They buried Deacon Duvall today (Monday, Oct. 20). But his legend will live on forever.

Deacon – Harold S. Duvall – coached Fairmont State to the national NAIA football title 47 years ago. But he is revered even today. 

He was the winningest football coach in Fairmont State history. He was a Fairmont State quarterback in his younger days.

Deacon has Monongah connections. He was at St. Barbara’s Nursing Home, which the Sts. Peter and Paul nuns and Father Briggs founded, till they took him to Fairmont Regional Medical Center where he passed away late Thursday night. He was 97.

When Deacon was on the Marion County Board of Education, Thoburn School was built in Monongah, alongside U.S. 19 and P.P. Shenasky Grocery Store. Deacon coached at Barrackville and Rivesville high schools.

Fairmont State erected a statue to Deacon, sculpted by Utah native Matt Glenn, at its Duvall-Rosiers Stadium. It was made possible by the efforts of Duvall’s former players.

Said Fairmont State President Dr. Maria Rose:

“He was more than just a football coach and continued to be a supporter of the university for many years. He was a true legend who mentored and inspired generations.”

Deacon is a 1939 graduate of Fairmont State. He was the head football coach from 1952 to 1971 with a record of 125-42-3, the highest winning-percentage of any coach in West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) history (73.5 percent).

Duvall led Fairmont State to the 1967 NAIA National Championship and two national playoff appearances. Fairmont State was the only team in the state of West Virginia to win a National Championship in football and no other WVIAC school had won a National Championship in football when the league split in 2013. 

Duvall had 15 winning seasons, eight WVIAC Championships and four undefeated seasons.

Duvall is in the NAIA, the West Virginia Sportswriters Association and the Fairmont State Halls of Fame.

Joe Retton was the Fairmont State basketball coach during much of Duvall’s tenure, and each produced teams among the nation’s best. 

Retton, who with his wife of 58 years, Nancy, lives behind the hospital where Deacon passed away, was 478-94 (83.6% winning percentage) when he left Fairmont State after the 1981-82 season.

Retton’s teams had 20 wins or more 18 consecutive seasons, 20 conference championships (12 regular-season crowns and eight tournament titles). They appeared in 12 national tournaments, including four Final Four runs, and finished second once.

Joe and Nancy have three grandchildren by his son, David Retton, Fairmont West High’s coach. Dave’s brother, John, lives in California.

When WVU football coach Bill Stewart died, Deacon was honorary chair of the Bill Stewart Endowment Fund at Fairmont State, which awarded scholarships to a Fairmont State senior who “demonstrated the moral character and leadership skills of Coach Stewart.”

Stewart was a three-year letterman at Fairmont State, an offensive lineman and team captain for Coach Bill Kerr, on the 1974 Falcons league championship team. Stewart’s first coaching job was as a student assistant at Fairmont State.

Deacon lived in Rock Lake, off Grafton Road in East Fairmont.

Deacon’s obituary:

FAIRMONT — Harold S. “Deacon” Duvall, 97, of Rock Lake, passed away on Thursday, October 16, 2014, at the Fairmont Regional Medical Center.

He was born January 11, 1917, in Fairmont, WV, a son of the late Frank C. and Bessie Shaw Duvall.

He is survived by his loving wife, Joan Bray Duvall.

Deacon was a graduate of Fairmont Senior High School, received his undergraduate degree in education from Fairmont State College, and his master’s degree in physical education from Columbia University. He worked with Owens Illinois in Fairmont as a Recreation Director. He was a lifetime teacher and coach, beginning at Barrackville High School in 1940. He then served for three and one-half years as a First Lieutenant in the United States Army Air Force, serving as a Convalescent Officer during World War II. Deacon then taught and coached at Rivesville High School.

In 1952, he began at Fairmont State College, where he taught Health, Physical Education, and First Aid until his retirement in 1982, and he coached the Fighting Falcons football team from 1952 until 1971.

His team won the NAIA national championship in 1967, beating Central Michigan 27-21. He coached numerous teams to WVIAC championships.

Deacon was a member of the Fairmont State College Hall of Fame, the W.Va. Sportswriter Hall of Fairmont and the NAIA National Football Coaches Hall of Fame. He served as a member of the Marion County Board of Education for two terms.

During his terms Thoburn and North Marion High Schools were built and plans were drawn for East Fairmont High School. Deacon was a lifelong member of the First Baptist Church in Fairmont, where he had served on the Deacon Board for over 4 terms and taught youth Sunday school. He was active in the building drive for the present church edifice, First Baptist.

Church was his great love. At the age of 91, Deacon wrote his book: “Duvall Football: Winning a National Championship” He was an avid gardener, hunter and fisherman, he loved the great outdoors and spending time at his beloved Rock Lake.

In addition to his wife, Joan Bray Duvall, he is survived by his daughter, Susan C. and her husband Frank Mauro, of Atlanta; his grandchildren, Lynn, Erica and Brett Mauro, of Alpharetta, GA; his stepdaughter, Tracey and her husband Mike Linn of Rock Lake; a niece Becky Jefferson, of Chester, VA; and a cousin, Bill Duvall and his family of Georgia.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife and daughter in 1968, Florence Vaughn Duvall and Lynn Duvall, as well as his sister, Edith and her husband Monte Jefferson.

Memorial donations may be made in his memory to First Baptist Church, 901 Fairmont Avenue, Fairmont, WV 26554 or the American Red Cross, 405 1st Street, Fairmont.

Deacon’s family would like to thank the many dedicated doctors and nurses at Fairmont Regional Medical Center, Dr. Horner and Dr. Menez and the staff of Saint Barbara’s Nursing Home and Wishing Well Assisted Living for all the loving care and support they have given over the last several years.

Friends and family may visit the Ford Funeral Home, 201 Columbia Street, Fairmont, on Sunday, October 19, 2014, from noon-8 p.m. Mr. Duvall will lie in state at the First Baptist Church, 901 Fairmont Avenue, Fairmont, on Monday, October 20 2014, from 10 a.m.-noon. The funeral will be held in the church on Monday, October 20, 2014, at noon with Reverend Valerie Gittings, Reverend Carl Gittings and Reverend Mike Argabrite officiating. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be his former football players.

Online condolences may be made to www.fordfuneralhomes.com.

Ford Funeral Home, Fairmont.