WVU retires the number of the kind and humble basketball legend Jerry West.
Last Saturday, January 18, West Virginia celebrated the life of NBA great Jerry West during a sell-out game with No. 2 Iowa State. In true West fashion, the Mountaineers pulled off an upset of the Cyclones. West is the school’s all-time leading scorer, and at halftime it was announced that his No. 44 will be retired across all sports at the university.
No other athlete in history has been so beloved and admired by WVU fans. West was voted the Most Outstanding Player in the 1959 NCAA Final Four and was named to the NBA All-Star Team 14 times in his career. He was one of the best that ever played the game. And he’s the NBA logo!
But these are not the real reasons fans love and respect him so much. Jerry West was always a man of character, class, and humility. In his autobiography, he shared his struggles with his father, his social anxiety, and the impact of the loss of his brother in the Korean War. He was one of us—flawed, scared, and human.
Throughout his career and afterward, West pushed the spotlight to others. He was humble and kind, characteristics that are rare in the “look at me” mentality that permeates athletics today.
I had the privilege of meeting Jerry West, and the short interaction illustrated his kindness and humility perfectly. It was on the golf course at The Greenbrier in the early 2000s. The advertising agency I was working for represented the West Virginia Tourism Office, and we were hoping to get a short video clip from West about his love for West Virginia.
The resort’s public relations officer and I tracked him down on the 13th hole. He came over to our golf cart to ask if it would be okay if he finished the hole before we did the video. After he and his playing partner putted out on the 13th hole, they met us on the 14th tee. West approached me and said, “Hello, I’m Jerry. You probably know this guy with me. He is NBA legend Rod Thorn.”
That is why there will never, ever be another No. 44 at WVU.
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