Wheeling Celebrates Martin Luther King Jr.’s Memory

WHEELING - There was marching, music and the celebration of unity and public service during Martin Luther King Jr. weekend events in Wheeling on Sunday.

Local elected officials, church and school leaders were among those turning out for a frigid MLK Celebration march. It started at the Windmill at 470 Stone Boulevard, and proceeded downtown along Chapline Street and to West Virginia Northern Community College at 1704 Market St, Wheeling.

Musicians from Wheeling Park High School performed "A Change Is Gonna Come" in the WVNCC lobby, and Karen Gordon-Young chose to remain silent and not comment during the music. She said it was her favorite song.

"To whom much is given, much is expected, and Martin Luther King sacrificed his life at 39 years old," Gordon-Young said after the music. "He had a vision and a commitment.

"These events are so important to keep alive, because his dream and vision needs to be executed for as long as we have breath. I am so thankful that I lived during this time. I just pray we get back to where we need to be."

Former West Virginia Sen. Owens Brown, D-Ohio, also a former State NAACP president, added the MLK Celebration is meant to bring the community together.

"It's a show of unity and purpose, and that we are unified. That is why we are here," he continued.

Celebrating the memory and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. "is one of the most important things the city can do," said Wheeling City Council member Rosemary Ketchum.

She noted that working with organizations like the NAACP and Men of Change in Wheeling permits council to hear the group's concerns and form better policies for the city.

"King's life was short, but long in its impact," added Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott. "We are reminded today that the message of justice is not a destination, but something that we must strive to achieve."

Also present was Wellsburg Mayor Dan Dudley, who said he has been attending MLK Celebration events for about 35 years and used to bring his Sunday school class with him.

He thinks over time, King's memory and significance is getting lost.

"I come because of what Dr. Martin Luther King meant to people, and all he did for people," Dudley said. "It's important that people don't forget."

The Most Rev. Mark Brennan, Bishop of the Wheeling-Charleston Diocese said he came "to honor a great man."

"We should come not just to remember him, but to emulate his passion for justice and people," Brennan said. "That is as important today as it was during his lifetime."

Following the march and reception in the WVNCC lobby, two separate ceremonies recognizing this year's four MLK Celebration honorees took place. The honorees were commended for their public service to the community.

During the first ceremony at WVNCC, Rodrigues "Rod" Lee was presented the Martin Luther King Award, and Theodora "Teddie" Grogan received the Rosa Parks Award.

A second ceremony then took place at the Wayman AME Church in East Wheeling, the site of a Sunday evening interfaith service that included faith leaders from across the Ohio Valley. It was there that Rabbi Joshua Lief was bestowed with the Martin Luther King Award; and Martha Wright, with the Rosa Parks Award.

Among his many achievements, Lee was one of the founding members of The Men of Change locally and has served as a board member for many organizations, including Youth Services System, Workforce Investment, Banum House-Community Relations, and Laughlin Memorial Chapel.

Lief, the rabbi at Temple Shalom, serves as chair of the Wheeling Human Rights Commission, and on the boards of Wheeling Health Right, Congregations for Caring, the Impact Coalition, the Unity Center, and Easterseals. He is the past president of the Wheeling Rotary Club.

Grogan is an active volunteer, currently serving as a member of the Wheeling Hospital Auxiliary and the Board of the Wheeling Academy of Law and Science Foundation, and as a member and past parish council member of St. Joseph Cathedral. She has served on the boards of the Wheeling YWCA and the Wheeling Hopeful City project, the Wheeling Symphony Auxiliary, the Florence Crittenton Junior Board, and the Relay for Life. Grogan also has volunteered in the Wheeling Park High School Guidance Office.

Wright served as director of the Stifel Fine Arts Center before becoming Laughlin Chapel director in 2020. Previously, she served as the Chapel's development coordinator from 1999-2008. In the intervening years, she was a program officer for Volunteers Exploring Vocation, a Lilly Endowments program supporting national year-of-service organizations and young people discerning a call to ministry.