Rest in Peace, Steve

[IMG Public Relations]

Don't know how much it affects our small little clique here but Steve Douglas, director of the WVU Alumni Association, lost his battle with cancer today. He was a presence on campus for a LONG time and many of us post-graduates who spent time with any local alumni chapter probably crossed paths with him multiple times. I myself got sucked into his orbit in 2000 when I put together a web page for the Charlotte alumni chapter. At the time hardly any existed online, and I wound up being invited to an alumni leadership conference at the old alumni center to talk about the benefits of having an online presence and how to get started. Scored free open-air box tickets that game, too.

Of more significance to this board, Drew's birthday would be today. Gone far too early.

[Energy Vampire]

Damn. Double damn.

[IMG Public Relations]

Wife and I were just sharing a laugh about that presentation weekend above. The thing started at 8 or 9am on a gameday so it could get over and everyone could get back to drinking. All the University bigwigs were there, including old man Hardesty looking like he'd been up for three days. He slurred and rambled his way through a 10 minute talk, then the event broke for alumni food and drinks. He's out in the middle of the floor drinking with the other muckety mucks looking like death warmed over except when someone holds up a camera. At that point he and the other drunk important people fake a smile and hide their cups behind the others back. Flashbulb pops, down go the smiles and out come the cups. Rinse and repeat for 2 hours.