Political giant and coaching legend honored by lawmakers in Thursday's floor sessions – WV MetroNews

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — State lawmakers took time Thursday to honor two well-known West Virginians who died recently.

The state Senate approved a memorial resolution focusing on the life and service of former Senate President and state Supreme Court Justice Warren McGraw.

The Wyoming County native died last June at the age of 84.

“We are memorializing an iconic political figure in West Virginia, a great West Virginian,” Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Trump, R-Morgan, said in recounting more than 50 years of public service.

McGraw was a two-term member of West Virginia’s House of Delegates and then served three terms in the state Senate, rising to become president.

He left the Senate to run for governor but didn’t win the Democratic primary. He returned to Wyoming County, where he was elected to the local school board and then became prosecutor.

In 1998, McGraw campaigned for an unexpired six-year term on the state Supreme Court and won. He served as chief justice in 2001.

McGraw’s son, former state lawmaker Randolph McGraw, and two daughters were on hand for Thursday’s memorial resolution.

Sen. Mike Caputo, D-Marion, said when he finally had the opportunity to meet McGraw the two became fast friends.

“The thing that I will always remember about Warren McGraw and the entire McGraw family is their love for working West Virginians,” Caputo said. “They never hid, not one time, their love for coal miners and their love for the UMWA.”

Wyoming County State Senator David Stover said several personal stories in his remarks to the Senate. He remembered meeting McGraw when he was campaigning for the House years ago outside a little grocery story in the community of Pierpont.

“There was a car pulled in and a young man got out, bunch of us ol boys were there, not much younger, and he walked up and said, ‘Hello fellers I’m Warren McGraw and I’m going to be your next delegate,’” Stover recalled.

The Senate honored former Senator Billy Wayne Bailey with a memorial resolution earlier this week.

Criddle honored

There was a moment of silence in the House of Delegates Thursday after this week’s passing of former longtime West Virginia high school football coach Homer Criddle.

Criddle was head coach at five schools including Kingwood, St. Marys, South Charleston, St. Albans and Greenbrier East.

“Over his 28 years as a head coach he won 167 games, had two undefeated seasons and guided three different schools to the AAA championship game,” Del. Jeff Campbell, R-Greenbrier, said during Thursday’s floor session.

Criddle coached Robert Alexander and Carl Lee at South Charleston, Derek Christian and Scott Tinsley at St. Albans High and Bimbo Coles and Marcus McClung at Greenbrier East.

Criddle was a native of Cabell County. After his military service as a U.S. Marine, Criddle played at WVU on a football scholarship from 1962-64.