So, there just have to be reasons.
There have to be reasons why residents of the Wheeling area were willing to endure the three years it took to rebuild Interstate 70 in Ohio County, and there have to be reasons why those same motorists are navigating the aggravation involved with a downtown streetscape project that took longer to design than it will to complete.
There are vacant buildings and ongoing demolitions, a declining population and an increasing median age, and there is a past that’s vastly more popular than the region’s present and perpetual reinventing status.
Seriously, when will it all end?
So, you see, that’s why Robert Felton must know something more than most. Sure, he grew up here, and yes, his grandfather, Ross Felton, is a local legend, and his father, Jack, is a partner of a successful accounting firm in the middle – literally – of the downtown district.
But Robert? One of four children who was graduated from The Linsly School School (2014) and Marietta College (2018)? With the credentials he’s already able to list?
- Member of the City of Wheeling’s Board of Zoning Appeals.
- Member for the City of Wheeling’s Entertainment Endowment Committee.
- Member of Parish Council member for the Cathedral of St. Joseph.
- Member of the Saints and Sinners, which raises funds for various charities.
- Member of the St. Clairsville Moose Lodge.
- Member of Lewis Wetzel Rifle & Pistol Club.
Plus, the 27-year-old already is a financial advisor for the recently formed McKenzie Riedel Wealth Management firm in Center Wheeling.
So, Robert knows something alright. He knows what and who he loves, and he knows just where to find it all in one place.
Home.
Why are so proud to be an alum of The Linsly School?
The extent of my pride with The Linsly School didn’t fully develop until I had already graduated. While enrolled, I considered Linsly a nurturing but tough-love environment, which was exactly what I needed. It’s a culture enriched in tradition where the closest of friends will be in healthy competitions involving academics, athletics, clubs, or the arts.
I particularly enjoyed my involvement with the school-wide art and declamation poetry contests and the annual Extravaganza at the Capitol Theatre. Although we were students from around the world, one unifying notion bound us together: if you want to be the best, you simply have to work the hardest.
While in college, I fully realized my gratitude for my Linsly education and the relationships with fellow students, teachers and school staff. It’s important to help current students realize the impact that the institution can have on the rest of their lives.
Today, I enjoy coaching soccer at Linsly and connecting with students. I try to instill in them not only the importance of hard work and being there for your teammates but also that receiving a Linsly education is a real honor. While a student, it can be easy to forget, but I wouldn’t trade my education and time at Linsly for anything.
How disappointing is it to you that the renovations on the McLure Hotel have stopped until further notice?
It was refreshing that we saw some investment into such a vitally historic building in Wheeling. As one of most historic properties in Wheeling, largely from housing multiple United States presidents, the McLure Hotel is unlike any other property downtown. I’m confident that the hotel will again be a staple in our downtown community.
Downtown living has rightfully been at the forefront of discussions in Wheeling. These discussions largely stemmed from the vast investments into downtown residential properties including the Boury Lofts, Stone Center Lofts, The Dorris on Main, The Bridge Tavern, the DiCarlo’s Building, the Flatiron Building, and the McLain Flats.
Each of them is coupled with a far more aesthetically pleasing view of downtown Wheeling on the horizon, thanks to the streetscape project and restoration of the Suspension Bridge.
Why is your firm – McKenzie Riedel – so successful when it comes to wealth management?
The success of our team is not only because we have uniquely astounding clients, but the depth of our team is frankly unmatched. From the top down, our team expresses the importance of getting to know our clients through developing genuine relationships. We’re a truly collaborative group solely devoted to those that entrust us with vital financial decisions.
Do you plan to remain in Wheeling or move to another city with a larger population?
I would love to be in Wheeling for the rest of my life. There’s the business side of it, where some of my most enjoyable conversations are working with clients that I’ve had lengthy relationships with. There’s also the side of it where I simply want to see Wheeling thrive and I can’t think of a reason to leave.
The caliber of activities to engage in throughout our community are unlike any other city comparable to Wheeling’s population. We can’t forget that we’re the smallest city in the country with a world-class symphony and we have the country’s largest self-supporting public municipal park, Oglebay, in our backyard.
If you want to take a deep breath away from Wheeling and travel, Interstate 70 and the Pittsburgh International Airport will take you there. While it can be easy to look back on the past success of Wheeling and the once vibrant downtown, I’m confident that the right gears are in motion to achieve grand success again. Even downtown’s torn-up streets and sidewalks can’t slow down Wheeling’s momentum.
What is the best lesson ever taught to you by your grandfather, Ross Felton?
Often remembered for his humility, many of the lessons that I learned from my grandfather were stories or experiences that I witnessed in how he engaged with others. He had an ability to treat everyone that he knew with respect and a couple of instances specifically exemplified that respect.
Possibly his most notable accomplishment was the founding of Jamboree in the Hills. One summer when I was in college, we took him to “The Jamboree” on a Sunday afternoon. It was remarkable to see not only some of country music’s biggest stars but also many of his old employees of all rank and file, want to spend time with him and express their gratitude.
When he retired from Jamboree in the Hills, WWVA, and Capitol Theatre, he found a new way to continue to give back to our community. Well into his 80s, he delivered meals for Catholic Charities to those that were homebound. While I was in middle school, I delivered meals with him one summer morning. I remember that he was never in a rush to drop the food off and go to the next recipient.
He wanted to take his time with each person that he delivered a meal to, ask them about their day, and ensure they knew they were important to him.
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