Waters

PARKERSBURG — A judge will receive the 2025 William P.A. Nicely Award for Lifetime Achievement in Public Service that is given to a Republican by the Wood County Republican Party.

Wood County Circuit Judge Robert A. Waters will be celebrated at a dinner at 6 p.m. Nov. 13 at the Wood County Resiliency Carter.

The Nicely Award honors lifetime achievement of a Republican from Wood County who has held elected or appointed office.

“It’s an honor to receive the award,” Waters said. “I knew Mayor Nicely and I am acquainted with Mayor Nicely and his family.”

Among past recipients are Tom Azinger, Frank Deem, Edwin L.D. Dils, Daniel B. Douglass, Bob Fish, Steve Grimm, Arthur N. Gustke, Carol Jones, Lewis Rexroad, Holmes R. “Butch” Shaver, Turner Sturm and Bob Tebay.

“It’s an honor to be in their company,” he said.

The Nicely Award is awarded every two years.

“I am very pleased that Judge Waters is receiving this coveted award. His long service as Circuit Judge has brought great credit to him that is recognized throughout West Virginia,” Scot Heckert, Wood County Republican Party Chairman and a member of the selection committee, said.

The award is named after the late William P.A. Nicely and was established in 1992 after his death. Nicely was mayor of Parkersburg for three terms and served five terms in the West Virginia House of Delegates.

Waters was born and raised in Parkersburg. He graduated from Parkersburg High School, West Virginia Wesleyan College in 1976 and the West Virginia University College of Law in 1979 where he was a member of the West Virginia Law Review and won the AmJur Award in Criminal Law.

He has served 45 years on the Board of Trustees of the Henry Logan Children’s Home and four terms as its president and is an Eagle Scout, a Rotarian and a Golden Horseshoe winner.

He and his wife, Robin, a magistrate in Wood County, have three children and one grandchild.

The award will be presented at the dinner. Tickets are $75 and may be purchased from the Republican Executive Committee by calling 304-424-7000. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with dinner starting at 6 p.m.