HUNTINGTON ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” The City of Huntington Foundation will induct five local citizens to its Wall of Fame this fall for their outstanding contributions to their community.
They are:
- Robert (Bob) Bailey
- Melanie P. Hall
- John H. (Jack) Houvouras
- Jan K. Rader
- George T. Smailes Jr.
The induction ceremony will be Thursday, Nov. 6, at the Marshall Health Network Arena. The event will begin at 6 p.m. with a reception, followed by dinner at 7 p.m. and the ceremony at 8 p.m.
Ticket prices are $2,000 for a corporate table (seats 8), $1,000 for a half corporate table (seats 4) and individual tickets are $200.
Contact Maxine Loudermilk, president, at 304-654-1471 or 304-696-5522 for information and to purchase tickets.
Robert ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥˜BobÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ Bailey
Bob Bailey was born in Huntington, the son of Robert and Pearl Bailey and he has two daughters, Robin and Lisa. He is a highly educated and an experienced public servant. He earned both his bachelorÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s and masterÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s degrees from Marshall University.
Bailey, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, began his career as a teacher and coach before graduating from the National Sheriff Institute, a division of the FBI Academy.
He served 12 years on Huntington City Council and one year as mayor. He was the sheriff of Cabell County for eight years and a county commissioner for 24 years.
In addition to his public service, Bailey is a member of the Elks Club, Moose Lodge Barboursville 2586, and serves as president of the Board of Directors for TTA. He is a member of the NAACP, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled Americans Veterans, American Legion and ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Commission.
The senior services center in the West End of Huntington was named the Bob Bailey Senior Wellness Center in honor of the service he provided senior citizens for more than 50 years.
Melanie Perry Hall
Melanie Perry Hall was born in Cabell County, but moved to a farm in Wayne County when she was in the fourth grade. The family farm later became known as Heritage Farm Museum and Village. After graduation from Vinson High School, Hall fulfilled her dream of becoming a nurse by obtaining her bachelorÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s degree in nursing from Marshall University and her masterÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s degree in nursing from West Virginia University.
Hall began her nursing career in the pediatric unit of Cabell Huntington Hospital before moving to community health nursing with a Federally Qualified Community Health Center (FQHC) organization, Valley Health Systems Inc. During her 25 years at Valley Health Systems, Hall began as a registered nurse and then moved into administration in both urban and rural health care settings.
In 2014, her career changed when she was selected to lead Hospice of Huntington as its third president and CEO. She currently serves as the chairperson for the Hospice Council of West Virginia, the vice chair for the West Virginia Hospice and Palliative Care Network, president of the WV Geriatric Society, Dementia Friendly Huntington and a member of the National Adult Day Services Association and its Policy and Advocacy Committee.
She serves her community as member of the Mountwest Community & Technical College Board of Governors, a member of the Huntington Federal Savings Bank Board of Directors, a member of the Huntington Rotary Club and is active at New Baptist Church.
Hall is a lifelong resident of Huntington. She and her husband, Mark, have two married adult children.
Jack Houvouras
Jack Houvouras is a Huntington native and graduate of Marshall University where he earned a B.A. in Journalism in 1988. Inspired by his love of Huntington, he founded Huntington Quarterly magazine in 1989 at the age of 24. From the start, the magazineÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s mission was to showcase the many positive aspects of life in Huntington.
The magazine is now in its 36th year. It features personality profiles, local history, homes, business, sports, travel, dining and entertainment.
Houvouras would go on to establish HQ Publishing Co. and produce magazines for Marshall University, St. MaryÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Medical Center, Cabell Huntington Hospital, the West Virginia State Bar, the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce and more.
Despite his success in business, Houvouras said he is first and foremost a writer, and one of his proudest achievements was being inducted into the Marshall University School of Journalism Hall of Fame in 2021.
He is active in organizations such as the West Virginia Special Olympics, Junior Achievement, the St. MaryÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Medical Center Foundation, the Huntington YMCA and Little Victories Animal Rescue, a no-kill shelter for dogs and cats. In 2018 he established the John H. Houvouras Scholarship for Journalism at Marshall University.
Jan K. Rader
Jan K. Rader was born in Ironton on June 28, 1965. She is the daughter of Robert and Mary Kay Rader.
After graduating from Ironton High School in 1983, she attended Marshall University before attending the Gemological Institute of America in Santa Monica, California, which lead to an eight-year career in the jewelry industry. While working in the Washington, D.C., area Rader was introduced to the profession of firefighting.
Rader joined the Huntington Fire Department in August 1994. While serving as a firefighter, she was able to continue her education and earned a Regents Bachelor of Arts degree from Marshall University and an associates degree in nursing from Ohio University.
Rader is the first woman to reach the rank of chief for a career department in the state of West Virginia. She came to national prominence after the release of the documentary ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œHeroin(e)ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ on Netflix in 2017. In 2018, she was chosen as one of Time MagazineÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s list of the 100 most influential people, and soon after, gave a TED Talk about saving lives during the opioid crisis.
Rader retired from the City of Huntington Fire Department in 2022 and now serves as senior advisor to the mayor, focusing on addressing homelessness, substance use disorder and severe mental illness.
George T. Smailes Jr.
Born in Montgomery, West Virginia, on Dec. 18, 1949, to the late George Sr. and Betty Smailes, George SmailesÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ life has been defined by service, leadership and dedication to community. He graduated from Huntington East High School in 1967 and then attended Marshall University, where he earned his bachelorÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s degree in education in 1971.
In 1968, while still a student, Smailes began part-time work at the Huntington YMCA as building supervisor. What started as a college job soon became a lifeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s calling. After graduation, he accepted a full-time position, beginning what would become 49 years of service to the YMCA and to the Huntington community. Over the years, Smailes served in many roles: supervisor, physical director, assistant director, associate executive director and, ultimately, director.
With the support of staff and volunteers, he helped create The Encourage Program, launched YMCA soccer and day care initiatives, and partnered with St. MaryÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Medical Center to establish Kids In Motion, a program designed to fight childhood obesity.
He also taught physical education and health at St. Joseph middle and high schools, raising funds to support YMCA youth programs.
In later years, Smailes spearheaded an initiative that included Jack Jones, Phil Cline and the YMCA Board of Directors, to launch the Capital Campaign that made possible the construction of the new gym at the Phil Cline YMCA. He also partnered with Marshall UniversityÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Athletic Department to help provide the Marshall Baseball team with a home field, now known as the George T. Smailes Sr. Baseball Field, honoring his fatherÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s dedication to the community.
