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They've been together at what is now West Liberty University for nearly 40 years, and for the last decade they pushed to give the school more visibility.

They say their dream is now about to become reality as the new West Liberty University Highlands Center is set to open in August.

Larry Williams, director of the current Warwood Center at WLU, and John McCullough, WLU's executive vice president, both started their careers at WLU on the same day - July 1, 1971. Over the years, the two became good friends

McCullough went on to become dean of the School of Business Administration, provost and academic dean before becoming executive vice president. He would also serve two terms as interim president.

Williams began as media director and moved on to become director of extended education to develop classes throughout the Northern Panhandle for WLU. In 1987, Williams also assumed the position of alumni director. He was named director of the Warwood Center in 1996.

The two met frequently to discuss school matters. And in the late 1990s, they began to discuss the subject of creating a new branch at what was then the Fort Henry Complex at Dallas Pike. The location would later come to be known as The Highlands.

"At that time, we thought it was going to be an inside mall," Williams said.

They envisioned the site as a place for graduate classes - assuming then that West Liberty State College would become a university - and for an accelerated business degree program.

They began talks with Ohio County officials, who suggested they instead lease space from the county rather than build at The Highlands.

Williams admitted that sometimes he had doubts the project ever would come to fruition, but during those down periods McCullough would offer encouraging words.

"I gave up a couple of times, but he never did," Williams noted.

In about 10 days, he said he will be moving out of his office at the Warwood Center to a smaller one at The Highlands. It will also mean a longer drive for him from his home in Warwood.

"Yes, but it's not about me," Williams said. "It's about the university I love. I think this is one of the better things we've done, and it will be a success."

The Warwood Center facility has been purchased from WLU by Wheeling attorney Jake Robinson. The future of other offerings there - such as the SMART Center and the Warwood YMCA - have yet to be determined, Williams said.

The new West Liberty facility at The Highlands will have 20,000 square feet of space and is expected to involve an initial $1.2 million investment by WLU. The West Virginia Legislature appropriated $800,000 in taxpayer dollars to the project last year.