The Mineral County Board of Education made it official this week, endorsing a decision to name a building and athletic field at Keyser High School for two longtime community boosters: Richard B. Schwinabart and Ron Mathias.
The Field House Complex at Tornado Alley stadium will be named for Schwinabart, the owner of D&L Coal in Bloomington, who died in 2006. A 1954 graduate of Potomac State College, Schwinabart was that rare breed of benefactor who was always there to help, whatever the worthy local cause, but didn't want any attention drawn to his support.
Whether it was Potomac State College, local youth sports or any of the countless groups that knocked on the door at D&L Coal, they usually heard the same reply: “I'll be glad to help, but please don't publicize the donation.”
Thus it is especially fitting that school officials chose to recognize Schwinabart's longtime, low-key contributions with the visible and enduring naming of the Richard B. Schwinabart Field House Complex.
With this week's action by the school board, the softball field at Keyser House School will be named for Ron Mathias. Again, this was the right call.
A tireless booster for athletics in general and girls' softball in particular, Mathias was instrumental in designing and constructing the field at Keyser High, which is renowned for its drainage and playability. Always ready to answer the call and lend both his time and considerable talent, Mathias truly deserves to have his name attached to a field that may not have been built without his involvement.
More than just a labor of love, though, genuine labor was required to build the field, and thus the school board also recognized the many “others” who helped on the project with the naming of the Ron Mathias and Friends Field.
Many notable area residents, living and dead, have made significant contributions to the dream that became a reality with the Keyser High School Athletic Complex. Two of those individuals, though, stood out from the crowd of benefactors.
We commend the Naming Committee for doing a fine job in naming the Richard B. Scwinabart Field House Complex and the Ron Mathias and Friends Field.