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HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
Tolsia fundraising begins
Mike Dunlap, Bobby Pruett, Matt Stanley, Don Nehlen, and H. Truman Chafin pose for a photo as the State of West Virginia donates $25,000 to Tolsia High School during the Fundraiser Kickoff Banquet on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009, at Tolsia High School. Money raised during the banquet will be used for a new football building at the school after arson destroyed the previous building last month.
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GLENHAYES, W.Va. -- Just over one month ago, Tolsia High School was decimated by a fire that destroyed the football fieldhouse at Wilts Salmons Athletic Complex and left the school picking up the pieces.
Once the charred ruins were totaled, the Oct. 13 fire destroyed nearly $600,000 worth of football program necessities, including jerseys, pads, electronic equipment and weight equipment.
There were no more smiles on Friday night; instead, just a smoky reminder behind the home bleachers of a tragedy that left the team homeless.
On Wednesday, smiles returned to the program in a big way as former Marshall football coach Bobby Pruett and former West Virginia football coach Don Nehlen teamed up with the National Football Foundation to host a Football Fundraiser Kickoff.
"We owe it to these kids to prove that we can erase this scar and you can't kill the spirit of Tolsia High School," Pruett said.
After learning of the fire, many groups and individuals banded together for the cause of helping Tolsia in its rebuilding efforts. More than 20 high schools offered aid at the onset and 17 local businesses, including The Herald-Dispatch, have donated funds.
With the local businesses and individuals serving as key players, all that was needed to get the fundraising gameplan into gear was a skilled coach.
Or maybe two skilled coaches.
Enter Pruett and Nehlen.
"Football is a team game, that's for darn sure, and this is Team West Virginia as far as we're concerned," Nehlen said. "This is a statewide project and like Bob (Pruett) said, this is not the end, this is the beginning."
Just how much of a statewide project was it?
A special session in Charleston had to be put on hold because state Sen. H. Truman Chafin (D-Mingo) was instead at the Football Fundraiser Kickoff presenting Tolsia High School with a check for $25,000. Chafin is the Senate Majority Leader.
"I went to Senate finance this morning and said to Walt Helmick, the chairman of finance, I have to have some money for Tolsia to get this auction started off," Chafin said. "He said, 'What do you mean? You are always wanting money.' I said we are going to get it this time. I told everyone on the Senate finance about the fire and they already knew about it. Their hearts went out to it."
Before the check presentation, Nehlen announced that Ralph Ballard, a philanthropist that supports both Marshall and West Virginia, had agreed to donate a Panasonic digital video scoreboard to Tolsia High School. Ballard's brother works for Panasonic and the two combined on the donation, which will make the experience at Wilts Salmons.
"It does everything but run with the football," Nehlen said.
The Wayne County Board of Education also announced that they were paying the $34,000 expense that was incurred right after the fire when Tolsia ordered new uniforms, pads and helmets from Glenn's Sporting Goods from their general fund.
In addition to those donations, several other notable donations were presented on Wednesday afternoon.
Sears in Ripley, W.Va., donated appliances, such as washers and dryers, for the program. Individual donations included Huntington lawyer Larry Tweel, who donated an undisclosed amount. Hootie Smith donated $1,000 as a personal donation from his family and Queen's Machine Shop of Wayne also donated $750 on the evening.
Chad Pennington's 1st and 10 Foundation also donated several items, including a signed Chad Pennington jersey and two signed Pennington pictures for the auction. Troy Brown also donated a signed football while Pruett and Nehlen each contributed a helmet from Marshall and West Virginia.
While the evening was one of success, Pruett was quick to remind everyone in attendance that there is still much work to be done if Tolsia is to reach the $600,000 it needs to get everything restored that was lost.
"This is just the start," Pruett said. "This isn't the end of the fundraising."
Those wishing to make donations to help Tolsia High School's efforts can send checks or money orders to Tolsia High School Building Fund, 1 Rebel Drive, Fort Gay, WV 25514-9677.
