Kenova in Wayne County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)

Ward-Craycraft Memorial Wall

Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 16, 2025

1. Ward-Craycraft Memorial Wall Marker

Inscription.

Ward-Craycraft Memorial Wall. . Former Site of Ceredo-Kenova High School. Dedicated June 13, 2021 to the memory of Coaches Carl Ward and Dale Craycraft, this wall contains pieces from Ceredo-Kenova High School, Ceredo Grade School, and Kenova High School. Ceredo-Kenova Elementary School stands on the former site of C-K High School, where Ward and Craycraft won 10 State Championships in football, two in basketball, and two in track and field, while teaching and inspiring thousands of students and athletes., Ward-Craycraft Memorial Wall. This wall contains architectural elements from the earliest public schools in Ceredo and Kenova., The small brown sandstone piece in the center is from a foundation block of the first public school in Wayne County, Ceredo Grade School, which opened in 1872., Ceredo-Kenova High School, the first secondary school in the county, shared the Ceredo school building from 1894 to 1921, when it then moved into a new structure on Beech Street where Ceredo-Kenova Elementary now stands. The cornerstone from "Old Main" of CKHS currently rests in the left side of this wall. Bricks from the high school form the border of "Ward-Craycraft Stadium" and "Ceredo-Kenova Elementary" near the top of the wall., The capstone, shield, corbels, and vertically placed bricks all were salvaged from the 14th and Poplar Street Kenova Grade School building, which was demolished in 2018., Ceredo-Kenova High School 1894-1998 Ceredo Grade School 1872-2017 Kenova Grade School 1890-2017. , Coach Kenneth Dale Craycraft. Dale Craycraft (March 28, 1927 - August 20, 2002) was the other half of the best high school coaching duo in West Virginia for over 20 years. His unmatched, analytical mind and scouting ability helped Carl Ward win 10 AA Football State Championships. As a head coach, he won 2 AA Track State Championships (1967 and 1975), despite the school not having its own track. Back-to-back AA Basketball State Championships (1968 and 1969) followed two near miss years, but soon led to his stepping down from the pressures of being head coach. He continued to help Ward with C-K's highly successful football program, while his strong Christian faith and systematic instructional skills led him to be an inspiring lay preacher and Sunday School teacher who touched thousands of lives., Carl K. Ward Born June 13, 1929 in Kenova, W. Va.. He became the Mountain State's winningest football playoff coach during a 28-year career at alma mater Ceredo-Kenova High. He coached the Wonders to a state-record 10 championships in Class AA and into 16 playoffs with a post season record of 23-6 including 10-3 in title games. His overall won-lost record of 244-61-1 is a state standard for victories at one school. Ceredo-Kenova, one of only a few state schools with over 500 all-time victories, won state championships under Ward in 1963, 1965, 1967, 1971, 1974-75, 1978, 1980-81 and 1983. He coached numerous All-State players and future college athletes. When he retired, he was one of only 10 coaches nationally with at least 10 state titles. He was elected to the Hall of Fame on his first year on the ballot.

Former Site of
Ceredo-Kenova High School
Dedicated June 13, 2021 to the memory of Coaches Carl Ward and Dale Craycraft, this wall contains pieces from Ceredo-Kenova High School, Ceredo Grade School, and Kenova High School. Ceredo-Kenova Elementary School stands on the former site of C-K High School, where Ward & Craycraft won 10 State Championships in football, two in basketball, and two in track & field, while teaching and inspiring thousands of students and athletes.

Ward-Craycraft Memorial Wall
This wall contains architectural elements from the earliest public schools in Ceredo and Kenova.

The small brown sandstone piece in the center is from a foundation block of the first public school in Wayne County, Ceredo Grade School, which opened in 1872.

Ceredo-Kenova High School, the first secondary school in the county, shared the Ceredo school building from 1894 to 1921, when it then moved into a new structure on Beech Street where Ceredo-Kenova Elementary now stands. The cornerstone from "Old Main" of CKHS currently rests in the left side of this wall. Bricks from the high school form the border of "Ward-Craycraft

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Stadium" and "Ceredo-Kenova Elementary" near the top of the wall.

The capstone, shield, corbels, and vertically placed bricks all were salvaged from the 14th & Poplar Street Kenova Grade School building, which was demolished in 2018.

Ceredo-Kenova High School 1894-1998
Ceredo Grade School 1872-2017
Kenova Grade School 1890-2017

Coach Kenneth Dale Craycraft
Dale Craycraft (March 28, 1927 - August 20, 2002) was the other half of the best high school coaching duo in West Virginia for over 20 years. His unmatched, analytical mind and scouting ability helped Carl Ward win 10 AA Football State Championships. As a head coach, he won 2 AA Track State Championships (1967 & 1975), despite the school not having its own track. Back-to-back AA Basketball State Championships (1968 & 1969) followed two near miss years, but soon led to his stepping down from the pressures of being head coach. He continued to help Ward with C-K's highly successful football program, while his strong Christian faith and systematic instructional skills led him to be an inspiring lay preacher and Sunday School teacher who touched thousands of lives.

Carl K. Ward
Born June 13, 1929 in Kenova, W. Va.
He

Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 16, 2025

2. Ward-Craycraft Memorial Wall Marker

became the Mountain State's winningest football playoff coach during a 28-year career at alma mater Ceredo-Kenova High. He coached the Wonders to a state-record 10 championships in Class AA and into 16 playoffs with a post season record of 23-6 including 10-3 in title games. His overall won-lost record of 244-61-1 is a state standard for victories at one school. Ceredo-Kenova, one of only a few state schools with over 500 all-time victories, won state championships under Ward in 1963, 1965, 1967, 1971, 1974-75, 1978, 1980-81 and 1983. He coached numerous All-State players and future college athletes. When he retired, he was one of only 10 coaches nationally with at least 10 state titles. He was elected to the Hall of Fame on his first year on the ballot.

Erected 2021 by The Town of Ceredo and the City of Kenova.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Religion & Religious Structures • Sports. A significant historical date for this entry is June 13, 2021.

Location. 38° 23.903′ N, 82° 34.081′ W. Marker is in Kenova, West Virginia, in Wayne County. It is at the intersection of Oak Street (U.S. 60)

Coach Craycraft Plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 16, 2025

3. Coach Craycraft Plaque

and 8th Street, on the right when traveling west on Oak Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 801 Oak Street, Kenova WV 25530, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Kyova Tri-State Region

and in the Southern Coalfields.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in the Ohio River Valley,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Ceredo-Kenova West Virginia (here, next to this marker); Ceredo-Kenova Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); The Waymer House (approx. half a mile away); First Congregational Church of Ceredo (approx. half a mile away); Camp Pierpont (approx. half a mile away); Ceredo Museum (approx. half a mile away); Civil War Cannon (approx. 0.6 miles away); Twelve Pole Church of Christ Bell (approx. 0.6

Coach Ward Plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 16, 2025

4. Coach Ward Plaque

miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kenova.

Ward-Craycraft Memorial Wall and Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 16, 2025

5. Ward-Craycraft Memorial Wall and Markers

Ward-Craycraft Stadium and Ceredo-Kenova Elementary School image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 16, 2025

6. Ward-Craycraft Stadium and Ceredo-Kenova Elementary School

Credits. This page was last revised on October 23, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 23, 2025, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 88 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on October 23, 2025, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.