A history of Weir High School

Compiled by Dennis R. Jones

1914 – Butler District High School was created, starting out as a second class two-year high school, held in one of the rooms at Holliday’s Cove School. Professor H. Jabler was principal. The school developed into a four-year high school in 1916 under Principal A.A. McEndree.

Spring of 1916 – The Weir High Baseball team, the schools first sports team, was formed. All games were played away from home and few games resulted in victory. Those on the first team included: Charles Thomas, Louis Heilman, Covert Jones, Ed Harrington, Wallace Rowland, Carl Mildren, James Cavett, Edgar Shakely, Fred Culler, Frank Campbell and Gilbert Walters.

June 1, 1916 – Ground was broken for a new high school building. The cornerstone for the new Butler District High School would be placed Aug. 20, 1916.

May 25, 1917 – Butler District High School’s first graduating class (from Holliday’s Cove School) received diplomas at the Cove Presbyterian Church. Graduates were Elizabeth Hoehn, Mary Shakley, and Florence Stetson.

Fall of 1917 – The new Butler District High School opened at the corner of Virginia Avenue and Orchard Street. Frank G. Houle was principal.

Winter of 1918 – The name Butler District High School was changed to Weir High School in honor of Ernest T. Weir and his brother David M. Weir, founders of Weirton and Weirton Steel Co.

Winter of 1918 – Weir High School’s first basketball season came to a close with a 23-10 victory over Mingo Junction, producing a season record of 3-3. The Weir High girls basketball team dropped their final game by a score of 40-12.

Spring of 1921 – Weir High School’s first annual yearbook was published and titled “ONAWA.” The name was based on what the student’s claimed as the Native American word for “onward” or “forward.” The book was dedicated to the Superintendent of Schools, Wayne D. Johnston, who strived to make Weir High School one of the best rated schools in the state.

June 1, 1923 – The graduating class from the old Weir High School building was to plant an ivy vine. It was hoped that each year following, an ivy vine would be planted by the senior class, a new custom established this year.

June 7, 1923 – Ground was broken for a new Weir High School building on the lot donated by Weirton Steel Company, just north of the present high school building.

Oct. 20, 1923 – Cornerstone laying ceremonies were performed for the new Weir High School building. Area Masonic Lodges participated.

Oct. 22, 1923 – Weir High School played its first football game away against New Cumberland. New Cumberland won by the score of 19-0. For their second game, New Cumberland came to Weirton, and they played on the Strip Steel field located down the hill from the high school. New Cumberland jumped out to an early lead of 6-0 and held on in the rain and mud with the final score remaining 6-0. Weir High kept improving under the guidance of coach George Beck and they won their next four games against Newell, Midland, and Mt Morris, Pa., winding up with a first season record of 4-2.

Nov. 7, 1924 – The new Weir High School, located just to the north of the old building, was dedicated. The old building would become known as the “Central School” used for junior high and grade school classes additional to those at Cove School. Also, between the two buildings was a smaller steel building, which was first used for second grade classrooms, and later used as the band room.

Fall of 1924 – Miss Minnie Heaslett, resident of Holliday’s Cove and salutatorian at Bethany College, began teaching English at Weir High School

Summer of 1925 – WIBR Radio Station began broadcasting weekly shows from the Weir High Auditorium. Thurman Owings was granted to the license to operate from 5 to 500 watts. Ministers from the Cove Christian Church and Cove Presbyterian Church conducted shows from the microphone and also the “Weirton Night” program on KDKA radio was rebroadcast.

Fall of 1926 – A 25-member Weir High Orchestra was organized under the direction of Lota V. Bonar. Sections included 12 violins, two coranets, three saxophones, clarinet, baritone horn, trombone, banjo, drums, and a piano. They played at school programs, concerts, and motion picture shows.

Spring of 1928 – Weir High School’s first band, comprised of 23 students, was organized by local businessman and musician, Harry Brostman. With donations from local businessmen, band instruments were purchased and students were trained by Brostman during the summer vacation.

Fall of 1928 – Delbert E. Gilmore became employed as Weir High School band director.

Oct. 20, 1928 – The Weir High Band, under the direction of Delbert Gilmore, performed for the first time at a football game. The game featured Weir High vs. Follansbee, and the band appeared in their white duck trousers, red and black slip-over jackets, and red and black toboggan caps.

Spring of 1929 – The Weir High Girls Drum Corps was organized by Delbert Gilmore, band director. Their uniforms included navy blue skirts with scarlet jackets and navy blue berets. Miss Betty Kessell served as Corps leader for four years.

Fall of 1929 – Carl Hamill, Linsly Military Institute and Bethany College athlete, was hired to coach the Weir High School athletic teams. Under the tutelage of Hamill, the team would become recognized as one of the most successful teams in the history of the valley.

Fall of 1930 – Weir High School’s football team in Carl Hamill’s second year at the helm went undefeated with a record of 8-0-2. The two ties were scoreless games against Mingo Junction and Youngstown Campbell.

Spring of 1931 – Printing of the ONAWA yearbook was cancelled due to lack of subscriptions and the Great Depression taking its toll. Some notable graduates in the spring of 1931 included 15-year old valedictorian Paul Whitaker (son of Dr. L.A. Whitaker and brother of Dr. Theodore Whitaker), and Mabel Milton (Weir High’s star center on the girls basketball team who would become Mabel Porter, algebra teacher at Weir High School for many years).

Fall of 1932 – J. Robert Haworth, son of second grade teacher Bertha Haworth, would become a member of the Weir High School faculty, teaching art. His inspirational manner in the classroom would bring into full bloom many successful artists from Weirton, including Harry Ameredes, Virgil Cantini and Anthony Sellitti. Starting in the late 1930s, his students would enter the scholastic art contests and bring home many winning creations.

August of 1934 – Emil Holz, graduate of Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Cleveland, was hired to take charge of the band and music at Weir High School. Mr. Gilmore had left to teach at Hundred and Littleton, W.Va., and would later become sales manager for Crow-Wetzel Dairy in Weirton.

Sept. 1, 1934 – Weirton’s first “Festival of Nations” was held at the new Margaret Manson Weir Memorial Park. Weir High Art Teacher Robert Haworth and his students created many of the stage backgrounds for this event, which continued each year through 1944.

Sept. 2, 1935 – The new Weir High Stadium was opened with the second-annual “Festival of Nations” Labor Day Pageant. Nearly 15,000 people jammed the new stadium.

Oct. 21, 1935 – About 4,000 people attended the dedication ceremonies of the new Weir High Football Stadium. Weirton Steel Company officials formally turned over the deed to the new $50,000 stadium to the Hancock County Board of Education. Weir High Principal R.L. Custer, acted as master of ceremonies. Carl Hamill presented to John C. Williams the football from the first game played there, when Weir High defeated Cleveland South 14-0 on Sept. 21. Also Jack Savasti, president of student council, presented to Mr. Williams a 12-foot Roman scroll with student signatures of appreciation. The Follansbee and Weir High bands spelled out the initials “J.C.W.” on the field and encircled them with a heart. After the national anthem, Mr. Williams walked out onto the field and cut two courses of black and red ribbons to officially open the field for play. Weir High took on the Follansbee Blue Wave in their regular season contest after the ceremonies and defeated them 31-0.

Fall of 1935 – Weir High School Football team led by Coach Carl Hamill, recorded a season record of 10-0-0. Coach Hamill and Weir High officials contacted Victory High School in Clarksburg, who also had an undefeated season, and requested a playoff game to determine the true state champions. Victory High refused due to a policy they had against post-season games. Weir High School officials then declared Weir High as the state champs and offered to settle any disputes to the claim by carding a game at a neutral site.

Sept. 16, 1938 – Weir High School football’s first home night game at Weir High Stadium. They defeated Follansbee by a score of 27-0.

Fall of 1938 – Weir High School Football team led by Coach Carl Hamill, recorded a season record of 10-0-0 and were voted state runner-up by West Virginia Sportswriters.

Spring of 1939 – For the first time since 1930, the students of Weir High School published a yearbook. The new yearbook was titled “Weirite” and dedicated to Weirton Steel President Thomas E. Millsop. The Weirite continues to be published each year as the Weir High School yearbook.

Sept. 15, 1939 – In a home football game against Follansbee, Robert Donell was fatally injured, suffering from a fractured vertebrae when he crashed into the rival’s line causing a fumble. A memorial plaque and fountain were placed outside the Principal’s Office at the school in his honor. Later, in 1964, the Weir High Boosters created the Robert Donell award, given annually to the “Outstanding Weir High Football Player Who Distinguishes Himself Athletically and Academically.

Fall of 1940 – Emil Holz introduced swing time and musical novelties into the Weir High Band and the band gained extensive popularity.

1941 through 1952 – The popular Weir High Swing Band under the direction of Emil Holz, performed at draftee departures, bond campaigns, and civil defense programs. The band became one of the first 200 in the country to earn a citation from the Music War Council of America for “distinguished service through the patriotic and inspiring use of music to aid in the national effort.” Weir High’s swing-style band was noted for never standing still, often marching at cadences of 160-170 beats per minute. In addition to their many appearances at community and statewide events, the Weir High Band was invited to play at a Pittsburgh Steelers game in 1946. In addition to the Weir High games, they would also play for the WIU Weiriter Semi Pro local Steelworker Union football games. When Holz left in 1952 for a job at West Liberty State College, he had taken the Weir High Band to unprecendented popularity starting with a small group of 32 and growing to a synchronized group of 100 or more. Weir High School’s 1954 Weirite yearbook was dedicated to Holz.

Fall of 1942 – Weir High Football team, under the leadership of Carl Hamill, and with one of the toughest schedules in school history, were voted West Virginia State Champions by the Associated Press. The team record was 6-3-1. The losses came to teams from Massilon, Youngstown Chaney, and Clairton, Pa.

May 30, 1945 – Weir High, under the leadership of Carl Hamill, wins the first annual High School Baseball State Championship final by defeating the heavily favored Parkersburg team.

Fall of 1949 – Weir High Football team, under the leadership of Coach Carl Hamill, recorded a perfect season of 11-0-0 defeating Milton in the playoff final at Parkersburg to become state champs.

Spring of 1950 – Weir High School senior Mary Lou Kolanko, cheerleader and president of the GAA, joined the All American Girls Baseball League. She became centerfielder and leadoff batter for the Sprinfield Sallies.

Spring of 1950 – Weir High, under the leadership of Carl Hamill, comes from behind to defeat East Bank for their second State High School Baseball Championship.

Spring of 1951 – The Weir High Dance Band was created under the direction of William Niesslein. He also became assistant director to Emil Holz and the Weir High Band. In 1953, Mr. Niesslein accepted full employment at Weirton Steel Company, becoming the Director of the Weirton Steel Male Chorus.

May 1951 – Carl Hamill resigns as head coach of Weir High Sports, but remains on as physical education instructor at the school until 1955, at which time he was appointed Dean of Boys at Weir High School. Although much of his 22-year coaching career was before state championships were recognized, his Weir High football team officially became State Champs in 1942 and 1949. He baseball team at Weir High became the first state baseball champions in 1945 and then reached the top again in 1950.

September of 1952 – George Schweizer, graduate of Ohio State University and the Cincinnati Observatory of Music, became band director at Weir High. He had previously served as band director at Sherman High School in Seth, WV.

May 10, 1955 – Chad Pickens, son of English teacher Delores Pickens, was fatally injured while practicing at the Cove Athletic Field with his Weir High Baseball team. He was accidentally struck in the head by a baseball while running between first and second base in a double play attempt. Starting with the class of 1955, it was decided to award a trophy in his name to an outstanding baseball senior each year who demonstrated leadership and character on the field as well as in the classroom. In addition, a memorial fountain was named for him at the Weir High Football Stadium, and in 1956, a Chad Pickens Scholarship fund was established by Student Council. Other tributes to Chad include a memorial book section at Mary H. Weir Public Library and a youth baseball field named for him in 1961.

Fall of 1955 – School desegregation takes place in Weirton. All the Dunbar High School (African-American school) students would now join with the students at Weir High School. Charles Turner, band director at Dunbar, became choir director at Weir High School. Other faculty members of Dunbar went to Cove Junior High. Dunbar School became a desegregated grade school.

May of 1956 – Willa Hair, transfer student from Dunbar High School in 1955 at the time of desegregation, became perhaps the oldest graduate in the history of Weir High School. She and her husband Charles Hair had three children, who had completed their school years, and she decided to go back and finish her education.

Fall of 1957 – Charles McKinney became band director at Weir High School

Fall of 1957 – Weir High Football team, under the leadership of Coach Jimmy Carey, recorded a perfect season of 11-0-0 defeating Fairmont West in the playoff final at Wheeling to become State Champs.

Spring of 1959 – Weir High Baseball team, under the leadership of Coach Jimmy Carey, defeated East Bank to bring home a third state Baseball Championship.

August 13, 1959 – Director Charles McKinney and Assistant Director Dale Lutton received word that the Weir High Band was one of eight schools invited to march in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Calif. on Jan. 1, 1960 . McKinney cited the huge public support and encouragement his band had been receiving from school officials, parents, and elected officials. Following their practice session, the band marched from Cove Field to Weir High School, carrying and showing local newspapers headlining the great news. Weir High was reported to be the only band to complete the entire 7-mile length of the parade. The band also performed at Disneyland.

Thanksgiving Day, 1960 – The Weir High Band, under the direction of Dale Lutton and assisted by Betty Virtue, performed in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, bringing more fame and recognition to Weir High School and the city of Weirton.

Fall of 1960 – Weir High Football team, under the leadership of Coach Jimmy Carey, recorded a season record of 10-1-0 and defeated Nitro in the playoff final at Parkersburg to become State AAA Champs.

Fall of 1960 – Weir High running back Bob Kelley received the Kennedy Award, the first player voted unanimously and the first Weir High player to receive the award.

Fall of 1960 – Band Director Charles McKinney accepted the position as assistant superintendent of Hancock County Schools. Dale Lutton become band director.

Winter of 1961 – Weir High School, under Coach Carl Fodor, captured its first State Wrestling Championship in the tournament at Morgantown.

Sept. 19, 1961 – Dale Lutton, announced the Weir High Band had been invited to participate in the Fourth World Music Festival in Kerkrade, Holland in the summer of 1962. Members and families began to raise the $50,000 needed to make the trip. The band was one of 215 bands from 21 countries to compete in July 1962, receiving third place in its group with a score of 109 points.

Fall of 1961 – Weir High Football team, under the leadership of Coach Jimmy Carey, recorded a season record of 10-1-0 and defeated St. Albans in the playoff final at Parkersburg to become State AAA Champs. Weir High becomes the first school in the state to have back-to-back football championships.

Winter of 1963 – The Weir High Basketball team, under the leadership of Coach Jimmy Carey, captured their first and only Class AAA State Basketball Championship by defeating Logan 67-50 at the state tournament in Huntington.

March 8, 1964 – The new Weir High School, comprised of seven campus-style buildings overlooking the city, was officially dedicated.

Winter of 1964 – Under the leadership of Coach James Wares, Weir High wrestlers Pat Allese and Dave Byrd repeated with back-to-back state titles.

May of 1964 – Weir High’s outstanding athlete Ron “Fritz” Williams graduates, with plans to play basketball for the WVU Mountaineers. During his four years at Weir High School, he became the all-time highest point scorer in basketball with a total of 2,235 points, averaging 23.3 points per game.

Summer of 1964 – The Weir High Band under the direction of Augustine J. Orlandi, participated in the New York World’s Fair.

May 28, 1965 – Senior Mike Miller, with a high school tennis record of 35-4, earned the OVAC Championship and then swept the State Tennis Championship in Huntington. Miller, who was unseeded in the state tournament, defeated five straight opponents, including the favorite, to become the 1965 state singles champion.

Winter of 1966 – Weir High, under Coach Carl Fodor, won its second state Wrestling Championship and became Weir High’s first undefeated wrestling team in the regular season.

Fall of 1966 – Tyrone Price, former Weir High drum major, became director of the Weir High Varsity Band.

November 25, 1970 – Girls permitted for first time to wear slacks at Weir High School during the colder months.

Sept. 1, 1972 – Al Yoklic becomes the first Weir High football player to successfully kick a field goal, after Weir High had come back from a 20-0 deficit to tie the game, then win in the first ever City Championship football game between Weir High and Madonna High Schools.

Winter of 1976 – Weir High Wrestling team took the State Championship.

March of 1981 – Weir High Football Stadium was named Jimmy Carey Stadium in honor of the late Coach Jimmy Carey. It had previously been called Weir High Stadium and Weirton Municipal Stadium. The press box was repainted as a project of the Weir High Booster Club.

Spring of 1982 – The Weir High Girls Softball Team, under the leadership of Coach Roberta DeFrancis, captured the State Championship by defeating Princeton by a score of 13-2 in the final Morgantown.

Aug. 24, 1983 – Open house was held at the new Weir Junior High School building, which was constructed at the Weir High Campus. The new building housed a multi-purpose room, 19 classrooms and a library. The junior high and senior high would share the existing gymnasium. The Junior High would take over use of the old Weir High entrance and parking lot, while the High School students would use a new entrance and parking lot to the south. The old Junior High building down at Virginia and Orchard Streets was condemned by the Fire Marshal.

Aug. 28, 1985 – Open house was held at the newly renovated Weir High School building complex, which had been under construction. Renovations included a new gymnasium-auditorium, new theatre, and band room. The lobby included concession areas and glass-walled trophy cases with a Hall of fame wall. Also during the renovation process all the buildings of the high school were interconnected. The new gym became the new Carl Hamill Field House, while the old gym was left for the Junior High in honor of Carl Fodor.

Fall of 1988 – Keith Jeter becomes the second Weir High football player to receive the Kennedy Award.

Spring of 1994 – The Weir High Girls Softball Team, under the leadership of Coach Roberta DeFrancis, captured the State AAA Championship, defeating Logan by a score of 16-1.

Fall of 1998 – Sophomore Jacklyn Varner is the first girl in Weir High sports history to participate on a Red Rider football team.

Fall of 1998 – The Weir High football team, under the leadership of Coach Wayne Neely, recorded a season record of 14-0-0 and defeated Dupont in the state playoff final to win the State AA Football Championship. This was the first OVAC team to compile a perfect 14-0 season.

Fall of 1998 – Quincy Wilson becomes the third Weir High football player to receive the Kennedy Award.

Spring of 2004 – The Weir High baseball team, under the leadership of Coaches Bill Smith and Jason Angle, won the State AA Championship by defeating Shady Spring.

Fall of 2005 – The Weir High football team, under the leadership of Coach Eric Meek, recorded a season record of 13-1-0 and defeated Bluefield 40-0 to win the State AA Football Championship.

Oct. 28, 2011 – Final game played at the old Jimmy Carey Stadium, as the Weir High Red Riders took on East Liverpool. The Weir High Band and Alumni Band played at halftime and players present and past stepped on the field for the last time. Weir High lost this final game 40-0.

Aug. 24, 2012 – The new Jimmy Carey Stadium, located next to the Weir High School campus, was dedicated. Jimmy Carey’s son, Phil Carey, and other members of the family unveiled the new Jimmy Carey Stadium sign. In addition to the dedication, a moment of silence was observed for the late Bob Rossell, Weir High sports public address announcer. The press box was named in his honor. The first football game was played on the field that evening, with Indian Creek High School defeating Weir High 52-12.

May 26, 2016 – Weir High School holds its 100th commencement at the Carl Hamill Field House.