Ralph John lived with his parents just north of the West Virginia and Pennsylvania state line. He spend much of his leisure time visiting Morgantown and hunting in the West Virginia mountains. John joined the Army just before the United States entered the war and was in the second wave of the invasion of France, following D-Day June 6th, 1944. Ralph John was killed in action near St Lo, France on August 15, 1944. He was 30 years old.
Jerry West presents the first annual Jerry West Scholarship to Kenneth Tawney of Spencer, W. Va. Tawney attended WVU, subsequently earning a law degree.
Commemorating Changing East Bank to West Bank, Charleston, W. Va.
Date:
2009/09
Description:
During the 50th Anniversary celebration of the East Bank High School Alumni Association, the changing of the town's name from East Bank to West Bank on March 24, 1956 was remembered. The one day renaming was to honor East Bank High School All-State Basketball player Jerry West who lead the Pioneers to a West Virginia State Basketball Championship that year. Jerry West is seated to the left and Mary Pat Maloney is at the podium.
Portrait of David Lee West Wearing His U.S. Army Uniform
Date:
ca. 1950
Description:
West was from Chelyan, West Virginia in Kanawha County. He was a graduate of East Bank High School and the older brother of basketball legend Jerry West. In 1951 during the Korean War, David was mortally wounded in action.
Jerry West, East Bank High School Senior Portrait, East Bank, W. Va.
Date:
ca. 1956
Description:
High School Senior Portrait of Jerry West. West graduated from East Bank High School in 1956 and after a large number of universities showed interest in him, West chose to attend West Virginia University.
Jerry West sits with his son after he broke his thumb while playing with the Lakers. West's broken thumb prevented him from playing several games that year.
Children Celebrate Homecoming of the State Basketball Champions, East Bank, W. Va.
Date:
1956/03/25
Description:
Clinton Jeffreys, mascot for the East Bank High School band, blows a horn to celebrate the homecoming of the State Basktball Champion, East Bank High School, as Susie Williams, age 8, cheers behind him.
Jerry West, No. 42 Jumps to Make a Basket During a High School Game
Date:
ca. 1953-1956
Description:
Jerry West led the East Bank High School basketball team to its first ever state championship victory as its starting small forward. He was named All-State from 1953–56, then All-American in 1956 when he was West Virginia Player of the Year, becoming the state's first high-school player to score more than 900 points in a season.West was born in Cheylan, W. Va. in 1938. After high school, he went on to play basketball for West Virginia University and then rose to fame as a player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA before becoming a basketball coach and manager.
Coach Roy E. Williams and Jerry West, East Bank, W. Va.
Date:
ca. 1952-1960
Description:
Jerry West, right, shakes hands with Coach Williams, left.West led the East Bank High School basketball team to its first ever state championship victory as its starting small forward. He was named All-State from 1953–56, then All-American in 1956 when he was West Virginia Player of the Year, becoming the state's first high-school player to score more than 900 points in a season.West was born in Cheylan, W. Va. in 1938. After high school, he went on to play basketball for West Virginia University and then rose to fame as a player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA before becoming a basketball coach and manager.
Celebration for East Bank High School State Champions, East Bank, W. Va.
Date:
1956
Description:
Band members play to celebrate the East Bank High School basketball team winning its first ever state championship title. Young Clinton Jeffreys, mascot for the East Bank High School band, blows a horn to celebrate the homecoming of the State Basktball Champions.
Coach Roy Williams Addresses Crowd during Celebration of Championship Win, East Bank, W. Va.
Date:
1956
Description:
Roy Williams speaks to a crowd in front of the East Bank High School building after the East Bank High School basketball team won its first ever state championship title.Jerry West led the East Bank High School basketball team to victory as its starting small forward. He was named All-State from 1953–56, then All-American in 1956 when he was West Virginia Player of the Year, becoming the state's first high-school player to score more than 900 points in a season.
Wilhelmina Williams and Friends Before Basketball Championship Game, Morgantown, W. Va.
Date:
1956-04
Description:
The group poses for a photograph before being welcomed into the game, where Jerry West led the East Bank High School basketball team to its first ever West Virginia state championship title.Pictured from left to right is son of Ethel and Ivan Rose, Ethel Rose, Ivan Rose, and Wilhelmina Williams, wife to East Bank High School basketball coach Roy Williams.
Wilhelmina Williams Getting into the New Car Bought by Fans, East Bank, W. Va.
Date:
1956/04/20
Description:
Williams holds up the keys to a brand new Chevy station-wagon, which was bought for basketball coach Roy Williams and his family by the East Bank High School fans.Jerry West led the East Bank High School basketball team to its first ever West Virginia state championship title in 1956.
Gary Stover and Bob Green Present the Championship Game Ball, East Bank, W. Va.
Date:
1956
Description:
Stover and Green pose with the game ball after securing the state championship victory.Jerry West led the East Bank High School basketball team to its first ever West Virginia state championship title. He was named All-State from 1953–56, then All-American in 1956 when he was West Virginia Player of the Year, becoming the state's first high-school player to score more than 900 points in a season.West was born in Cheylan, W. Va. in 1938. After high school, he went on to play basketball for West Virginia University and then rose to fame as a player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA before becoming a basketball coach and manager.
State Championship Victory Celebration at East Bank High School, East Bank, W. Va.
Date:
1956
Description:
A crowd celebrates the victory in front of East Bank High School.Jerry West led the East Bank High School basketball team to its first ever West Virginia state championship title. He was named All-State from 1953–56, then All-American in 1956 when he was West Virginia Player of the Year, becoming the state's first high-school player to score more than 900 points in a season.West was born in Cheylan, W. Va. in 1938. After high school, he went on to play basketball for West Virginia University and then rose to fame as a player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA before becoming a basketball coach and manager.
A Crowd Celebrating East Bank High School Basketball Team's Championship Win, East Bank, W. Va.
Date:
1956
Description:
A crowd celebrates the victory in front of the East Bank High School building. Jerry West is pictured in a striped shirt, standing beside a boy holding the trophy on the left of the photograph.West led the East Bank High School basketball team to its first ever West Virginia state championship title. He was named All-State from 1953–56, then All-American in 1956 when he was West Virginia Player of the Year, becoming the state's first high-school player to score more than 900 points in a season.West was born in Cheylan, W. Va. in 1938. After high school, he went on to play basketball for West Virginia University and then rose to fame as a player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA before becoming a basketball coach and manager.
Jerry West and High School Basketball Team with Championship Trophy, East Bank, W. Va.
Date:
1956
Description:
Jerry West, pictured holding the trophy, poses with his East Bank High School basketball team after winning the state championship. West led his team as the starting small forward. He was named All-State from 1953–56, then All-American in 1956 when he was West Virginia Player of the Year, becoming the state's first high-school player to score more than 900 points in a season.West was born in Cheylan, W. Va. in 1938. After high school, he went on to play basketball for West Virginia University and then rose to fame as a player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA before becoming a basketball coach and manager.
Jerry West's High School Basketball Team Portrait, East Bank, W. Va.
Date:
1956
Description:
Jerry West attended East Bank High School before moving on to West Virginia University, where he continued his basketball career.West led his team to its first ever state championship title as the starting small forward. He was named All-State from 1953–56, then All-American in 1956 when he was West Virginia Player of the Year, becoming the state's first high-school player to score more than 900 points in a season.West was born in Cheylan, W. Va. in 1938. After high school, he went on to play basketball for West Virginia University and then rose to fame as a player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA before becoming a basketball coach and manager. West was born in Cheylan, W. Va. in 1938 and rose to fame as a player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA before becoming a basketball coach and manager.
Jerry West on the East Bank High School Basketball Team, Kanawha County, W. Va.
Date:
ca. 1952-1956
Description:
West shoots a layup in front of a large auditorium of spectators. West was named All-State from 1953 to 1956 in high school. He led East Bank High School to the state championship in 1956.