| Native Nitronians Born here, lived here, played here, went to school here ... |
| Lew Burdette Born in Nitro, West Virginia on November 22, 1926, Selva Lewis Burdette pitched Major League Baseball for 18 seasons, mainly with the Braves from 1951 through 1963. He began his career with the Yankees in 1950 and also played for the Cardinals, Cubs, Phillies and Angels late in his career. He is mostly remembered for winning 3 games for the Braves in the 1957 World Series versus the Yankees, including two complete game shut-outs. Lou died February 6, 2007 in Winter Haven, Florida. Jack Eastwood A 1972 graduate of Nitro High School, Jack went on to become a star safety and captain of the football team at West Virginia University. His highlights included a 3 interception game in a 20-14 Mountaineer win over the Miami Hurricanes in 1973. J.R. House record setting high school quarterback on the 1998 West Virginia AAA State Champion Nitro Wildcats football team. He played football, baseball and basketball at Nitro his freshman year, but then transferred to Seabreeze High School in Ormond Beach, Florida to play baseball his sophomore, junior & senior years. He returned each fall to play football at Nitro High School and set numerous National High School records as a quarterback. The 5th round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1999, J.R. chose to play professional baseball over college football. Kathy Mattea A Native of Cross Lanes, Kathleen Alice Mattea was born June 21, 1959 in a South Charleston, West Virginia hospital. She graduated from Nitro High School in 1976 and attended West Virginia University. A noted grammy award winning country singer, Nitro named the auditorium in the community center after her ... the "Kathy Mattea Auditorium". She has had four #1 hits and numerous other songs in the Top 10. |