MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The only son of late West Virginia University Head Football Coach Bill Stewart says his dad would have considered the naming of the football stadium at his alma mater, Magnolia High School, an honor.
“He valued Magnolia High School and New Martinsville so much and, just for them to do this, he would be really happy about it,” said Blaine Stewart.
He was a guest on Friday’s MetroNews “Talkline” from the campus of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va. where he is an accounting major and a redshirt freshman on the JMU football team.
Stewart and his mother, Karen, were planning to be in New Martinsville on Friday night for the naming ceremony. From now on, the home of the Magnolia Blue Eagles will be known as Alumni Field at Bill Stewart Memorial Stadium.
“It’s something I wish he could be here to see,” said Blaine.
Bill Stewart was a Magnolia High School graduate who often spoke proudly about his Wetzel County roots. Following his death from a heart attack in May 2012, his funeral procession traveled from Morgantown to Magnolia High School.
“We’ve always kept New Martinsville close and that’s something I’m going to continue to do in my life also,” said Blaine Stewart.
The stadium naming ceremony was scheduled for halftime at the Magnolia-Oak Glen game.