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)
➤ 2025 Wheeling Hall of Fame Program
➤ 2023 Wheeling Hall of Fame Program
➤ 2021 Wheeling Hall of Fame Program
➤ 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 |
| Allen, Lisa | 2021 | Business, Industry and Professions | past president and CEO of the Ziegenfelder Company |
| 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, Jesse A. | 2025 | Public Service | politician and friend of labor |
| 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 |
| Boos, Karla | 2021 | Music and Fine Arts | founder of Pittsburgh’s Quantum Theatre |
| Brennan, Margaret | 2017 | Education and Religion | local historian, archivist, and preservationist |
| 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 |
| Chambers, James Buchanan “J. B.” | 2021 | Philanthropy | entrepreneur and philanthropist |
| Connolly, Allan | 2015 | Education and Religion | educator |
| Corbett, John | 2015 | Music and Fine Arts | actor |
| Cornforth, Bill | 2025 | Education and Religion | educator |
| 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 |
| Davis, Scott | 2025 | Sports and Athletics | Golf champion |
| Devore, Leland S. | 1986 | Sports and Athletics | All-American football player |
| DiLorenzo, Ron | 2021 | Education and Religion | musician and educator |
| Dougherty, Jeanie Caldwell | 2025 | Music and Fine Arts | painter |
| Dungan, Ellis | 1994 | Music and Fine Arts | filmmaker |
| Efron, Mary Louise Snider | 2006 | Business, Industry and Professions | health researcher |
| Elikan, Ethel Clare | 1998 | Public Service | founder, Seeing Hand Association Inc. of Wheeling |
| Fahey, John Edward “Jack” | 2011 | Public Service | political leader |
| Farnsworth, Sue Seibert | 2019 | Public Service | lawyer and education advocate |
| Felton, J. Ross | 2017 | Business, Industry and Professions | promoter |
| Fluty, Beverly | 2021 | Public Service | historic preservationist |
| 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 |
| Franzheim, Edward Bates | 2023 | Business, Industry and Professions | architect |
| Friend, Harriette Shull "Hydie" | 2019 | Public Service | historic preservation leader |
| Frissell, Dr. John | 2017 | Business, Industry and Professions | physician, co-founder of Wheeling Hospital |
| 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 |
| Hess, Mary Ann | 2023 | Philanthropy | philanthropist |
| 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 |
| Huff, Doug | 2021 | Sports and Athletics | sports writer and editor |
| Hullihen, Dr. Simon P. | 1982 | Public Service | pioneer oral surgeon |
| Huss, Carl Richard | 2000 | Business, Industry, and Professions | aeronautical engineer |
| Ihlenfeld, Charles L. | 1992 | Public Service | Wheeling mayor |
| Jones, Dr. Harriet B. | 2025 | Business, Industry and Professions | first woman licensed to practice medicine in West Virginia |
| Jones, Wilbur S. | 1980 | Business, Industry and Professions | executive |
| Joseph, Brian E. | 2025 | Business, Industry and Professions | tech entrepreneur |
| 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 |
| Levenson, Don | 2021 | Business, Industry and Professions | founder of Wheeling Antenna Company (WACO) |
| 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 |
| Mehen, Richard P. | 2025 | Sports and Athletics | Basketball great |
| Mercer, Dr. Donald | 2019 | Business, Industry and Professions | physician |
| Mercer, J. Loran | 2002 | Education and Religion | band director |
| Mercer, Dr. William C. | 2023 | Public Service | physician |
| Miller, Thomas B. | 2004 | Public Service | West Virginia Supreme Court Justice |
| Northwood, Harry C. | 1994 | Business, Industry and Professions | glass manufacturer |
| Nutting, Betty Woods "Snookie" | 2017 |
Public Service | building preservationist |
| Nutting, G. Ogden | 2013 | Business, Industry and Professions | newspaper publisher |
| O'Brien, Rev. James A., S.J. | 2023 | Education and Religion | educator and service leader |
| O'Brien, Mollie | 2017 | Music and Fine Arts | Grammy Award-winning singer |
| 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 |
| O'Leary, Sister Anne Regina, S.S.J. | 2000 | Education and Religion | Wheeling Central principal, general superior |
| Otten, Robert J. | 2023 | Public Service | designer |
| 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 |
| Parlin, Martha Clark and Robinson S. | 2025 | Philanthropy | Martha (teacher) and Robinson IRS agent and amateur photographer who created a photographic album showing industrial and nature scenes |
| Paull, Alfred | 2023 | Business, Industry and Professions | businessman |
| 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 |
| Phillis, Marilyn Hughey | 2000 | Music and Fine Arts | renowned watercolor artist |
| Pollack, Augustus | 2013 | Business, Industry and Professions | Businessman (Stogies) |
| Pugh, Warren | 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 |
| Saad, Charles P. | 2017 | Sports and Athletics | athletic trainer |
| Sands, Harry S. & Helen Turner | 2017 | Philanthropy | philanthropists |
| Schenk, Albert F. III and Kathlenn Hogan | 2019 | Philanthropy | philanthropists |
| 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 |
| Schoolcraft, Frances Mary | 2025 | Education and Religion | educator |
| Schrader, Henry Stifel | 1998 | Philanthropy | philanthropist |
| Schwinn, Dr. Jacob | 1986 | Public Service | physician and surgeon |
| Seibert, George H. Jr. | 1982 | Public Service | legislator |
| Sligar, Cliff | 2025 | Public Service | Fire Chief |
| Smith, Dr. Harlan J. | 1998 | Business, Industry and Professions | astronomer |
| Sonneborn, Charles L., Sr. | 2025 | Philanthropy | Helped create Wheeling Park and the Wheeling Park Commission |
| Spears, Ralph Reed | 2000 | Business, Industry and Professions | industrialist |
| Stamp, Judge Frederick P. | 2017 | Public Service | legislator and Federal judge |
| Stamp, Joan Corson | 2023 | Philanthropy | philanthropist |
| Statler, Ellsworth M. | 1984 | Business, Industry and Professions | hotel businessman, founder of the Statler Hotels |
| Steber, Eleanor | 1980 | Music and Fine Arts | Opera singer |
| Steckel, Edwin M., Jr. | 2023 | Sports and Athletics | Emmy-Award winning network television producer |
| Stifel, George E. | 1980 | Philanthropy | philanthropist |
| Stifel, Johann Ludwig | 1984 | Business, Industry and Professions | pioneer industrialist |
| Stinson, Rev. Willie F. | 2019 | Education and Religion | founder, Agape Baptist Church |
| Stobbs, Hugh | 2021 | Sports and Athletics | founder, Elby's distance race |
| 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 |
| Taylor, B.E. | 2021 | Music and Fine Arts | musician and recording artist |
| Thomas, Beatrice Ann | 2023 | Education and Religion | Wheeling's first African American nurse; social justice pioneer |
| Thurston, The Rev. Bonnie, Ph. D. | 2021 | Education and Religion | theolgian and poet |
| 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 |
| Villamagna, Robert | 2017 | Music and Fine Arts | mixed media artist |
| 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 |
| Wilkinson, Edith Lake | 2023 | Music and Fine Arts | artist |
| Williams, Chickie | 2023 | Music and Fine Arts | country music star |
| Williams, Doc | 1984 | Music and Fine Arts | country music star |
| Worls, G. Randolph “Randy” | 2000 | Public Service | CEO Wheeling Park Commission |
