Bill Text: WV SR28 | 2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Commemorating life and career of Coach Joe Retton
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-2)
Status: (Passed) 2019-02-05 - Completed legislative action [SR28 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2019-SR28-Introduced.html
SENATE RESOLUTION 28
(By Senators Prezioso, Jeffries, Stollings, Baldwin, Plymale, Palumbo, Hardesty, Beach, Swope, and Hamilton)
[Introduced February 5, 2019]
Commemorating the life and career of Coach Joe Retton, husband, father, coach, veteran, and dedicated public servant.
Whereas, Joe Retton was a proud Grant Town native in Marion County, where he was a three-sport standout at Fairview High School; and
Whereas, Joe Retton served his country honorably in the U.S. Army in Korea, after which, he began his teaching and legendary coaching career; and
Whereas, Joe Retton was a dedicated public school teacher and head basketball coach at Barrackville High School. His outstanding coaching record at Barrackville was 147-19, and included winning a state championship; and
Whereas, Joe Retton moved on to become a college professor and head men’s basketball coach at Fairmont State College, where he guided the Falcons from 1963-82; and
Whereas, During his tenure, Coach Retton compiled a record of 478-95 in his 19 seasons on the Fairmont State bench, ending his coaching career with a winning percentage of 83.6, the highest winning percentage of any coach in the nation at any level; and
Whereas, Coach Retton’s unparalleled coaching career led the Falcons to 12 West Virginia Conference regular season titles and eight tournament championships; and
Whereas, Coach Retton was recognized nationally for his excellence in coaching, including twice as NAIA National Coach of the Year (1969, 1976). He also earned Associated Press Small College Coach of the Year in 1976 and was a six-time WVIAC Coach of the Year. He was a six-time NAIA District 28 Coach of the Year; and
Whereas, Coach Retton was a 1987 inductee into the NAIA Hall of Fame, and was also selected to the West Virginia Sports Writers Hall of Fame in 1988. He was inducted into Fairmont State’s inaugural Athletics Hall of Fame class in 1993; and
Whereas, Coach Retton was married to his beloved Nancy, with whom he shared the joy of having two sons, John and David (wife Angie and children Maggie, Lucas, and Trent); and
Whereas, Sadly, Coach Joe Retton passed away at the age of 87 on October 10, 2018, bringing an end to a productive life of public service and leaving behind a grateful state and nation; and
Whereas, It is fitting, that we pay tribute to the life and legacy of Coach Joe Retton, a man whose contributions to Fairmont State and the state of West Virginia will be felt by many generations to come, and whose spirit will resound throughout the hills of West Virginia forever; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate:
That the Senate hereby commemorates the life and career of Coach Joe Retton, husband, father, coach, veteran, and dedicated public servant; and
Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward of a copy of this resolution to the family of Coach Joe Retton.
