April 23, 2011
Time for WVU to retire Bosley's No. 77
By Rene Henry
The new powers that be at West VirginiaUniversity have been quick to make a number of changes in a short period of time. However, one needed change that is long overdue is to honor the greatest Mountaineer athletes.
WVU began playing football in 1891 and the uniform numbers of only two players have been retired - Sam Huff's No. 75 and Ira "Rat" Rodgers' No. 21. The Mountaineers' first basketball game was in 1903 but only Jerry West's No. 44 and Hot Rod Hundley's No. 33 have been retired.
It took 114 years to honor Huff in 2005 and another five before Rodgers was honored. Of the four honored athletes, Rodgers passed away in 1963, nearly half a century before being honored, and the other three Mountaineers were in their seventies when they were recognized.
At this rate of retiring only four numbers in a combined 226 years, scores of those deserving will never be honored, or certainly so if still alive. This should be a loud and clear priority signal for those responsible in Morgantown.
Bruce Bosley and his No. 77 must be at the top of any list. His accolades are numerous.
From 1952-1955, he helped lead Mountaineer football teams to a 31-7 record and the 1954 Sugar Bowl.
Consensus All-America selection his senior year.
College Football Hall of Fame.
Academic All-American with a degree in chemical engineering.
Played in the 1956 College Football All-Star Game against the defending NFL champion Cleveland Browns.
Played in both the North-South Game and the Senior Bowl.
Played 13 years for the San Francisco 49ers and one with the Atlanta Falcons.
Named All-Pro four times.
Named to college football's Silver Anniversary Team in 1981.
The only missing honor is WVU retiring No. 77.
Teammates Sam Huff and Fred Wyant believe Bosley has been ignored too long and his number should be retired now.
"He was one of the very best to ever wear a WVU uniform," says Huff. "He was awesome and also much stronger and bigger than me. When we played against each other, the last person I wanted to see coming to block me was Bruce. He would have had much greater national attention and honors if he hadn't been playing for a West Coast team. I was fortunate to play for the Giants in the media center of New York."
"In our day there was only one All-America team. You played offense and defense and on special teams because there were no platoons," says Wyant. "Today they select All-Americans for offensive teams, defensive teams and special teams. Bruce would be a consensus choice on all three."
Bosley was born in Fresno, Calif., but grew up in Green Bank in PocahontasCounty, where he was a third-team Class B all-state fullback before being recruited by Art "Pappy" Lewis to play for WVU. He also was all-state in basketball.
After his playing days at West Virginia, Bosley was selected by the 49ers in the second round of the 1956 NFL draft. He started as a defensive end, switched the next year to offensive guard and then center, where he became one of the best in the NFL.
In Northern California he was known not only as a pillar of the 49ers offense, but also for his professional, civic and charitable work. Bosley's contracting, interior design and real estate business restored and remodeled historic estates and homes throughout the area. He also was part owner of a wholesale electrical supply company.
He freely gave of his time to serve on the board of directors of the San Francisco Annex for Cultural Arts, the Mayor's Committee for the San Francisco Council for the Performing Arts and was a longtime volunteer for both the San Francisco Ballet and San Francisco Film Festival. Bosley was a driving force behind the NFL Alumni Charities and president of the NFL Alumni Association.
On April 26, 1995, only 61 years old, Bosley died of a heart attack while at the head table of the United Way's annual black-tie awards dinner in San Francisco.
In addition to Bosley, WVU needs to look at all of its former great athletes not only in football and basketball but in other sports, and begin a rapid acceleration of giving recognition and honor to so many who are so deserving.
Rene A. Henry is an author and writer who was born in Charleston and now lives in Seattle. He was the sports information director at WVU from 1954-1956. Many of his commentaries and articles are posted on his website at He also is working to develop a feature motion picture about Hot Rod Hundley.