BY KYLE LOVERN
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
WILLIAMSON, W.Va. — Four former Williamson High School standouts joined the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday during an induction banquet attended by more than 100 people at the West Williamson Community Center.
The four members of the WHS Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2026 are as follows:
TONY AUSTIN: Austin was a 1985 graduate of WHS, where he was a 3-year letterman in football and baseball and a 1-year letterman in track and field. Austin served as the team captain for the Wolfpack on the gridiron in his junior and senior seasons. He was a two-time selection for the All-Area Football Team and played in the 1985 Kiwanis Senior Bowl. Tony Austin was also a standout on the baseball diamond as he was named Honorable Mention All-State as a senior and was on the All-Area Baseball Team in both 11th and 12th grade. After graduating from WHS Austin went on to play at West Liberty State College for two seasons and was named the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1985.
CHRIS HATCHER: Hatcher was a three-sport athlete for the ‘Pack, where he was a 4-year letterman in football and basketball and a 3-year letterman in baseball. In his senior football season in 2010, Chris finished in the Top 10 in scoring in the state and was named a Special Honorable Mention selection on the Class A All-State Team. He helped lead WHS to the state basketball tournament in their final year of existence (2011) and as a result was named Honorable Mention on the All-State Basketball squad.
JIM LEFTWICH: Leftwich was a standout lineman for the Williamson High football team in both the 1975 and 1976 gridiron seasons. He was a captain on the squad in his senior season and was named Honorable Mention on the All-Tri State Team by the Herald Dispatch. He won the 1976 Virginia Brown Award at WHS, which went to the Christian Athlete of the Year. After graduating from WHS, he had a 4-year collegiate career. Jim played two years of Junior College at Monterey College, where he helped the team to the NorCal Championship and was named MC Lineman of the Year. Leftwich then transferred to Liberty University for his final two seasons and was a Co-Captain for the Flames his senior campaign.
RENÉE JACKSON ROBISON: Renée Jackson Robison was a 1987 graduate of Williamson High School. A multi-sport athlete, Renée Jackson excelled in basketball, softball, and track while also serving as an active member of Williamson High School’s marching band. Renée’s most significant achievement came during her junior year, when she played a pivotal role in leading the Lady Wolves basketball team to the WV State Basketball Tournament—marking the program’s first appearance since 1979. As one of the team’s leading scorers that season, Renée earned a spot on the WV State All-Tournament Honorable Mention team. Renée also was named Honorable Mention All-State as a senior. Today, Renée Jackson Robison continues to make an impact in education as an elementary school teacher in Kanawha County.
The WHS Athletic HOF Board of Directors also recognized the 1986 Williamson High School boys’ basketball squad, which brought home the Class AA state championship with a 48-46 win over a great Wheeling Central Catholic squad.
Additionally, the HOF will also be honoring worthy individuals with its newest HOF honor, “The Friend of the Pack” Award, during the induction ceremony. The late Jackie Finley and Earl Howard were honored as this year’s Friends of the Pack. Family members accepted their awards.
This is a new award created in 2022 for the Hall of Fame Board to bestow on individuals the board believes have made exceptional contributions to the success of Williamson High School’s Athletics Program during the school’s rich 101-year history.