There Will Never Be Another Jerry West: A Legend Remembered
Yesterday was like any other sunny summer day. I got to work at 9 AM, checked my social media, and thought about taking an early afternoon walk with my dog. But my day was ruined when my boss Michael Fragale walked in. “Jerry West just died,” he said. “Get to work.”
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As the obituary writer for the department, I often have drafts ready for our school’s legends. I was prepared for Hot Rod Hundley and Sam Huff because their health had been declining. But Jerry West? The man was always so full of life and energy. It felt like a dream.
Writing about Jerry West’s life is daunting. How do you sum up everything he did in 86 years? How do you convey what he meant to West Virginia and West Virginia University (WVU)? You can’t do it in a short amount of time.
So I went to my file cabinet where I keep interviews, including some with West. These interviews, about six of them, 20-30 minutes each, were a goldmine. Unlike many who cut interviews short, Jerry always took his time, especially when talking about West Virginia, WVU, and his basketball teammates.
I asked him once why so many great basketball players came from West Virginia in the 1950s. He said it was because they played a high level of basketball. He remembered playing against the Kentucky all-star team, which was considered the best, and beating them twice. That was common in West Virginia.
He also talked about how coaching styles affected players. He couldn’t see himself playing a slow game like the one at Maryland. Instead, he thrived under Fred Schaus and George King at WVU. Schaus was a pro and King was an NBA champion. They brought a high level of expertise to the team. West learned confidence and skills from playing against them.
The team was everything. Schaus convinced Willie Akers, a top scorer, to play second fiddle to West at WVU. Akers’ only goal was to win and he did that by playing defense and rebounding while West took the big shots. Their team was tough and every player would fight for the ball.
West’s seriousness and dedication stood out throughout his career. I saw this first-hand at a speaking event in Lewisburg, West Virginia. West was promoting his new book and I was there to warm up the crowd with some stories. When I met him backstage, his focus was intense, like a prizefighter preparing for a match. He was ready to face tough questions about his personal and revealing book.
Jerry West was not just a basketball legend; he was an elite human being. West Virginians aspired to be like him, and he understood this responsibility. He treated others with empathy, dignity, and respect. His life is a blueprint for success, encompassing triumphs, failures, good times, and heartaches.
For everyone reading this in the Mountain State and beyond, take the time to study Jerry West’s life. Learn from his values and how he lived. He embodied what we hold dear in West Virginia. That’s why it’s so hard to say goodbye.
In honor of Jerry West, lower your West Virginia flags until after West Virginia Day on June 20th. Jerry West was one of a kind. There will never be another like him.
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