WEST VIRGINIA RECORD

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS -– The West Virginia Chamber of Commerce has inducted six business leaders as inaugural members of the newly established West Virginia Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame.

In ceremonies held at the West Virginia Business Summit at The Greenbrier, Chamber President Steve Roberts called the six inductees, "the very best of the best in business leadership over the past 50 years in West Virginia. These six gentlemen epitomize the highest qualities of ethical business practices with an extraordinary vision for the future along with an unqualified love for the State of West Virginia. This honor is long overdue."

West Virginia Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame inductees include the following:

* G. Thomas Battle is a Charleston lawyer, former partner in the firm Spilman, Thomas & Battle and a former chairman of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia and the University of Virginia School of Law. Battle served six years as West Virginia State Tax Commissioner and as chairman of the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation. He was named a Fellow by the West Virginia Bar Foundation and earned the Award of Merit by the WV Bar Association.

* William C. "Billy" Campbell is a native of Huntington, graduate of Princeton University and an insurance entrepreneur. He is a former member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, where he served with the late Senator Robert C. Byrd. Campbell also served as chairman of the Huntington Chamber of Commerce. He began attending the West Virginia Chamber Annual Meetings in 1948 when The Greenbrier reopened following World War II. Campbell is best known as one of the most distinguished amateurs in golf history. He holds the record for playing in 33 consecutive U.S. Amateur Championships. His resume includes winning the 1964 U.S. Amateur, two U.S. Senior Amateur Championships, 15 West Virginia Amateur Championships and three state Open titles. Notably, he is the only person to head both the U.S. Golf Association and the Royal & Ancient Golf Club.

* Philip E. Cline is currently the acting president of Alderson-Broaddus College. He is the retired CEO and president of Broughton Foods Company, executive vice president of J.H. Fletcher and Co. and general manager of the Radisson Hotel in Huntington. He is a past chairman of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, the Huntington Area Chamber of Commerce, Huntington Industrial Corporation Cabell Huntington Hospital and the Board of Advisors for Marshall University. He also served as a member of the Huntington City Council. Cline has an undergraduate degree in accounting and a master's degree in political science from Marshall University.

* John L. McClaugherty was born in Princeton, graduated from Northwestern University and the West Virginia University College of Law. He was the longtime managing member and CEO of the law firm Jackson Kelly. He is a past chairman of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, past president of both the West Virginia Bar Association and West Virginia Bar Foundation. He was president of the West Virginia Symphony Board of Directors from 1982 until his death in 2003. McClaugherty was a driving force behind the fundraising and successful completion of the Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences of West Virginia in Charleston. His widow Sallie McClaugherty was on hand to receive his Hall of Fame award.

* A. Michael (Mike) Perry has been a key leader in the West Virginia business, education and health communities throughout his career. A graduate of Marshall University and the West Virginia University College of Law, he and his wife are co-founders of Heritage Farm Museum and Village in Huntington. Perry is a former chairman of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, the West Virginia Bankers Association, and the University System of West Virginia. He also served as interim president of Marshall University. He is a former chairman of both Key Centurion Bancshares and First Huntington National Bank. Perry also served as the first chairman of the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center at West Virginia University.

* I.N. "Ike" Smith IV is a Charleston native and a graduate of Washington & Lee University and the Washington & Lee Law School. He is the former president and CEO of Kanawha Banking & Trust Company and Intermountain Bancshares. He has served as chairman of the West Virginia Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, Charleston Area Chamber of Commerce and as a District Governor for Rotary International. Smith is a Trustee Emeritus of Washington & Lee University and the University of Charleston.

As the state's largest, most influential general business organization, the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce represents all business sectors in every region of the state, ranging from small business enterprises to Fortune 500 companies.

The organization's 5,000+ membership reach comes from its close relationships with 55 local chambers of commerce and dozens of statewide business and trade associations. The West Virginia Chamber is a proactive leader in the search for solutions to problems, a voice for free market competition and streamlined government, a catalyst for progressive thinking, and a partner with government when appropriate.

For more information, visit www.wvchamber.com.