By Britt Fresa

 

Perhaps it’s cliché to think most people moving to West Virginia won’t embrace the Mountain State, coated with curved roads that span more than 100 miles between major cities. But most people are not Gary Lhotsky.  He arrived in Bridgeport in the mid-1980s and quickly developed a sense of pride and appreciation for the town that he’s carried with him for more than 25 years. And now, Gary can finally say, the decisions that shaped his past have allowed him, and his family, to come home.

 

“When my parents told me we were moving to West Virginia, I was so excited!” said Lhotsky. “My dad worked for UCAR Carbon Company and got transferred to the plant in Anmoore. After a visit to the area, they returned with a West Virginia magazine that had a picture of a farmhouse on the cover and I was hoping we were going to live there. I found out later the farmhouse was in Doddridge County so that was not an option. But my parents liked what they learned about Bridgeport, that it had good schools and athletic programs; so, on November 1, 1984, we moved from Buffalo, New York, to Bridgeport and I knew even then it was a special place.”

 

At 13, Lhotsky was a tall, lanky kid with a big smile and penchant for breakdancing at school events. His family lived on Grand Avenue where he met his first set of friends.

 

“I was outside raking leaves when Willie and Kevin Morgan walked by on their way to their cousin, Chris Oliverio’s, house,” said Gary. “Chris was my next door neighbor, and eventual best friend. I remember we played football in Chris’ yard that first day and he was trying to hurt me, really tackling me hard and I thought ‘who is this kid?’ But it turned out fine – we’ve been friends ever since.”

 

The Lhotsky family lived in Bridgeport for eight years, long enough for Gary to take in all the town had to offer, as well as succeed in the sports he loved to play:  basketball and football. He was part of the 1988 state football championship team (a 29-28 winner over Winfield in four overtimes where Lhotsky caught a suprise two-point conversion pass to win the game) and has been honored by Connect-Bridgeport.com as one of the top 40 football players in Bridgeport High School from 1972 to 2012 in their 40 for 40 series. Not bad for a kid not from Bridgeport. And, it helped cement why he loves the town so much.

 

“I loved playing sports when I was young,” said Lhotsky. “It’s part of my family’s history. My dad played football for Clemson University, my brother played college soccer and my sister played college basketball. Now that I have my own children I see why the town you live in is so crucial to a child’s upbringing. The people in Bridgeport have always had a great sense of community and are really invested in their kids. You don’t find that everywhere.”

 

Upon graduation from BHS, Gary attended Edinboro University of Pennsylvania where he played football and earned his B.S. in Speech Communications. From there, the decision to continue his education was his first opportunity to return to Bridgeport.

 

“I wanted to get my master’s degree from West Virginia University,” said Gary. “I interviewed with Dr. Dallas Branch, who was the head of the sport management department. He basically told me it might be difficult to get into the program due to my lack of experience in the field. I was disappointed but I moved on to Georgia Southern University, earned my master’s in sport management, then finally to Florida State University (FSU) to get my doctorate in sport administration.”

 

While working in Miami, Lhotsky met his wife, Wanda, and they married in 2000. They have three sons, Chris, 17, Nathan, 11, and Kaden, almost 10. Lhotsky worked in the athletic department at FSU for eight years then taught sport management for one year at East Tennessee State University (ETSU). In 2008, he encountered his second chance to return to Bridgeport.

 

“Glenville State College had an opening for a teaching position in sport management,” said Gary. “I jumped at the chance because I knew I could live in Bridgeport and commute to Glennville.”

 

The job became a reality and the Lhotsky’s became official Bridgeport residents. It was exactly what Gary had hoped to give to his family – the same hometown where he amassed wonderful memories of riding his bike through town, going to Compton Park for a pick-up game of basketball and enjoying the thrill of Friday night football. For two years his wife and kids engrossed themselves in all Bridgeport had to offer. But a better teaching position found them heading back to ETSU. However, Lhotsky knew returning to Bridgeport was going to happen.

 

In December 2015, a random search of online job postings found what Lhotsky thought was impossible. It was for a Teaching Associate Professor of Sport Management at West Virginia University.

 

“I think I was so excited I started shaking,” said Lhotsky. “It was perfect! I couldn’t believe it. I showed Wanda and told her I had to apply.”

 

This is where it gets interesting.

 

WVU set up an interview with Lhotsky and the head of the sport management department, Dr. Dallas Branch, the same professor who advised Gary of his slim acceptance chances some 20 years prior.

 

“Dr. Branch did not recall me from before but he got a big laugh out of the story,” said Lhotsky. “And that’s okay because the best part is - I got the job. And the kicker, I’m actually replacing Dr. Branch, who retired in May. It’s just the craziest thing.”

 

To say Gary and Wanda are excited about moving back to Bridgeport doesn’t do it justice.

 

“I think we’re in shock,” he said. “The kids are happy about returning, even Chris, who will be leaving all of his friends to complete his senior year at Bridgeport.”

 

And Wanda, Gary’s wife who hails from Miami, said this time they’re more than ready.

 

“It’s so strange to see how things have come full circle,” said Lhotsky. “Having lived in so many places, Wanda and I know Bridgeport is unique. I’m looking forward to being more involved in my kids’ sports and in the community as a whole. Bridgeport is really special to me and we’re so happy to call it our hometown.”

 

Editor's Note: Britt Fresa was raised in Bridgeport and is a Bridgeport High School 1989 graduate. She currently lives in Pittsburgh, PA, where she works at Summit Physical Therapy and writes for IN Community Magazine. Top photo shows Lhotsky and his wife Wanda at the top, while their kids, from left, are Kaden, Chris and Nathan.