Remeber all of those hours you spent in the Albemarle High cafeteria? It's time to do it again!
Friday, May 5, 2017 - 6pm
Albemarle High School
(There Is No Charge Compliments of the Alumni Association)
Albemarle Alumni Association Update
Induction of the Hall of Fame Class of 2017
Keynote Address
Wilmer "Bill" Leatherman (1958)
Hall of Fame Coach, Author and Grandfather
Mini Reunions
Light Refreshments
WILMER "BILL" LEATHERMAN
Class of 1958 and AHS Hall of Fame Member
Bill began preparing for his career as a three time Hall of Fame coach at Albemarle, but he never played a game of basketball or baseball at Albemarle. He is known to have skipped a few classes at AHS to see a game, but he must have listened well in English Composition Class. He was also become an author.
After serving in the US Army, Bill received his college degrees from Ferrum Junior College (A.A), Milligan College (B.S.), and Lynchburg College (M.Ed), with Advanced Graduate Studies at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and the University of Virginia. While at Ferrum, Bill was President of the Phi Theta Kappa Fraternity.
Bill served forty-two years as a basketball coach, both in high school and in the collegiate ranks, with the last thirty years at James Madison University and at Bridgewater College, both in the Shenandoah Valley. While at Bridgewater College, Bill compiled a school record of 335 coaching victories, including three trips to the NCAA playoffs and one Sweet Sixteen appearance. Bill was named ODAC Conference Coach of the Year four times and South region four times. He was honored with the Guardians Award for Advocacy by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
In a twenty-three year career at Bridgewater, Coach Leatherman graduated 100% of his student athletes.
In recent years, Bill has written two books. The first, “Jack of all Trades, Master of Won”, is essentially Bill’s way of telling his grandchildren that despite roadblocks along the way, he has “won at life” and all it has to offer. Bill relates that he received many second chance opportunities as a young adult and vowed to make the most of them. Originally intended to offer his personal story of life in the forties, fifties and the sixties for his grandchildren, it has evolved into a family history
But Bill's love has always been baseball and it shows in his latest book, "Take Me Out to the Ballgame". The book is an astonishing trip that details the incredible grip that baseball has on its players and fans. It follows one man's love of the game through several decades of travels visiting numerous major league stadiums, many of these cathedrals now long gone! Bill has visited almost 50 major league stadiums and a like number of minor league parks. Both books are available on Amazon as well as the Barnes & Noble site.
Bill and his wife Nancy are enjoying their retirement years living in High Point, North Carolina. They have two children and six grandchildren
