The WVSSAR Annual Banquet and Meeting hosted by the Capt. James Neal Chapter, will take place on May 8-9, 2026 at the Parkersburg Country Club, 4910 1st Ave. Vienna, WV.
2026 WVSSAR Slate for State office:
National Trustee- Rhendal C. Butler: Greenbrier Valley Chapter.
State President – Mark A. LaFrance: Capt. James Neal Chapter.
1st Vice President- Michael Wayne Benson: Gen. Adam Stephens Chapter.
2nd Vice President- Dr. James Paul Chapman: John Beckley Chapter.
Secretary-Treasurer- James Dale Grenfell: Gen. Adam Stephens Chapter.
Registrar- Henry (Lou) Ruff, III: Capt. James Neal Chapter.
Chaplain- Rev. Daryl W. Densford: Daniel Boone Chapter.
Historian- Dr. John A. Turley: Daniel Boone Chapter.
Chancellor- Erik A. Schramm: Fort Henry Chapter.
Color Guard Commander- Martin P. Brady: Daniel Boone Chapter.
Newsletter Editor- Thomas J. Galloway: Gen. Andrew Lewis Chapter.
Webmaster- Luke A. Canfield: Greenbrier Valley Chapter.
Facebook- Kevin A. Pruitt: Gen. Hugh Mercer Chapter.
Delegates-2026 thru 2028-
George Hunter: John Beckley Chapter.
Rev. Tim Mitchell: Capt. Ralph Stewart chapter.
Justin Ralph Sands: Point Pleasant chapter.
Matthew L. Hill: John Beckley Chapter.
Nominating Committee; 2026-2027
2026-2028 Thomas J. Galloway: gen Andrew Lewis Chapter.
2026-2028 Robert Fish: Capt. James Neal Chapter.
2025-2027 Dr. J.K. Lilly: Daniel Boone Chapter.
2025-2027 Michael W. Benson: Gen. Adam Stephens chapter.
Spring BOM Meeting 2026
The WVSSAR Spring Board of Management meeting will be Saturday, March 21, 2026 at 10 am. Meeting location is Days Inn and Suites Sutton Flatwoods, 350 Days Drive, Sutton, WV 26601.
WVSSAR Color Guard:
CAR
Fall BOM 2025
The Fall Board of Management meeting will be Saturday Oct, 25, at the Days Inn Conference center if Flatwoods, WV. Meeting will begin at 10am.
2025 WVSSAR slate of officers:
President: Harold T. Cox, Jr., Capt. James Neal Chapter
1st Vice President: James (Jay) Frey, Fort Henry Chapter
2nd Vice President: Mark A. LaFrance, Capt. James Neal Chapter
Secretary-Treasurer: Keith A. McDonald, Gen. Adam Stephens Chapter
Registrar: Henry (Lou) Ruff, III, Capt. James Neal Chapter
Chaplain: Dr. James Paul Chapman, John Beckley Chapter
Historian: Kevin A. Pruitt, Gen. Hugh Mercer Chapter
Chancellor: Brian O. Casto, Daniel Boone Chapter
Color Guard Commander: Martin P. Brady, Daniel Boone Chapter
Newsletter Editor: Thomas J. Galloway, Gen. Andrew Lewis Chapter
Webmaster: Kevin A. Pruitt, Gen. Hugh Mercer Chapter
National Trustee: Rhendal C. Butler, Greenbrier Valley Chapter
Delegates 2024-2026:
George Hunter, John Beckley Chapter
Robert Tilley, Capt. Ralph Stewart Chapter
Robert K. Grumley, Capt. James Neal Chapter
Delegates voted in last year 2023-2025:
Daryl W. Densford, Daniel Boone Chapter
Gregory Morgan, Gen. Hugh mercer Chapter
2024 National Congress:
America 250:
America 250: Fort Henry Chapter Relocates and Restores Monument to McColloch’s Leap
Major Samuel McColloch’s “leap” is one of the most famous acts of pioneer heroism in the Upper Ohio Valley. On Saturday, October 28, 2023 a brief dedication ceremony was held to commemorate completion of the relocation and restoration of the monument to McColloch’s daring escape down the east side of Wheeling Hill during the 1777 siege of Fort Henry. The ceremony was the culmination of three years of planning and fundraising by the Fort Henry Chapter in Wheeling, West Virginia. The ribbon was cut by Compatriot Robert A. McColloch, great-great-great-great nephew of Major McColloch. The monument initiative is the chapter’s signature project to mark the forthcoming 250th anniversary of American independence in 2026.
In his remarks at the dedication chapter president Jay Frey acknowledged generous support from over 70 donors. Among the most significant contributors are the City of Wheeling, Ray and Dina Carney, the Elizabeth Stifel Kline Foundation, Rotary Club of Wheeling and the SAR’s George Washington Endowment. The Carneys were presented with the Silver Citizenship Medal from the West Virginia Society in recognition of their gift of the property for the monument’s new location. Frey also commended Savage Construction Co. for donating the flag pole and Top Notch Landscaping for covering the labor cost for landscaping the site. The names of donors at the $1,000 level and above are incised on the reverse of the new monument. The total cost of the project was $92,656.
To close the event, a musket salute was given by color guardsmen Larry Perkins (Ebenezer Zane Chapter, OHSSAR), Gary Timmons and Ron Malmgren (George Washington Chapter, PASSAR).
Notes
This year marks the 250th anniversary of the construction of Fort Henry in 1774. The effort was initially undertaken by Ebenezer Zane and John Caldwell in response to anticipated reprisal raids following the murder of Mingo leader Logan’s sister and brother at Yellow Creek. The fort was completed by militia under the command of Captain William Crawford and Colonel Angus McDonald from Fort Dunmore (formerly Fort Duquesne in Pittsburgh), with approval by Virginia’s royal governor, Lord Dunmore. Originally named Fort Fincastle, using Dunmore’s secondary title of Viscount Fincastle, it was renamed for his successor, Patrick Henry following Dunmore’s departure from Virginia during the Revolutionary War.
Submitted by James H. Frey, president, Fort Henry Chapter, WVSSAR
Emeritus status
The West Virginia Society wishes to recognize four of our members that have earned Emeritus status. They have been active members for 50 years. Please congratulate the following emeritus members.
John Overington of the General Adam Stephen chapter.
Kelly Deem of the George Rogers Clark chapter.
James Van Metre IV of the Greenbrier Valley chapter.
Charles Wilson of the Greenbrier Valley chapter.