George A. Byrer, Jr. was a native of Philippi and a 1932 Philippi High School graduate. After a stint in the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC), George had a stellar athletic career at Fairmont State College, where he graduated in 1937. He married his college sweetheart, Dorris, and they built a life together in Philippi with their three children Charlie, John and Deb. George began teaching and coaching in 1938 in a coaching career that spanned to 1973.
Mr. Byrer was involved with high school sports for a total of 42 years at Sissonville, South Charleston, Philippi, and Philip Barbour, with the great majority of those seasons back home in Barbour County. Two of his football teams compiled consecutive records of 9-1 and 10-0 during 1959 and 1960 at Philippi High.
He was among the honorees at the West Virginia Sports Greats centennial banquet in Charleston, WV in 1963, the year that Philip Barbour High School first opened its doors. In the football program’s inaugural season, Coach Byrer led the Colts to an 8-2 season, still the top mark in PB gridiron history. George taught high school English classes during his career at Philippi High School and PBHS.
At the conclusion of his coaching career, he served as Philip Barbour’s first athletic director for several years until his retirement in the late-1970s. When the football field at Philip Barbour High School was renovated in 1979, it was re-dedicated as “George Byrer Field” in his honor. After his passing in December of 1980, a scholarship was created in his memory, which is still awarded each spring to an outstanding student-athlete at Philip Barbour High School.
Mr. Byrer was involved with high school sports for a total of 42 years at Sissonville, South Charleston, Philippi, and Philip Barbour, with the great majority of those seasons back home in Barbour County. Two of his football teams compiled consecutive records of 9-1 and 10-0 during 1959 and 1960 at Philippi High.
He was among the honorees at the West Virginia Sports Greats centennial banquet in Charleston, WV in 1963, the year that Philip Barbour High School first opened its doors. In the football program’s inaugural season, Coach Byrer led the Colts to an 8-2 season, still the top mark in PB gridiron history. George taught high school English classes during his career at Philippi High School and PBHS.
At the conclusion of his coaching career, he served as Philip Barbour’s first athletic director for several years until his retirement in the late-1970s. When the football field at Philip Barbour High School was renovated in 1979, it was re-dedicated as “George Byrer Field” in his honor. After his passing in December of 1980, a scholarship was created in his memory, which is still awarded each spring to an outstanding student-athlete at Philip Barbour High School.