WILLIAMSON - Sometimes in high school sports, a school has a team come together with a magic that can only be described as “once in a lifetime”.

In the both the 1963 - 1964 and 1964-1965 school years, Williamson High School knew something about that magic. Not once, but twice would such magic lead to state championships during the span of those school terms.

In 1964 the Wolfpack basketball team would bring home the Class AA State Championship and then in 1965, Wolfpack baseball team would win the Class AA State Championship.

On June 19th, “once in a lifetime” comes together again as the 1963 -1964 and 1964 - 1965 WHS Boys Basketball Teams and the 1965 WHS Baseball Team each reunite at the Mountaineer Hotel for “a lot of great memories and stories to share about these great teams” said event coordinator Bill Craig, a member of both of those teams.

The event, called “Once in a Lifetime” gets under way with a social hour from 5:30 to 6:30, a reunion dinner from 6:30 to 7:30 and then the “Main Event”, several hours of reminiscing and stories from members and coaches of both the ‘64 and ‘65 WHS basketball teams the ‘65 baseball team, and the ‘65 football team beginning at 7:30.

Craig says that the event came together out of reminiscing about those teams by he and one of his former teammates.

“The reunion came about when AJ West and I thought we should honor Coach Ritchie and Coach Hatfield. We were not getting any younger and may not have many more chances to have this “once in a lifetime evening”. said Craig. “These were “great” teams that had much success and had players attend college on scholarship plus two players that were drafted by the pros. And I believe Coach Hatfield can tell you that this was the best baseball team to ever play for Williamson.”

“In 1964, Williamson won the AA state basketball championship. In 1965, we were 26-0 and ranked No. 1 in AAA all year only to lose to Beckley in the finals by 2 points.” Craig stated. “In 1965 we won the state baseball championship with a record of 22 and 1. Our record in both sports that year was 49-2 and that doesn’t count the football team that went 8-2 that year to make our record on the whole 56 - 4 for 1964-65.”

Gregg Slater, Jack Maynard, Ivan Albert, Harlan White, Robert Wright, Curt Fletcher, Mike Slater, Don Skeens, Gregg Hurley and ‘65 football players Rusty Salton, Paul Fitch, Greg Neal and Bob Frazier are all scheduled to speak, along with other team members.

For information, contact Craig at wbcraig4@aol.com.