Greater Huntington Wall of Fame selects inductees for 2024 | News

The Wall of Fame induction event will be Oct. 24 at the Marshall Health Network Arena. A reception is planned for 6 p.m., with dinner at 7 p.m. and the ceremony at 8 p.m.

Corporate tables are $1,200, half tables are $600, and individual tickets are $75. Contact Maxine Loudermilk at 304-654-1471 for information and tickets.

Here is a closer look at this year’s honorees:

Jo Ann Odum was born and raised with her brother, Jim, in Huntington, and educated at Huntington East High School and Marshall University. While taking lessons at Frances Nestor’s Dance Studio, she entered several local beauty pageants, and won her first title at age 16, “Miss Armed Forces.” When she was 19, Odum was crowned “Miss USA/World 1961-62” at Carnegie Hall in New York City. She represented the USA in London, England, in the “Miss World” competition, where she placed fifth runner-up. The late Bob Hope was one of her judges.

During her reign as Miss USA, she was given the “Keys to the City of Huntington,” traveled the country and met with President John F. Kennedy and Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson. She helped influence the Miss USA/World pageant directors to move the 1962 and 1963 pageants from New York City to Huntington. As such, many Hollywood stars came to Huntington to participate in the pageants.

She and her husband, Jerry Aldrich, raised two sons, Tom and David. David Aldrich, a meteorologist, worked for WSAZ from 1999 to 2001. He learned much of his weather-predicting craft from Tony Cavalier. Currently, Jo Ann is active in her church and is a house-board member of her sorority, Sigma Sigma Sigma. She is also a docent at the Huntington Museum of Art and Heritage Farm Museum & Village, and recently started a Women’s Club in Barboursville. Since 1980, Jo Ann and her husband have operated a Shaklee nutritional supplement business in multiple states.

In 1999, Stephen C. Shy, DO, and his colleague, Robert A. Hess, MD, founded Ohio Valley Physicians to provide emergency department staffing and management services to a struggling Lawrence County General Hospital in Ironton. Now celebrating its 25th anniversary, that small company is now OVP HEALTH, a Huntington-based employer of nearly 500 people across five states, providing emergency department and hospitalist services, outpatient primary care, and treatment for people suffering from substance abuse disorders.

Born Dec. 8, 1950, in Kenova, Shy was a 1968 graduate of Buffalo High School in Wayne County. Shortly after graduating, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he served for three years as a Green Beret Medic in the Airborne Unit, until a parachuting accident ended his military career.

Shy then enrolled at Alderson Broaddus College in Philippi, West Virginia, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1977. He then entered the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, in Lewisburg, West Virginia, graduating in 1982 with a degree as a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine.

From 1983 to 1996, Shy served as a family physician in private practice in the Huntington community of Westmoreland, while also seeing patients at both St. Mary’s Hospital and Cabell Huntington Hospital. He then joined Huntington Internal Medicine Group, where he met and formed a close bond with Hess. He also served on the Wayne County Board of Education from 1984-90.

Shy’s legacy lives on today in his wife of 49 years, Nancy; his three children, Stephen C. Shy II, DO; Stacey Shy; and Stephanie McCloud, all of whom serve in leadership positions at OVP HEALTH; and his nine grandchildren, many of whom are preparing to become the third generation of the Shy family to work at the company.

Christopher D. Chiles, 68, was born and raised in Huntington. He is the son of Georgia and Linden Chiles, longtime owner of Dickinson Bros. Furniture. A lifelong resident of Cabell County, Chiles followed in his father’s footsteps and dedicated 41 years of service to his community. After graduating from Huntington High School in 1973, Chiles went on to receive a bachelor’s of science degree in political science, with honor, from the University of Tennessee in 1977 and a doctor of jurisprudence degree from West Virginia University’s College of Law in 1980.

Chiles’ career in Cabell County law began in 1980 when he became a partner in the law firm of Dodrill, Brown & Chiles. In 1990, he was appointed the Cabell County prosecuting attorney, a position in which he remained through his re-election in the six, four-year terms that followed. After more than 30 years as prosecuting attorney, Chiles was appointed by Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin as the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court Judge in Cabell County in 2014. He held this position until his retirement in 2023.

Chiles has been recognized nationally, having served the National District Attorneys Association through several facets beginning in 1996 and serving as the president of NDAA from 2009-10. Chiles has served on multiple state committees, including the Governor’s Drunk Driving Prevention Committee and the Substance Abuse Prevention Committee, and been a member of Huntington’s Board of Directors. At Marshall, he served as an adjunct professor for the Criminal Justice Department and the Forensic Science Department’s master’s degree programs.

He has been married to his wife, Michaela, for 43 years, and they have three sons — Christopher, Drew and Ben — and four grandchildren. Chiles is also an involved community member who has coached and refereed youth soccer and Little League baseball and sang the national anthem at many events. He is a member of the Sons of the American Legion Post 16 and B.P.O.E. Lodge. He is also a devoted member of his church, First United Methodist Church of Huntington, where he has served as a Sunday school teacher and choir member.

Leah Josephine Fidler was born Oct. 23, 1932, in Glenville, West Virginia, the daughter of Paul W. and Beulah Fidler. She attended elementary, junior high and high schools at Troy, where she graduated in 1950. She graduated Glenville State College, now University, and obtained her master’s degree in Library Science from Indiana University.

Her first job was as the first school librarian at Tygart Valley High School, Randolph County.

In 1955, she returned to Glenville State College as assistant librarian. In 1957 she became library director at Alderson-Broaddus College, Philippi, West Virginia. In 1963, she became an instructor in the Department of Library Science at MU. Fidler taught a second year, and then moved to the Cataloguing Department at Marshall’s Morrow Library. She served in several capacities at Marshall University Libraries, including 10 years as director of libraries beginning in 1987.

Challenges of funding and staff vacancies, automating the cataloguing and circulation systems and construction faced the library. In 1991 a committee was named to begin planning a new state-of-the-art library. She was a member of the committee. On Oct. 24, 1998, the $31 million Drinko Library was dedicated.

Fidler served on the Dean’s Council at Marshall, and as a trustee on the Pittsburgh Regional Center for several years. In 1999 she announced her retirement, and continues to remain active in library and community work.

Fidler served as president of the West Virginia Library Association, Huntington Branch of the American Association of University Women, Pilot Club, Friends of the Cabell County Public Library, and Psi Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma during her career. She received several awards including Marshall University Service Award, Dora Ruth Park’s Award from WVLA, the Lucy B. Prichard Award from the Pilot Club of Huntington, and a service award from the West Virginia Baptist Historical Society.

She taught Sunday school at Fifth Avenue Baptist Church for 40 years, served as a member of the Church Council and Missions/Ministries Commission. She was actively involved in missions, taking trips to Alaska, Mexico and Nicaragua.

Fidler belongs to several local organizations, including the Pilot Club of Huntington, PEO Chapter M, Alpha Chapter Delta Kappa Gamma, Cabell County Friends of the Library, and the Woman’s Club of Huntington.

Lisa Ransbottom McComas, daughter of Don Ransbottom and the late Connie Ransbottom, is a lifelong Huntington resident, 1976 graduate of Huntington East High School and champion of many causes. McComas, mother to Chad (Brittani) McComas and Missy (Brad) Bobersky and grandmother to Addie and Myla McComas and Bradley Price Bobersky, has always felt a strong sense of pride in her community and a desire to help others in need. Valuing faith as well as family, McComas is an active, lifelong member of Community of Grace United Methodist Church, where she serves on the Finance Committee, assisted with Wednesday night dinners and previously served on the Altar Decorating Committee. She has developed innovative fundraising projects for United Methodist Women as part of her church involvement.

McComas has been employed as an administrative assistant/office manager, working alongside her father and brother, Barry Ransbottom, at Beard Mortuary for over four decades, a family-operated business of more than 75 years. She is also a licensed West Virginia Insurance Agent.

An avid gardener, McComas was instrumental in the Huntington In Bloom initiative, co-chairing for 10 years alongside Lisa Riley. This project, born out of Huntington’s involvement in the America in Bloom competition, involved planting flowerpots and window boxes across the city, as well as a planter at The Market downtown. Several years into the project, McComas approached the city about launching a veteran’s banner program. She is also a member and former president of Town and Country Garden Club and has served as president of the Huntington Council of Garden Clubs. She has also served as the former 2nd vice president of Huntington Cabell Republican Women, a member of the Highlawn Alliance Committee and has been a member of the Prestera Foundation Board of Directors since 2009, where she has assisted with several fundraising efforts.

McComas has volunteered with Hospice of Huntington for nearly 20 years, serving as a member of the Board of Trustees, a member of the Development Committee and President of the Friends of Hospice fundraising committee, helping work on the organization’s Bella Luce event.