WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., Jan. 26, 2015 — West Liberty University Foundation Board welcomed its new chairman, Richard Lucas, at its first meeting of 2015, as it also greeted its newest member, Dr. Henry Marockie.
Chairman Richard Lucas now leads the board after serving as secretary for several years. He follows Leslie “Les” DeFelice, who stepped down to accept a position on the WLU Board of Governors.
“I am pleased to be elected chair of the Foundation and look forward to working with all our distinguished board members as we continue to support the important mission of higher education for our students,” Lucas said.
A native of Wellsburg, Lucas is a resident of Wheeling and West Liberty alumnus. He is currently president and chief executive officer of Main Street Bank, positions he has held since 2000.
Lucas also is a founding director and officer of Main Street Bank, the first new bank started in Ohio County since 1964.
Lucas also serves on the boards of the Wheeling Chapter of CPAs, the Centre Market Commission of the City of Wheeling, the Ohio Valley Industrial Business Development Corporation (now known as RED) and the Seeing Hand Association.
He and his wife Barbara and have a son, Brice, who is a student at Wheeling Park High School.
Dr. Marockie is former state superintendent of schools and a West Liberty University alumnus.
“We are very pleased to have Dr. Marockie join the foundation. His knowledge of education and the state of West Virginia, along with his devotion to his alma mater, makes him especially well-suited for the duties of a board member,” said Executive Director Christine Carder. Marockie was elected to the Board at the Oct. 10, 2014 meeting.
Marockie served as state superintendent for nearly 11 years, retiring in 2000. Prior to that, he was superintendent of Ohio County Schools for 17 years.
He has served as vice chair of two national boards dealing with technology rate discounts for schools and libraries, the Universal Service Administrative Company and the Schools and Libraries Corporation. He was formerly national chairman of the Compact for Learning and Citizenship in conjunction with the Education Commission of the States.
He is a past president of the Council of Chief State School Officers and the School Building Authority in West Virginia. He has also served on the advisory panel of the National Education Goals Panel and was a member of ArtsEdTech, a national committee for embracing the arts through technology.
Marockie earned his undergraduate degree at West Liberty State College and his doctoral degree at West Virginia University. He is married to fellow educator, Dr. Mary Marockie, and they reside in Woodsdale.
Other members include: E. Marc Abraham (treasurer), Glen Dale, W.Va.; Jack C. Adams, McMurray, Pa.; Marty Adams, Salineville, Ohio; Jason Blair, Arlington, Va.; John Bonassi, Pittsburgh, Pa.; Clyde D. Campbell, Wheeling; President Robin C. Capehart, Wheeling; Louis Cardamone, The Villages, Fla.; David R. Croft, Wheeling; John Dolan, Indiana, Pa.; Russell Dunkin, Wheeling; Lynne Exley, Wheeling; James Frum, Wheeling; Daniel I. Joseph DDS, Wheeling; Bob Kota, Wheeling; Norman B. Moyes, Brighton, Mass.; Judith Bartell Paesani (secretary), Wheeling; E. Alex Paris, III, Atlasburg, Pa.; Thomas Reinbold, Surprise, Ariz.; Cynthia Stickley, Powell, Ohio; Will Turani, Wheeling; Gary West, Naples, Fla.; Kristina Williams; Gibsonia, Pa.
Emeritus members include: R. Emmett Boyle, St. Clairsville, Ohio; Carlyle D. Farnsworth, Wheeling; Roland L. Hobbs, Wheeling; Fred Horne, Scottsdale, Ariz. and Wheeling; Robert Joseph, MD, Wheeling; R. Clark Morton, Esq., Wheeling; Andrew Pasden, Cambridge, Md.; Peter Sontag, Clearwater, Fla.; Richard Stevenson MD, Morgantown, W.Va. and G. Randolph Worls, Wheeling.
The West Liberty University Foundation supports the University through the cultivation, investment and stewardship of private funds. For more information, please contact Carder at chris.carder@westliberty.edu or 304-336-5635.