Wheeling Hall of Fame Index
Origins
When the Wheeling Civic Center (now known as WesBanco Arena) was being built in 1977, the founders decided to include a “Wheeling Hall of Fame” to honor past and present residents “who had attained considerable distinction in some specific field and thus brought honor to their home city.” City Council created a Hall of Fame Board tasked with nominating and inducting new members in six categories: Music and Fine Arts; Sports and Athletics; Business, Industry and Professions; Public Service; Education and Religion; and Philanthropy. To qualify, a person has to have lived in Wheeling for at least 15 years. The inaugural, 1980 class featured 18 inductees. Numerous others have been added in the years since, and many qualified candidates have yet to be inducted. Honoring Wheeling’s finest is an ongoing process.
And in case you are wondering why Wheeling legends like Betty Zane and Samuel McCulloch are not enshrined, the preamble from the Ordinance establishing the Hall of Fame provides the answer: “While outstanding public services were rendered by our founding fathers and early citizens, these worthy deeds are recognized by historical publications and appropriately honored in other halls, museums, and memorials. Therefore, honorees in the Wheeling Hall of Fame shall be selected on the basis of accomplishments after 1863 [later amended to 1836].”
Wheeling Hall of Fame Program Booklets (via wheelingwv.gov)
➤ 2019 Wheeling Hall of Fame Program
➤ 2017 Wheeling Hall of Fame Program
➤ 2015 Wheeling Hall of Fame Program
➤ 2013 Wheeling Hall of Fame Program
➤ 2011 Wheeling Hall of Fame Program
➤ 2008 Wheeling Hall of Fame Program
➤ 2006 Wheeling Hall of Fame Program
➤ 2004 Wheeling Hall of Fame Program
➤ 2002 Wheeling Hall of Fame Program
➤ 2000 Wheeling Hall of Fame Program
➤ 1998 Wheeling Hall of Fame Program
➤ 1994 Wheeling Hall of Fame Program
➤ 1992 Wheeling Hall of Fame Program
➤ 1990 Wheeling Hall of Fame Program
➤ 1986 Wheeling Hall of Fame Program
➤ 1984 Wheeling Hall of Fame Program
➤ 1982 Wheeling Hall of Fame Program
➤ 1980 Wheeling Hall of Fame Program
The Wheeling Hall of Fame
| Name: | Induction: | Category: | Biography: |
| Agostino, Dominic | 1998 | Business, Industry and Professions | founder of Aladdin Food Management |
| Beneke, Phyllis | 1990 | Education and Religion | philanthropist and educator |
| Berry, Leon "Chu" | 1998 | Music and Fine Arts | tenor sax giant |
| Biery, Bob | 1984 | Sports and Athletics | golf pro and course designer |
| Bloch, Samuel S. | 1982 | Business, Industry and Professions | founder of Bloch Brothers Tobacco Co. |
| Bloch, Stuart F. | 2008 | Sports and Athletics | golf executive |
| Bonar, Levering C. | 1980 | Education and Religion | educator |
| Brinkman, V. Everett | 1982 | Sports and Athletics | Wheeling High coach |
| Brooks, Alonzo "A.B." | 1980 | Education and Religion | naturalist |
| Burkett, Jesse | 1982 | Sports and Athletics | baseball great |
| Burrus, William | 2019 | Business, Industry and Professions | labor leader |
| Caldwell, Eleanor Glass | 1982 | Music and Fine Arts | founder of the Wheeling Symphony |
| Campbell, Archibald W. | 1980 | Public Service | newspaper editor |
| Campbell, Clyde D. | 1980 | Public Service | scientist, educator, and community booster |
| Carroll, Sally | 1994 | Sports and Athletics | golfer |
| Ceo, Stefano R. | 2008 | Music and Fine Arts | music educator |
| Connolly, Allan | 2015 | Education and Religion | educator |
| Corbett, John | 2015 | Music and Fine Arts | actor |
| Cox, Bill | 2015 | Music and Fine Arts | bass guitarist |
| Cunningham, Annie Sinclair | 2004 | Education and Religion | Elmhurst founder |
| Davis, Rebecca Harding | 1984 | Music and Fine Arts | author |
| Devore, Leland S. | 1986 | Sports and Athletics | All-American football player |
| Dungan, Ellis | 1994 | Music and Fine Arts | filmmaker |
| Fahey, John Edward “Jack” | 2011 | Public Service | political leader |
| Farnsworth, Sue Seibert | 2019 | Public Service | lawyer and education advocate |
| Efron, Mary Louise Snider | 2016 | Business, Industry and Professions | health researcher |
| Elikan, Ethel Clare | 1998 | Public Service | founder, Seeing Hand Association Inc. of Wheeling |
| Faris, Frederick | 2015 | Business, Industry and Professions | architect |
| Fassig (Keyser), Mary Elizabeth | 2015 | Music and Fine Arts | dance icon |
| Foti, James | 1982 | Sports and Athletics | basketball coach |
| Freese, Gene | 1994 | Sports and Athletics | baseball player |
| Friend, Harriette Shull "Hydie" | 2019 | Public Service | historic preservation leader |
| Front, Rosemary | 2013 | Public Service | community activist |
| Fulton, Dr. William S. | 1986 | Business, Industry and Professions | founder of Wheeling Clinic |
| Gacioch, Rose | 2004 | Sports and Athletics | women's baseball great |
| Gaither, Helen B. | 2000 | Philanthropy | philanthropist |
| Glass, Alexander | 1980 | Business, Industry and Professions | founder of Wheeling Corrugating Co. and Wheeling Steel |
| Glasscock, John Wesley | 2000 | Sports and Athletics | baseball player |
| Gonter, Sister Joanne | 2019 | Education and Religion | educator and religious leader |
| Goodwin, Russell B. | 1990 | Sports and Athletics | high school and college football tar |
| Grimes, J. William | 2008 | Sports and Athletics | sports media executive |
| Hamm, Harry C. | 2000 | Public Service | newspaperman |
| Handlan, John B. “Jay” | 2015 | Sports and Athletics | college basketball star |
| Harshman, Marc | 2013 | Music and Fine Arts | poet and author |
| Hazlett, Robert C. | 2004 | Business, Industry, and Professions | Wheeling banker |
| Herndon, Judith | 1984 | Public Service | legislator |
| Hodges, Most Rev. Joseph H. | 1990 | Education and Religion | Catholic bishop |
| Hogan, Susan Cox | 2015 | Public Service | community activist |
| Holbert, Harry C. | 1982 | Music and Fine Arts | artist and educator |
| Hopkins, Budd | 1992 | Music and Fine Arts | artist and author |
| Howley, Chuck | 1980 | Sports and Athletics | football player |
| Hubbard, Chester R. | 1990 | Public Service | attorney and legislator |
| Hullihen, Dr. Simon P. | 1982 | Public Service | pioneer oral surgeon |
| Ihlenfeld, Charles L. | 1992 | Public Service | Wheeling mayor |
| Jones, Wilbur S. | 1980 | Business, Industry and Professions | executive |
| Kindleberger, James Howard | 1980 | Business, Industry and Professions | aeronautical engineer |
| Kirkpatrick, Dr. Forrest H. | 1992 | Education and Religion | educator and business executive |
| Kitchen, Ralph R. | 2011 | Business, Industry and Professions | master contractor |
| Kline, Elizabeth Stifel | 2011 | Philanthropy | philanthropist |
| Kossuth, George J. | 1980 | Music and Fine Arts | photographer |
| Laughlin, George A. | 1982 | Philanthropy | philanthropist, newspaperman, businessman |
| Lee, Everett | 2019 | Music and Fine Arts | ground-breaking African American conductor |
| Lewis, Rev. Clifford M. | 1994 | Education and Religion | priest, educator, and historian |
| Linsly, Noah | 1986 | Education and Religion | founder of Linsly Institute |
| Long, Howard W. | 1992 | Business, Industry and Professions | founder of Coronet Foods |
| Lutz, George W. | 2011 | Philanthropy | philanthropist |
| Magruder, Dennis | 2011 | Music and Fine Arts | entertainment venue manager |
| Maillard, Keith | 2004 | Music and Fine Arts | novelist |
| Marsh, Mifflin M. | 1990 | Business, Industry and Professions | cigar manufacturer |
| Meagel, Irene Doretta | 2002 | Philanthropy | philanthropist |
| Mehen, Bernie | 1992 | Sports and Athletics | Wheeling High Basketball great |
| Mercer, Dr. Donald | 2019 | Business, Industry and Professions | physician |
| Mercer, J. Loran | 2002 | Education and Religion | band director |
| Miller, Thomas B. | 2004 | Public Service | West Virginia Supreme Court Justice |
| Northwood, Harry C. | 1994 | Business, Industry and Professions | glass manufacturer |
| Nutting, G. Ogden | 2013 | Business, Industry and Professions | newspaper publisher |
| O'Brien, Tim | 2006 | Music and Fine Arts | bluegrass musician |
| Ogden, H. C. | 1982 | Business, Industry and Professions | newspaper publisher and industrialist |
| Oglebay, Earl W. | 1980 | Philanthropy | leader of iron industry and philanthropist |
| O’Leary, Harold G. “Hal” | 2008 | Music and Fine Arts | community theatre leader |
| Owens, John Joseph "J. J." | 2019 | Music and Fine Arts | oil painter and surgical illustrator |
| Owens, Michael Joseph | 2002 | Business, Industry and Professions | glass industrialist and inventor |
| Peterson, B. Walker | 1994 | Philanthropy | businessman and community leader |
| Peyton, Ronald G. | 2019 | Sports and Athletics | physical therapist pioneer |
| Phillimore, The Reverend Margaret Bird Caldwell | 2006 | Education and Religion | church leader |
| Pollack, Augustus | 2013 | Business, Industry and Professions | Businessman (Stogies) |
| Warren, Pugh: | 2006 | Sports and Athletics | sports official |
| Quarrier, Mary E. “Fritzi” Stifel | 1980 | Sports and Athletics | golfer |
| Reed, Mary Louise Butler | 1986 | Education and Religion | leader of King's Daughters organization |
| Reed, Phillip Nathaniel | 1998 | Education and Religion | educator and community leader |
| Reeves, Dr. James Edmund | 2011 | Business, Industry and Professions | community health advocate |
| Reger, John | 1998 | Sports and Athletics | football player |
| Reuther, Walter P. | 1980 | Public Service | labor leader |
| Reymann, Anton | 2008 | Philanthropy | brewer and philanthropist |
| Rivlin, Jule | 1980 | Sports and Athletics | basketball player and coach |
| Roe, Bob | 1984 | Sports and Athletics | football coach |
| Romanoski, Stanley | 2013 | Sports and Athletics | track and cross country coach |
| Rybeck, Dr. Arthur | 2015 | Philanthropy | dentist, inventor, and organic farmer |
| Schenk, Otto | 1984 | Philanthropy | businessman and civic leader |
| Schmitt, Most Rev. Bernard W. | 2011 | Education and Religion | Catholic bishop |
| Schiffler, Margaret McCluskey | 1982 | Philanthropy | philanthropist, businesswoman |
| Schrader, Henry Stifel | 1998 | Philanthropy | philanthropist |
| Schwinn, Dr. Jacob | 1986 | Public Service | physician and surgeon |
| Seibert, George H. Jr. | 1982 | Public Service | legislator |
| Smith, Dr. Harlan J. | 1998 | Business, Industry and Professions | astronomer |
| Spears, Ralph Reed | 2000 | Business, Industry and Professions | industrialist |
| Statler, Ellsworth M. | 1984 | Business, Industry and Professions | hotel businessman, founder of the Statler Hotels |
| Steber, Eleanor | 1980 | Music and Fine Arts | Opera singer |
| Stifel, George E. | 1980 | Philanthropy | philanthropist |
| Stifel, Johann Ludwig | 1984 | Business, Industry and Professions | pioneer industrialist |
| Stone, Wilbur E. | 1984 | Philanthropy | president of Stone & Thomas and civic leader |
| Strider, Rt. Rev. Robert E. Lee | 1982 | Education and Religion | Episcopal bishop of W. Va. |
| Strider, Robert E. Lee II | 1982 | Education and Religion | educator |
| Sullivan, Patrick J. | 1980 | Music and Fine Arts | painter |
| Summers, Earl Jr. | 2004 | Music and Fine Arts | musician |
| Sweeney, Andrew J. | 1986 | Business, Industry and Professions | industrialist, mayor |
| Swint, Most Rev. John J., D.D. | 1980 | Education and Religion | Catholic Archbishop |
| Valan, Michael J. | 1986 | Sports and Athletics | sports promoter |
| Van Horne Bill | 2002 | Sports and Athletics | sportswriter |
| Vance, James Nelson | 2015 | Business, Industry and Professions | industrialist |
| Wagner, Wesley J. | 2002 | Music and Fine Arts | artist and educator |
| Weiss, William E. | 1980 | Business, Industry and Professions | founder of Sterling Drug Co. |
| Welty, Clara M. | 1980 | Philanthropy | philanthropist |
| West, Gary E. | 2008 | Business, Industry and Professions | entrepreneur |
| Whelan, Richard V. | 1984 | Education and Religion | first bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling |
| White, James S. "Doc" | 1986 | Public Service | pharmacist, civic leader |
| Williams, Doc | 1984 | Music and Fine Arts | country music star |
| Worls, G. Randolph “Randy” | 2000 | Public Service | CEO Wheeling Park Commission |
| Brennan, Margaret Ann "Peg" | 2017 | Education and Religion | historian and archivist |
| Felton, J. Ross | 2017 | Business, Industry and Professions | promoter |
| Frissel, Dr. John | 2017 | Business, Industry and Professions | physician, co-founder of Wheeling Hospital |
| Nutting, Betty Woods "Snookie" | 2017 | Public Service | building preservationist |
| O'Brien, Mollie | 2017 | Music and Fine Arts | Grammy Award-winning singer |
| Sand, Charles P. | 2017 | Sports and Athletics | athletic trainer |
| Sands, Harry S. & Helen Turner | 2017 | Philanthropy | philanthropists |
| Stamp, Judge Frederick P. | 2017 | Public Service | legislator and Federal judge |
| Villamagna, Robert | 2017 | Music and Fine Arts | mixed media artist |
| O'Leary, Harold G. "Hal" | 2008 | Music and Fine Arts | community theatre leader |
| Huss, Carl Richard | 2000 | Business, Industry and Professions | aeronautical engineer |
| O'Leary, Sister Anne Regina, S.S.J. | 2000 | Education and Religion | Wheeling Central principal, general superior |
| Phillis, Marilyn Hughey | 2000 | Music and Fine Arts | renowned watercolor artist |
