Joe Hushion, front center, poses for a picture with his family Friday at the Parkersburg Country Club. Friends and family gathered to celebrate Hushion and the recent announcement that the West Virginia Alumni Association will use the proceeds from the 82nd annual WVU Alumni Golf Tournament to endow a scholarship in his name. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

VIENNA — Friends and family of Joe Hushion gathered Friday at the Parkersburg Country Club to celebrate Hushion and the recent announcement that the West Virginia University Alumni Association will use the proceeds from the 82nd annual WVU Alumni Golf Tournament to endow a scholarship in his name.

“I’ve always had a warm place in my heart for West Virginia University,” Hushion said. “It’s an honor for me to receive this recognition.”

A letter from the alumni association said The Loyalty Permanent Endowment Fund conducts the annual golf tournament each year and it was held in Parkersburg this year. The letter said it was unanimously decided the proceeds from this tournament would go to endow a scholarship in Hushion’s name.

“We can think of no more fitting person to receive this accolade since anyone who knows Joe (Hushion) knows how much he loves West Virginia University,” the letter said.

Hushion was born May 16, 1930, graduated from Parkersburg High School in 1948 and from West Virginia University in 1952.

Guests look at letters and notes addressed to Joe Hushion Friday at the Parkersburg Country Club. Friends and family gathered to celebrate Hushion and the recent announcement that the West Virginia Alumni Association will use the proceeds from the 82nd annual WVU Alumni Golf Tournament to endow a scholarship in his name. The letters included handwritten notes from former Florida State University head coach Bobby Bowden and former West Virginia basketball coach Gale Catlett. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

For many years Hushion was a local fundraiser for the WVU athletic department.

He began his work for his alma mater when the late Jim Carlen was football coach and he remains friends with former WVU head football coach Bobby Bowden.

Personal letters from Bowden, and other WVU coaches such as former West Virginia basketball coach Gale Catlett, were on hand for guests to read.

Hushion said 44 members of his family were on hand to help him celebrate Friday but he didn’t know they would be there.

“They surprised me,” Hushion said. “I have a big family and family means everything.”

Douglass Huxley can be reached at dhuxley@newsandsentinel.com