ALUMNI “WALL OF HONOR” The West Liberty University Alumni Board of Directors instituted a project in 1990 to demonstrate to current students, visitors, and friends that the college has some very successful graduates. This project, known as the “Alumni Wall of Honor,” is a dramatic way to honor some of the college’s most distinguished alumni and display pride in the accomplishments of its graduates. The concept was suggested by then Associate Professor of Physics Robert W. Schramm, who is a 1958 graduate of the college and a 2002 Alumni Wall of Honor inductee. The Alumni Wall of Honor is housed in the south end of the Union known as the Alumni Lounge.
John Blangor
John Blangor Jr., a 1983 graduate of Steubenville High School (Big Red) in Steubenville, Ohio,
was an accomplished wrestler during his tenure, securing the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference
Championship at the 138-weight class and earning the Crosier Memorial Award as the most valuable wrestler in 1983.
After high school, he attended West Liberty University in West Liberty, West Virginia, graduating in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. His time at West Liberty also saw success on the wrestling team, including a 6th place finish in the 1985 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Tournament. He was recognized with the Christian Athlete of the Year award in 1987 for his positive influence on Ohio’s youth.
Blangor’s professional career began as a Loss Prevention Manager at Hills Department Store in
Brentwood, West Virginia. In June 1988, he joined the Department of Justice within the Federal Bureau of Prisons, where he advanced from Senior Officer Specialist, Lieutenant, Intelligence Officer, Deputy Captain and then Emergency Preparedness Officer before retiring in 2018.
Throughout his 30 years with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Blangor held various roles and engaged in significant initiatives, including serving on the Special Operations Response Team from 1989-1992 and collaborating with the Federal Bureau of Investigations (F.B.I) during the World Trade Center crisis. He also contributed to the F.B.I’s Cold Case Crimes Unit and the Gang Task Force.
Today, John resides in Madison, Mississippi, with his wife, Verna Blangor. Following in his footsteps, his son, Myles Thomas-Blangor also works for the Federal Government in the US Postal Service in Loganville, Georgia. John continues to support the Blangor, Bunch, Hudson, and Spinner Scholarship Fund, aimed at providing financial assistance to Steubenville Big Red students pursuing higher education at West Liberty University.