From the Bench: A 1955 BHS State Champion whose Impact Lasted Decades - Recalling "Hootie" Mick
By Jeff Toquinto on August 11, 2024 from Sports Blog
Sometimes we assign the terms iconic and legendary too often and too easily. And sometimes, we only reserve those terms for the biggest names doing things on the biggest stages at the biggest moments.
Count yours truly as being guilty of that in the past. Particularly, when it came to the ordinary person doing ordinary things to an extraordinary level that when the sum total was looked at, they were an extraordinary individual.
Recently, on July 30 to be exact, the City of Bridgeport lost one of those extraordinary individuals who managed to do so many things right that he became unmatched in personality. It was on that day that William “Hootie” Mick, 85 years young, passed away after a health battle.
For many long-standing members of the community, their first recollection of Hootie goes back to the 1950s. He was a member of the 1955 state championship football team, which is the first state title squad in BHS history.
“I remember him playing. I went to the championship game and watched Hootie. He played guard on offense, and he played a lot of defense. He was really good, but boy did he have a temper out on that football field,” said his near lifelong friend William “Bill”
McCartney with a laugh.
McCartney with a laugh.
The temper and tenaciousness were needed on what friend and 1955 sophomore teammate Tom Mace, who still calls Bridgeport home even while living several months a year in Florida, recalls. Mace said he did not get on the field a lot that first year as he and another sophomore were only 14 years old at the time. While watching, he got an appreciation for what Hootie brought to the program.
“He was a character. He was all over the place and kept everybody excited by some of the of the things he did and spoke. He certainly had a temper, and it depended on how mad he got to whether it caused him to screw up or caused him to play better,” Mace said, also with a laugh. “He was just a good ball player who was important to that state championship team.”
The 1955 team, coached by the late John Murphy, finished the year 9-1. The only loss came to the now defunct Victory High School by a 
7-0 score. The Indians actually posted one of their most lopsided wins of the year, 45-13, against Webster Springs to win the Class A state championship.
7-0 score. The Indians actually posted one of their most lopsided wins of the year, 45-13, against Webster Springs to win the Class A state championship.
Hootie played his part on the team blocking from his guard spot on offense. Mace said he did not play as much on defense, but plenty of snaps, often at linebacker and created the same havoc in the title year that he did when Mace and Hootie were on the field together in 1956 – Hootie a senior and Mace a junior – in a difficult 1956 season under first-year coach Richard Loring.
Hootie, as the two dozen-plus players on the state title team, had cemented themselves in Bridgeport’s history books by that alone. But, for the young man who spent his youthful days with his buddies, including the late Dick Moore as well as Mace, McCartney, and others, he had a few more things he decided to make a mark on from his roots on Gordon Street.
McCartney said after high school, and he was not sure of the year, that Hootie went to barber school. He said it may have been around 1959 that he started.
He had a good place to work. His father, Charles Mick, was the owner and operator of Mick’s Barber Shop on Main Street.
“That was a great place and if you were in there everyone knew everybody,” said McCartney. “I was in there all the time, and he was still cutting hair when I got married in 1969. He must have gotten out of it in the 1970s at some point, but I’m not sure. What I am sure of is that Mick’s was a great place.”
There was more that William “Hootie” Mick could hang his hat on. He was a volunteer fireman for Bridgeport in a time period where it was not just a huge deal, but a necessary one for the community.
“Being there on Gordon Street, near Third Street, if there was an emergency he was right there,” said McCartney. “Something happened, and he would show up.”
While that may sum up some of the past for those who did not know about it, many may have known him for his decades of work at the Diamond Street Car Wash where he worked for a person who loved him and considered him a dear friend in Don Baldini, who cherished his time with him.
“I lost a dedicated employee, but more importantly (I lost) a great friend,” Baldini said.
It was rare that you would not find Hootie without Baldini, Dick Moore, or Bill McCartney. And there are too many others that was part of a long-time social circle of good men who did good things often simply by being good people.
By the time Hootie was working at the car wash, he had a few traits. He had a long blond ponytail and a significant percentage of the time he would be sporting a pair of suspenders.
He greeted countless individuals, likely in the thousands, at the business. I was among them and can tell you he was always courteous and kind. While it may seem like a simple thing, it is guaranteed a large number of folks over those years were outsiders – maybe staying in a nearby hotel or maybe washing their car after getting gas – whose initial impression was the kind man with the ponytail and suspenders (and occasionally a thick beard to boot) greeting them.
Think that kindness did not benefit Bridgeport? It did. And it did in a manner that cannot be measured, but absolutely had an impact.
“We had a wonderful time at the car wash, especially when Dick Moore was there. The four of us would just reminisce. We all go way back,” said McCartney, who could not remember when Hootie began sporting the ponytail, but knew it was a long time. “I was about five years older, but back when I was a kid you walked everywhere, and you played with everyone. That’s how we got to be friends.”
McCartney had been with him when he began battling health problems. He kept track of him and said, despite his health, he worked up until June 7.
“I know he was feeling bad, and I just wanted to help. He wouldn’t go to the doctor unless I took him,” said McCartney. “Even though he was sick, it was sudden when he passed. It always hurts to lose such a good friend.”
McCartney, who knew him as good or better than anyone, was then asked a question relating to the first part of this blog. Did he believe it was fair to call him an icon or a legend?
“I think it’s fair to call him that. Everyone knew him, but more importantly everyone liked him,” said McCartney. “That was the case at every stop, and people remember good people. Yes, he meets the criteria.”
Mace also reflected on his friend.
“It’s pretty tough to take. We had 27 guys on that team and there are only seven of us left,” said Mace. “It’s a good group.”
Indeed, it is Mr. Mace. An exceptionally good group.
One that has made an impact in many areas. And one that includes an iconic legend in Bridgeport who in one final act of impact donated his body to the West Virginia Human Gift Registry.
Rest in Peace Hootie. Your work here is done.
Click HERE to read his obituary, where you can read about his family and more.
Editor's Note: Top photo shows William Bill "Hootie" Mick, third from left, with, from left, the late Bob Fesler, Don Baldini, and the late Richard "Dick" Moore. Second photo, from 1965, shows a young Mick during his time as a barber, while the third image is of Mick's Barber Shop on Main Street. In the next three photos he's shown at his place of employment for years - Diamond Street Car Wash. He's shown with Baldini in the second of the bottom three images. Barber shop building photo courtesy of Dick Duez. All other photos submitted by Bill McCartney.
Hootie was a forever friend, such a good man, big heart, never met a stranger. Was my barber for many years with his dad and later at his shop in the NAPA Bldg. The 1955 Bridgeport State championship football team over the past couple years have lost some great players and classmates. My brother in law Bill Altman, Henry McDaniel, Bob Stallman, Hootie and I am sure others. Like Tom said only seven remain.. Such a great BHS class of great students who watched over and took care of the younger students. Educators say today, 7-12 does not work. It certainly worked for many years at Bridgeport high school. Those upperclass students were our leaders and friends. They watch over and took care of the younger students. Bill McCartney, Don Baldini and Tom Mace are the best to speak about Hootie. Truly great leaders in our community, wonderful Bridgeport high school grads and the best forever friends with Bill Hootie Mick. Hottie was such a good man, loved and respected by all who knew this fine man. Our thoughts and prayers are with Hooties family.
Posted by hugh gainer
Aug. 11, 2024 at 10:04 AM EST
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