Clarksburg History Museum will be unveiling new “Wall of Fame”

The Clarksburg History Museum recently unveiled a brand-new exhibit, the new exhibit is a “Wall of Fame” entitled, Local Lives, Lasting Legacy. If you or a friend would like to check it out, the museum is located at 445 West Main Street in the Harrison County Board of Education Building (formerly Hope Gas.)

The first class of inductees include:

*Derek Hotsinpiller, a deputy U.S. Marshal who gave his life in the line of duty, from Bridgeport.

*Julia Walker Ruhl was born in 1861, married John Ruhl and moved to Clarksburg. She started the Clarksburg Woman’s Club and the Clarksburg Public Library.

*Tony Anthony was born Tony Petitto in Clarksburg in 1937. He is an actor, producer, and screenwriter. He is best known for his “spaghetti westerns.”

*Charles “Jim” Compton was a pioneering figure in West Virginia’s coal industry. He is known for his innovative mining techniques and dedication to land reclamation.

*John Angotti is a nationally recognized musician, worship leader, and performer. He is also a talented vocalist, pianist, and guitarist.

*Frank Gaylord is an American sculptor best known for his work on the Korean War Memorial in Washington, DC.

*Dorothy Davis was an esteemed educator, historian, and writer. She authored “The History of Harrison County.”

*Jennings Randolph was born in Salem and served many years in the US House of Representatives and the US Senate. He shaped legislation on civil rights, aviation, infrastructure, and voting rights. He is known as the “Father of the 26th Amendment to the US Constitution.”

*Kirsten Wyatt is a distinguished singer and stage actress known for her dynamic presence on Broadway.

*William Neely was an acclaimed writer and journalist best known for his gritty, humorous depiction of stock car racing. His best-known book “Stand on It by Stroker Ace” was made into a movie starring Burt Reynolds.

*Phyllis Curtin was an American soprano and educator. Her career included performances at the New York City Opera, Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, and

the Vienna State Opera, as well as concert appearances with major symphonies.

*Michael Late Benedum was a self-made oil magnate and philanthropist. By 1957 he was among the 76th wealthiest Americans. He was known at “The Great Wildcatter,” never retiring and working until his final days.

*Emily Shaffer is an actress, dancer, and audiobook narrator. Her breakthrough was in 2011 with HBO’s “How to Make it in America.” She has appeared in numerous hit television series including Chicago Fire, Law and Order, NCIS New Orleans, Blue Bloods, FBI, and The Good Fight.

*Pare Lorentz was an American pioneer in documentary films. He is best known as President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s videographer. “The River” earned international acclaim and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for Poetry.

*Louis A. Johnson was a lawyer, WWI veteran, and political figure. He co-founded the law firm Steptoe & Johnson. He served as Secretary of War under President Harry Truman.

*Nathan Goff, Jr. was a political and judicial leader. He was born in the Waldomore Mansion in Clarksburg and served in the US House of Representatives and the US Senate. He was Secretary of the Navy under President Rutherford B. Hayes. He is buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery in Clarksburg.

*Davis Grubb was a novelist and short story writer. He is best known for his novel, “The Night of the Hunter,” based on local serial killer Harry Powers.

*James D. LaRosa was a visionary businessman and philanthropist. He played a pivotal role in shaping Clarksburg’s economic landscape, such as Eastpointe and the Robinson Grand Performing Arts Center. He was also a leader in the coal industry.

*Hugh Aynesworth was a renowned investigator and journalist. He worked at the Clarksburg Exponent and later for the Dallas Morning News. He was a key reporter that covered the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. He was nominated six times for the Pulitzer Prize.

*John George Jackson was born in 1777 and died in 1825. He was a prominent statesman, lawyer, and judge. He was appointed federal judge by President

James Monroe. He was married to Mary Payne, sister to Dolly Madison. He is buried in the Jackson Cemetery in Clarksburg.

*Sister Joanne Frey was a beloved member of the Mission Helpers of the Sacred Heart. She taught Caroline Kennedy, daughter of President John F. Kennedy, at Visitation Academy in Georgetown section of Washington, DC.

*Melville Davisson Post was a lawyer and writer. His most famous creation was “Uncle Abner,” a backwoodsman who solved moral mysteries in 19th century West Virginia. His home, Templemoor, near Peeltree, is listed in the National Register of Historical Places.

*Gramma and Ginga were two elderly sisters from Clarksburg who became famous internet sensations for their unfiltered humor, bickering, and love for each other. Their unexpected fame led to appearances on TV talk shows including “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”

*Howard Gore was a West Virginia politician and agricultural leader. He was appointed as Secretary of Agriculture under President Calvin Coolidge in 1924. Gore became the 17th governor of West Virginia. He is buried in Elkview Cemetery in Clarksburg.