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 Horace Blankenship (left) receives his award from Mike Clair, State Chapters Executive Director, National Wrestling Hall of Fame. |
Horace Blankenship -- "Lifetime Service to Wrestling"
Horace Blankenship, originally from Beckley, began his love affair with wrestling during his sophomore season at Livonia Bentley High School in Livonia, Michigan. After graduating from Concord College he and his wife settled in the Eastern Panhandle as teachers. Blankenship began his career at Berkeley Springs High School in 1976, taking over as head coach in 1980. He left briefly after the 1988 season, but returned in 1991 to assist Rick Hendrickson, before taking over the head coaching duties once more in the fall of 1993. Horace retired from coaching at the conclusion of the 2000 season. During his sixteen years as head coach at Berkeley Springs, Horace guided the Indians to six top five finishes in Class AA/A State Tournament, including a state title in 1995, a second place finish in 1994 and third place finish in 1997. He was named conference and regional coach of the year on several occasions, and the WV AA/A Coach of the Year in 1995. Horace's teams compiled a dual meet record of 210-97-7. He coached numerous state place winners and nine individual state champions, including his oldest son Chris. Also he coached track at Berkeley Springs and guided them to the 1987 Class AA/A state title. Horace and his wife Barbara still reside in Berkeley Spring and are the proud parents of Chris, Leah Ann and A.J. The National Wrestling Hall of Fame honors Horace Blankenship with a "Lifetime of Service to Wrestling" award, class of 2010. |
Accepting the award for Mr. Boggs is HOF member Garry Bender, long time friend, (right) receiving his award from Mike Clair, State Chapters Executive Director, National Wrestling Hall of Fame.  Sidney Boggs |
Sidney Boggs -- "Lifetime Service to Wrestling"
Sidney Boggs graduated from Spencer High School and attended Glenville State College. He worked briefly for the United States Postal Office. Around 1970, he began as a freelance photographer for the Spencer Times Record which lasted for 35-40 years. Sidney won numerous First Place Awards from the West Virginia Press Association and was winner of the Photo of the Year from the West Virginia Press Association. He was known for his love of high school sports and the students who participated. He was very involved in several community clubs as a member on the Spencer City Council, Roane County Chamber of Commerce, Spencer Development Authority, Spencer/Roane Volunteer Fire Department, and a member of DeMolay. Matthew Sidney Boggs died at the age of 59 in 2007. The National Wrestling Hall of Fame honors Sidney Boggs with a "Lifetime of Service to Wrestling" award, class of 2010. |
 Buzz Evans (left) receives his award from Mike Clair, State Chapters Executive Director, National Wrestling Hall of Fame. |
Buzz Evans -- "Lifetime Service to Wrestling"
Edward William "Buzz" Evans graduated from St. John High School in Bellaire, Ohio where he participated in football, wrestling, and track. While attending West Liberty State College, he played football, wrestled and joined the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves. In 1975, he earned his Bachelor's degree in Physical Education and Art and his Master's Degree in Education from University of Dayton in 1981. He started his teaching and coaching career at Bridgeport High in Bridgeport, Ohio and later Martins Ferry High. Coach Evans came to West Virginia as assistant wrestling coach at Wheeling Park under Eric Carder. In 1982, he took over the helm and produced 22 AAA State Champions, 2 All Americans and 1 Academic All American. In the OVAC, his squads won 2 times OVAC Overall Team Championships and had 15 individual Champions. Evans coached his wrestlers to 2 team titles, was named WV AAA Coach of the Year in 1986 and 1987 and National High School Athletic Coaches 1992 Coach of the Year. Then in 2000 he returned as assistant coaching at Wheeling Park. Coach Evans was inducted into the West Liberty State College Hall of Fame, St. John Wrestling Hall of Fame and Wheeling Park High School Athletic Hall of Fame. He holds a 3 level Black Belt in Martial Arts and named the Master of the Naban Grappling Systems in Bando. Buzz and his wife Kim reside in Beallsville, Ohio. He has two daughters Jessica Kosky (Paul), Erica Evans and Step-son Chandler Kilburn. He also has a granddaughter Sophia Kosky. The National Wrestling Hall of Fame honors Buzz Evans with a "Lifetime of Service to Wrestling" award, class of 2010. |
Jack Kerr, Bill's son, (right) receives his award from Mike Clair, State Chapters Executive Director, National Wrestling Hall of Fame.  Bill Kerr |
Bill Kerr -- "Lifetime Service to Wrestling"
Bill Kerr was a graduate of East Fairmont High School. Then he attended Fairmont State College and received a Bachelor's Degree in Education. Following graduation he became a teacher and Assistant Football Coach at Mannington High School. He then served his Country in the United States Navy during Second World War. Upon his return to Fairmont, he was a teacher at Fairmont Junior High School and Assistant Football Coach at Fairmont Senior High School under Biz Dawson from 1947-1955. Bill became the Head Coach at Fairmont Senior High School during the 1955-56 school year. He started the wrestling program at Fairmont Senior High School and coached three sports while there: wrestling, football and track. His coaching produced at least one State Wrestling Champion every year from 1952-1963. Bill served as Assistant Principal and Acting Principal at Fairmont Senior High School. He moved on to the collegiate level at Fairmont State College where he was the Assistant Football Coach and Wrestling Coach from 1963-1971. From 1971 through his retirement in 1979, Bill was the Head Football Coach of the Fairmont State Falcons, winning the WVIAC Conference Championship in both 1973 and 1974. Bill was married to Millie Hanley Kerr and raised three sons, Bill Jr. of Arizona, Tom of Indiana and Jack of Wheeling. They have 8 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Bill passed away on June 21, 2005. The National Wrestling Hall of Fame honors Bill Kerr with a "Lifetime of Service to Wrestling" award, class of 2010. |
Larry Shaw (left) receives his award from Mike Clair, State Chapters Executive Director, National Wrestling Hall of Fame. |
Larry Shaw -- "Lifetime Service to Wrestling"
Larry Shaw graduated from Shady Spring High School. He later graduated from Concord College with a Bachelor's degree in Physical Education and Library Science. Then he traveled to Huntington and received a Master's Degree in Physical Education from Marshall University. He began teaching his first year at Clear Fork High School (since closed and consolidated into Liberty Raleigh High School) and served as a volunteer assistant at Shady Spring High School under Coach Dix Manning. For thirty-one years, Larry taught and coached at Oak Glen High School. Coach Shaw's "Golden Bears" teams have won WV AAA State Runner up Team 1987-1991 (5 times) and 13 consecutive State AA Wrestling Championships, a record for all sports in WV. This ranks Oak Glen tied for 5th nationally for consecutive state team titles. He has coached 51 state champions and compiled a dual meet record of 330-96-4. Under Shaw, Oak Glen won 5 OVAC Overall Team Championships and was named 12 times OVAC Wrestling Coach of the Year. Larry was also named WV AA/A Coach of the Year seven times, as well as National Coach of the Year in 2008 by Wrestling USA. In 2000, he was inducted into the Raleigh County Wrestling Hall of Fame. Larry and his wife, Cindy, reside in New Manchester. The National Wrestling Hall of Fame honors Larry Shaw with a "Lifetime of Service to Wrestling" award, class of 2010. |
 Larry Snuffer (left) receives his award from Mike Clair, State Chapters Executive Director, National Wrestling Hall of Fame. |
Larry Snuffer -- "Lifetime. Service to Wrestling"
Larry Snuffer graduated with honors from Trap Hill High School in 1964. He graduated from West Virginia Institute of Technology in 1968 with a Bachelor of Science degree. Later he earned a Masters egree in Speech and Communication from West Virginia University and a graduate degree in Athletic Training from Marshall University. After teaching for two years in Webster County, he taught for thirty-two years in Raleigh County. While at Shady Spring High School for twenty-six years, he met legendary Coach Dix Manning and was hired as his assistant in 1976 for one year. The part time assistant coach position lasted for thirty years, assistant to Coach Manning from 1976 to 1997. He was part of three State Championship teams, one runner-up team and ten consecutive regional titles. In 1989, when no one would accept the position, he volunteered to coach the Shady Spring Junior High program, while still assuming duties as high school assistant. Larry served as clinician at several wrestling camps and directed twelve Regional Tournaments. In 1997, he succeeded Coach Manning as head coach along with assistant Danny Carter. Larry coached six individual State Champions including three-time State Champion and Outstanding Wrestler, Derek Scarbro, and two-time State Champion, Josh Neal. During his tenure, Shady had twenty-three State place finishers, continuing the school's consecutive streak of placing an individual in the State Tournament since 1976. His teams compiled an overall duals record of 73-36-1 and at one time won forty-one consecutive duals. In 1997 he was inducted into the Raleigh County Wrestling Hall of Fame. He won the Dix Manning Award as AA Coach of the Year in 2005, and was also named the Wrestling Coach of the Year by the WVSSAC for 2004-05. Larry has also served as an Athletic Trainer in football at Shady Spring High and Independence High Schools for thirty years. He has also coached track for nine years. Now he instructs homebound students. Larry and his wife Connie are parents of daughter, Lynn. They have one granddaughter, Molly. The National Wrestling Hall of Fame honors Larry Snuffer with a "Lifetime of Service to Wrestling" award, class of 2010. |
