WHEELING — The Wheeling Central Catholic High School Athletic Hall of Fame is adding a pair of special honorees to climax its 2022 class.

The Hall of Fame Committee has chosen two more passionate and dedicated individuals to receive the Maroon Knights’ Distinguished Service Awards — Bob Fitzsimmons and Terry Murphy.

This dedicated tandem will join previously announced Hall of Fame inductees David Contraguerro, Ricky Yahn, Clayton Fitzsimmons, Paula Jo Thomas, Rose Palmer, Kimberly Bower and Cristin Williams Roberts.

All of the honorees will be feted during the Maroon Knights’ sixth Hall of Fame Brunch on Saturday, Sept. 10, sponsored by the Robinson Automotive Group at the CCHS Great Hall.

Only a limited number of tickets are available for this event and are $25 per person. They can be purchased by contacting the school at 304-233-1660 or stopping by between the hours of 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. during the month of August.

The brunch begins at 10 a.m. Doors open at 9 a.m.

The Hall of Fame inductees will also be guests and recognized at halftime festivities at the Maroon Knights’ football game against Bellaire on Friday, Sept. 9. The game will be played at Wheeling University’s Bishop Schmitt Field.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

BOB FITZSIMMONS – The 1970 Wheeling Central graduate has distinguished himself as one of the premier attorneys in the United States. Fitzsimmons, however, was also a stellar athlete on the prep and collegiate levels.

Fitzsimmons was a three-sport standout for the Maroon Knights. He was a two-year starter on the Maroon Knight football teams, earning first-team All-City and All-Mountaineer League honors as a senior.

The Wheeling native was also a two-year letterman in basketball and four-year letterman in track during his Central days. Upon graduation, he took his talents to Allegheny College. He was a four-year football letterman at the Meadville, Pa.-based school where he received his bachelor’s degree in 1974.

Fitzsimmons then matriculated to the University of Baltimore School of Law, earning his Juris Doctorate degree with highest honors in 1978. He was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Law from the West Virginia University College of Law in 2018.

Fitzsimmons is the founding member of the Fitzsimmons Law Firm in Wheeling and has been a member of the West Virginia Board of Governors, Lawyer Disciplinary Board, Judicial Investigation Commission while being voted one of the top 75 trial lawyers in the United States.

Moreover, he has also served as the West Virginia Boxing commissioner.

Fitzsimmons and his family established and funded the Fitzsimmons Foundation, an entity which has proven to be a leading supporter of Wheeling Central Catholic High School and Corpus Christi Grade School.

In 1997, the Fitzsimmons Foundation led the way for renovations to the high school gymnasium which had fallen into disrepair. Thanks to efforts by the foundation, the Maroon Knights have a state-of-the-art gym.

Fitzsimmons was awarded the Bishop’s Cross Award for the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston and also received a papal appointment from Pope Francis appointing him as a Knight of the Order of St. Gregory.

Fitzsimmons is married to Sunni (Bauers) Fitzsimmons. They are the proud parents of three Central graduates: Rocky Fitzsimmons (1997), Clayton Fitzsimmons (2000) and Kayleen Fitzsimmons Clough (2004).

Fitzsimmons practices law with his two sons along with 1997 Central alum Brent Wear. Kayleen, meanwhile, is the director of the Fitzsimmons Foundation and also handles the family’s real estate business.

In 1997, Fitzsimmons was retained to represent Pittsburgh Steeler Hall of Fame center Mike Webster in his disability lawsuit against the NFL. Webster was awarded total and permanent disability as a result of football-related concussions. That lawsuit against the NFL, which sought retroactive benefits, was reported as the only lawsuit lost by the NFL on a total disability claim which was the first lawsuit alleging brain injury as a result of football-related activities.

In 2008, Fitzsimmons was the leading vote-getter for all West Virginia Super Lawyers and he has finished in the top 10 consistently. He is also recognized as one of the premier plaintiffs’ trial lawyers in the country.

TERRY MURPHY – This 1970 Wheeling Central grad is one of the unsung behind- the-scenes heroes amidst the Maroon Knight Nation.

Murphy has been a part of Wheeling Central for 31 years, serving in countless capacities, bringing boundless Maroon passion to each one.

He has transported students to school functions, student-athletes to competitions around the Ohio Valley and to many state championship tournaments. He has also been the mainstay bus driver for the cheering squads and boys’ basketball teams in their respective travels to the state tournament in Charleston.

Murphy has also served as scorekeeper for many Maroon Knight teams.

The Wheeling Central “super fan” has been a Wheeling Central booster for countless years, cast in any role that would assist his alma mater. He has countless fond memories of Maroon Knight athletic events.

Topping that list maybe the 1996 boys’ state basketball tournament. In that tourney, Wheeling Central captured the title and Terry’s son (Corey) made the all-tournament team.

Another special memory to Terry was the 2021 boys’ state tournament. Central finished as state runnerup and Terry’s grandson (Kaden) was a member of the Maroon Knight squad.

Many more enjoyable Maroon Knight memories loom in Terry’s future as his granddaughters Karli and Haley (class of 26) are Central frosh this year and will compete in volleyball and basketball.

Terry was married to the late Cindy Lesch Murphy. They have two children Kelli (Class of 94) and Corey (Class of 1996). He also has six grandchildren: Lily (7), Leah (7), Lindsay (12), Karli (14), Haley (14) and Kaden (19).