The Rev. George Nedeff, Parkersburg native, was one of five graduates inducted Friday into the West Virginia University College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences' 2012 Hall of Fame. A reception and induction ceremony, marking the 25th anniversary of the college's Hall of Fame, were held at the Erickson Alumni Center. Nedeff, a 1959 graduate of Parkersburg High School, flew in for the ceremony from Texas, where he is a Catholic priest serving as a parochial vicar at St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Robstown. Nedeff earned a bachelor's degree in physical education from WVU in 1963 and a master's degree in secondary education from WVU in 1965. While at WVU, he was captain of the wrestling team and a letterman in football. Nedeff served as WVU's wrestling coach from 1967-1972 and director of athletic facilities from 1972-1997. He was inducted into the WVU Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1990 and received the National Wrestling Hall of Fame's "Outstanding American" award in 2008. Each year, the WVU wrestling team awards the "George Nedeff Outstanding Wrestler Award" in his honor. Attending Friday's induction in Morgantown were Nedeff's brother Michael and sisters Teresa and Roma, all of Parkersburg.
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Alvin and Jean Phillips of Parkersburg spent an inspiring weekend Sept. 28-29 attending the Clarence Jordan Symposium in Americus, Ga., celebrating the 70th anniversary of Koinonia Farm and the 100th birthday of its founder, Clarence Jordan. The Phillipses were among 125 guests at a dinner held by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, who were honorary chairmen of the symposium. Jordan, a Baptist minister, farmer and civil rights leader, founded the Koinonia Farm in Georgia that led to ministries such as Habitat for Humanity. Jimmy Carter, who just turned 88, remains sharp and well spoken, said Alvin Phillips, executive director of Wood County Habitat for Humanity. Phillips attended a Carter work project to build homes for needy families in 1997 in Pikeville, Ky., and Sunday School classes taught by the former president in Plains, Ga. "He (Carter) put his hand on my shoulder at the dinner and shook hands with everyone in the room," Phillips said. Phillips described Carter as a "fascinating man," who, joined by Rosalynn, plans to attend a work project in Haiti next month.
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Vienna native Mike Fulton received a flurry of emails, text messages and tweets last Sunday morning when he appeared on CBS News' "Sunday Morning" show about Washington lobbyists. Fulton, a 1975 graduate of Parkersburg High School and West Virginia University journalism graduate, is president of The Arnold Agency in Washington, D.C., and an experienced lobbyist. He has been named a "Top Lobbyist" in the nation's capital by The Hill newspaper and has many years of experience in federal government relations and public affairs. Fulton said "Sunday Morning" showed what lobbyists face and was a balanced show. "I helped the producer at CBS identify lobbyists and venues where they could film people in the profession," Fulton wrote in an email. "And I spoke candidly about how much I love helping clients, students, other lobbyists and journalists better understand how we can all participate in our democracy."
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Jim McGinnis of Parkersburg won't soon forget the western trip he took in September with his sons Eric, an architect in Nashville, and Jay, a civil engineer in Baltimore. The McGinnises flew into Bozeman, Mont., where they rented a car for a trip into Yellowstone National Park and surrounding areas. Jim enjoyed visiting Livingston, Mont., Yellowstone Lodge, Signal Mountain Lodge, Grand Teton, Chico Hot Springs resort and seeing Old Faithful and the wild animals in Yellowstone. They had lunch with Vienna native Harry Tebay, a fishing guide in Jackson, Wyo., but wildfires in the area prevented a fishing trip with Tebay, Jim said. "Yellowstone was a trip we had thought about for years," Jim said.
Contact Paul LaPann at plapann@newsandsentinel.com
