WELLSBURG — With a wide ring of former Brooke High School football players, fellow coaches and school officials behind him, Paul “Bud” Billiard said the successes that led to the football field at Brooke Memorial Stadium being named for him are not his to claim alone.
“I didn’t do this alone. We did,” he told those who filled the stadium before the Brooke football season opened Thursday.
Billiard recalled the fans who faithfully attended home games and followed the team through playoffs, seven OVAC championships and three state championships.
He said Brooke supporters sometimes eclipsed the turnout for the opposing team, and cheered for the Bruins in all kinds of weather, including one day when temperatures fell to 30 degrees below zero with a wind-chill factor.
He noted local law enforcement and fire departments provided escorts to the team as they departed and returned to the county, while the players’ equipment was transported by a fruit truck loaned by Fonce’s Produce.
Billiard ended his 23- year tenure as Brooke’s head football coach with a record of 185-79-1. He said there were many people responsible for that accomplishment.
“I thank God for giving me the health and ability to work with so many people who were so talented and worked so hard,” he said.
Billiard said that large group included athletes who played enthusiastically and aggressively but with dignity and class, and many coaches whose professionalism set an example for the players.
He acknowledged the support of former Principal Tony Paesano, Athletic Director Ed Watkins and other school officials and the many students and staff who worked behind the scenes, from student managers and statisticians to volunteers who prepared the field.
Billiard asked for a moment of silence for several who have died, including Bobbie Jean Ossman, “football secretary and mother of the Bruins;” Raymond “Ducky” Mossor, Mike Ciccolella and Brooke alumni Jerry Winters and Bill Vargo.
He said the support of his family, including his wife, Carol, whom he called his “rock, encouragement and partner in life” and who, he said, “could write a book on being a coach’s wife.”
The veteran coach — whose honors have included West Virginia Coach of the Year, Upper Ohio Valley Dapper Dan Man of the Year and the West Liberty State College and Ohio Valley Football Coaches halls of fame — applauded the school’s marching band, cheerleading squad and dance team for “creating a spirit in the stadium.”
Billiard also thanked parents and others in the school’s football boosters group.
“If I listed everything you did, it would take a whole day, he said.
Following his speech, Billiard’s former athletes and colleagues huddled around him and were soon joined by mebers of the this year’s Brooke team.
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