Hide Article Text (OCR)
Sports figures among those on tour to cheer for MountaineersWest Virginia University’s football team did not lack support last weekend. It appeared that half, maybe more, of almost 29,000 people at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati were WVU fans.Thanks to Bob Raines, who arranged a trip with Terry’s Tours out of Christiansburg, a local contingency boarded the bus in Princeton Friday and headed for Cincinnati to see the Mountaineers take on the Bearcats.It was a diverse and congenial group — some were celebrated sports figures. Garnet Edwards is a familiar name to WVU fans. The group enjoyed his company and asked many sports related questions, which he fielded gracefully. Garnet graduated from Welch High School in 1976. He played football, basketball, ran track, and was All-American in track. He also played drums in the band in 8th and 9th grades.Garnet went on to achieve more honors at WVU. He started in football as a defensive back and switched over to wide receiver.Garnet said he was recruited by Bobby Bowden, butANormaMahoodIn Touch...when he got to college, Bowden was at Florida State, and the WVU official coordinator, Frank Cignetti, took over as football coach.Garnet also excelled in track - again, All American; First team All-East. He graduated from WVU with a B.S. degree in Education, and later earned a Business Administration Certificate from the McDowell Vocational Center.Garnet now lives in McDowell County where he is Warehouse Distribution Manager for McDowell Missions, and gives much credit to the Director, Jay Wilson, for being especially helpful.Garnet is a Deacon in his church, Havaco Temple Missionary Baptist Church. He enjoys writing poetry and is a member of the International Society ofPoets. Garnet says he is blessed to have more than a few good friends and mentors, listing parents first -his father, Garnet, Sr. - his “best buddy,” and his mother, Luvenia; Pastor Kenneth Orr and track coach Stanley Romanoski.He also counts Bill Archer as a very positive influence in his life. When he was playing football, Bill was working on his Master’s degree and driving the bus for the players. They became, and have remained close friends. “He has been a good influence. He’s tried to help me in many ways — definitely a positive influence.”Garnet said, “You never know how far you can go until you fall down.” He believes a positive attitude can make a change in a community. Standing 6 foot, four inches, this unassuming young man, with a soft voice and gentle demeanor knows that he can make a change in his community, and says, “I’m thankful to God I can do that. My heart is in McDowell County.” Last October, Garnet was inducted into the WVU Sports Hall of Fame. Others who boarded the bus atPrinceton included Bob and Brenda Raines; Neil,Robert, Victor and Hylah Lohr; Jerry and Shelia Tennant; Harold and Ellen Miller; loyal WVU fans of many years, Kitty and Joe Graham; Norris and Doris Sue Kantor; James and Carolyn Hurst; Frazier and Phyllis Miller; Bud and Judy Raines; Elmer Bay, and Jim Ferguson.The bus stopped at Beckley to pick up Jerry Raines, and on to Cross Lanes for Dwyane Woods — another familiar sports name in this area. Dwyane came bouncing onto the bus, all smiles. The 1972 Bluefield High School graduate, went on to be Running Back on WVU’s football team 1972-76. He now works as an Academic Counselor for Davis and Elkins College. Dwyane has a bubbly personality and a serious side. He said he values relationships with people and gets along with almost everybody. “When you come through the system, you never know what friends you’ll run into later on.”Dwyane said, “I met Joe Graham in 1971 and Bob Raines in 1970. They are people you are really comfortable with and around -really feel welcome.Having played football at WVU and being well known, is almost like you carry a mantle — you don’t want to do anything to embarrass the school or yourself.”Dwyane said that Bob Raines is one of the most influential people in his life. “He is almost like a father figure - helping me along --always full of good advice; all the Millers are helpful. John Chmara, my high school football coach, has always been a friend.”Dwyane enjoys living in Cross Lanes, and is very proud of his children:Dayna, a senior, and Whitney, a sophomore at South Charleston High, and says, “Naturally, they’re headed for WVU.”Our weekend included a dinner cruise on the Ohio River - a few opted see the Cincinnati Reds-Chicago Cubs baseball game. On Saturday morning, some went to Newport on the Levee and enjoyed the fabulous ($45 million) Newport Aquarium, while others went on to a Reds baseball game.But everyone was on time for the football game. Theweather was perfect and we had good seats.If you missed Mickey Fhrfari’s column about the game Monday, look it up. It ' was a dramatic finish, to say the least. We returned to our hotel exhausted but happy that the 35-32 lead held up!It rained all the way home, but we were riding in a very comfortable bus guided by an excellent driver, Artie Plude. We were highly entertained by tour company owner Terry Altizer (with some videotapes and a lot of ad lib, or “Commen-TERRY”).All the arrangements for this trip had been made before we left home. We just got on or off the bus and didn’t worry about a thing. The consensus was “this is the only way to go.” We truly appreciate Bob Raines for getting this tour together.Terry Altizer’s office is in Radford, Va. 1-800-725-4509 or 540-731-8200 or email: ter-iystours(« yahoo.com or PO.Box 1381, Radford, VA 24143.
Newspaper Details
Bluefield Sunday Telegraph
Bluefield, West Virginia, US
Sun, Sep 22, 2002
Page 32
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
OH, USA 07 Feb 2024
Other Publications Near Bluefield, West Virginia
Bluefield Evening Leader
Bluefield Daily Leader
Bluefield Sunset News
Bluefield Sunday Telegraph
The New Daily Telegraph
