History Heroes - W. A. G. S.
THE HISTORY HERO AWARD
The State of West Virginia has asked that state, county and local historical, genealogical, preservation, patriotic and/or museum organizations nominate a significant member for a History Hero Award for his/her dedicated service for the organization's programs or a recent significant contribution to state and local history through research, interpretation, publication or preservation. The winners are honored at an annual event in Charleston.
In addition to the Wheeling Area Genealogical Society, other organizations in Wheeling, such as the Historical Society, the D. A. R., and Independence Hall, also nominate individuals for the award. All are listed on the Archives' website.
History Hero Award, WV Archives & History
2008
Phyllis
PHYLLIS WALTERS - Nominated by the W. A. G. S.
PHYLLIS WALTERS, currently serving as recording secretary for the Wheeling Area Genealogical Society, started by filing obituaries for the late Audra Wayne. She took over the task in 1998 and since has developed her own system. She spends 20-30 hours per week on obituary filing work. Additionally, Phyllis has served on the book committeee and assisted others with their tasks.
2007
Nancy
NANCY LEWELLEN ROE - Nominated by the W. A. G. S.
NANCY LEWELLEN ROE has served the Wheeling Area Genealogical Society (WAGS) as its president, vice president, and secretary. She has been a volunteer in the Wheeling room and has trained others to help. Always a willing worker, Roe gladly volunteers to work at expos, book sales, fairs, and other events. She has also done research for others and made contributions to WAGS's Web page on the internet. At present, Roe is compiling Ohio County Infirmary (Poor Farm) records and Oakland Cemetery records.
2006
June
JUNE JEFFERSON - Nominated by the W. A. G. S.
June Jefferson copied application records for naturalization and transferred them to pages, resulting in the creation of eleven indexed books covering the period of 1837-1904. Jefferson also created a book from more than two hundred memorial cards that she collected, copied, and alphabetized. These books have been added to the Ohio County Public Library. She hopes to produce another book with cards from all over the United States.
2005
Linda
LINDA CUNNINGHAM FLUHARTY - Nominated by the W. A. G. S.
Wheeling native, Linda Cunningham Fluharty, a resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, created and maintains the website of the Wheeling Area Genealogical Society, as well as the West Virginia GenWeb sites for Marshall, Pleasants and Calhoun Counties. She also has websites for four complete West Virginia Civil War regiments, all related to the Wheeling area. Linda has compiled three Civil War books: On the Way Home... West Virginia Soldiers on the Sultana; Civil War - West Virginia, Union Lives Lost and The Civil War Letters of Lt. Milton B. Campbell, 12th West Virginia Infantry.
2003
Bill
WILLIAM E. MAXWELL - Nominated by the W. A. G. S.
William E. Maxwell of Wheeling is an asset to the Wheeling Area Genealogical Society (WAGS) and to the patrons of the Wheeling Room of the Ohio County Public Library, which houses the society's record collection. Mr. Maxwell's contributions include collecting and maintaining newspaper articles for the vertical files; working as a volunteer to help visitors; serving as chairman of the book committee; and volunteering to work at genealogy fairs and expos. He is presently serving as treasurer and corresponding secretary of the society. Nominated by the WAGS.
2002
Clarice
CLARICE ELLER STANLEY - Nominated by the W. A. G. S.
Clarice (Eller) Stanley resides in Martins Ferry, Ohio but she is a native West Virginian and a pillar of the area genealogy community. She has devoted much of her life to the research of many of the Ohio Valley pioneer families, the Yoho Family among them. Clarice is always willing to share her work and is extremely generous with her time, as she helps others, including on the Internet. She is a volunteer researcher for the Marshall County Historical Society and has held a number of positions in the Daughters of the American Revolution.
2001
Mary
MARY E. COSS STALEY - Nominated by the W. A. G. S.
Mary E. (Coss) Staley, Martins Ferry, Ohio, a member of the the Wheeling Area Genealogical Society (WAGS), has been an untiring advocate for the advancement of genealogical research in the Wheeling area. Her numerous activities include the compilation of local cemetery, church, census and marriage records for publication. She volunteers each Tuesday in the Wheeling Room of the Ohio County Public Library, helping researchers access available resources. Staley co-sponsors the WAGS web page and presently serves as vice-president, program chairman and hospitality chairman for the group.
1999
John
JOHN R. LOGAN, Nominated by the W. A. G. S.
Mr. John R. Logan was chosen as our History Hero for 1999. On West Virginia History Day, March 4, he received his History Hero Award at the Capitol Building in Charleston. John has worked 2 afternoons every week for over 20 years in the Wheeling Room answering questions, guiding folks to the right section, sharing history and genealogy, stacking and reshelving books. Whatever you were looking for, John knew where to find it.
(NOTE: Mr. Logan died Wednesday, March 1, 2000, in Wheeling Hospital.)
1998
MARGARET BRENNEN - Nominated by the W. A. G. S.
MARY LOU HENDERSON - Nominated by Wheeling Area Historical Society.
1997
Phyllis
PHYLLIS DYE SLATER - Nominated by the W. A. G. S.
AUDRA RICKEY WAYNE - Nominated by the W. A. G. S.
Phyllis Slater and Audra Wayne were selected as the W.A.G.S.'s first "History Heroes" for their major contributions in the realm of history and genealogy in the Wheeling area. They were among the founders of the Wheeling Room at the Ohio County Public Library and they devoted countless hours to provide an abundance of materials for researchers. Audra died in 1999 and Phyllis continues, with others, to carry on their important work.
