West Liberty University Athletics

    Martin Flannery played two years of football and basketball at West Liberty before a three-year stint with the U.S. Army during World War II. After fighting in the European and Pacific Theaters, Flannery resumed his outstanding athletic career on the hilltop as a key member of Coach Joe Bartell's 1946 and 1947 WVIAC champion football teams.
    As a senior, Flannery was co-captain of the legendary 1947 squad that opened the season with back-to-back ties before winning the last eight games to jump start an incredible 34-1-3 run over the next four seasons.
    After graduation, Flannery kicked off a highly-successful teaching and coaching career. After five years coaching at Avella, Pa. and East Washington, Pa., Flannery moved to Hannibal, Ohio as football and track coach at River High School. His Pilots won several OVAC championships and were unbeaten Ohio Region 7 champions in 1972. The football field at River High School was renamed "Martin P. Flannery Field" in his honor.