Honorary degrees bestowed at graduation

HUNTINGTON -- Marshall University recognized three community leaders during Saturday's graduation ceremony with honorary degrees.

Arthur Weisburg and wife Joan, co-owners of State Electric Supply Co., were honored. Arthur Weisburg started his business as a one-man operation in 1952, selling light bulbs, extension cords and fuses out of the back of his truck.

Today, State Electric, based out of West Virginia, has 41 branches in five states, including the Mountain State, Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky and North Carolina.

Together, Arthur and Joan Weisberg established the endowed professorship that bears their name at Marshall, and the Arthur and Joan Weisberg Division of Engineering and Computer Science at the university.

Also honored with a degree was commencement speaker Earl Ray Tomblin, a state Senate member and the longest-tenured senate president. Tomblin has held the post since 1995. He earned a master's degree from Marshall in 1975.