WVSWA ‘icon’ Doug Huff retires after 70 years
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WVSWA ‘icon’ Doug Huff retires after 70 years
Douglas “Doug” Huff announced his retirement as the organization’s secretary-treasurer. Huff, 82, began his career as a sportswriter at the age of 12. Huff was one of only 10 West Virginians inducted into the National High School Sports Hall of Fame. Huff served on the board of directors of six halls of fame, including the West Virginia SportsHall of Fame, and his compilations of sports records were profiled by USA Today in 1994. He still lives in the Ohio Valley close to his son Ryan, daughter Bethany, and six grandchildren in Wheeling, W. Virginia. He was a primary contributor to multiple national publications, including Sports Illustrated and Student Sports, and authored multiple prep reports, pre-season All-America teams, and college recruit reports. He played two seasons of varsity tennis for the Mountaineers, earned the first student scholarship for keeping statistics, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Journalism. He served as chairman of the WVSWA”s Victory Awards Dinner since 1993.
The 82-year-old Huff, whose career as a sportswriter commenced at the age of 12, reflected on what allowed him to serve 70 years in the business that includes being one of only 10 West Virginians inducted into the National High School Sports Hall of Fame.
“After more than three quarters of a century, I can’t recall not having sports in my life,” said Huff, who served as chairman of the WVSWA’s Victory Awards Dinner since 1993. “Sports has been not only a personal passion but a way of life.”
Huff’s role as the organization’s secretary-treasurer will be filled by veteran sportswriter Jim Workman, publisher of Wally’s and Wimpy’s, one of the state’s most recognized publications.
“Taking over a position Doug Huff held for more than 40 years was not in my plans,” Workman said. “When he asked me to consider it, I was honored. With the help of my fellow (WVSWA) officers, I look forward to progressing on Doug’s foundation.”
Huff’s official foray into sportswriting came when he was just 12 years old, penning stories for The Wetzel Democrat, a weekly newspaper in his native New Martinsville.
Prior to his graduating from Magnolia High School in 1961, Huff served as the statistician for the sports programs, doing the same at West Virginia University. He played two seasons of varsity tennis for the Mountaineers, earned the first student scholarship for keeping statistics, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Journalism.
Following stints under sports editors Mickey Furfari at the Morgantown Dominion News (1965) and Bill Evans at the Fairmont Times (1966-67), Huff moved to Wheeling in 1967 to join the staff at The Intelligencer (1968), where he remained before retiring as sports editor in 1999 and columnist in 2012. He still lives in the Ohio Valley close to his son Ryan, daughter Bethany, and six grandchildren.
“Doug was sort of my first sports editor, since he was promoted at The Intelligencer a few months after I got there in 1978,” said retired sports writer and WVSWA life member Rick Ryan. “I couldn’t have asked for a better tutor in my formative years.”
Huff’s reach and influence was broad as the primary contributor to multiple national sports publications, including Sports Illustrated and Student Sports; he authored multiple prep reports, pre-season All-America teams, and college recruit reports.
He authored the state’s first all-sports reference book, “West Virginia Sports Extra,” as well as “Doug Huff’s Sports in West Virginia A Pictorial History.” He also was a primary contributor to multiple national publications, including Sports Illustrated and Student Sports. Huff’s stat-keeping acuity was recognized as a “one-man clearing house for high school records” by New York Times writer Jim Benagh.
Huff’s vision resulted in the creation of WVSWA.org, the association’s official website. He also helped make Wheeling’s WesBanco Arena a permanent home for the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Hall of Fame.
“Doug Huff is simply an icon,” Workman said. “I’ve enjoyed every opportunity to listen to stories and experiences of his legendary career. He’s been a great influence on me.”
Huff served on the board of directors of six halls of fame, including the West Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, and his compilations of sports records were profiled by USA Today in 1994.
Ryan, who still covers events for the Charleston Gazette-Mail, worked with Huff at The Intelligencer until 1990.
“He taught me about keeping accurate stats, setting up solid relationships with area coaches and athletic directors, and was always encouraging us to think outside the box when it came to writing feature stories,” Ryan said. “I owe a debt of gratitude for all of that over my 12 years of working alongside him.”
Huff said he never took anything for granted.
“For most of my life, I had a front row seat for most sporting events of choice – games, tournaments, banquets, etc.,” he said. “From an early age, I was curious about sports, statistics and records. During that journey, I’ve made priceless memories and friendships I wouldn’t trade for anything.”