A member of the Wheeling University Class of 1962 has pledged a seven-figure donation to help establish the new Wheeling University Foundation.

Alumnus John A. Mitchell has pledged $1.5 million to the foundation establish a new scholarship fund to benefit students attending his alma mater. This pledge will establish the Martin J. Mitchell Scholarship, in honor of his father. The Foundation will receive his gift upon his passing.

According to John Mitchell, the Martin J. Mitchell Scholarship will help students from West Virginia attend Wheeling University. In addition to John Mitchell, his sister, Mary Lu (Mitchell) Gormley, attended Wheeling and her spouse, Michael Gormley ’67, is a graduate of Wheeling University, as well.

“The members of the Wheeling University Foundation are grateful to John Mitchell for his generous gift to the Wheeling University Foundation. This gift by John will provide scholarships to students from West Virginia to attend his alma mater,” said Vince Gallagher, chair of the Wheeling University Foundation Board.

After earning his undergraduate degree in history from Wheeling, John Mitchell earned a law degree from Georgetown University. He is one of 16 members of the Class of 1962 who became attorneys and retired from the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C.

John Mitchell explained that his father, Martin Mitchell, had lost both of his parents by the age of 15. Having to raise and support himself in his teens, Martin worked at various jobs during the day and attended high school during the evenings at the Boston School of Commerce. As a young adult, he began working in the shoe business, where he had a successful career. He first worked for Walkover Shoes, follow by Endicott-Johnson, and finally with the Childs Corporation. Martin retired from the Pittsburgh-based Childs Corporation, rising to the position of Executive Vice President.

Martin’s childhood circumstances prevented him from pursuing a college education, but he was a generous supporter of his children’s alma mater until his death in 1973.

“This gift by Mr. Mitchell is a beautiful legacy to his father,” WU President Dianna Vargo said. “We thank Mr. Mitchell for his support which will provide future scholarships to students wishing to attend Wheeling University.

“The establishment of scholarships provide our students with the opportunity to live the Wheeling University mission of life, leadership, and service,” she added, “while strengthening our partnership with the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission.”