Five state business leaders named to Hall of Fame at WVU

September 17th, 2002


Five leaders representing finance, industry and the media have been named to the 2002 West Virginia Business Hall of Fame. They will be inducted during a public ceremony at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, at the West Virginia University College of Business and Economics, which sponsors the event.


Those being honored as top business leaders with ties to West Virginia are:


  • Richard M. Adams, chairman and CEO , United Bankshares Inc.

  • A. Bray Cary, Jr., president and CEO , West Virginia Media Holdings LLC

  • G. Ogden Nutting, chairman, Ogden Newspapers Inc.

  • Verl O. Purdy, president and owner, AGDATA Inc.

  • Charles E. Ryan, chairman and CEO , Charles Ryan Associates Inc.


The inductees were chosen from among 35 nominations, which a committee sought throughout the summer.


“We could not have been more pleased with the number and caliber of nominations this year. It was a competitive field and the selection committee had a difficult task,”said B&E Dean Jay Coats.”The five we are honoring are among the top in accomplishment and definitely serve as role models for our students and other business people.”


Those inducted into the West Virginia Business Hall of Fame must have connections to West Virginia, either by birth, residence, education or business presence. They must also have established a record of distinction in their field and industry in the categories of national/international businesses, state-based enterprises or entrepreneurial and family businesses.


This is the second group to be inducted into the West Virginia Business Hall of Fame. The celebration of business was begun in 2001 during the colleges 50th anniversary celebration as a tribute to those who have demonstrated accomplishments in the world of business and provide models for entrepreneurs and business people of the future. Last years inductees were: former Gov. Gaston Caperton III , John Chambers, James”Buck”Harless, Milan Puskar, the late Ernest Hogan and the late R. Emmett Lynch Sr. and Mrs. R. Emmett Lynch.


For more information, visitwww.be.wvu.edu/fame.