Hall of Fame
Wanda “Sue” Edwards is a Burnsville, West Virginia native and graduated from Burnsville High School in 1955. She served the Glenville State College Athletic Department for nearly thirty years before retiring in 2002.
During her tenure, she worked with several Athletic Directors and Physical Education Division Chairs; they included Dr. Robert Dollgener, Dr. Joe Now, Dr. Russell Shepherd, Jesse Lilly ‘48, Rich Rodriguez, Greg Bamberger, Tim Carney ‘62, and Dr. Randy Hunt ‘75.
Throughout the years, Sue says that not only did the faces in the department change, but so did the way the work was done. The widespread adoption of technology changed her work dramatically as it related to game stats, compliance, eligibility reporting processes, game programs, and more.
She also saw Glenville State move from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics to the National Collegiate Athletics Association, something that she was instrumental in helping accomplish. There were also increased fundraising efforts for student scholarships, the establishment of the Williams Award for outstanding female student athletes, the formation of the Curtis Elam Athletic Hall of Fame, and dedication of the Lilly Gymnasium that took place during her time with the department. She also enjoyed getting to know the Athletic Department student workers, many of whom become like family to her.
Sue says that her favorite part of working in the Athletic Department was the people she got to work with and the students she helped serve. “As a family we were involved in sports, so working in this environment was very special. I had the privilege to work with some wonderful coaches, faculty, and staff who not only cared about the players in their sports, but also as individuals who they wanted to see succeed academically as well,” she said. “It was not always an eight to four shift and there was no overtime, but home events, football, basketball, track…they all involved several additional hours. There were some long days, but it was always enjoyable.”
In retirement Sue has remained as active as ever. She enjoys reading, collecting owls, spending time with her friends and family, working outdoors, working jigsaw puzzles in the winter, and watching high school and college basketball games. She attends Sand Fork Baptist Church, is involved with the American Baptist Women’s Ministries and Kings Kids Women’s Group, is a member of the Sand Fork Town Council, helps with the Gilmer County Cancer Society, and more.
She and her late husband Lewis made their home in Sand Fork. They have three children, John “Buck” Edwards ‘87, Pam Persinger, and Jerry Edwards, six grandchildren, and 10 great grandchildren.
