A milestone will be reached with the 40th Annual Frank Loria Awards Banquet sponsored by the Clarksburg Columbian Club in cooperation with the Harrison County School System.

 

For the 40th year the Banquet is once again set to bring together the very best in Harrison County High School football talent to Bridgeport Conference Center on March 27 at 6 p.m.

 

The Frank Loria Awards Banquet honors outstanding first-team student-athletes with top honors including the Loria Award for the "Most Outstanding Football Player of the Year" and the “Loria Lineman of the Year.” Several top coaches qualify as the Frank Loria “Coach of the Year,” a much anticipated award. Recipients of these three Awards are selected by area head coaches and sports writers. The "Frank Loria Academic Achievement Award" is awarded to a member of the All-County Football Team based on academic performance.

 

This year’s Special Guest Speaker is legendary Virginia Tech Head Football Coach Frank Beamer. Coach Beamer was Frank Loria’s teammate, roommate and best friend throughout college, and both aspired to be football coaches. Coach Beamer guided the Hokies to four ACC titles, three Big East championships and six appearances in BCS bowl games including a National Championship appearance.

 

“We are honored that Coach Beamer is coming from Blacksburg to join us to celebrate the 40th Loria Awards Banquet. His presence says so much about his friendship with Frank th Loria and his respect for the achievements of Harrison County’s student-athletes. Coach Beamer is royalty among college coaches and a great role model to all of the players being honored.” said Mike Romano, Banquet Chairman.

 

The Loria Banquet has upheld the high athletic and academic standards of Harrison County native Frank Loria, Virginia Tech University’s All-American in 1966, first Consensus All-American in 1967 as well as achieving Academic All-American. “Frankie Paul,” as he was known to his friends, went on to coach at Marshall University and was killed at age 23 in the tragic 1970 plane crash with nearly the entire football team which was the subject of the Hollywood release of “We Are Marshall.” Former Marshall University Coach Red Dawson who coached with Frank Loria and a featured character in the movie “We Are Marshall” is expected to attend.

 

“This year’s Banquet will be special for each young man being honored. Having legends like Coach Beamer and Coach Dawson and all the college coaches from around this state there to congratulate them is once in a lifetime," said Romano.

 

Frank Loria’s widow and children are expected at this year’s Banquet. Also expected to be at this year's Awards Banquet are sports greats Ed Pastilong (former WVU AD), Christian Spears (MU AD), and Collegiate Head Football Coaches- Neil Brown (WVU), Charles Huff (MU), Jason Woodman (FSU), Mike Kellar (GSU), Dwayne Martin (WVWC) among others along with all area high school head football coaches, principals, and athletic directors, and the Harrison County School Board. This year's Banquet will open to the public as seating permits.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo, from the Virginia Tech Facebook page, shows legendary Coach Frank Beamer during his Hall of Fame career, while Frank Loria is shown during his playing days with the Hokies below. Cover photo of Beamer also courtesy of the Virginia Tech Facebook page.