GLENVILLE, W.Va. – Six individuals were recently inducted into the Glenville State University Curtis Elam Athletic Hall of Fame during a banquet and induction ceremony held on Saturday, October 1.
The 2022 inductees include: Mike Eberbaugh, Earl “Tex” Gainer, Brian Hill, Jim Scott, Glenard Vannoy, and Kim West.
Mike Eberbaugh
Eberbaugh came to Glenville State out of Charleston High School, and made an immediate impact on the Pioneer Basketball program. He averaged a double-double all four seasons, culminating in his senior season of 1963 when he averaged 22.4 points per game and 12.2 rebounds. He was a First-Team All-Conference performer, closed his career with 1,798 career points (he remains ranked ninth), and had 966 rebounds (he remains ranked sixth).
After graduating from Glenville State in 1963, he went on to earn his master’s degree from the University of Virginia and later received his doctorate in education while working in Kentucky.
He worked as a physical education and drivers education teacher for many years in Ohio and Virginia before returning to West Virginia where he worked in Randolph County in an administrative position. While in Randolph County, he started the first ever football program at Tygart’s Valley High School. After leaving Randolph County he moved to Tucker County and began his career as the Superintendent of Schools. While there, he built the current Mountain Lion High School.
In 1982, Eberbaugh left education for several years to run his family-owned printing business in Charleston, West Virginia. During that time, he also served on the Board of Education in Putnam County. Eventually, he sold the printing company and returned to education.
He moved to Grant County and served as the Superintendent of Schools there. He then left West Virginia once again and headed to Kentucky, where he served in several counties as the Superintendent of Schools. He ended his career in 2007 in Bullitt County where he had served as Superintendent of Schools for over 12 years. His career in education spanned 44 years.
After retiring, he moved to Pocahontas County to be close to his children. He now resides in Elkins, West Virginia.
Earl “Tex” Gainer
Gainer, who was raised in the Normantown, West Virginia area, was the starting center of the 1945 State Champion Normantown High School Vikings basketball team. At that time, all schools competed together, as they were not classified based on size or enrollment. He was selected to the Second Team All-State squad.
After graduating high school in 1946, he enlisted in the United States Army, serving in occupied Japan. At Glenville State, he earned degrees in physical education and social studies, graduating cum laude. While a student at Glenville State, he was a member of the Pioneer Basketball team. The 1950-51 team won the WVIAC Tournament and proceeded to Kansas City to participate in the national tournament. He was the second leading scorer and leading rebounder on the 1951 team, and was selected for the All-Tournament Team.
Subsequent to his graduation from Glenville State, he taught and coached at Normantown High School from 1951 until 1965. He was named to the West Virginia All Centennial Team in 1963. He earned his master’s degree in Guidance from West Virginia University, and also completed post-graduate level studies at the University of Indiana.
He worked as sales manager at Murray Chevrolet from 1965 to 1967. From 1967 through 1974, he worked on various educational projects including PACE, SPARE, and as Area Program Chairman for WVU. In 1974 he was employed as Coordinator at Calhoun-Gilmer Career Center, where he was later promoted to Director. In 1987, he was named the Regional Retired Coach of the Year.
Gainer retired from Calhoun-Gilmer Career Center in 1989. He served on the Gilmer County Commission for almost two terms until his death on January 2, 1990. He was survived by his wife and fellow Glenville graduate, Neva Lynn (Ellyson) Gainer, who later died in 2017.
At the induction ceremony, Mark Gainer, Earl’s son, accepted the induction on his father’s behalf. “My father was so proud of Glenville State and the success of the athletic teams of which he was a member – and all other teams. He faithfully followed athletics here up until the time of his death. I am so proud of my father’s achievements as an athlete, coach, teacher, administrator, county commissioner, public servant, and most of all as a father and as a person,” Gainer said.
Brian Hill
Hill, originally from Clarksburg, West Virginia, was a defensive lineman for the Pioneer Football Team who broke the Glenville record for tackles in a single season with 145 in 1988, making First-Team All-Conference. He closed his career with 366 total tackles.
Upon his graduation from Glenville State in 1993, Hill earned his master’s degree in education from Union College, where he also served as a football coach. He has spent most of his professional career as a coach serving at several institutions including Cumberland College, Lenoir-Rhyne University, Concord University, Furmon University, Georgia Military, and West Liberty University. While at Lenoir-Rhyne University, he was named employee of the year.
In 2021 he returned to Glenville where he is currently serving as the Chief Diversity Officer and Defensive Coordinator.
Hill, his wife Jamie Pennington, and their daughter Emma reside in Glenville, West Virginia.
“This is a heck of an honor and it means so much to me. You guys are my family – this is our family and there’s no place in the world I’d rather be than right here at Glenville State University. When I come to work here, it means something,” Hill said during his remarks at the ceremony.
Jim Scott
While a student at Glenville State, Scott was a standout member of the Pioneer Golf Team. During his freshman and sophomore years, he was an individual medalist and the Pioneers claimed the WVIAC Championship. Also, during his sophomore year he was named the WVIAC Golfer of the Year, the Pioneers played in the NAIA Championship in Fort Worth, Texas, and he was the only Glenville State golfer to make the cut and finished 35th in a field of 180 golfers.
During his junior year, he was named to the WVIAC All-Conference team. In his senior season, the Pioneers again won the WVIAC Championship and were the first West Virginia team to make the 36-hole cut in the NAIA Championship where they placed 15th.
Scott graduated from Glenville State in 1977 with a bachelor of arts degree in physical education. He later earned an associate degree in applied science and safety technology from the Community College of the Air Force in 1987 and a bachelor of professional studies degree from Barry University in 1989.
After a decorated career in the United States Air Force, Scott was honorably discharged in 1991.
In recognition of his athletic achievements, he was named the Harrisville High School Sports Alumnus of the Year in 2010 and was inducted into the Mid-Ohio Valley Sports Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2016.
In 2020, Scott retired as a Safety Consultant from JH Consulting in Buckhannon, West Virginia. He currently resides in his hometown of Harrisville, West Virginia.
“I never thought anything like this would happen to me, I never looked for it. I always just worked hard and played hard. And it all started with Coach [Tim] Carney getting me out of Harrisville and here to Glenville,” Scott said.
Glenard Vannoy
Vannoy, originally of Stumptown, West Virginia, attended Normatown High School where he was a member of the 1945 State Championship Team. During that championship run, he was selected to the All-Tournament Team and All-Tournament Team Captain.
While a student at Glenville State, he was a member of the Kappa Sigma Kappa fraternity, the Pioneer Baseball Team, and Pioneer Basketball Team. He was a member of the 1951 Pioneer Basketball Team that won the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship.
After graduating from Glenville State in 1951, Vannoy enjoyed a professional baseball career in the minor leagues. He also earned a master of arts degree in physical education from West Virginia University and had a 32-year career in education where he served as a physical education, health, and drivers education teacher in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. While in these teaching positions, he also coached several sports including basketball, football, and soccer. After his retirement in 1985, he remained active and coached Little League Baseball.
Vannoy and his wife Iris retired to Leesburg, Florida. They have three children, six grandchildren, and thirteen great-grandchildren. He passed away on July 12, 2015.
His granddaughter, Sarah Tingler, was on hand at the ceremony to accept the award on his behalf. “My grandfather was a remarkable man and athlete. He left a legacy throughout Gilmer County. He was a gentle giant, and as a child I knew that when he spoke I needed to listen. This honor means a great deal to our family and, on behalf of my grandfather, I thank you for this honor and recognizing what an amazing athlete and great man he was,” Tingler said.
Kim West
While a student at Glenville State, West was a member of the Lady Pioneer Basketball, Volleyball, and Track teams as well as a member of the Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority. She was a standout scorer for the Lady Pioneer Basketball Team where she averaged 15.7 points per game and was a member of the school’s first volleyball team. In 1976 she was named to the Outstanding Women at Glenville State and, in 1977-78, she was named Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges.
She graduated from Glenville State in 1978 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education, health, and safety (K-12). Upon her graduation, she earned her master’s degree in physical education from Marshall University.
In addition to teaching, West was active in her community serving as the boys basketball coach at Burnsville Middle School, girls basketball coach at Gassaway Middle School and Braxton County Middle School, Athletic Trainer at Gassaway Middle School, and coached the first softball team at Braxton County High School. She also served as a West Virginia High School and NCAA volleyball and softball official for many years.
For her service, she was named the 1999-2000 Athletic Director of the Year, 2001 Softball Official of the Year, 2004-2005 Volleyball Official of the Year, and the 2006-2007 Cambridge Who’s Who P.E. Teacher and Athletic Director. She also served as the President of the Central West Virginia Athletic Conference and President of the West Virginia Coaches Association.
She retired from the Braxton County Board of Education in 2012 after 34 years of service and currently resides in her hometown of Burnsville, West Virginia.
“It was quite an honor to get to play basketball here. And now we’ve gone from no picture in the yearbook to Division II National Champions,” West said, referencing last season’s win by the Lady Pioneers. She closed her comments at the ceremony with a quote from Coach Mike Singletary, “Do you know what my favorite part of the game was? The opportunity to play.”
The Curtis Elam Athletic Hall of Fame was established in 2001 through the generosity of the late Curtis Elam, a 1949 Glenville State graduate. Hall of Fame member plaques are displayed in the Waco Center.
