Editor’s Note:  The Bridgeport High School Alumni and Friends Foundation have announced the 2015 Hall of Fame Class. The banquet honoring individuals will be Oct. 31 with the social hour starting at 6 p.m. and the program starting at 7 p.m. Tickets are $30 and can be obtained by contacting Fay Jamison at 304-842-6510 or Cookie Compton at 304-677-2005. The event is at the Bridgeport Conference Center. Below is the first of four biographies of the honorees for this year.

 

The late Philip E. “Sonny” Nicewarner, Jr. graduated from Washington Irving High School in Clarksburg in 1949, where he played football and basketball. He received an athletic scholarship to play basketball for Alderson Broaddus College where he played for the legendary coach, Rex Pyles. During Nicewarner’s four-year stay, he played basketball and baseball and was inducted into the AB Sports Hall of Fame in 1999.

 

After his college graduation, he served in the U.S. Army from 1953-1955. He then received a master’s degree in secondary education and administration from West Virginia University.

 

In 1953, Nicewarner married Elizabeth Joan Wilson from Philippi. They were married for 46 years until his passing in 1999.

 

Nicewarner began his professional career as a teacher and counselor at Bridgeport High School in 1955. He also began his coaching career as an assistant football coach under BHS Hall of Fame member, John Murphy, and legendary high school coach, O.D. “Dick” Williams. Bridgeport earned its first state championship in 1955. During Nicewarner’s tenure at BHS, he was head coach for boys’ basketball and assistant coach in both football and baseball.

 

During nine summer periods, beginning in 1960, Nicewarner worked for the City of Bridgeport as recreation director. During this time, tennis and basketball courts were installed behind BHS, which is now the current parking lot. He channeled his love for arts and crafts by instituting a summer youth program in the old field house.

 

In 1963, upon completion of the “new” Bridgeport High School, Nicewarner moved to Bridgeport Junior High School. At BJHS, he worked as a teacher and head coach for football, basketball and track through 1971. At that time, he became assistant principal under Principal Bernard Sullivan. Upon Mr. Sullivan’s retirement, Nicewarner became the principal of BJHS until his 1988 retirement.

 

Nicewarner never gave up on his love for sports as he coached both Minor and Little League Baseball, as well as Pop Warner Football. His two sons, Philip (BHS Class of 1972) and Scott (BHS Class of 1982) played sports under his guidance. After his coaching career came to a close, Nicewarner became public address announcer for BHS football and basketball for more than 14 years. He subsequently served three years as “Voice of BHS Football” over the WHAR radio waves. Until he became ill in 1999, Nicewarner remained heavily involved with BHS sports as statistician for football and by announcing basketball games.