William Weir

Athletic Director 1965-1983

Assistant Football Coach 1965-1966

West Jefferson Hills athletic director was hospitable, diligent

December 7, 2013 1:12 AM

By Craig Meyers / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

In what can be the sometimes cutthroat world of athletic competition, even at the high school level, William H. "Bill" Weir Jr. always found room for hospitality and compassion.

The longtime athletic director for the West Jefferson Hills School District, he commonly greeted visiting teams after the game with a handshake as the players left the field or the court.

Whether a visitor had defeated his team or lost to it, he always made room for sportsmanship.

"Everybody that came to Thomas Jefferson was welcomed with open arms by him," said former Thomas Jefferson basketball and baseball coach Tom Berich. "He was the ultimate athletic gentleman, if there is such a thing."

Mr. Weir died Monday at St. Clair Hospital from complications of pneumonia. He was 90.

In addition to his work as an athletic director, Mr. Weir was a teacher and football coach at South Fayette for nearly two decades. The highlight of Mr. Weir's tenure there came in 1964, when he led the Lions to a WPIAL Class A championship, the second in the school's history and first since 1936.

To those who worked for him, Mr. Weir was a fair and diligent athletic director who put everything he had into the school for which he worked.

As a father, he was a role model.

"In my opinion, he was the greatest man I ever met," said his son, Doug Weir of Venetia. "I'm biased since he's my dad, but as my dad, he was fantastic. He was everything you could have asked for."

Prior to his time at South Fayette, Mr. Weir was a decorated World War II veteran who served in the Army Air Forces. Despite the numerous military honors he received, Mr. Weir did not often speak of his experiences unless he was asked about them.

He was an avid golfer, one who accomplished the rare feat of hitting eight holes in one in his lifetime.

"A true champion is one that sets the bar," Doug Weir said. "That's what he did."

Later in his career, Mr. Weir served on the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League's board of control and continued to do consulting work for the organization after his retirement in November 1983.

In addition to his son Doug, Mr. Weir is survived by his wife of 68 years, Peggy-Ann; another son, William Weir III of Murrysville; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.