Mountaineer Boys State Highlights Legacy of Jerry West Ahead of Another Summer of Leadership
JACKSON’S MILL, W.Va. — As another class of young West Virginians prepares to arrive at Mountaineer Boys State in the coming weeks, organizers are sharing stories that remind participants just how meaningful one week can become.
In a recent alumni spotlight shared by Mountaineer Boys State, the organization reflected on the life and legacy of the late Jerry West and the impact his experience at Boys State had on shaping his future.
West attended Mountaineer Boys State in the summer of 1955 at Jackson’s Mill, representing East Bank High School. According to the organization, that experience became a turning point in his life. In reflecting on his time there, West once said, “It gave me a degree of self-confidence and a sense of belonging.”
The feature describes a young West arriving at Boys State shy and uncertain before discovering confidence through friendships, leadership opportunities, and even pickup basketball games that helped him realize his potential. Shortly after returning home, he would begin a journey that eventually led him to become one of basketball’s most recognizable figures.
West went on to win Olympic gold, capture an NBA championship, become an All Star in each of his 14 professional seasons, and later help build championship teams as an executive. His silhouette famously became the inspiration behind the NBA logo, while his contributions to sports and public life earned him the Presidential Medal of Freedom decades later.
But for Mountaineer Boys State, the story serves as more than a history lesson. It is a reminder to this year’s attendees that a single week can create relationships, confidence, and opportunities that last a lifetime.
As preparations continue for the upcoming Boys State session at Jackson’s Mill, organizers say the program remains focused on developing leadership, citizenship, and service among the next generation of West Virginians.
For more information about Mountaineer Boys State and this year’s program, visit Mountaineer Boys State.
