Wheeling Hall of Fame

During the early planning stages for the Wheeling Civic Center, one of the members of the committee suggested that a "Hall of Fame" should be included in the Center to give recognition to former residents and present residents who had attained considerable distinction in some specific field and thus brought honor to their home city.

The City Council studied the matter, solicited suggestions for guidelines and procedures and in 1977 passed an ordinance creating a board of 18 citizens to nominate honorees.

The preamble from the Ordinance establishing the Hall of Fame Board reads as follows:

"A Hall of Fame to honor Wheeling citizens and former citizens for outstanding accomplishments in all walks of life shall be established in the halls of the Wheeling Civic Center. While outstanding public services were rendered by our founding fathers and early citizens, these worthy deeds are recognized by historical publications and appropriately honored in other halls, museums and memorials. Therefore, honorees in the Wheeling Hall of Fame shall be selected on the basis of accomplishments after 1863 [later amended to 1836). For Purposes of selection and designation, the human endeavors of the honorees shall be divided into the following six major categories:

"(1) Music and Fine Arts, (2) Business and Industry, (3) Education and Religion, (4) Sports and Athletics, (5) Public Service, and (6) Philanthropy."

Between 1980 and 1998 72 individuals were thus honored.