As we hurry along our busy way, we seldom stop to look left and right at fixtures along our path, but even many of the pillars and gates that we walk through have stories. Here are a few examples.
The Atkinson Gateway
On the left side of the photo below, you can see a brick pillar. This sign, a familiar sight to the students in the 1970s, looks quite strange to those who walk the campus today. It would also have looked quite strange to those from earlier years. It is interesting to see a place through the eyes of other times.
Corner of College Avenue and Meade Street 1975Corner of College Avenue and Meade Street 2018
When zooming in even closer, we see that the inner pillars have a sign on them indicating that they were erected by George W. Atkinson in honor of the Normal Class of 1913.
The class had honored him by choosing his name for their own, and the feeling was evidently mutual.
This is, by the way, the same George W. Atkinson for whom Atkinson Chapel was named in 1922.
College Avenue Gate Near McCuskey Hall
Another interesting set of pillars is at the end of Main Street as it intersects College Avenue. This set has no official name that I am aware of, but it did have a very specific purpose……to keep motorcars from running onto the campus in 1921. This had apparently become somewhat of a problem, and a chain was attached to the pillars – you can still see where the chain was attached.
Gates to Ross Field
Main entrance to Ross Field
As you approach the turnstile gates to enter Cebe Ross Memorial Field, there are two brick ticket booths. These each have signs and pillars off to the side which are full of history. Built from bricks that were saved when the Old Gym was razed in 1974, they each bear informational signage as well.
As we pass through pillars and gates, and as we pass through our lives, we would do well to notice the things Which Give us insight into the rich heritage all around us. If Walls Might Speak!
This Saturday, we will gather at Cebe Ross Memorial Field for the first football game of the season. Memorial Field….we should remember Cebe Ross. Many have never known of this legend of WVWC athletics. Others may have forgotten, or only known part of the story.
Cebe the Student
This photo from the 1921 Murmurmontis shows Cecil B. Ross as a Freshman in 1919-1920. He was on the Football and Basketball Teams, and a member of the Chrestomathean Literary Society.
The coach of the WVWC football team from 1920-1924 was Bob Higgins (a three-time All American standout player from Penn State who eventually returned there as head coach from 1930-48 and also played professionally for the Canton Bulldogs in 1920 and 1921.) He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1954. He certainly must have seen some great potential in young Cebe Ross.
By the 1921-1922 season, Cebe appeared as Halfback and Quarterback and had the reputation of being a powerhouse on the team. The photo caption read:
Cecil Ross, Halfback and Quarter
“Cebe played more or less in all the backfield positions this year. He was in practically every game, showing to especial advantage on the defensive against the University.”
That year the team had great success!
By his Senior Year, this is what was listed under his name.
Upon his graduation, Cebe coached at Buckhannon High School for a few seasons, leading them to a State Championship in 1924, and then returned to Wesleyan in 1925 as Coach of All Sports. That year, he also married his college sweetheart, Mary L. Morgan.
1924 Murmurmontis. Cebe and his future wife, Mary L. Morgan were side by side on the page.
Cebe the Coach
Along with his other athletic duties at WVWC, Cebe coached the football team from 1925-1941, coaching such greats as Cliff Battles (Class of 1933) who was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1968. Battles joined Earle “Greasy” Neal (Class of 1914) who was also inducted to that body in 1969.
During these years, the Bobcats played and defeated such teams as:
New York University
West Virginia University
Navy
Kentucky University
Duquesne University
A Break in the Action
Sadly, football was dealt a major blow when the 1942-1945 seasons were cancelled due to disruptions caused by World War II. During this time, Cebe Ross left Buckhannon to coach at Morris Harvey and to serve in the Navy.
Cebe (Class of 1923) was not the only member of his family to be involved with WVWC.
His older brother, Kelcel (Class of 1920), was also a standout athlete at the school and did some teaching of Physical Education and coaching before leaving to pursue his calling as a lawyer.
Kelcel Ross, 1925
Brother Perce Joseph Ross (Class of 1925) was a successful businessman in Buckhannon, operating the Perce Ross Men’s and Ladies’ Wear Store for many years. He was also a Trustee of the College from 1961-1976 and served in the West Virginia House of Delegates from 1939-1946.
Photo by Howard Hiner
Wife, Mary Morgan Ross (Class of 1923), was the Circulation Librarian and Instructor of Library Science from 1961-1970.
Son, Samuel Morgan Ross, taught Physical Education, and held several administrative positions from 1956-1988.
Photo by Howard Hiner
Sister-in-Law Alice Nason Ross taught Physical Education for Women from 1921-1940. She was married to Cebe’s older brother, Guy Ross ca. 1939.
Alice Nason 1933
Cebe’s Football Legacy at WVWC
Cebe (Class of 1923) coached David Reemsnyder (Class of 1930)
David Reemsnyder (Class of 1930) Coached Hank Ellis (Class of 1943)
Hank Ellis (Class of 1943) Coached Kent Carpenter (Class of 1963)
Kent Carpenter (Class of 1963) Coached Bill Struble (Class of 1977)
Bill Struble (Class of 1977) Coached Current Coach, Del Smith (Class of 2005)
Grab your seat at Cebe Ross Memorial Field on Saturday to cheer on the current Bobcats
Who, by the way, are being coached by Del Smith…who was coached by Bill Struble…………Here’s To Old Wesleyan!
Photo by Sarah Sisson
*Note: It turns out that Paul Price, Coach for Concord University is also a WVWC Grad (1984) and was coached by Kent Carpenter. And Paul Price was an assistant coach who coached Del Smith.
The game was tied at 31 until Concord kicked a field goal with 2 seconds to go. The spirit of Cebe Ross was in high evidence in the stadium that afternoon.
This is, by the way, the same George W. Atkinson for whom Atkinson Chapel was named in 1922.
