Clayce Kishbaugh

Clayce G. Kishbaugh, 77 of Zanesville, OH formerly of Clarksburg, VW died 8:08 PM Sunday, April 22, 2012 at Genesis Good Samaritan Campus in Zanesville. He was born Thursday, June 21, 1934 in Williamson, WV the son of Tyson Kishbaugh and Pauline (Hart) Kishbaugh. He married Shirley F. (Sims) Kishbaugh on Thursday, June 29, 1978 and was a former member of First Presbyterian Church of Clarksburg. Clayce, who grew up in the Nutter Fort and Clarksburg, WV area, was a teammember of West Virginia University’s highly successful basketball teams in the mid-1950s. He played on the 1953-54 freshman team, and started on the varsity from 1955-57.” He finished as co-captain of the 1957 team that posted a 25-5 record, the school’s best up to that time. Kishbaugh, a 6-2 guard, contributed to a combined record of 65-25 for the first three of Fred Schaus’ six seasons as the most successful coach in WVU’s hoops history. All of those teams won Southern Conference championships, attained national ranking and earned NCAA tournament appearances. The 1956-57 team ranked as high as No. 7 in the national Top 20 polls. WVU had finished 19th in each of the previous two seasons. Beating fifth-ranked George Washington University for the Southern Conference tournament title in 1955 was one of that year’s biggest upsets. Kishbaugh passed the ball to his friend Hot Rod Hundley on the fast break for a basket that sent the game into overtime. WVU wound up winning 58-48. In that same tourney Kishbaugh set a record by making 18 free throws in as many attempts. Kisbaugh scored a career-high 28 points in a 107-89 victory over North Carolina State on Dec. 22, 1956. Later in that season he had 25 and 21 points in victories over Pittsburgh. For his three varsity years, Kishbaugh tallied 833 points in 77 games for an average of 10.8 per game. He scored at a career-best clip of 12.9 as a senior. Clayce was a recipient of the 1955, 1956 & 1957 NCAA Southern Champ Metals and the 1956 & 1957 Southern Conference Champ Metals and was a featured player on the Ashland Oil College Basketball Team Cards for 1954 & 1955. Stated by local Clarksburg area resident: Bob Hart, “Clayce Kishbaugh was the best basketball player ever to come from Harrison County.” Kishbaugh was selected by the St. Louis Hawks in the 1957 NBA draft, but he was called up for military duty. Durning his time in the service, he coached basketball for his fellow troups at Fort Meade, Md., and his team won the Second Army championship. Following his service to his country in the United States Army, Clayce returned to his beloved West Virginia University and graduated in 1961. He also attended Salem College. Kishbaugh begin his sports carier starring at Clarksburg’s Roosevelt-Wilson High and earning all-state honors. Kishbaugh, retired in 1985 following 30 years of service to education as a high school teacher for the Tri Valley School District in the Zanesville, Ohio, where he taught physical education and industrial arts. He also coached basketball for seven years and served as athletic director for five years. Clayce is survived by his wife of the home: Shirley; one daughter: Sally White of Ravenna, OH; seven grandchildren: Kristopher, Aramis, Scarlett, Jasmime, Blessamber, Isabella and Felicity; one great grandchild: Mariah; one brother: David (Dottie) Kishbaugh of Clarksburg, WV; two cousins and special friends: Bob Hart of Clarksburg and JoAnn Viglianco of Clarksburg; one nephew: Walter (Vicki) Keller of Dover, OH and one brother-in-law: Russell Keller of Dover. In addition to his parents, Clayce was preceded in death by one sister-in-law: Pat Keller. Friends may call from 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 PM Friday, April 27, 2012 and one hour prior to services from 10:00 AM till time of service on Saturday at The Davis-Weaver Funeral Home, 329 East Main Street, Clarksburg, WV, where Funeral Services will be held 11:00 AM, Saturday. Burial will follow in Elkview Masonic Cemetery, Clarksburg, with Full Military Funeral Honors. Memorial Contributions may be made to Genesis Morrison House Hospice, 713 Forest Avenue, Zanesville, OH 43701 in Clayce's memory. To leave a personal note of condolence or sign the online guest book visit the link at the top of this page.

Clayce Kishbaugh

June 21, 1934 - April 22, 2012