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Former Wheeling Mayor Jack Lipphardt Honored with First Ever Gateway Award

Photo by Scott McCloskey Joining Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott, right, for the annual State of the City address at Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack Tuesday, are former Mayors Nick Sparachane, left, and the Rev. Jack Lipphardt. Lipphardt, who served from 1992-2000, was honored during Tuesday’s event.

Wheeling’s once-bustling downtown saw major changes in the 1990s, with the demolition of the former Wharf Parking Garage at 12th and Water streets and the closure of some longtime businesses.

Mayor Glenn Elliott said the leadership the Rev. Jack Lipphardt showed during these turbulent times during his term as mayor helped position the Friendly City to prosper in the future. Therefore, the current mayor bestowed his initial “Gateway Award” on Lipphardt during Tuesday’s State of the City address at Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack.

“Jack led Wheeling through some tough times, and he did so with creativity, a forward-thinking mindset and, perhaps most-importantly, with faith in our city,” Elliott said of Lipphardt.

Lipphardt served as mayor from 1992-2000. Because of changes to the city charter, he became the first mayor elected by a citywide vote. Prior to that, council members elected a mayor from their own ranks.

Lipphardt is now serving with the West Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church as the disaster response director. He has been working to coordinate the church’s efforts to help those in the southern part of the state recover from the disastrous floods that took place last year.

“Glenn asked me to come for this. I really have a great love for Wheeling,” Lipphardt said.

Reflecting on his time as mayor, Lipphardt said, “There were some tough times in the ’90s, for sure. Hopefully, the city can see a resurgence.”

“He helped pave the way for where we now stand,” Elliott added of Lipphardt.

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