President Emeritus Dr. Clyde Campbell Inducted into Wheeling Hall of Fame

WHEELING, W.Va., June 1, 2015 — West Liberty University’s former president, Dr. Clyde D. Campbell of Wheeling, was inducted into the Wheeling Hall of Fame at a festive dinner ceremony, held on Saturday, May 30 at WesBanco Arena.

“I’m proud of Wheeling – I’ve lived here all my life,” Campbell said. “I’m proud to be a part of the Wheeling Hall of Fame. It’s an honor I’ll cherish forever.”

His wife Joan, his daughter Leslie Ann and grandchildren attended the induction and shared in the honor.

Wheeling Hall of Fame Board member Dr. David T. Javersak gave the presentation and made the formal induction of Dr. Campbell. Dr. Javersak is a former professor and dean of the College of Liberal Arts.

Dr. Campbell was nominated in the category of Public Service. He was a scientist, educator, wellness advocate and community booster, according to Javersak’s presentation.

He earned undergraduate degrees in chemistry from West Liberty, where his classmates honored him with the distinction of Mr. Hilltopper, the student body’s most prestigious award.

He earned advanced degrees from North Carolina State and West Virginia University. In the early 1960s, he worked at Mobay Chemical as senior research chemist and in 1967, he returned to West Liberty to chair the School of Natural Sciences.

He went on to hold post of dean of administration and academics, and from 1984 – 1995, he served as West Liberty’s president.

Also inducted into the Hall of Fame Saturday was former West Liberty dance instructor Mary Elizabeth Fassig, in the category of Music and Fine Arts. A Wheeling dance icon, she began her career in New York City when she performed on the vaudeville stage. After that she returned to Wheeling, set up a renowned dance studio, and instructed thousands of students for 60 years.

She worked with NYC theatre professional Stanley Harrison, former theater director at West Liberty, to present the annual spring musical for many years and taught dance to West Liberty students. She was presented and inducted by WLU Director of Media Relations Maureen Zambito, also a member of the Wheeling Hall of Fame Board. Her son Kurt Keyser of Virginia Beach, Va., accepted the award for his mother, who died in 1986.

The Wheeling Hall of Fame is housed at WesBanco Arena, and was begun in 1980. Both former and present Wheeling residents are nominated, researched and voted on by the board, which is appointed by the mayor. Other inductees for 2015 include: Sports and Athletics, John B. “Jay” Handlan; Business, Industry and Professions, Frederick Faris and James Nelson Vance; Philanthropy, Arthur Rybeck; Music and Fine Arts, Billy Cox; Public Service, Susan Hogan and Education and Religion, Allan Connolly.

Each candidate must have served in a specific field that brought honor to Wheeling. Hall of Famers must have achieved success and received recognition in one of six major categories: music and fine arts; business, industry, and professions; education and religion; sports and athletics; public service; and philanthropy.

For Wheeling News-Register coverage of the event, please click here.