Jerry West, the best basketball player in WVU history whose silhouette is
on the NBA logo, will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's
highest civilian honor.
President Trump made the announcement Saturday, days after West turned 81
years old.
Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., said he was proud to call West his friend and
"one of the most recognized athletes in the world."
The president last month honored another athlete, golfer Tiger Woods, with
the honor at the White House.
No date has been set for West’s ceremony.
I watched Jerry carry East Bank High on his shoulders to the state
basketball title while I was a sportswriter for the Charleston Daily Mail. That
was in 1956 when he was named West Virginia Player of the Year.
Playing for the Lakers he was an NBA All-Star 14 times. He was MVP of the
1969 despite being on the losing team. He was MVP of WVU’s NCAA title game
despite being on the losing team (California won by 1 point despite Jerry’s 28
points and 11 rebounds).
Mr. Clutch, for his shotmaking at crucial times, coached and later was
general manager of the Lakers, guiding them to six championship rings.
He became general manager of the Memphis Grizzlies, and they reached the
playoffs for the first time in team history.
Jerry was the fifth of six children born in Chelyan, West Virginia. When
he reached the NBA he was labeled Zeke from Cabin Creek, which is in the area
where he grew up.
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