Bill Mazeroski
Born in Wheeling, West Virginia in 1936. Mazeroski attended Warren Consolidated High School in Tiltonsville, Ohio.
In 1954, 17-year-old Bill Mazeroski signed with Pittsburgh as a shortstop and was promptly moved to second base by the Pirates’ Branch Rickey. Mazeroski eventually became one of the best defensive second baseman in history with a lifetime .983 fielding percentage. The 10-time National League All-Star led the league in assists nine times, fielding percentage three times and double plays eight times. A consistent batter, with 2,016 career hits, Maz achieved hero status in Pittsburgh’s 1960 Fall Classic against the Yankees, when he became the first player ever to end the World Series with a home run.
John Havlicek
Born in Martins Ferry, Ohio in 1940. Havlicek attended Bridgeport High School in Bridgeport, Ohio.
Havlicek started on the 1960 Ohio State team that won the NCAA title. In the same year, he was also selected as an alternate for the Olympic Basketball team. In 1962, Havlicek was drafted by the Boston Celtics. With the Celtics, he won 8 NBA Championships, he was selected to 13 NBA All Star Teams, MVP of the 1974 Finals, and 5 time all NBA Defensive Team. Havlicek scored 26,395 points in 1,270 games. His #17 was retired by the Celtics immediately after his retirement in 1978.
Bobby Douglas
Born in Martins Ferry, Ohio in 1945. Douglas attended Bridgeport High School in Bridgeport, Ohio.
Douglas was a multi sport athlete for Bridgeport, excelling in football, wrestling, and baseball. He started his college prep career at West Liberty, participating in wrestling, winning an NAIA championship and a 2nd place finish in the NCAA. Douglas transferred to Oklahoma State where he went on to win 5 National Championships, and a pair of US Olympic Trial titles. In his career, Douglas had a record 0f 303-17-7.
Phil Niekro
Born in Blaine, Ohio in 1939. Neikro attended Bridgeport High School in Bridgeport, Ohio.
Niekro was a 3 sport standout at Bridgeport, participating in football, basketball, and baseball. On the mound for the Bulldogs, Niekro was 17-1 as a starter, only losing to Warren Consolidated when Bill Mazeroski hit a game winning homerun. After high school, Niekro had a 24-year MLB career. His lifetime record of 318-274 produced a winning percentage significantly higher than the teams for which he pitched. A five-time All-Star, he no-hit the Padres on Aug. 5, 1973, and later managed the all-women Colorado Silver Bullets baseball team.
Joey Galloway
Born in Bellaire, Ohio in 1971. Galloway attended Bellaire High School in Bellaire, Ohio.
Galloway excelled in football, basketball, baseball, and track at Bellaire High School. Galloway continued his college prep playing career at Ohio State University, where he was named 1st team all Big Ten Conference. He was drafted in the NFL in 1995 in the 1st round, 8th overall pick. In his 16 season career, Galloway accounted for 10,950 yards on 701 receptions with 77 touchdowns.
Quincy Wilson
Born in Steubenville Ohio in 1981. Wilson attended Weir High School in Weirton, West Virginia.
Argued the most prolific high school football player in West Virginia history, Wilson ran for 6,161 yards in his prep career, totaling 90 touchdowns. In his senior season alone, Wilson ran for 3,262 yards, averaging 9.4 yards a carry, scoring 47 touchdowns. Wilson had continued his prep career at West Virginia University where he would run for 2,608 yards and 20 touchdowns. In his senior campaign with the Mountaineers, Wilson rushed for 1,380 yards and 12 touchdowns. Wilson was chosen in the 7th round of the NFL draft by the Atlanta Falcons.
Mark Cisar
Born in New Martinsville, West Virginia in 1975. Cisar attended Magnolia High School in New Martinsville, West Virginia.
A multi sport standout, Cisar is a two time winner of the Kennedy Award, which is awarded to West Virginia’s high school football player of the year. On the football field, Cisar did it all, playing quarterback, safety, and kicker. In his prep career, Cisar threw for 5,193 yards and 64 touchdowns. Cisar would continue his prep playing career at Charleston Southern University where he played baseball as a 4 year starter. In 1998, Cisar was drafted by the Boston Red Sox.
Eddie Drummond
Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1980. Drummond attended The Linsly School in Wheeling, West Virginia.
A multi sport standout, Drummond ran for a school record 3,901 yards for the Cadets. On the track, Drummond clocked a blazing fast 10.4 in the 100m dash, 21.5 in the 200m dash, and a 48.1 in the 400m dash. Drummond continued his prep career at Penn State University, moving from running back to receiver. In his career with the Nittany Lions, Drummond accounted for 1,132 yards on 71 receptions. Though he went undrafted, Drummond spent 7 seasons in the NFL, and was a member of the 2004 Pro-Bowl team. Making his mark on special teams, Drummond accounted for 5,811 yards in kick returns, and 1,280 yards in punt returns, totaling 6 touchdowns between the two.
Lou Holtz
Born in Follansbee, West Virginia in 1937. Holtz attended East Liverpool High School in East Liverpool, Ohio.
After an average playing career at East Liverpool, Holtz managed to walk-on at Kent State as an undersized linebacker where he played for 2 years. Not known for his playing career, Holtz made a name for himself as a Coach. In his 26 seasons as a collegiate coach, Holtz posted a 249-132-7 record, going 12-7-2 in Bowl games. Holtz won a National Championship with Notre Dame in 1988, Southern Conference Championship with William & Mary in 1970, Atlantic Coast Conference Championship with North Carolina State in 1973, and Southwest Conference Championship with Arkansas in 1979.
George Kellas
Born in Wheeling, West Virginia in 1956. Kellas attended Triadelphia High School in Triadelphia, West Virginia.
Kellas was a pioneer in the news industry for promoting sports and athletics in the Ohio Valley. Starting his media career in 1977, Kellas spent more than 20 years with both WTRF and WTOV as a sports anchor and commentator. His love and passion for Ohio Valley sports drove him to found and co-own the Ohio Valley Greyhounds (originally the Steel Valley Smash), where they would win consecutive National Championships in 2002 and 2003 under his ownership. Kellas ended his media career with local WKKX, where he hosted the George Kellas Talk Show. Kellas passed away in 2009, devoting more than 30 years to the media industry of the Ohio Valley.
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