Michael Rawlins

  • Angelo D. Basile ’66- Angelo Basile, a native of Clarksburg, West Virginia, excelled on the basketball court as a player at Notre Dame High School. He arrived on the A-B campus in September 1963, and became a member of the Battler Basketball Team in January 1964. He worked his way into the starting line-up by mid-season. As an outside shooting guard, he scored over 500 points in two and a half seasons. Also at A-B, he was a member of the Sigma Delta Nu fraternity. After his graduation from A-B in December of 1966, he earned a master’s degree in education from West Virginia University. He has spent his entire professional career in teaching and coaching, mostly at his high school alma mater, Notre Dame. He is not retired from coaching, with an overall record of 389-289, with 351 of those wins coming at Notre Dame. He was also named Harrison County Coach of the Year on five occasions and to the Hall of Fame of the St. Joseph’s Invitational Tournament.
  • Michael A. Hince ’79- Michael Hince, a native of Springdale, and Pennsylvania played both soccer and basketball at Springdale High School. When he enrolled at A-B, he played sweeper/back on the Battler soccer team. He was named to the All-Conference Team and All-South Team three times. He was also named to the NCAA All-American Second Team in 1976 and 1977, as well as the NAIA All-American Second Team. During his senior season, he was named team captain, and was chosen by the Battler Columns as “Athlete of the Year.” In his senior year, he was drafted in the fifth round by the NASL’s Detroit Express. During A-B’s 25th Anniversary of Soccer Celebration, Michael was selected to A-B’s All-Time Team. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in secondary education and English from A-B in 1979. He also earned a master’s degree in education administration from West Virginia University. He has spent his entire professional career at John Marshall High School in Glen Dale, West Virginia. He started the soccer program at John Marshall, and is currently Assistant Principal.
  • Pamela L. Noble ’93- Pam Noble a native of McDonald, Pennsylvania, was an outstanding three-sport athlete at Fort Cherry Junior/Senior High School. At A-B, she excelled on both the volleyball and basketball courts. She is A-B’s All-Time leading rebounder with 1,120 rebounds, and is first on the All-Time Season Rebounding List with 324 rebounds her senior season. She was also named to the WVIAC First Team ad All-Tournament Team. During her senior year, she was listed in Street & Smith Magazine. As being the second leading rebounder in the entire nation. Pam was also an outstanding middle hitter for the Lady Battler Volleyball Team, and was named to the All-Conference First Team her senior season. She was also the only member of the A-B Women’s Golf Team for a season, and was named Spring Court Queen her senior year. Pam graduated from A-B with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Recreational Leadership in December 1993. She has also served in the United Stated Air Force, and is currently a customer service representative for Coca Cola.
  • Michael I. Rawlins ’84- Mick Rawlins, a native of Wednesburg, England, was A-B’s first-ever four-time Soccer All-American. The fullback was also named to the WVIAC First-Team all four years, and led the Battlers to a second place finish in the nation in 1981. The Battlers also placed fourth in the nation in 1983. He served as team captain both his junior and senior years at A-B. During his senior season, he was also named an Academic All-American, and was named to the Senior Bowl. As an All-American, he was named to the NAIA Second Team his freshman year, and to the NAIA First-Team his remaining three years. He was also named to the McDonald’s All-American First Team three times. He graduated from A-B in 1984. During A-B’s 25th Anniversary of Soccer in 1990, he was named to A-B’s All-time Team. According to A-B coaches, as well as opposing coaches, he was without a doubt, one of the most outstanding players to ever wear the Blue and Gold on the soccer field. 

 

Class of 2002: Marcus Dunham, Jr., Cledith "Butch" Powell, Darrell Saunders, C. Everett Sperry, Robert "Cat" Whitfield

  • Marcus S. Dunham, Jr. ’47- Marcus Dunham was recruited to play basketball at A-B by legendary coach Rex Pyles, because of the of the encouragement of fellow Battler Hall of Famer Kenny Griffith. During his first year, he was the only freshman to be on an athletic scholarship for both basketball and baseball. Also during his freshman year, the Battlers won the WVIAC Championship. In addition to scoring a total of 723 points while wearing the Blue and Gold, Dunham fed the ball to Griffith enabling him to score a record 575 points in 688 minutes of play. During his junior year, he captained the team to both a West Virginia Conference regular season title and a tournament championship. After his junior year, his college career was put on hold because of his service in World War II. After serving in the United States Army, he returned to A-B to finish his education, which he did in 1947. He married Joan Watson on February 21, 1946, a date which was postponed several times because of A-B basketball games. Dunham retired from teaching and coaching in 1982. He was also an official for football and basketball in Virginia for many years. 
  • Cledith W. “Butch” Powell ’69- Butch Powell was a standout athlete at St. Albans High School. Coach Rex Pyles asked him to come to A-B as a walk-on for the Battler Basketball Team. While wearing the Gold and Blue, Butch scored 1,015 points and garnered 195 rebounds in three years as an outside shooter. He was named Co-Captain his senior year. Also A-B, he played baseball, bowled, and played on the flag football team. Butch taught and coached at Kingwood High School after leaving A-B. Following that, he moved on to Nicholas County High School, where he served for 23 years in a variety of capacities, including Basketball Coach and Athletic Director. He is currently Assistant Executive Director of the West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission in Parkersburg. Butch and his wife, Janet, are the parents of two children, and have four grandchildren and live in Vienna, West Virginia. 
  • Darrell B. Saunders- Darrell Saunders came to Alderson-Broaddus College to coach soccer, and is the founder of A-B’s program. The first year, A-B finished the season with a record of 1-4-1, and the second year, A-B finished 8-3. While at the Battler helm, he compiled a record of 56-13-7, and recruited A-B’s first All-Conference Player, Battler Hall of Famer Dick Wilson and A-B’s first All-American, Battler Hall of Famer Gary White. In addition to his soccer duties, Coach Saunders coached both wrestling and track. After leaving A-B, he coached and taught at Erskine College, Campbell University, and Pfeiffer College. He also served as president of the NAIA Soccer Coaches Association. Darrell has since taught and served as principal at public schools in North Carolina. He is currently a real estate broker in the High Point Greensboro, North Carolina area. He and his wife, Becky, live in Trinity, North Carolina, and are the parents of two daughters, and have four granddaughters.
  • C. Everett Sperry- Everett Sperry of Philippi was a member of the faculty at Alderson-Broaddus College for thirty-four years. After his retirement in 1987, he was awarded the title Associate Professor Emeritus of Mathematics. He spent a great deal of time helping athletes reach their potential in the classroom. He also sold tickets to basketball games for over thirty years. Everett worked extensively with Coach Rex Pyles, and often took basketball players and cheerleaders to away games. When Coach Pyles was sick, Everett, along with Battler Hall of Famer, Bill Woodford, even coached the basketball team. Everett also managed the Barbour Country Club which enabled him to coach the A-B Gold Team. Everett and his wife, Jody, are the parents of three children and they have thirteen grandchildren. 
  • Robert “Cat” Whitfield ’80- Cat Whitfield, a native of Charleroi, Pennsylvania, started as a freshman on his high school basketball team. Cat moved on to play at Garrett Community College, and then came to Alderson-Broaddus. While at A-B, Cat was captain of the Battler Baseball Team, and named All-Conference as shortstop. He also participated with the Bowling Team. Cat was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in June of 1977. Cat moved up through the ranks of the organization to the Double A Team in Charlotte. He even coached the Charlotte team in 1983. Cat even coordinated the 20-year reunion in 2000 of the 1980 Southern League Championship Team. Cat and his Vicki, live in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he is a successful painting contractor. 

 

Class of 2001: Jeffery Burkhamer, Thomas Hull, Kirk Pearson, Richard Wilson

  • Jeffery A. Burkhamer ’84- Williamstown, West Virginia native Jeff Burkhamer began his high school baseball career as a freshman pinch hitter with a “grand slam” home run his first time at bat. This was the start of an outstanding athletic career. His next venue in athletics was at Alderson-Broaddus. While at A-B, Jeff played both basketball and baseball. On the basketball court, he was known as one of the best point guards in the West Virginia Conference, and dished our 646 assists in route to becoming A-B’s All Time Assist Leader. During his senior season, he was co-captain of the basketball team. When he played baseball, he filled in at whatever position he was needed. While earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in Secondary Education, Jeff served as Vice President of the Student Government Association, President of Phi Epsilon, and President of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He earned his master’s degree at Morehead State University. He has coached in Kentucky, South Carolina, Michigan, and Florida since leaving A-B. He has recently served as Assistant Basketball Coach at Marshall University in Huntington, and was recently promoted to Associate Head Coach. His coaching motto is “to see players excel on the court and in life.”
  • Thomas G. Hull ’57- Tom Hull played three sports at Webster Springs High School, football, basketball, and baseball. While on the basketball team, he was able to attend the National Tournament. He was best known for his play on the baseball diamond as an outstanding pitcher. While an A-B student, Tom wrote for the school newspaper, usually about the road trips to basketball games, and he was Vice President of the Student Government Association. He gained his most valuable baseball experience as a member of the Philippi Red Sox during the summer. At the end of his junior year, he signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. During his time in professional baseball, he played for teams in Georgia and Montana. He completed his degree from A-B in 1957. One week after being notified that he would be assigned to a team in Columbus, Ohio, received notice of his induction into the United States Army. His two years service in the Army took a toll on his pitching ability and he was released from Baseball in 1960. He earned his master’s degree in education at the University of Southern California. He spent his career in higher education and retired in 1995, as the Associate Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs at the University of California, San Diego. 
  • Kirk D. Pearson ’81- Kirk Pearson began playing soccer at the age of ten in midget leagues in Myerstown, Pennsylvania. He became one of the best goal keepers to ever play in the West Virginia Conference. During his tenure on the soccer field, he became A-B’s All-Time Shut-Out Leader. In his senior season alone, he recorded seven shut-outs, and led the team to a second place finish in the WVIAC. He was named an All-American in 1976 and 1977. When A-B celebrated its 25th Anniversary of Soccer in 1990, Battler Hall of Fame Bobby Gray named Kirk to A-B’s All-Time Team. On January 23, 1978, Kirk was drafted by the New England Teamen of the North American Soccer League, a twenty-eight team league. He left A-B to pursue his dream of playing professional soccer, which he did for two years. After that, Kirk returned to A-B to finish his bachelor’s degree in recreational leadership, and served two years as Coach Gray’s Assistant Coach. Also while a student at A-B, Kirk was member of the TEKE fraternity and participated in intramurals. Since his graduation from A-B, Kirk has been in professional sales, and for the last ten years, he has been a territory sales manager for a tire company.
  • Richard F. Wilson ’68- Richard Wilson came to Alderson-Broaddus from Point Pleasant High School in West Virginia. While in high school he played both basketball and baseball. When he arrived on the A-B campus, he made an immediate impact. He signed up to be on the first A-B Soccer Team, and filled the role of halfback for three years. As a senior, he was the 1967 WVIAC Soccer Player of the Year; helping lead the team to a 4th Place finish in the National Tournament. When A-B celebrated its 25th Anniversary of Soccer in 1990, Dick was selected to A-B’s All-Time Team. During his senior year, he also was selected as the WVIAC Athlete of the Year. Dick also played guard on the basketball team for two years, was a centerfielder for the baseball team, and wrestled. He also served as the President of Lambda Omega Mu social fraternity and the Panhellenic Council, was class senator all four years, and was inducted into the Silver Key Honor Society. The 1968 Battler Yearbook was dedicated to him. Dick received his Bachelor of Science degree cum laude from A-B in 1968. He earned a Master of Arts degree from the University of Michigan in 1970 and a Ph. D in education, also from the University of Michigan. He is currently Vice President of the University of Illinois Foundation and Associate Chancellor for Development.

 

Class of 2000: Timothy Brinkley, Diane (Depler) Burkhamer, Ian Day, Michele Miles, James Shriver

  • Timothy L. Brinkley ’69- Tim Brinkley came to A-B from nearby Roosevelt Wilson High School, where he was an All-State Basketball player. While playing basketball at A-B, he was named to the WVIAC All-Conference First Team three times. He was also named the Outstanding First Round Player of the WVIAC Tournament in 1967. He was the third player in A-B History to reach the 2,000 point milestone, ending his scoring at A-B with 2,064 points. In addition, he also played baseball, and was named to the All-conference Team three times. Following graduation, Tim coached at Roosevelt Wilson High School, Jefferson High School, and West Virginia Tech before returning to A-B to Coach the Battlers. He finished at A-B with a record of 46-60, and was responsible for the recruitment of three-time All-American Willie Davis. He then began coaching at Flagler Palm Coast High School in Florida, and he finished with a record of 60-22 in three years, He has spent the last ten years coaching at North Marion High School in Citra, Florida. During the last eight years, as Head Boys Basketball Coach, he has earned a record of 151-72, with two district titles. He has earned 437 wins as a Head Coach, and has been named “Coach of the Year” seven times.
  • Diane (Depler) Burkhamer ’86- Diane Depler came to Alderson-Broaddus from Proctorville, Ohio after searching for a small school. She exemplified the term, “student athlete,” excelling in the classroom and on the volleyball court. While at A-B, she was considered the most consistent server in the West Virginia Conference, with 92.34% efficiency. Diane led the Conference three years in service percentage. She was named to the All-Conference Team all four years at A-B, and was named to the All-Tournament Team all four years at A-B, and was named to the All-Tournament Team two times. She was co-captain of the Lady Battler Volleyball Team her senior year, and she helped lead the team to four straight WVIAC titles and three national tournament appearances. Diane was also named to the All-Region Team. She graduated from A-B with a Bachelor of Science degree in Management Information Systems, and is currently a Client Assistant with Merril Lynch in Huntington.
  • Ian S. Day ’82- Born in Walsall, England, Ian Day came to A-B after being recruited by Cleveland State University to play soccer. During two of the four years, Ian played soccer at A-B, the team went to the national tournament, finishing second his senior year. He was named A-B’s first Academic All-American and was selected to A-B’s All-Time 25th Anniversary Soccer Team. He was also named to the All-Conference and All-American teams as well. Following his graduation from A-B with a bachelor’s degree in physical education, Ian began work at Tiffin University. He has been the Head Soccer Coach at Tiffin since the program’s inception in 1983. Under Coach Day, TU has won 10 Mid-Ohio Conference Championships and has advanced to the NAIA National Tournament four times. He is currently one of NAIA’s top winning percentage coaches with a record of 257-97-16 over 17 years (72.6%).
  • Michele L. Miles ’87 & ’96- Michele Miles came to Alderson-Broaddus from Maple Valley, Washington to earn a degree in Medical Science. However, she still found time to play volleyball. While at A-B, she was known for her offensive and setting abilities. She was named to the All-Conference First Team in 1985, and to the All-Tournament Team in 1984 and 1985. She was named the WVIAC Player of the Year in 1985, and was named Tournament Most Valuable Player in 1985. Following graduation, she returned to coach volleyball, and guided the Lady Battlers to a 23-14 record. She later earned a Master of Science degree in Rural Primary Medicine from A-B in 1996. She is presently a missionary in the Dominican Republic.
  • James E. Shriver ’57- Jim Shriver attended A-B on a work scholarship made possible by Coach Rex Pyles. The work scholarship enabled him to play the sport he loved - basketball. Jim was known as an outstanding rebounder on the basketball court. During his senior season, he snared 432 rebounds which ranks 9th on the A-B All Time Single Season Rebound Record List. He also scored 731 points as a Battler, and served as team captain his senior year. He was known as the WVIAC’s best “sixth man.” During two of his four years on the team, the Battlers represented the Conference in the National Tournament in Kansas City. Following his graduation from A-B, Jim served in the United States Army. He later took a position with Philip Morris, where he retired after 30 years. Jim lives in Grafton, where he is very active in the community. He has become one of A-B’s most loyal sports fans, rarely missing a basketball game. 

 

Class of 1999: John Granish, Gordon McClanahan, Philip Nicewarner

  • John A. Granish- John Granish began his soccer at Springdale High School where he was a four-year letterman, and led the Dynamos to three WPIAL Soccer Championships. A-B soccer Coach Darryl Saunders lured him to Alderson-Broaddus after watching him play. While wearing the Blue and Gold, John was elected the Battlers Team Captain, Three times, and was named to the All-Conference and All-South Teams. When A-B celebrated its 25th anniversary of Soccer in 1990, Battler Hall of Fame Coach Bobby Gray selected John to A-B’s All-time Team. John graduated from A-B in December, 1970, with a degree in elementary education. While at A-B, John met the “love of his life,” Fran, and they were married July 24, 1971. After graduation from A-B, John accepted a teaching position in Delaware and played professional soccer for the Delaware Wings of the American Soccer League. In 1977, John began his tenure with St. Vincent College as Assistant Soccer Coach. The next year, he was named Head Soccer Coach, and his winning percentage of .661 was the best in the school’s history. John was totally dedicated to his players and the soccer program at St. Vincent. During the 1981-1982 season, St. Vincent was ranked in the top 20 nationally, and John was named Coach of the Year for the NAIA district 18. In each of John’s seasons at St. Vincent, no fewer than four players were named to the All-Conference Team. During the 1983 season, John was only able to coach four games, but the bearcats were at 2-2 at that time. Unfortunately, John lost a gallant battle with cancer on November 19, 1983, but left a lasting impression on everyone involved with the sport in Western Pennsylvania. He left a lasting legacy, with two sons, John Matthew and Bryan.
  • Gordon F. McClanahan- “Gordie” McClanahan came to Alderson-Broaddus after representing Nitro High School in the West Virginia High School Senior Boys All-Star Basketball Game in 1969. Recently, he was selected by the Charleston Newspapers as one of the Kanawha Valley Conference’s All-Time Top 100 High School Basketball Players. While at A-B, Gordie not only played basketball, he was also active in other campus activities. He served as president of both his Junior and Senior Class, was selected to Who’s Who Among Students Leaders of America, and was a member of the brotherhood of Sigma Delta Nu. He was also active with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, an organization he still participates with today. Gordie was a four-year varsity letterman with the Battlers, playing for three coaches, Jack Funk, Gerald Ellington, and Joe Neely. As a Battler, he scored 1,081 points, shooting nearly 50% from the floor. He also snared 486 rebounds as an All-Conference performer. During his senior year, the three-year starter averaged 25 points per game, which ranked him 18th nationally. Just as important as his statistics, was his leadership both on and off the basketball court. Gordie served as team captain his senior year, and served as a role model for his teammates to emulate. Upon his graduation in 1973, he returned to Nitro High School, where he taught and served as Assistant Basketball Coach. He was then named as Head Basketball Coach, where he turned a perennial losing program into a winning program while winning 60% of his games. Gordie received his master’s degree from West Virginia College of Graduate Studies, and is now serving as Coordinator of Services for the West Virginia School of Personnel Association. He and his wife, Sharon, are the parents of two daughters, Megan and Ashley.
  • Philip E. Nicewarner, Jr.- “Sonny” Nicewarner came to Alderson-Broaddus College in 1949 from Washington Irving High School. Not only did he participate in sports at A-B, he was active in other campus activities as well. He was a member of the tour choir, chapel choir, yearbook staff, Future Teachers of America, and the National Poetry Association. Sonny was a starting point guard for the Battler Basketball Team and was known for his unselfish passing abilities. He also was a four-year starter on the baseball team, playing most of his time behind the plate. After his graduation from A-B in 1953, sonny served in the United States Army for two years. After that, he began his service with the Bridgeport, Harrison County area. He began teaching and coaching at Bridgeport High School in 1955. He was an assistant football coach in 1955 when Bridgeport won the Class A Football State Championship. In 1963, he moved to the junior high school to teach and coach. He coached football and basketball during the 1960s and his teams won several county championships in both sports. He then became Assistant Principal then Principal of Bridgeport Junior High School. Under his leadership, BJHS was the first Harrison county school to be named a “Distinguished School of America” in 1984. Most importantly, Sonny cared for all of his students, and this continued after they left the classroom. He was constantly seen attending high school sporting events, doing public address announcing for high school basketball games as well as being statistician for football and basketball games. Sonny passed away on September 5, 1999, following a heroic batter against cancer. He has been remembered by his hundreds of students as the person who provided them the knowledge and encouragement to make something of themselves. Sonny and his wife, Joan, were the proud parents of two sons, Philip III and Scott, and had five grandchildren. Through sonny’s family, his dedication “to make a difference in the lives of others,” will continue. 

 

Class of 1998: William Bowers, Sr., Larry Carmichael, Edward Coyne, Patricia Curtis, Peter Curtis, Dr. James Daddysman

  • William Ray Bowers, Sr. ’50- Ray “Treetop” Bowers grew up in Philippi. He attended Philippi High School where he was an outstanding member of the boy’s basketball team. In one of his games at PHS, he scored 42 points, which served as a school record for many years. After graduation, he was drafted into the United States Army. He spent 37 months in the service before being discharged in January, 1946. After his discharge, Ray had an opportunity to go to Marshall in Huntington, but passed up that chance to enroll at A-B and play basketball. “Treetop” scored a total of 1,114 points while on the team. At this time, this was an incredible number of points, because there was not a three-point goal. He was named to the WVIAC All-Tournament Team in 1949, and was also named to the All-Conference Team. He served as a co-captain during his senior year, and was noted for his calmness under pressure and his accuracy on free throws, with a 73% average. In 1950, his 18.4 points per game average earned him the spot as one of the top 15 scorers in the nation. Also that year, in the 33-Team Tri-State Conference consisting of teams from West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, Ray was the second leading scorer. In the Tri-State Conference that year, he made 149 free throws, which was 27 more than anyone else even attempted. Ray graduated from A-B in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education. He taught school for four years in Webster County, was transportation supervisor for Barbour County Schools for thirteen years, and Director of North Central West Virginia Community Action Association in Barbour County for twenty-one years.
  • Larry W. Carmichael ’61- Larry Carmichael came to Alderson-Broaddus from Sulphur Springs, Indiana. Larry made an immediate impact on the basketball court at A-B, scoring a total of 1,552 points. During his freshman year, he scored 149 points, and was named All-Conference Honorable Mention. During his sophomore year (58-59), the guard averaged 17.51 points per game for a total of 473 points. He also snared 267 rebounds and was named to the All-Conference First team. During his junior year, he garnered 309 rebounds, and averaged 18.81 points per game for a total of 508 points. He also shot 41.9% from the field that year. He was named to the All-Conference Second Team. During his senior year, he was named to the All-Conference First Team and to the All-Tournament Team. He averaged 16.22 points per game, for a total of 422 points. He also pulled down 287 rebounds. During this year, he also served with Battler Hall of Famer Freed Brookover as co-captain. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education from A-B in 1961. Larry was selected to the All-Time WVIAC Basketball Squad in 1973 (Players from 1925-1965), and was named to “Who’s Who in Small College Basketball” for 1959-60. He earned his Master of Arts degree from Ball State University. He taught at Elkins Junior High School for one year before returning to his home state of Indiana. He taught school and coached in Muncie, Indiana for 32 years before retiring back to Hinton, West Virginia.
  • Edward J. Coyne- Ed “Irish” Coyne is a native of Wheeling, West Virginia, and a graduate of Wheeling Central Catholic High School where he played both football and basketball. He was an outstanding guard on the Battler Basketball Team, and he and fellow guard, Sonny Nicewarner, fed the ball inside to the Battler Hall of Famers Jack Greynolds and Carl Hartman. He served as captain of the Basketball Team during his junior and senior years, and scored 394 points as a Battler. While a student at A-B, Ed also played on the Baseball Team and was active in the Student Council, serving as treasurer his senior year. After his graduation from A-B in 1953, he served in the United States Army, and got to play organized basketball for the Army team representing Fort Sill in Oklahoma. While maintaining full-time employment with PPG Industries, Ed served as the first basketball coach for Wheeling College. In 1974, he founded and established Tri-State products distributor servicing industrial, commercial, utility, government, farm/home heat, and retain service stations accounts in West Virginia, Eastern Ohio, and Western Pennsylvania. Ed received the “Distinguished Alumni Award” from Alderson-Broaddus in 1980. Ed has devoted time to civic duties and activities by serving as a member of the Board of Trustee of the following organizations: First National Bank of Wheeling, Wheeling College, Wheeling Hospital, Ye Ole Country School, and the Linsly School. He and his wife, Betty, are the parents of five children, Colleen, Edward, Erin, Kevin, and Sheila.
  • Patricia (Manion) Curtis ’87- Patty Manion came to Alderson-Broaddus College from Washington, Pennsylvania. One day in Washington, she was playing volleyball in a local gym after she had graduated from high school, and a coach from Wheeling College saw her play. Obviously the coach was impressed, and talked to her about playing collegiate volleyball. Soon Patty got a phone call from Coach Gloria Stewart, and they were able to make arrangements for her to play at A-B. She quickly became one of A-B ‘s all-time best volleyball players, far ahead of her time. Without her, A-B would not have won the WVIAC Championships of 83, 84, 85, and 86. Patty was an offensive setter, and until two years ago, she was A-B’s All-Time Assist Leader. While she was at A-B, the team won four WVIAC Championships and represented NAIA District 28 in the National Championships. She was named to the All-Conference First Team in 1984, 1985, and 1986, and was named to the WVIAC All-Tournament Team in 1985 and 1986. In 1986, she was also named WVIAC “Player of the Year.” This was truly a feat, as Patty juggled volleyball with a tough nursing curriculum. While at A-B, she was also a member of Chi Sigma Nu Sorority and Alpha Beta Nu. 
  • Peter F. Curtis ’87- Peter Curtis, a native of Liverpool, England, played with a pair of English professional soccer teams, Everton and Chester City, a semi-pro club in South Liverpool, and coached at soccer camps throughout the United States prior to coming to Alderson-Broaddus. While being team captain his senior year, the team earned a #1 national ranking during the season. During his freshman year, the team participated in the NAIA National Tournament in Wichita Falls, Texas. Not only did Peter excel on the soccer field, he also excelled in the class room, thus being named Academic All-American. When A-B celebrated its 25th Anniversary of Soccer, Battler Hall of Famer Coach Bobby Gray named Peter to A-B’s All-Time Honorable Mention List. While at A-B, Peter was named to Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. He also received the Rex Pyles Award, Forrest G. Clark Award, Epsilon Tau Eta Sigma Alumni Academic and Citizenship Award, and Outstanding Senior Man in Education. While Peter was completing his master’s degree at Iowa State University, he coached their huge club program and led them to the Final Four of the National Collegiate Club Championships in 1988. This is an organization in which he founded, and also coordinated their first tournament. He then went on to coach Mariette College’s Soccer Team for five years, rebuilding their program. Peter is currently the Head Soccer Coach for University of Charleston. His overall coaching record as a head coach is 92-88-8.
  • Dr. James W. Daddysman- Dr. Jim Daddysman, Professor of History at Alderson-Broaddus, has been known for 29 years as the “Voice of the Battlers.” He began his broadcasting career in 1965 at West Virginia Tech in Montgomery, as he broadcasted Golden Bear Basketball. While he was in the Charleston area, Jim also did broadcasts for and served as publicity director for the Charleston Rockets football team. When he arrived on the A-B campus in the fall of 1969, Battler Hall of Famer Jack Funk asked him to broadcast A-B games. Since that time, he has broadcasted A-B Men’s Basketball Games from all parts of West Virginia and many surrounding states on radio stations WKKW, WVHF, and WCWV. On many other occasions, he was also broadcasting soccer and baseball games for WCAB and WQAB. This was all in addition to his busy teaching schedule. He also coached the A-B Track Team during the 1970 and 1971 seasons, guiding the team to a 4th place WVIAC finish in 1971. Under the men’s basketball coach, Gerald Ellington, Jim served as assistant basketball coach and coach of the junior varsity team. Jim has also served as volunteer Sports Information Director, and has edited and wrote men’s basketball game programs and the “Battler Net,” the men’s basketball news letter. This year, he is serving as a volunteer sports information consultant. “Dr. D” was also instrumental in the painting of the Battler Room which is home to the Battler Hall of Fame awards. 

 

Class of 1997: Harry Bush, Irene (Reese) Fowler, Vicki (Paul) Roos, Jerry Ware

  • Harry D. Bush ’54- Harry Bush graduated as the salutatorian of Tanner High School in 1949. He enrolled at WVU for a year, then came to A-B. At A-B, he played three years for Coach Rex Pyles on the basketball court and on the baseball diamond. Coach Pyles termed him as the “Best All-Round” Basketball Player in the WVIAC at the time. During his sophomore and junior years, he played center, and during his senior year, he moved to guard. Not only was he known for his scoring with a three-year average of 13.2 points per game, but also for his defensive ability. In 1953, he made a record 34 free throws during the WVIAC Tournament. In 1952, Harry married his wife, Christine. Upon his graduation in 1954, Harry became a teacher and coach in Stanley, Virginia. He stayed in Stanley for two years, and returned to Tanner High School, and stayed there until the school closed in 1963. During this time, he also completed his Master’s degree at WVU. He then served at Glenville High School for three years. Harry completed his teaching and coaching career at River High School in Ohio, retiring after having served 21 years. While at River, he was Baseball Coach, and taught a variety of subjects. Harry and Christine have two daughters, Linda and Rebecca, and two grandchildren, Alexa and David.
  • Irene (Reese) Fowler- Irene (Reese) Fowler arrived in Philippi in 1970 with her husband Bill and their family when Bill accepted a position as an instructor at A-B. she served as secretary in the Department of Physical Education and Athletics from 1971 until 1987, when she was forced to retire due to illness. Irene was a person who gave far more than her job required. She always pitched in and did what needed to be done whether it was her job or not. Some of these jobs included running the snack bar at athletic events and even painting the gym floor year after year. Irene willingly gave hundreds of hours of listening and guiding young people and adults at the coliseum. Many of the athletes considered her their “MOM” away from home, always helping them to decide to do the right thing. She was a peacemaker who helped smooth relationships between her colleagues and between students. She treated everyone with kindness and accepted everyone as they were. She was an excellent office manager who kept everything running smoothly, while always providing an atmosphere of warmth and welcome when people walked into the office. In addition to “her children” at A-B, Irene was the mother of five children, Pam, Becky, Steve, Cindy, and Paul.
  • Vicki L. (Paul) Roos ’80- Vicki Paul came to A-B in 1976 from Bethel Park, PA. She first heard of A-B from her brother, Doug, who was a physician assistant student at A-B. However, it was the scholarship offer that brought her to a-B. This scholarship was very significant for two reasons: first, it was the first athletic scholarship given to a female athlete in a-B’s history, and second, it was what stole her away from nearby West Virginia Wesleyan. She made an immediate impact on the basketball court when she arrived, and was the first Lady Battler to score over 1,000 points. Vicki still holds three WVIAC Tournament Records for her performance in the 1978 WVIAC Tournament: she took a record 35 shots in that game and a record 106 shots during the entire tournament, and made 17 free throws during the D&E game. She was named to the All-Tournament Team that year. Vicki is fourth on the A-B All-Time Scoring Lists, with 1,205 points. She is also second for most field goal attempts in a season with 492 during the 79-80 season. Putting her degree in physical education to work, she is currently a physical education teacher at Barnesville School in Barnesville, Maryland. She, her husband, Brad, and their two daughters, Samantha and Danielle, live in Germantown, MD.
  • Jerry L. Ware ’62- Jerry Ware grew up in Philippi, attending Philippi High School, playing both basketball and baseball. After high school, Jerry enrolled at West Virginia University, walking on to the freshman basketball team and also playing golf. He wasn’t happy in Morgantown, so he came back home to Philippi and enrolled at Alderson-Broaddus. He came to A-B, because he was interested in playing sports. He played basketball, baseball, and golf for three years under legendary Coach Rex Pyles. During his three years of basketball, he averaged 15.6 points per game. During his junior year he had the highest scoring average of any player at the WVIAC Tournament, scoring 48 points in two games. He served as co-captain during his senior year. While playing on the Battler baseball diamond, Jerry had a batting average of approximately .333. He was lead-off hitter and played center field. Jerry graduated from A-B with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics, and was also a member of the Sigma Delta Nu fraternity. Jerry and his wife, Barbara, are the parents of a son, Jerry. He is the manager of the Barbour Country Club, which hosts A-B golf classes and hosts the annual Battler Booster Golf Tournament. 

 

Class of 1996: Robbin (Johnson) Durham, Donald & Janice (Stansberry) Hinkle, Robert Hurst, Sharon (Gittings) Sims

  • Robbin (Johnson) Durham ’86- Robbin Johnson, a native of Beckley, West Virginia, came to Alderson-Broaddus to play volleyball. She was known throughout the West Virginia Conference as an excellent offensive spiker and blacker. She was named to the All-Conference First Team in 1984 and 1985. She was also named to the All-Tournament Team in 1982, 1984, and 1985. Robbin has an average of 2.17 kills per game and 81% pass reception. She and Battler Hall of Famer, Diane (Depler) Burkhamer, served as co-captains her senior year. In 1984 and 1985, the A-B Volleyball Team represented the West Virginia Conference at the NAIA National Tournament. Robbin and her husband, Micheal, live in a Flat Top, West Virginia. Robbin works with FMRS Health Systems, Inc. as a child and adolescent therapist. 
  • Donald ’43 and Janice (Stansberry) ’38 Hinkle- Don and Janice Hinkle began assisting A-B athletes when legendary coach Rex Pyles, asked them to befriend homesick players. Since that time, the Hinkles have been surrogate parents to more than 60 boys, who now range in age from 26 to 72 years old. They recall many athletes coming to their home for dinner, to do homework, or just to socialize. On several occasions, Don and Janice actually had players staying at their home when they lacked the funds to live on campus. Don shuttled the team all over the state to games when transportation was not readily available. Janice made hundreds of cookies for “her Kids” to be available in the locker room, and she also mended uniforms so the Battlers would look presentable at games. The Hinkles met in front of Old Main on the A-B campus during the summer of 1940 and were married soon after. Both Don and Janice have had a variety of occupations. Don served in the South Pacific during World War II, and has been a farmer, cattleman, Soil conservation Service engineer, bowling alley manager, mail carrier, and store clerk. Janice has been a school teacher, social worker, housewife, and farmer.
  • Robert L. Hurst ’41- Robert L. Hurst began his basketball career at an early age in Shinnston, West Virginia. While at A-B, Bob was respected by his conference foes for his tenacious defense. While scoring 220 points as a Battler, he crashed the boards, snared the rebound, and got the ball up the court for his teammates, Mark Dunham and Kenny Griffith. During his sophomore year, his defense helped the Battlers capture the West Virginia Conference title. During his senior season, he captained the team to first place finishes for both the season and the tournament. In 1941, he was named to the WVIAC All-Tournament Team. While a student at A-B, Hurst served his class as president all four years, and was a member of the Dramatic Club and Y.M.C.A. After graduation, Bob served in the United States Army, then resumed his career with the B&O railroad Police Force. With the railroad, he worked his way up the ladder to captain. In his retirement in South Carolina with his wife, Angie, he is making the field of real estate his second career.
  • Sharon (Gittings) Sims ’68- Sharon Gittings came to Alderson-Broaddus on the recommendation of her brother, Carl ’64. During her sophomore year, Joan Wilson encouraged her to become a teacher. While an A-B student, she participated in basketball and field hockey. Following her graduation in 1968, she earned her master’s degree from the University of Cincinnati. She returned to Alderson-Broaddus in 1973, and took the reins of the Women’s Basketball Team, marking the first time that an A-B Women’s Basketball Team was in full uniform, practicing regularly, and competing in the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW). Sharon is currently as Associate Professor of Health and Physical Education at Wilmington College in Ohio, where she has also coached several sports. She is an LPGA Teaching and Club Professional. Sharon lives in Greenfield, Ohio with her husband, Mike, and they are the parents of three children. 

 

Class of 1995: Pam (Smith) Bowers, John "Jack" Funk, Kenneth "Jack" Greynolds, Joseph "Andy" Jennings, Renee (Bradford) Pennington, William "Bill" Woodford

  • Pam (Smith) Bowers ’84- Pam Smith came to Alderson-Broaddus from Tuscarawas High School in Ohio. She lettered in basketball and was named All-Conference in each of her four years at A-B. In her first year to wear the Lady Battler uniform, she averaged 17.3 points per game and pulled down 238 rebounds. During her sophomore year, she scored a career-high 488 points, an average of 20.3 points per game. She was also named the 81-82 WVIAC Player of the Year. During her junior season, she had more than an 83% average at the free-throw line. During her senior year, she scored 422 points with 90 free throws and an 82.5% free-throw average. Pam resides in Philippi, and is married to John Bowers. She is employed as a case manager for the Abraxus community-based program for troubled juveniles.
  • John “Jack” Frederick Funk ’56- The name Jack Funk has been synonymous with Alderson-Broaddus athletics for the past 43 years. Jack was recruited from Jane Lew High School by Rex Pyles to play basketball, and scored 108 points as Battler. In addition to lettering in basketball all four years, he also letter in baseball four years. He was an outstanding shortstop and defensive player, with a good batting average. After graduation, he served in the military and had some other jobs, but then he returned to A-B.  He became the baseball coach in 1965, and also coached the basketball team from 1967 to 1970, winning 45 of 82 games. His winning percentage is second best in College’s history. After receiving his master’s degree from West Virginia University, he returned to his baseball coaching position. Over the past 24 years, A-B has consistently had one of the top programs in the WVIAC, and Jack has coached several All-Conference players. Most importantly, Jack’s players have the utmost respect for him. Funk has been named WVIAC Coach of the Year two times and he received the Parent’s Association Citizenship Award in 1989. One month after he graduated from A-B, Jack married his college sweetheart, Judi. They are the parents of three children, Fred, Linda, and Susan, all A-B graduates. 
  • Kenneth “Jack” Greynolds ’53- Jack Greynolds, otherwise known as a “scoring machine” came to Alderson-Broaddus from little Tanner High School. He was recruited by Coach Rex Pyles and earned four consecutive letters as a member of the basketball team. He was named to the All-Conference Basketball Team in 1952 and 1953, and to the All-Tournament Team in 1953. During his senior season, he scored 859 points, which places him seventh on the All-Time battler Scoring List. Also that season, he averaged 25.8 points per game, from 324 goals from 925 shots, which still stands as an All-Time Battler Record. Following graduation, he served four years in the United States army. He then married Mary Francis Burke, and they are the parents of son Jack, who played basketball at the University of Akron. Jack also served as basketball coach for three Ohio schools, capturing the state title on two occasions. He also received the Alderson-Broaddus College Distinguished Alumni Award in 1978, and was named Outstanding High School Basketball Coach in Ohio several times.
  • Joseph Andrew “Andy” Jennings, III- Andy Jennings’ arrival on the Alderson-Broaddus campus in 1966 made an immediate impact on the basketball program. During his freshman season, he scored 485 points, and pulled down 604 rebounds, which continues to be a Battler All-Time Single-Season Record. During his sophomore season, he had a record 36 rebounds in games against Davis & Elkins and West Virginia Wesleyan. During his junior season, he scored 569 points and snared 593 rebounds. During his senior season, he scored 569 points with 459 rebounds. His career rebounding total of 2,188 is a Battler record, which may never be broken. Andy was also respected off the court as well. He volunteered countless hours for the Philippi City League Youth Basketball Program. After leaving A-B, he spent 18 years serving as a policeman in Philadelphia. In June 1994, Andy passed away after a long battle with cancer. His legacy will live on through the thousands of people he touched during his life. 
  • Renee (Bradford) Pennington ’84- Renee (Bradford) Pennington came to Alderson-Broaddus in 1980 as an All-American athlete from Shaler Township High School in Allison Park, Pennsylvania. While in high school, she competed in both volleyball and softball. At A-B, her athletic focus was on volleyball. While juggling a rigorous nursing course schedule, she lettered in volleyball each of the four years she played for Coach Gloria Stewart. She was team captain for three years, and was named all-Conference for three years as well. She was also named West Virginia Conference Female Athlete of the Year in 1984. During her time at A-B, she met her husband, Shawn, and they are the parents of two children, Ryan and Evan. She is currently a nurse at Shadyside Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
  • William “Bill” Woodford ’58- Bill Woodford came to Broaddus Academy in 1924. During his first year, he joined the football team and served as the team’s punter. This was the beginning of an impressive athletic career as he earned twenty athletic letters in four sports- eight at the academy and twelve on the collegiate level. In 1926, he earned letters in basketball, baseball, and tennis in addition to football. During his senior year at the academy, he played end and halfback on the football team; center, forward, and guard on the basketball team, right fielder on the baseball team, and position 1 or 2 on the tennis team. In 1929, Bill accepted a coaching role so the school would be able to continue basketball and tennis. While Coach Rex Pyles served in the military during World War II, “Coach Woodford” filled in for him as basketball coach, and he did so again during the 1960s when Rex had surgery. Woodford received his degree from Alderson-Broaddus in 1958 and served for several years as an administrator at Broaddus Hospital. 

 

Class of 1994: Joseph Burke, Charles Huggins, Floats Pelaez, Joe Pelaez, Robert Pelaez, Joseph Sappington, Richard Simmons

  • Joseph Burke ’37- Joe Burke played basketball and football and ran track at Elkins High School, and upon his graduation in 1933, he accepted a scholarship to play football and basketball at D&E. Rex Pyles had another idea. Pyles told Joe that if he came to A-B, he would only play basketball and have more spare time. Joe immediately transferred to A-B. In four-years, Joe never missed a game. He was never injured and started all four years. “Irish Joe” was one of the main reasons A-B won the WVIAC title in 1936, as he scored 174 points, averaging 7 points per game. After his playing career ended, he returned to A-B to get his degree in 1941. During World War II, He served as a corporal in the United States Army. Burke retired in 1978 after having worked on the railroad for 22 years.
  • Charles Jennings Huggins ’58- Charlie Huggins graduated from Morgantown High School as an All-State basketball player, and accepted a basketball scholarship at West Virginia University. “Forgetting to study,” Huggins had to put his basketball career on hold. He began working at Sterling Faucett in Morgantown, and continued to play independent basketball. At one of these games Coach Rex Pyles noticed him, and two weeks later he was at A-B, playing the game he loved. Charlie Huggins was the perfect addition to the 1955-56 team, and he and Joe Miller led the team to 22-12 season and its second trip to the NAIA Tournament in Kansas City. His 1956-57 team made it to the WVIAC Tournament finals, but lost to West Liberty, and Charlie was named to the Second All-Conference Team. During his senior year, the team slipped to a 9-14 record and he was the only upperclassman in the starting line-up, and led A-B in scoring, averaging 25 points per game. Following his graduation, he entered the coaching ranks. He began his coaching career at Midville High School, and also coached at Stonecreek and Strasburg High Schools. In total, he won state championships in 1967, 1972, and 1976. He was 451 games as a high school basketball coach, went 8-2 in his only season as a high school football coach, and won 72 of his 100 meets as high school track coach.
  • Floats Pelaez ’47- Floats Pelawz was the first of three Pelaez brothers to call Alderson-Broaddus College home. In 1939, he graduated from Moundsville High School, and came to A-B to play basketball for Rex Pyles. During his first three years in Philippi, the Battlers ripped off wins at a 67% pace, and the 1940-41team was a co-champion of the West Virginia Conference with a 15-4 record. The 41-42 team went 12-9, but lost the second game of the tournament to Glenville State. Floats was named to the All-Tournament Team. Floats served in the United States Army during World War II, and returned to A-B for two more years. “The Flying Spaniard” was also named to the WVIAC All-Tournament Teams in 1946 and 1947. After graduation, Floats decided to go into coaching. He began coaching at Moundsville High School immediately, and coached football, basketball, and baseball. His 1954basketball team went 19-1 before losing in the Sectional Tournaments, and his teams also participated in the Baseball State Tournament several times during his coaching career.
  • Joe Pelaez ’48- In the Fall of 1940, Joe Pelaez decided to follow his brother to Alderson-Broaddus. In 1941, the West Virginia Conference witnessed the double-teaming of the Pelaez brothers as the team went 12-9. Unfortunately, Joe left A-B to serve with the Army Corps of Engineers during World War II. When the war ended, Joe returned to A-B. The 1946 Battler team went 18-1 in the WVIAC, due largely to the efforts of Joe Pelaez. The 1947 Battlers placed second in the conference, and the 1948 recorded 15 wins. In 1948, Joe was the team’s leading scorer and was named All-Tournament and All-Conference. After his graduation in 1948, he decided to become a coach. He coached all sports at Sharples High School for two years, before coming to Philippi High School in 1950. At PHS, he coached the team to top notch records. Joe took over the coaching reins at Moundsville High School, when his brother left the coaching ranks. He led Moundsville to several good records before retiring in 1980.
  • Robert Pelaez ’50- The third Pelaez brother, Bob, came to Alderson-Broaddus in 1947. The tallest of the three brothers, he came from Moundsville High School after being named to the All-State High School Team. World War II put a hold on his basketball career when he was drafted into the United States Army. After a brief visit to West Virginia University, Bob resumed his basketball career at A-B. As a freshman, brother Floats was a senior and brother Joe was a sophomore. He was an immediate hit on the basketball court, and in three seasons, he scored 993 points, while shooting 68% from the field. He was named All-conference in 1949 and 1950, while being named to the All-Tournament Team both years. Upon his graduation in 1950, he returned to Moundsville and began working at Allied Chemical. Thirty-three years later, he retired from that company. 
  • Joseph Neill Sappington ’38- Neill Sappington transferred to Alderson-Broaddus after playing basketball for three years for Glenville State. “Zip,” as he was commonly known because of his unstoppable hook-shot, led A-B to it’s first-ever WVIAC title in 1936. During the 1936 season, he was the team’s captain, and was the Battlers’ leading scorer in all 25 games. During that year, he scored 403 points, and sat on the bench only a total of 36 minutes. He was named to the All-Tournament and All-Conference Teams during that year. After serving in World War II, Zip returned to coach basketball at Bridgeport, Victory, and Lumberport High Schools. He then moved to Olmstead Falls, Ohio and eventually retired in Moundsville.
  • Richard Simmons ’36- Richard Simmons came to Alderson-Broaddus as a three-sport letterman from Elkins High School, when he decided to join other Elkins natives, Joe Burke and Zeke Kelly, at A-B. In 1936, Simmons and fellow inductees, Neill Sappington and Joe Burke, combined to win the school’s first-ever WVIAC title in 1936. During that season, Richard scored 93 points, 15 of which were in the title game, and he was named to the 1936 All-Tournament Team. Simmons went on to serve as teacher and coach at Renick and Spencer. He then returned to Elkins High School as a math and social studies teacher. He started the baseball team at EHS, and served as head basketball coach and assistant coach for the school’s football and track teams. In 11 seasons at the Tiger helm, Simmons compiled a 203-62 record. He coached the Tigers to three Big Ten Championships and four state tournament appearances. His 1963 team was unbeaten during the regular season and he also coached five All-State basketball players.

 

Class of 1993: Robert Gray, Robert Ladick, Gloria Stewart, L. Darl "Butch" Wilmoth

  • Robert Edward Gray ’74- Robert “Bobby” Gray came to Alderson-Broaddus College in 1970 as a student-athlete and competed in baseball and soccer. In 1977, he returned to A-B to become the Men’s Soccer Coach and to teach in the Department of Health and Physical Education. During his fourteen years at the Battler helm, Gray compiled a record of 206-54-24. He is ranked second in winning percentage among active NAIA coaches, and sixth in overall victories. His A-B teams won five NAIA District 28 Titles and six West Virginia Conference Championships. His teams finished as the NAIA National Runners-Up three times (1981, 1988, and 1991) and fourth in 1983. Gray served as the President of the National soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) in 1987 and 1988. He was named the Met-Life NSCAA NAIA “Coach of the Year” in 1991, and was selected as NAIA District 28 and WVIAC “Coach of the Year” numerous times. During his career, thirty of his players were named to the NAIA All-America Team and five players were named Academic All-Americans. His A-B Teams were ranked in the NAIA Top Ten nine times during his tenure at A-B. Gray is currently the Head Men’s Soccer Coach at the University of Mobile in Alabama.
  • Robert Duane Ladick ’74- Robert “Bob” Ladick came to Alderson-Broaddus College as a freshman in 1970. He had an immediate impact on the Battler Wrestling program and was a four-year letterman. In 1971, he was the A-B Invitational Champion in the 190 pound weight class. He was the WVIAC Champion in the 190 pound weight class in 1972, and was the WVIAC Runner-up in 1973. In 1974, Ladick moved to the heavyweight division, finishing third in the Maryland Open Championships and finishing fifth in the NAIA National Championships. His efforts there earned him a spot on the NAIA All-American Team in 1974, the only A-B wrestler to ever be named to the team. Since leaving A-B, Ladick has been a high school wrestling coach. He is currently the Head Boys Wrestling Coach at Woodland Hills High School in Pennsylvania, and has coached 15 individual sectional champions, 2 WPIAL Champions, 5 PIAA State Qualifiers, and 3 PIAA All-Staters. He was named Woodland Hills High School “Coach of the Year” in 1990.
  • Gloria Mae Stewart ’70 and ’86- Gloria Stewart came to Alderson-Broaddus College in 1966 and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1970. She returned to A-B in 1980 and began her tenure as Women’s Volleyball Coach. While coaching, she also completed the requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Medical Science, and is currently a Certified Physician Assistant. Stewart brought the A-B Women’s Volleyball program to its peak in the 1980s. Her teams were the WVIAC and NAIA District 28 Champions in 1983, 1983, 1983, and 1986. In 1984, 1985, and 1986, the volleyball team won the NAIA Area 13 Championship and represented Area 13 and District 28 at the NAIA National Volleyball Tournament. Coach Stewart was named the WVIAC “Coach of the Year” for her efforts in 1982, 1983, 1984, and 1986. While at A-B, she also served as Assistant Professor of Sports Medicine and Nationally Certified Athletic Trainer. She is presently pursuing a doctorate degree in Physical Education and Higher Education at West Virginia University.
  • L. Darl “Butch” Wilmoth ’55- L. “Darl” Butch Wilmoth entered Alderson-Broaddus College as a freshman in 1940 after a distinguished high school career at Philippi High School. He played varsity basketball and baseball during the 1940-41 season and scored 263 points as a freshman roundballer, leading A-B to an upset win over Marshall University with a 27 point performance. His collegiate career was interrupted by World War II, and he served his country honorably in the United States Marine Corps as a staff sergeant. After the war, Wilmoth returned to A-B to continue his collegiate career. During the 1945-46 season, he was sixth in the nation in scoring with 537 points. In 1946-47, he was third in the nation in scoring with 591 points. In 1948, he was named team captain and named to the WVIAC All-Tournament Team for the third consecutive year. He also played first base for the Battler Baseball Team in each of his collegiate years. Wilmoth was named to the Barbour County All-Time Greats for Basketball and was named to the All-Time West Virginia conference Tournament Team in the 1970s.

 

Class of 1992: Fred Brookover, Jr., Sandra Chisar, Forrest Clark, Ralph Tasker

  • Fred Brookover, Jr. ’61- Fred Brookover came to Alderson-Broaddus in 1957 to play basketball after serving three years in the United States Army in Korea. Brookover, played both basketball and baseball at A-B, but his basketball skills gained the Magnolia High School graduate the most recognition. The 5’11” wingman played under the legendary Rex Pyles. He received Honorable Mention All-Conference in 1958, Second Team All-Conference in 1959 and 1960, and First Team All-Conference in 1961. Brookover, who played for the legendary Rex Pyles, averaged 21.9 points per game, and shot 55% from the field, totaling 2,051 career points. He was the 16th player in the history of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference to score over 2,000 points and achieved All-American status in 1961. Brookover was selected to Who’s Who in Basketball in Small Colleges, and to the WVIAC 50th Anniversary All-Time Basketball Team in 1974. Following his graduation in 1961, he went to Atwater, Ohio, where he has taught and coached for thirty years. He won more than 200 games during his 16-year coaching career, and now serves as librarian at Waterloo High School in Atwater.
  • Sandra Sue Chisar ’83- Sandy Chisar is the all-time leading scorer in women’s basketball in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. During her freshman year, she was named to the First Team WVIAC. The following year, she was named to the Second Team WVIAC and to the All-Tournament Team, and Third-Team All-American Team, thus becoming A-B’s first female All-American. In addition, she was named the District 28 Player of the Year. Chisar shot almost 50% from the field, snared over 10 rebounds per game, averaged over 21 points per game, and her record of 2,110 points still stands in the West Virginia Conference. She was also an outstanding volleyball player at A-B. After graduating from A-B, Chisar graduated from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, and is currently an emergency room physician in the Cleveland, Ohio area.
  • Forrest Gay Clark- Forrest Clark was recruited out of Buckhannon High School to be an athlete at Broaddus College. He attended Broaddus for three years, lettering in football, basketball, and baseball. During his career, Clark taught and coached at Parsons High School, Mannington High School, and Parkersburg High School. He coached several outstanding sports teams during this period, and in the 1960s, he was named Wood County’s first supervisor of physical education. He concluded a long career in public education in West Virginia in 1968, when he joined the administrative staff of Alderson-Broaddus. He helped construct the Memorial coliseum on the college campus, and began a new program of physical education at A-B. During the more than four decades of work in education, Clark actively promoted sports and programs for physical education. He was an active writer as well, and he contributed many articles to state and national publications about fitness and sports. In recognition of his work, West Virginia University named Clark to the Hall of Fame of the university’s School of Physical Education. According to one article written about his, the goal of Clark’s life “was to develop character and physical fitness in young people.
  • Ralph Tasker ’41- Ralph Tasker, a native of Moundsville, was a four-year letterman in basketball, under Coach Rex Pyles. During his days as a guard, the Battlers won two West Virginia Conference basketball titles. Tasker is now the “winningest” active men’s high school basketball coach in the United States. He has received national recognition by winning over 1,000 games in more than 40 years as a high school basketball coach. Tasker, 72, teaches government and social studies at Hobbs High School in Hobbs, New Mexico. He has been inducted into the National High School Sports Hall of Fame and the New Mexico High School Coaches Association Hall of Honor. Tasker has coached teams at two high schools in New Mexico that have won 11 state high school basketball championships. More than 100 of Tasker’s players have played college basketball, and 11 of them have been drafted by the National Basketball Association, including all-star Bill Bridges. He has twice been named New Mexico Quad A Coach of the Year and Teacher of the Year at Hobbs High School. Last year, he received an American Teacher Award as an outstanding national educator. The award was sponsored in part by Walt Disney Company. 

 

Class of 1991: Arthur Brandon, Kenneth Griffith, Carl Hartman, Joe Miller, Rex Pyles, Gary White, Joan Wilson

  • Arthur Leon Brandon ’27- Art Brandon was first Broaddus student to earn four letters in athletics, and was a member of the first class to receive baccalaureate degrees offered by the then Broaddus College in 1927. He became Broaddus’ first athletic director in 1919. Prior to his appointment, sports received little encouragement. The 21-year-old Brandon began changing that, making a Broaddus-owned field one of his primary concerns. He rounded up suporters, did some smart shopping, and ended up with an athletic field near the campus at a price far below market value. Brand like challenges, so much that he announced at the dedication of the new field “that home games for the season would be against some of the toughest competition Broaddus had yet faced.” Those were bold words, since this was the first year that Broaddus competed in inter-collegiate sports. A New York University student newspaper once described Brandon thirty years ago as “a man who looks like a clergyman, speaks with the precision of a professor, and exudes the enthusiasm of a quarterback driving for the winning touchdown.”
  • Kenneth Lee Griffith ’41- Kenny Griffith had not played basketball until he arrived on the Alderson-Broaddus campus, when Coach Rex Pyles recruited him as the 13th member of the basketball team. Griffith was selected for the WVIAC All-Conference First Team in 1939, and 1941, and to the All-Tournament Team in 1938, 1939, and 1941. In 1938, he was the leading scorer in the WVIAC Basketball Tournament, scoring 55 points in 4 games. In 1941, he captured scoring honors at the tournament, scoring 73 points in four games. In 1941, under his leadership, Griffith and the Battlers won both the regular season and conference tournament championships. His freshman year, he scored 354 points, and 380 points in his sophomore year. During his junior year, he scored 575 points, averaging 23.9 points per game. As a senior, he scored a then-unbelievable 632 points, and received All-American honors from the Chicago Tribune. During his tenure on the A-B court, he scored a total of 1,941 points. In 1974, he was selected to 50th Anniversary All-Time WVIAC Team.
  • Carl Lee Hartman ’55- Carl Hartman came to Alderson-Broaddus from little Ridgeley High School to play basketball. During his freshman year, he scored 494 points, averaging 17 points per game, and was named to the WVIAC All-Conference Second Team. During his sophomore year, he scored 896 points at a 24.4 average. In his junior year, he averaged 27.4 points per game for a total of 933 points. During his senior year, he set a then WVIAC single season scoring record with 1140 points, an average of 30.8 points per game. During his four years, he scored a total of 3,373 points. Hartman was selected as a Second Team All-American in 1955. He was selected to the WVIAC All-Conference First Team in 1953, 1954, and 1955. He also was selected to the WVIAC All-Tournament Team in 1953, 1954, and 1955. He was the leading scorer in two WVIAC Tournaments- 1953 with 123 points in 4 games, and in 1954 with 95 points in 3 games. The 1955 A-B Team advanced to the NAIA National Tournament, winning two games before falling in the quarterfinals. During that year, he was selected to the NAIA All-American Second Team. He still holds the NAIA men’s basketball record for consecutive free throws made in a game with 23 against Salem College on December 6, 1954. Hartman was selected to be a member of the 50th Anniversary All-Time WVIAC Team in 1974.
  • Joe Emil Miller ’57- Joe Miller came to Alderson-Broaddus from Sand Fork High School in Gilmer County in the fall of 1953. During his freshman year, he scored 457 points at a 14 point per game average. During his sophomore year, he scored 976 points, averaging just over 26 points per game. During his junior year, he scored 1,000 points. During his senior year, he scored 1,143 points, which was a new WVIAC single season scoring record overall for seniors. During his senior season, he also was second in the conference in rebounding, averaging 16.1 per game. He shot 58.5% from the floor and 82.6% from the free throw line. During the 1957 WVIAC tournament he was the leading scorer with 138 points in 4 games, which is the current record. Also, during the 1957 tournament, he made the most free throws (54), which is the current conference record for the most free throws in a tournament. Miller was selected as a Second Team NAIA All-American in 1956, First Team All-WVIAC in 1955, 1956, and 1957, and WVIAC All-Tournament Team in 1955, 1956, and 1957. He still holds the record in the NAIA National Tournament for most free throws in a game (24 versus Quincy, Illinois in 1955) and is 5th in top single game scoring total in the NAIA Tournament. In the 1955 tournament, he scored 12 field goals and 24 free throws for 48 points. He was named to the 50th Anniversary All-Time WVIAC Team in 1974.
  • Rex Elwood Pyles- Rex Pyles spent over 40 years in Alderson-Broaddus athletics. According to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, he compiled a record of 460 wins and 335 losses during his coaching tenure at A-B. Only his service in the United States Navy kept him from winning over 500 games. He spent his entire coaching and teaching career at Alderson-Broaddus. His coaching career was highlighted by five West Virginia Conference Championships, two trips to NAIA Tournament in Kansas City and four All-Americans. The All-Americans were Ken Griffith ’41, Carl Hartman ’55, Joe Miller ’57, and Fred Brookover ’61. In 1961, he was selected as “Coach of the Year” by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, and was named to the organization’s Hall of Fame in 1968. In 1974, he was selected as All-Time coach by the WVIAC during its 50th Anniversary. Pyles also served as coach of the baseball and bowling teams. The real testimony to the success of Rex Pyles was not told on hardwood courts, but told by effect that his one man had on each young man who donned the Battler uniform. He not only produced fine athletic teams, but produced fine young men. In 1970, the College honored Pyles by the dedication of the Rex Pyles Arena in the Memorial Coliseum. 
  • Gary White ’70- Gary White came to Alderson-Broaddus from Trenton, New Jersey to play basketball, and left as the all-time leading scorer in soccer. He was selected to the WVIAC All-Conference First Team during all four years of his collegiate soccer career. He was the first player to ever receive this honor all four years. During his tenure on the soccer field, A-B won the WVIAC Soccer Championship in 1967 and 1968. In 1967, he was selected to be a member of the All-Tournament Team of the NAIA Tournament. White was selected as player of the year in the West Virginia Conference in 1968. He set a new WVIAC individual scoring record of 30 goals in 1968. He was the first Alderson-Broaddus soccer player to be named to the All-American ranks. He was an Eastern Finalist for the 1972 Olympic Team. White won the WVIAC High Jump Competition each of the three years he competed. He set a conference record with a jump of 6’8”. Because of these achievements, he participated in the United States Collegiate National Championship Track and Field Competition.
  • Joan Wilson- Joan Wilson served Alderson-Broaddus as Associate Professor of Health and Physical Education and Chairman of the Department of Health and Physical Education. She was the first woman to coach an athletic team at A-B. Wilson served as coach of the women’s basketball team and field hockey team. The 1970 Battler Yearbook was dedicated to this woman, who was “an educator first, then a coach.” During her tenure at A-B, she received the Parents Association Citizenship Award.