Calhoun Principal and Coach Hamrick
James C. Haught, a former Calhouner, says in 1948 he participated in the West Virginia State Track and Field competition in Charleston. "I saw a group of athletes come onto Laidley Field Stadium and recognized their coach. They were from East Bank and the coach was M.T. "Hick" Hamrick, formerly of Calhoun County High School."
"I went over and introduced myself and Mr. Hamrick recognized my name and asked if I was the brother of Burdeal and Dorcas Haught, students at Calhoun County High School in the 1940's. I said "Yes," and he said he also knew my dad, Horace L. Haught."
"We talked about old times and sports, he saying Calhoun football was prospering under the leadership of Lloyd Vaughn and Wayne Underwood. I told him that I played football for Clendenin High School and asked him for some pointers."
Mr. Hamrick said you have to be tough to play good football.
"A good football player has got to inflict pain on his opponent and he must be able to stand pain."
Hamrick said, "I only knew one player who could truly withstand pain. That was Robert Weekley who lived up the West Fork and played football for me at Calhoun High School."
"Robert only felt pain twice in life," Hamrick said.
"He was squirrel hunting in Bear Fork when he needed to relieve himself. He had misery in his bowels."
"To relieve himself he squatted down and unbeknownst he was directly over a bear trap set by some Bear Fork Hunting Club member a few years earlier."
"When the first consignment fell it hit the trigger of the trap and the jaws closed on a certain part of Robert's lower anatomy and Robert felt pain for the first time in his life."
"Robert jumped up and started running down over the hill. When he got to the end of the chain he felt pain for the second time," Hamrick recalled.
I never saw Mr. Hamrick again, after the meeting.
I sure wish I could have played football for a coach like him.
QUICK WITTED HAMRICK
Haught says Hamrick was born in 1888 in Webster Springs and graduated from West Virginia Wesleyan.
"Hamrick was quick witted and told numerous football stories. His first coaching job was at Ravenswood High School, then transferring to West Union High School in 1921 and 1922," said Haught.
Later he moved to Cabin Creek District High School (East Bank) and came to Calhoun County High School in 1932 and stayed until 1945, most of years being a coach and teacher.
"In 1941 the Calhoun County Board of Education fired principal Don McGothin for refusing to make Jehovah Witness students salute the flag."
Hamrick took over the principal's job and turned football over to Lloyd Vaughan in 1942. Hamrick coached again in 1943, finally turning football over to Wayne Underwood.
Throughout his career Mr. Hamrick had a record of 153 wins, 39 losses and 13 ties, said Haught.
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