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West Virginia Press Association honors 2023 Hall of Fame Class

WHEELING — Newspaper publishers from Wirt and Roane counties Saturday were inducted by the West Virginia Press Association into the Hall of Fame.

Members of the 2023 class are:

* Joe Mills, 1939-1990, Wirt County Journal, inducted by Jim McGoldrick, press association board member and publisher of the Wirt County Journal and owner of West Central Publishing.

* Mary Helen Hedges, 1921-2007, Roane County Reporter and Spencer Newspapers, inducted by David Hedges, her son and publisher of the Spencer Newspapers.

* J. Michael “Mike” Myer, 1951-2021, The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register, inducted by John McCabe of Ogden Newspapers.

* William Harper, 1808-1887, Morgantown Post, inducted by Don Smith, a member of the Hall of Fame Committee.

* Don Marsh, 1927-1999, The Charleston Gazette, inducted by Smith and Dr. Clay Marsh, the inductee’s son.

* Samuel “Craig” Shaw, 1874-1957, Moundsville Daily Echo, inducted by Smith.

Ceremonies were held Saturday at Oglebay Park in Wheeling.

Prior to the inductions, Smith, press association executive director, recognized the late Ogden Nutting of Ogden Newspapers. Smith read a tribute to the newspaper stalwart and told stories of Nutting’s work with reporters and talking of his efforts to develop community newspapers in West Virginia.

On Friday, the newspaper industry recognized current employees with its inaugural class of Rising Stars and MVPs.

Press Association Executive Director Betsy Miles and Jim Spanner, a press association board member and publisher of The Parkersburg News and Sentinel, announced the honorees.

Rising Stars Class of 2023 were:

(Outstanding employees with five years of experience or less at their company.)

* Samantha Cochran, Tyler Star News

* Nick Henthorn, sports editor, The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register

* Jennifer Lloyd, Production Specialist, Braxton Newspapers

* Rebecca Stalnaker, editor, West Virginia Daily News

* Charles Young, reporter, WV News and The Clarksburg Exponent Telegram

MVPs Class of 2023

(Outstanding employees with more than five years of experience at their company.)

* Janet M. Six, office manager, Braxton Newspapers

* Brian Clutter, operations director, The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register

* Sonia Swisher, promotions and events, WV News and The Clarksburg Exponent Telegram

* Susan Smith-Linton, general manager, West Virginia Daily News

* Vance Ash, Tyler Star News

* Christina Myer, editor, The Parkersburg News and Sentinel

* Jody Crouse, managing editor, Morgan Messenger

* Andrew Hedges, production manager, Spencer Newspapers

Miles said all donations in honor of the inductees and any profit raised from the celebration will be used by the West Virginia Press Association Foundation to fund paid internships and college scholarships for students interested in the newspaper industry. More information is available by contacting Miles at 304-342-1011 or BDeBord@wvpress.org.

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