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Dean Wescott
Class of 1957
Athlete
Dean Wescott was a three sport athlete at HHS from 1954-57. He was a four year member of the football team where he played fullback and linebacker. He was a leader of the 1956 team that was district co-champions. Coach Claude Warren once told him “if you would try to run around people you would have twice as many yards.” Dean was a three year member of the basketball team where he played center and was known for his rebounding ability.
Dean’s talents shone the most on the baseball diamond, where he played for four years as a power hitting first baseman and pitcher. He was described as a “big youngster who is able to hit the ball out of the lot anytime he steps up to the plate.” Dean batted .488 as a sophomore at HHS and the Daily News-Record referred to him as “the best baseball prospect at HHS since Lindy Kersh and “Fuzzy’ Bowers”.
After completing his eligibility at HHS, Dean signed with the Baltimore Orioles and played one year of professional baseball. He returned to Harrisonburg where he played four years with the Turks in the Valley League and several more seasons in the county league. He is remembered for his prodigious home runs while playing in those leagues. Distant cow barns and tall light towers were well within reach of his powerful blasts. Dean spent a number of years in the Harrisonburg youth recreational programs, coaching Little League and Pony League baseball and Midget football.
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