Opened in 2006, WVU fans young and old loved the Donald J. Brohard Hall of Traditions. Filled with interactive displays, videos, photos, records and information, the Hall of Traditions was the place to connect with more than a century of Mountaineer football.
The original hall, built by Murphy & Orr Exhibits, an Atlanta-based company that specialized in sports exhibition centers, was dedicated to the memory of Donald J. Brohard, of Princeton, West Virginia.
A lifelong Mountaineer fan until his death at age 61 on March 15, 2005, due to Lou Gehrig’s disease, Brohard, along with his best friend, Ken Kendrick, attended Mountaineer football games as a child and that passion for the team lasted throughout his life and down to his beloved family.
Subsequently, at his behest, Brohard’s ashes were spread across Mountaineer Field and Kendrick made sure Brohard’s wishes were carried through. Kendrick, who is the principal owner of MLB’s Arizona Diamondbacks, also was the lead donor and through his generous donation, combined with the $400,000 raised by the Mountaineer Athletic Club, provided the funding for the Donald J. Brohard Hall of Traditions. The spectacular space traced the magnificent history of Mountaineer football from its beginning stages in 1891 right up through the present.
Mountaineer greats at each position, bowl rings, uniform and helmet history as well as All-American displays filled the room with the story of Mountaineer football. Interactive video displays gave fans a look at the Mountaineer Experience and pageantry on game days as did audio clips of memorable calls made by the late "Voice of the Mountaineers" Jack Fleming.
Year-by-year team videos, trophy displays of West Virginia's championship seasons and special displays of the 2006 Nokia Sugar Bowl, 2008 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, and 2012 Discover Orange Bowl seasons were also fan favorites.
The Brohard Hall of Traditions was located in the Southwest corner of the Puskar Center and served the Mountaineer football program until July of 2020, when a $55 million renovation to the Puskar Center moved the Hall of Traditions to the Southeast front of the building, making it totally accessible to fans of all ages.
Today, many of the same artifacts, history and memories that made the Brohard Hall of Traditions so special live on in West Virginia’s new historical space. Moving the artifacts, memories and videos from the Brohard Hall of Traditions to the new state-of-the-art museum ensures that the love, excitement, knowledge and passion for Mountaineer football will continue for generations to come.
