FAIRMONT — Has it really been almost 50 years since Joe Retton took over the reins of the Fairmont State basketball program that became such an important part of the West Virginia Conference Tournament for many years thereafter?
That it has. Forty-seven years, to be exact. And the West Virginia Conference Tournament is celebrating its 50th anniversary being held in Charleston this week.
In the tournaments from 1965 to the early 1980s, Fairmont State was always one of the top attractions. Many Marion County residents scheduled vacation time during tournament week in Charleston because the Fighting Falcons could usually be counted on to be there through the weekend. Fairmont State won four straight titles from 1973-1976 but also were the crown bearers in 1965, 1969, 1980 and 1981. They lost in the final round on two other occasions under Retton.
Sadly enough, Fairmont State hasn’t been to the Final Four of the tournament since 2001 and hasn’t won a West Virginia Conference Tournament since 1984.
And the man who spearheaded all those great Falcon success stories was one Joe Retton, who, as a Charleston Daily Mail story by Jacob Messer stated last week, is now enjoying the simple life in which his time is devoted to his loved ones. He is 78 years old, and he and his wife Nancy will observe their 54th wedding anniversary on June 1.
It’s a shame that most members of the current generation here in Fairmont have no idea just how “big” Fairmont State basketball was during Joe Retton’s coaching era, which went from 1963 to 1982 when he retired with a 478-94 record. His team outgrew Colebank Gymnasium and packed the Woody Williams Armory on a regular basis as his teams were racking up 20 wins every year except his final one and topped the 30-victory mark on three occasions. Finally the Feaster Center was built for basketball (and swimming), and the Falcons filled that facility also.
Losses? His team did not lose very often, totaling more than six just once in his 19 seasons. Sprinkled throughout his career were season records of 32-4, 32-3, 31-6, 26-2, 23-4, 28-3 and 28-1. Tournament crowds at the Charleston Civic Center topped 10,000 on several occasions and were always good. Now the conference is fortunate to draw 1,500 or 2,000 for its tournament games.
And the Fairmont State team represented the West Virginia Conference in 12 national tournaments in Kansas City. They appeared in four Final Fours in the NAIA event, placing second in one of them in a three-point loss to an undefeated Central State team from Ohio.
It’s always interesting to know what a rival superstar thinks of a coach, and Archie Talley was interviewed for the Joe Retton piece by Messer.
“Joe Retton was a lot like (UCLA coach) John Wooden,” Talley said, “in the fact they made you mentally tough. His team was prepared. They knew they were ready for whatever happened. I don’t think that Joe Retton has received enough accolades. He deserves to be in the Naismith (Memorial) Hall of Fame.”
That would be a most fitting tribute to a man now enjoying the simple life and devoting his time to his loved ones.
