Orville Harper

Orville Harper hails from Riverton, West Virginia. He graduated from Glenville State College in 1966 with a degree in Elementary Education. As a Pioneer, he played basketball as a freshman and four years of baseball. He was a two time All-Conference third baseman (the only Glenville State baseball player to repeat this honor) and was selected to the All-Time, All Conference WVIAC 50th Anniversary Team.

He taught at Circleville High School for 33 years and was their baseball coach for 20 years before retiring in 1999. Orville also served as a high school basketball official with the WVSSAC for the past 55 years.

In 1977, Harper’s Circleville High team won the state baseball championship. With about 150 students, Circleville High School, won the championship over Buffalo High of Wayne, a AA school with about 800 students. Circleville repeated the state championship feat in 1994.

Orville earned the Potomac Valley Conference Baseball Coach of the Year award six times and was honored with the Legends Baseball Tournament Retired Coach Award. He also coached his son Travis, a Major League Pitcher who spent several seasons with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Orville and his wife Barbara reside in Riverton. They have four children, Bridget, Kellen, Travis, and Valerie.