City of Huntington Foundation, Inc.
Greater Huntington Area Wall of Fame
Annually, the City of Huntington Foundation recognizes up to four individuals who have made signifigant contributions to the greater Huntington area through civic or political achievments, artistic endeavors, athletic accomplishments, and/or acting as an outstanding ambassador for Huntington. Each autumn, the foundation hosts it's annual "Greater Huntington Wall of Fame" awards dinner to announce new inductees into this special hall of recognition. Anyone, outside of the foundation's Board of Directors, can submit a nomination for an individual who may be worthy of selection. Nominations are received until June 30th each year. Members of the foundation select each year's honorees from nominations received from the community as a whole. After the awards dinner, brass plaques featuring the names and pictures of the honorees are added to the wall at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena. For submission criteria, please contact the foundation at (304) 696-5522 or click the following link:
2020 Wall of Fame Inductees
2019 Wall of Fame Inductees
John S. Anderson
Be it known that John S. Anderson has, on this Seventeenth day of October 2019, been elected to the Greater Huntington Wall of Fame. John was born in Huntington, WV on July 5, 1941 the son of the late Spencer M. and Margret Anderson. John was raised with the philosopy of always caring for others and giving back to the community. He attended Marshall Lab School in 1946 and he graduated with a BBA Cum Laude from Marshall University in 1963. John married his wife Patty (Hogg) and they have two children, Chris and Sharon as well as six grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Volunteering is John's passion and along with his wife, Patty, shared the Distinguished Service Award at the Annual Chamber of Commerce Dinner while living and working for INCO in Ellwood City, Pa. In later years he was presented the National Presidential Volunteer Award issed by President George W. Bush. He has been president of the John W. Hereford Boys and Girls Club in Huntington for the last 15 years plus an additional 3 years in the 1970's and received the club's highest national volunteer award. He has helped to raise approximately $3,000,000 during the past 15 years to be used for the operation of the clubs. This included serving 29,000 meals in 2018 for up to 150 youth age 6 - 18, in addition to providing a safe, drug-free, health and educational environment. John has served as president of the Board of Riverview Manor, a high rise for the elderly and disabled for the past 26 years. The Manor originated as a mission project of the First Presbyterian Church and has 114 apartments. It provided a safe and affordable home for the residents with many activities and a hot meal provided five days a week at a reduced rate. He is a member of the Huntington Rotary Club and is a Paul Harris Fellow. As a Rotarian, he has chaired the Steven J. Kopp Rotary Scholarship Committee for many years where a local Huntington High School senior receives up to $5,000 to attend Marshall University. With the exception of the twelve years in Pennsylvania, John has been a member of First Presbyterian Church where he has seved as both a deacon and elder. In addition, John served as chairman of the stewardship committee, personnel committee, greeter and ushering team captain. John has a long work history: seven years at Camden Park, close to 25 years with INCO and 29 years with Stationer's and Champion Industries finally retiring as President of Stationer's Inc. in May 2016. For all of his dedication to the youth and elderly citizens of Huntington, the City of Huntington Foundation, Inc. is honored to induct John S. Anderson to the Greater Huntington Wall of Fame.
David E. Becker (1926 - 2014)
Be it known that David E. Becker has, on this Seventeenth day of October, 2019, been elected to membership in the Greater Huntington Wall of Fame. David was born in Huntington, WV September 2, 1926. He graduated from Huntington East high School in 1944 and joined the U. S. Army. He was stationed in Paris, France. He returned to pursue studies in music receiving Bachelor of Music and Master degrees from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. David returned to Huntington and worked for 15 years in the family Business, Becker Music Store, from the early 1960’s through 1966. While working at Becker Music Store, David played in the Charleston Symphony (now the West Virginia Symphony) and in a professional piano quintet. In 1966, David became band director at Wayne High School, bringing the program recognition throughout the state of West Virginia. Later he conducted the Ashland Community College Youth Orchestra. In 1976, he accepted a position as String Specialist for the Cabell County Schools. Through his leadership, he co-founded the Cabell County Youth Orchestra. He was a member of Music Educators National Conference and served as President of the West Virginia Chapter of the American String Teachers Association along with being the chair of the West Virginia All-State Orchestra. In 1985, he was named Supervisor of Music in Cabell County Public Schools. He was a member of the Steering Committee for the Birke Fine Arts Symposium at Marshall University from 1988 – 1992. He established the Tri-State “High School Night of the Arts” in 1989 and was a member of the CORE Committee for Ashland’s River Cities Cultural Council from 1987 -1991. David was the founding principal violist of the Huntington Chamber Orchestra (now the Huntington Symphony Orchestra). He was a lifetime member of the American Federation of Musicians, Retired Teachers Association, American Legion, Huntington Museum of Arts and YMCA. He was a lifelong member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Huntington. David was married to Carolyn H. Becker for 55 years and they have five daughters. Dr. Paul Whear, a previous inductee of the Greater Huntington Wall of Fame, stated “To put it simply, David Becker was the backbone of music education in Huntington and its entire school system.” For his life time of dedication to music and education the City of Huntington Foundation, Inc. is honored to induct David E. Becker to the Greater Huntington Wall of Fame.
Charlene Linsenmeyer Farrell
Be it known that Charlene Linsenmeyer Farrell has, on this Seventh day of October, 2019, been elected to membership in the Greater Huntington Wall of Fame. She is the daughter of the late Virginia and James Linsenmeyer. Charlene has dedicated her life to serving others throughout her nursing career. She was a practicing nurse at numerous hospitals including St. Mary’s Medical Center and Cabell Huntington Hospital and taught nursing at both Eastern Kentucky University and Marshall University. For over thirty years she led Hospice of Huntington as its CEO expanding services to five counties serving thousands of patients and their families. Charlene was instrumental in the creation of the Emogene Dolin Jones Hospice House, a homelike facility for the care of terminally ill patients and their families, situated on the confluence of the Ohio and Guyandotte Rivers. An advocate for the rights of the terminally ill, Charlene led Hospice of Huntington to become the first Medicare certified Hospice in the state and successfully lobbied for the passage of the West Virginia Hospice Licensure Law, the Surrogate Law, the inclusion of Hospice care for West Virginia Medicaid recipients and for the inclusion of Hospice benefits for veterans. Active in statewide organizations Charlene served as President for both the Hospice Council of West Virginia and the West Virginia Network of Ethics Committees. Among the many organizations Charlene volunteered for she served the longest with the American Red Cross culminating with service in New York City after 9/11 and for both Hurricanes Katrina and Irene. For her tireless efforts in advocating for Hospice services she was awarded the Herald Dispatch 2011 Citizens Special Impact Award, Distinguished West Virginian Award, Outstanding Career Achievement Award from the College of Mount St. Joseph, Health Care Hero State Journal Award, and Lifetime Achievement Award Hospice Council of West Virginia. Charlene is married to Judge Paul T. Farrell and has three sons and seven grandchildren. She describes her life’s work as serving God, her family and those God has put in her path. For her dedication to the health and well being of the citizens in our area and her passion for nursing and helping others, the City of Huntington Foundation, Inc. is proud to add Charlene Linsenmeyer Farrell to the Greater Huntington Wall of Fame.
Judy K. Rule
Be it known that Judy K. Rule has, on this seventeenth day of October, 2019, been elected to membership in the Greater Huntington Wall of Fame. Judy grew up in Fayette County, West Virginia. She is the daughter of Soley Woodson and Ruth Kirkwood Rule. She attended elementary and high school at Gauley Bridge and graduated from Concord College, now Concord University. She obtained her library degree from Indiana University in Bloomington. She graduated with her Master of Library Science degree from Indiana in late August 1967 and began working as Coordinator of Adult Services at the Cabell County Public Library in September. This was a new position created by a law establishing the Cabell County Public Library passed by the West Virginia Legislature. This gave the library stable funding and allowed James B. Nelson, Director, the ability to hire additional professional staff. During her more than fifty years at Cabell County Public Library, she has seen it grow from three to seven branches and all of them, with the exception of Barboursville, built during her time at the library. She is currently working to replace the building at Barboursville with a building twice the size of the current library. The Library automated the catalog and circulation system in the early 1980’s, the first library in West Virginia to do so. She was appointed Director of the Library in 1984 and still holds that position. The Library has grown in many other ways during the years—active web sites and active on social media, notary services, electronic materials that are accessible through the internet, a drive-up window, and a parking lot at the Main Library. She has been active at both the state and national levels of library service. She has served the West Virginia Library Association (WVLA) as secretary, vice-president and president. She has been the elected representative to the American Library Association serving as Councilor, also serving as representative to the Southeastern Library Association. She served as one of West Virginia’s delegates to the second White House Conference on Libraries. She received the Dora Ruth Parks Award from WVLA in 1985. In the Huntington community, she served with several local organizations, including Rotary Club, Delta Kappa Gamma, and Quota Club. She is an alumni of Leadership West Virginia and has served on the Board of Directors of Leadership Tri-State, the Tri-State Literacy Council, and Publisher’s Place. She is always interested in seeing what she and the Library can do to make Huntington and Cabell County the best it can be. For her community leadership and dedication to the areas library system, the City of Huntington is proud to induct Judy K. Rule to the Greater Huntington Wall of Fame.
James W. St Clair
Be it known that James St Clair has, on this Seventeenth day of October, 2019, been elected to membership in the Greater Huntington Wall of Fame. Jim was born in Charleston, WV on April 1, 1935. His family saw more opportunities in Huntington where they relocated to in 1937. He graduated from Huntington High School where he was elected Governor of WV Mountaineers’ Boys State. Jim was also selected as Captain of the WV All-State Football Team, lettered in football (Academic All-American), and wrestling (National Wrestling Hall of Fame). He earned his BA in history from University of Virginia (Dean’s List) and his Juris Doctor Degree from UVA Law School. St Clair has served on the boards of First Huntington National Bank, ABA International Senior Lawyers Project, Senior Lawyers Division of West Virginia, West Virginia Bar Association, WVBA’s Executive Council and President of the West Virginia Board of Bar Examiners. He was past President of the Huntington Symphony Orchestra and Greater Huntington Parks and Recreation District. He has pursued many Huntington historical preservations projects, notably the Heritage Village and the Coin Harvey House. His interest has been more than commercial projects, having converted the old Miller School property to a neighborhood multi-use park; rehabilitated the C.H. Freeman Estate and gave new life to the Masonic Temple Building. Jim and his wife Doris “Mickey” St. Clair, without whom, many of the projects would not be accomplished, have four talented children who have all graduated from the University of Virginia. He has assisted in the renovation of numerous residences in Huntington and served on several church committees. Jim has travelled the world spreading law practice management techniques to Ukraine, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, South Arica, Botswana, Zambia and Costa Rica. For his lifetime of achievements and dedication to leadership the City of Huntington Foundation, Inc is proud to induct James W. St Clair to the Greater Huntington Wall of Fame.
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800 5th Avenue, Huntington WV 25701