Local News

Leep, Elam named to PHS Football Hall of Fame

PARKERSBURG -- Two defensive standouts will be inducted into the Parkersburg High School Football Hall of Fame tonight at Stadium Field prior to the PHS football game with Spring Mills.

Mike Leep, a defensive end from 1976 and 1977, and Mike Elam, a defensive back from 1984 to 1986, will be inducted in pre-game ceremonies at Stadium Field.

Leep, 6-1 and 175 pounds, led a prevent unit that gave up only 79 points in 11 games in 1977. The Big Reds defensive captain and defensive signal-caller recorded a team-best 117 tackles with 10 sacks and two fumble recoveries from his defensive end spot, the hall of fame committee said.

That Big Red defense recorded two shutouts and held six other teams to only one touchdown while posting a 9-2 slate.

Leep graduated from Marshall University with a Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Rehabilitation and Master's Degree in Business Administration. Since 2001 he has owned and operated an international consulting business.

Leep met wife, Jackie, at Marshall University. They have been married for 35 years and have three children, Justin, Alie and Preston and one granddaughter, Josie.

Elam was a three-year starter in football and two-year regular in basketball for the Big Reds as he followed in the footsteps of his father, Darrell, who was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys out of West Virginia Tech 20 years prior to Mike's senior year at PHS.

After an outstanding career at Jackson Junior High where he was all-county in football and basketball and leading scorer in both sports as an 8th and 9th grader, Elam moved on to the Big Reds, where he became a starter in football as a sophomore and in basketball as a junior, according to the PHS hall of fame committee.

As a junior at PHS Elam helped the Big Reds to the state championship game where they lost to Brooke, 7-0, to finish at 11-2. The 6-foot-1, 175 pounder had five interceptions and 65 tackles on defense while catching 11 passes for two touchdowns on offense.

As a senior he was the team's Most Valuable Player and made first team all-state as a defensive back as well as playing in the North South All-Star game. He had 89 tackles with nine being for losses while recovering three fumbles and intercepting two passes. He returned a punt for a touchdown and was the leading receiver with 15 catches for 278 yards.

Elam walked on at Marshall University and was part of the 1988 Southern Conference championship football team, the hall of fame committee said.

Elam lives in Vienna with his wife, Melissa, and two sons, Chaz and Tyson. He is a Vienna city councilman.