Beckley native Peelish, first-ever Woodrow wrestling coach, dies.Vic Peelish, a football letterman at West Virginia University and prep wrestling legend, passed away Sunday in his native Beckley. Peelish played four years for the Mountaineers, lettering from 1940-42 and again in 1946 for coach Bill Kerns. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in 1943, but instead served in the United States armed forces in World War II for three years. He was co-captain in ’46, and was a member of the ’42 team that upset Penn State 24-0 on homecoming. Peelish is on the all-time WVU team for the 1940-49 time period. After earning a bachelor’s degree in 1948, Peelish returned to Beckley and began a 23-year career as the first-ever wrestling coach at Woodrow Wilson. The Flying Eagles won state titles in 1949, ’52 and ’54 under Peelish, and three wrestlers — Mike Techak, Tom Slater and John Summers — were two-time state champions. In all, 25 individual state titles were claimed under Peelish. Peelish was instrumental in getting the state tournament started. He was a member of the inaugural class of the Raleigh County Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1981 and was honored with a Lifetime Service to Wrestling Award by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2003. [Register-Herald web site, Aug. 2, 2009]

Victor Peelish, 88, passed away peacefully Sunday, August 2, 2009, at his home after a long illness. Born Victor Stephen “Vic” Peelish on March 6, 1921, in Raleigh, W.Va., he was the son of the late John and Pauline Jasunicka Peelish. He was a highly accomplished and decorated athlete. After graduating from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1939, he received a football scholarship to West Virginia University, where he lettered three years in football. He played and served as co-captain in the Blue/Gray All-star football game at Montgomery, Alabama, in 1942. Drafted by the Detroit Lions in 1943, his football career was interrupted by his service in WWII. After the war, he decided to complete his education in 1946 (serving as Captain and earning his fourth letter in football) and received his bachelor’s degree from West Virginia University in 1948. Vic was named a member of the WVU All Time team for the 1940-1949 decade, as an offensive guard. He returned to Beckley to teach, coach, and implement Driver’s Education in Raleigh County. He was employed by the Raleigh County Board of Education from 1948-1979. Vic’s athletic ability eventually translated into his passion for coaching. “Coach,” as many knew him, avidly coached the Beckley “Flying Eagles” football, baseball, and wrestling teams between 1948 until 1971. During his tenure as the school’s first wrestling coach, he was one of the pioneer coaches to initiate the first state wrestling tournament. Vic’s teams won three state championships in 1949, 1952, and 1954. He also produced 25 individual state titlists, which ranks him in the top ten coaches of developing state champions. After retiring from coaching, he was among the first class of inductees in the Raleigh County Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1981 and, in 2003, was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Before his illness, he was also an avid gardener, and loved sharing the fruits of his labor with family and friends. Vic was a member of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church and the Elks Club. He is preceded in death by a daughter, Sarah Aline; two sisters, Mary Muha and Sophia Scarafino; and three brothers, Bill, John, and Mike Peelish. Survivors include his wife, Pasqualyn “Pat” Peelish; three daughters, Margaret Honaker and husband, Mike, of Beckley; Deborah Parsons and husband, James, of Lexington, Ky.; Victoria Giuliani and husband, Mark, of Orlando, Fla.; and a son, Michael Peelish and wife, Lisa, of Davidsonville, Md. Seven grandchildren, Drew and Bryan Honaker; Marra Smith and Shane Giuliani; Morgan Parsons; Natalie and Daniel Peelish; four sisters, Antoinette Charinarro of Raleigh, Blanche Statzer of Beckley, Josephine Pachuta and husband, Gazie, of Beckley, and Agnes Nagye and husband, Julius, of Beckley; a brother, Steve Peelish and his wife, Lois, of Beckley; his caregivers, especially Helen Hinkle, Kay Walker, and Barbara Wills. The Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Wednesday, August 5th, in the St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, Beckley, with Fr. Joshua Stevens as celebrant and Deacon Don Wise officiating. Rite of Committal will follow in Sunset Memorial Park Mausoleum, Beckley. Friends may call two hours prior to the service time at the church. Pallbearers are Ralph Chamarro, Jimmy Chamarro, Walter Peelish, Mark Peelish, Sam Scarafino, and Racine Thompson. Honorary pallbearers are Mel Hancock and Howard Hurt. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Francis de Sales School, 622 South Oakwood Ave., Beckley, WV 25801. Condolences may be mailed to the family at melton@wvdsl.net. Arrangements by Melton Mortuary, Inc., Beckley.