Morgantown businessman James Gabriel, co-founder of the Gabriel Brothers retail chain, was recognized recently as a recipient of the Alumni Recognition Award from West Virginia University’s Eberly College of Arts and Sciences. He graduated in 1958 with a master’s degree in political science.
The Eberly College established this recognition in 1999 to honor alumni whose lives reflect the commitment and excitement which broadly educated arts and sciences people bring to their civil leadership or social welfare activities, their professional or business life and their intellectual or cultural pursuits.
The Eberly College saluted Gabriel for his business success, his commitment to the University and the surrounding region and for his love of education and good citizenship.
The Alumni Recognition Award recognizes success in the business world, and such success reflects the value of a broad based arts and sciences education which people bring to their chosen profession.
“Jim Gabriel has truly distinguished himself as one of our Eberly College alums through his career and his commitment to WVU , Morgantown and the region,”remarked M. Duane Nellis, Dean of the Eberly College.
Gabriel illustrates his continued commitment to good citizenship by asking the same from his employees and by seeking employees from a variety of backgrounds who can speak and write well, solve problems and adapt.
Gabriel Brothers, Inc. began with stores in Uniontown, Morgantown and Fairmont in the early 1960s. The company has expanded to 29 locations in five regional states. Gabriel Brothers, Inc. moved forward with the establishment of the company Rugged Warehouse which now has over 40 stores in five states. Because of Gabriel’s commitment to the area, the corporate headquarters have remained in Morgantown.
Gabriel and his brother, Arthur, have also established scholarship funds to help students at WVU .
Any individual may nominate college graduates for the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Recognition Award. Nominations are screened by the Office of the Dean and reviewed by the Dean’s Advisory Committee. Nominations are then forwarded to the College’s Advisory Board for final approval. To insure permanent recognition, a plaque with the names of all recipients is mounted in Woodburn Hall. A list of recipients, along with more information about each person is available online athttp://www.as.wvu.edu/New_Folder/alumni/recognitionawards.html. The College encourages graduates to nominate individuals for the Alumni Recognition Award.