Woodrow Wilson press box to be named after longtime broadcasters

BECKLEY, W.Va. — The new press box lining the top of Woodrow Wilson High School’s Van Meter Stadium is no longer nameless.

It will be dedicated to three sports broadcasters who all played an important role in the school’s history.

The idea dates back to August as the school was installing the new press box. MetroNews affiliate WJLS in Beckley went to Woodrow Wilson Principal Ron Cantley with their idea. Cantley suggested the idea be brought before the Raleigh County Board of Education.

Maris Lowery, currently in his 28th season as a Woodrow Wilson broadcaster, represented WJLS at the board’s October 10 meeting.

“We’d like to have the press box named the Gene Morehouse Media Center,” Lowery said.  “The two individual rooms in which we broadcast from, one the Fred Persinger Sr. Room and one the Bill O’Brien Room.”

The board voted unanimously in favor of the proposal. Raleigh County Schools Superintendent David Price told WJLS News after the meeting he is glad the idea was brought to the board.

“I think it’s a great thing for Beckley. Three people who dedicated a lot of time and effort to the community and to the programs at Woodrow Wilson High School. It’s a well deserved recognition.”

Gene Morehouse moved to the Beckley area from New Hampshire to double as sports announcer and general manager for WJLS.  He did play-by-play broadcasting for Woodrow Wilson games from the 50’s until 1968 when he accepted a job with Marshall University. Known as “The Voice of the Herd”, Morehouse did production and play-by-play announcing for the Thundering Herd until 1970.

Morehouse died in the historic Marshall plane crash on November 14, 1970.

Fred Persinger is known throughout West Virginia as a veteran broadcaster and host of several MetroNews programs including High School Gamenight. The Beckley-native served as the voice of Woodrow Wilson Flying Eagles football and basketball for 27 years.

Bill O’Brien, who also served as Mayor of Beckley until retiring in 2016, started broadcasting for Woodrow Wilson in 1969 and held his broadcasting career for 45 years. O’Brien was inducted alongside Persinger into the West Virginia Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2008.

Woodrow Wilson Head Football Coach Street Sarrett said in a recent interview school leaders want their students to understand the rich history the school has.

“When we talk about history, there’s Gene Morehouse. He called my dad’s games in 1962 when they won the state championship in basketball. It’s well deserving for those things to be named after those gentlemen.  It’s just great.”

The current Voice of the Flying Eagles, Fred Persinger II, broke the news to Persinger on air during MetroNews’ High School Gamenight.

“We have decided, and it was voted on Tuesday night at the (Raleigh County) Board of Education meeting, to name the press box after Gene Morehouse,” said Persinger II. “Of course as you know in the press box we have different booths.  There’s two boxes up there that the radio broadcasters go for. We have decided to name the visiting radio booth for Bill O’Brien. The other booth, the booth that we’ll be sitting in, we’re going to name it after you.”

“Who Dave Jecklin?” Persinger joked referring to his Gamenight cohost.  “No, I appreciate that very much. That means quite a bit. To have part of the press box with my name on it…that’s a tremendous honor. I like that.”

Details on a potential dedication ceremony have not yet been determined.





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