Three individuals who devoted much of their professional lives to the advancement of student success at West Virginia University will be inducted into the WVU Student Affairs Hall of Fame at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27.

The event in the Mountainlair will salute Horace Belmear, retired associate dean for Admissions and Records; Annette Smith Ireland, retired assistant director of Housing and Residence Life; and J .Joseph Lawless, retired director of Student Health.

Belmear , who resides in Morgantown with wife Geraldine whom he worked alongside for many years at WVU , recruited and mentored thousands of studentsparticularly African Americansduring his more than 22 years at WVU .

A reception the couple held each year to welcome new black students and faculty has continued even after their retirement and is now called the Horace and Geraldine Belmear Reception.

“Mr. Belmear, or”Happy”as we know him, has always found a way to encourage and support students,”said Dean Herman Moses,”and he has left a fine legacy of service to this institution.”

Before coming to WVU , Belmear was a coach and educator at Dunbar High School in Marion County, and also worked as dean of admissions at Allegheny Community College.

He was selected as a Distinguished West Virginian by then Gov. Gaston Caperton, and is well known in state athletic circles, having been selected West Virginia Coach of the Year and inducted into the West Virginia State College Sports Hall of Fame and the WVU Physical Education Hall of Fame.

Ireland also came into contact with several generations of WVU students during her 25 years with WVUs housing operations. From dietician to food service supervisor and finally assistant director of housing overseeing the four food service operations on two campuses, she made her mark at WVU .

“It was just common practice for Annette to conclude each year with a staff retreat to develop `wishes and dreams for the food service operations,”said Moses.”She was ahead of her time, really, in establishing on-the-job training, safety, quality control and assurance programs. She also helped establish an in-house recognition program.”

She served on a number of University committees and was a member of several professional associations including serving as president of the Association of College and University Housing Officers.

She currently resides in Gibsonia, Pa., with her husband Roger.

Lawless served WVU for 28 years as director of student health and assistant professor of medicine. He also was active in planning the WVU Medical Center in those early years when the schools of medicine and pharmacy were expanded and new schools of nursing and dentistry were added.

“From determining space needs to equipment to recruiting professional faculty and staff, Joe Lawless was instrumental in all phases of developing what are today some of the finest health care facilities and services in the country,”Moses said.

He also volunteered in the wider medical community with the West Virginia Tuberculosis and Health Association, serving as its president, and was also president of the Monongalia County Medical Society.

After retiring from WVU in 1971, Dr. Lawless practiced medicine for several years and then taught anatomy at the University of Florida.

He currently lives in Tampa, Fla., with is wife of 63 years, Louise. He remains active in Rotary and on the medical advisory board of his retirement community.

These three leaders join nine other individuals who have been inducted into the SA Hall of Fame since its inauguration in 1997. A permanent plaque bearing the name of the recipients hangs in Elizabeth Moore Hall.