06/17/2026
On 16 June, former coach Dr. Bill Denman (a/k/a "Bill" and "Dr. D") passed away at age 85. Dr. Denman was a classic "Renaissance Man."
He was a rhetorical scholar. He directed and acted in Marshall University theatrical productions from time to time. And he worked with the speech team in the 1970s before taking over as director in the 1980s. His most significant forensics legacy, beyond serving as an early National Forensic Association Officer and hosting NFA Nationals in 1985, was seeing three of his former team members go on to coach the Thundering Word -- Danny Ray, Clara Adkins, and Dennis Taylor - over the last 17 years.
When Dr. Denman stepped aside from coaching in 1986, he did so to become the founding director of the newly-created Society of Yeager Scholars - a program he shepherded during its formative years. Forty years later, the Yeager Scholars program continues to produce members of the Thundering Word - from graduating senior Ryann Province to incoming freshman Taelor Jones.
Dr. Denman may have been proudest of his decades long service on the WV-ACLU Board of Directors, as they addressed everything from the Kanawha County textbook controversy in the late 1970s to the tragic death of a former Thundering Word team member's brother in 2000 as a result of a hate crime. We are all beneficiaries of his work against racism, sexism, homophobia, and for our First Amendment and other Constitutional rights.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to his wife and former Marshall University Provost Dr. Sarah Denman and his daughter Kate Denman, who continues the family's legacy of service through her work with the National Legal Aid and Defender Association. Our condolences also go out to the many Thundering Word alumni who were members of his forensics teams.
A final memory: The Thundering Word had a long tradition of having the wait staff at every restaurant we ate at sing "Happy Birthday" to Dr. Denman. He may have been 85 in earth years but he was hundreds of years old in "birthday" years.
IN THE FIRST PICTURE: Clara Adkins (future coach), Ed Heaberlin, Monica Bever (Bratke), Kevin Thompson, Susan Snodgrass (Walker), Barbara Brant (Kinter), Danny Ray (future coach), Teresa Hudson (Gillmor), and Dr. Bill Denman at the Fordham University tournament in 1985.
IN THE SECOND PICTURE: Dr. Bill Denman, at a gathering of former team members around 2013.
IN THE THIRD PICTURE: John Womack, David Vickers, Dennis Taylor, Kevin Thompson, Danny Ray, Clara Adkins, and Monica Bratke around 2011.
IN THE FOURTH PICTURE: Kevin Thompson, Monica Bratke, and Coach Danny Ray, future coach Dennis Taylor, and future coach Clara Adkins - and, of course, one of many highly inappropriate birthday cakes Dr. Denman received along the way.
