BLUEFIELD, VA (WVNS) – Some came for the baseball, but others flocked to Bowen Field to relive the classic show Gilligan’s Island at the Bluefield Ridge Runners’ annual Bob Denver Luau Night.

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People wore their favorite Hawaiian gear, picked up some specially made “Bob Denver “Gilligan’s Beach Party” shirts, and got to meet actor Bob Denver’s wife – Dreama Denver. Dreama was ecstatic for the chance to honor her husband and his legacy in a place that he loved in the area of southern West Virginia. Bowen Field is technically in Virginia, but it is close enough to Mercer County and West Virginia, where the two called home.

She told 59News even while he was still living, he would rave about southern West Virginia.

“He was just thrilled to be able to go on shows like David Letterman and say that he lived in West Virginia and have David Letterman go, ‘Why?’ Bob would go, ‘Have you ever been there? If you have never been there, you do not know what you’re missing.’ So, you know, he loved it. He talked it up everywhere he went, all the interviews he did. It made me proud because, West Virginia gets maligned fairly often. So to have somebody singing the praises of the state I grew up in was a really great thing,” said Dreama Denver.

Dreama was set up at Bowen Field taking free pictures with folks, while selling and signing some of her award winning books she wrote. Some of these books are children’s books, while others reminisce on the life of her beloved husband.

Another local celebrity was in attendance. Delnora Reed Acuff may currently live near Nashville as she gains popularity on the music scene, but her home county of Mercer will always have her heart.

“Any time I get an opportunity to come back home, I come back home. I love baseball. My brother played baseball. My dad played baseball. They they played for the military and WVU,” said Reed Acuff.

Delnora had an amazing pitch to open the game, despite any doubts she might have had going in. She told 59News she practiced very hard to deliver the perfect opener to the Ridge Runners’ Friday night game.

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She is a country artist, trying to spread a little sunshine and positivity in the world. Her song “Peacemaker” featuring Chris Golden has performed very well on the music charts.

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