HUNTINGTON — A former Olympic athlete and a man who has a hand in just about every project in Huntington are among the latest quartet of well-known Huntingtonians who will be inducted into the Greater Huntington Wall of Fame later this year.
The City of Huntington Foundation announced the inductees — Ken Chertow, Stella C. Fuller, Bob E. Myers and David Tyson — earlier this week.
Chertow was a member of the United States wrestling team at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, Korea. Since then, he has coached the sport at the college level and established a camp for young wrestlers called Ken Chertow’s Olympian Wrestling Camp. The annual camp places an emphasis on togetherness, values, reaching goals and staying away from negative influences such as drugs. Last year, more than 4,000 people attended his camps throughout the United States.
Chertow also works as a television analyst for CBS-College Sports Television, and was recognized in 2007 by the National Wrestling Media as broadcaster of the year.
Chertow moved to Huntington when he was 12.
The next inductee, Stella Fuller, is known to some as “The Angel of Huntington.”
Fuller joined the Salvation Army in 1916, and provided invaluable service during an influenza outbreak in Huntington two years later.
She went on to build a recreational program, including softball and basketball leagues, through funds provided by President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal.
Fuller left the Salvation Army after 25 years, going on to establish Stella Fuller Mission, known as “The Door of Hope and Friendship.”
The mission, officially incorporated in 1943, became a haven for the deprived and homeless.
Fuller died at age 97 in 1981, but the 60 years of community service she provided continue to provide benefits today.
Bob Myers is known throughout the Huntington area as an outstanding community leader.
A former Counter Intelligence Corps member, Myers’ associations in Huntington include the Chamber of Commerce, Huntington Rotary Club, Tri-State Area Boy Scouts of America, Marshall University Foundation, Marshall Artists Series, Huntington Jaycees and Cammack Children’s Center.
His government activities have included stints with the West Virginia Board of Education, vice-mayor of Huntington, the Cabell County Board of Education, the Cabell County Planning Commission, The Cabell-Huntington Board of Parks and Recreation and numerous other boards and commissions.
Like Myers, David Tyson has had a hand in just about everything happening in Huntington, though he is perhaps best known for his work toward the restoration of the Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center. The theater served as the location for the premier of the Warner Bros. major motion picture release “We Are Marshall,” and, in 2007, Tyson was recognized as the
Citizen of the Year by The Herald-Dispatch.
While an active community advocate, Tyson also maintains his law practice in Huntington.
The Wall of Fame was established in 1986, and includes famous Huntingtonians from Soupy Sales to former Marshall football coach Bob Pruett.
This year’s induction ceremony will take place Oct. 2 at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena.
Reservations for the event are required. For more information, e-mail foundation president Maxine Loudermilk at loudermilkm@cityofhuntington or call 304-696-5522. Tickets for a corporate table are $1,000 or $500 for a half-corporate table. Individual tickets are $50.
