The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

College Sports

March 13, 2013

Weir was standout in early 1960s

By Mickey Furfari For The Register-Herald

MORGANTOWN — Don Weir, a 6-foot, 160-pound Class-AA All-State guard from the tiny town of Oceana, was a fine guard for West Virginia University’s men’s basketball teams in 1962-63-64.

He helped the Mountaineers to records of 24-6, 23-8 and 18-10. As a senior in ’64, he was named a team captain.

Weir, who now is a long-time resident of Houston, Tex., played one year on coach Quinten Barnette’s freshman team, then sat out the 1961 season redshirted before moving up to coach George King’s varsity team to actually start his three-year career.

“I played against some bigger, stronger guards at the time, but I sure did enjoy playing basketball at WVU,” Weir said in a phone interview. “Those were some of the best years of my life.”

He turns 72 in May and is still working in the banking business at Houston.

Weir recalled that a highlight for him came in his sophomore season (1961-62). Two other guards had gotten injured, so he started in backcourt for the Southern Conference Tournament and he performed so well in all three games that he earned a spot on the all-tournament team.

The Mountaineers defeated Richmond 97-73, George Washington 86-73, and Virginia Tech 88-72 in the championship clash. That title tussle in Richmond earned WVU an NCAA bid.

West Virginia also won the conference crown in 1962-63 and then won two of three games in that year’s NCAA playoffs.

The Mountaineers lost in the conference tournament semifinals his senior year and it ended his college playing career.

Weir graduated in June 1964, then spent two years in military service before beginning his highly successful business career in 1966 at Houston.

“I’m in pretty good shape for a guy about to become 72,” he noted. “Living in Texas, I get a lot of WVU football and basketball games on TV.”

He also went to Austin earlier this season and saw West Virginia upset Texas in person.

Weir played in 77 games as a Mountaineer, averaging 15.2 minutes per game. He was credited with 105  field goals in 277 attempts, 75 free throws in 112 tries, and 281 points.

He also had 116 rebounds and 76 assists.

“Playing for George King was a lot of fun,” Weir stated. “He was a fine person and a good coach.”

Don and wife Julie were sweethearts from high school and were married in their junior year of college. Both graduated in June of 1964. She got a degree in home economics and now is a retired school teacher.

Weir was chief financial officer for three difference companies over a lengthy period of years. Then he switched to the investment banking business in which he is still working.

He and Julie have three grown children, Lara Weir Tate, Lisa Weir, and Eric. Their son is a graduate of Vanderbilt and played football for the NFL’s New York Giants.

They also have seven grandchildren in the family.

Those are Kendell, Courtney, Claire, and Kelly (all last named Tate); and Reece, Kate and Luke (all last named  Weir).

Text Only
College Sports
  • Huggins says WVU could be very good team

     Coach Bob Huggins admittedly feels much better about the West Virginia men’s basketball team as it prepares for the 2013-14 season.

    June 17, 2013

  • Bloop hits hurt Miners in first game of twin-bill with Paints

    Chicks may dig the long ball, but on some nights just a few well-placed bloop hits can spell more damage than home runs.

    June 15, 2013

  • Huggins says transfers not isolated case

    Coach Bob Huggins will tell you that losing four players to transfer mode from his West Virginia men’s basketball squad was not an unusual or isolated case.

    June 15, 2013

  • 012612 Bolen.jpg Bolen named assistant coach at East Tennessee State

    When Mountain State University lost its general accreditation last year, head basketball coach Bob Bolen was among many that were left without a job.
    However, as expected, he landed on his feet.
    The lifelong Beckley resident and former head coach at MSU has officially been named an assistant coach at East Tennessee State. The move, which had been rumored for weeks, was announced by the school Friday morning.

    June 14, 2013 5 Photos 1 Story

  • 061413 miners Just who are the 2013 Miners?

    A look at the Propsect League standings gives a clear picture of just how important today’s doubleheader between the Chillicothe Paints and the West Virginia Miners at Linda K. Epling Stadium will be for both teams.

    June 13, 2013 1 Photo

  • 061313 Miners.jpg Miscues cost Miners

    If only earned runs counted, the West Virginia Miners and the Slippery Rock Sliders may still be playing at Linda K. Epling Stadium.

    June 13, 2013 1 Photo

  • Geno in close battle with Sanchez for Jets’ QB spot

    If Geno Smith isn’t the starter this fall with the New York Jets, West Virginia University’s all-time leading passer won’t necessarily be holding a clipboard on the sidelines.

    June 13, 2013

  • 061213 Miners Miners win third straight

    Normally, Dale Davis would have batted left-handed in his seventh-inning at-bat against Slippery Rock reliever Kevin Becker-Mendito. But because of the right-hander’s sidearm motion, the switch-hitting Davis attacked from the right side.

    June 12, 2013 1 Photo

  • Prosecutor says handling of WVU FOIA requests OK

    It wasn’t until about a week ago that I found for certain who is responsible to make sure that the Freedom of Information of Act law is enforced in West Virginia.

    June 12, 2013

  • WVU grad makes donation to OKC tornado relief

    Arizona Diamondbacks managing general partner Ken Kendrick has made a donation of $200,000 to the Mountaineer Athletic Club in the name of the WVU baseball program to the Oklahoma City tornado relief effort.

    June 12, 2013