(Publisher’s Note: The following information was made available to LEDE News by the editorial staff of the Wheeling newspapers.)
A legend in journalism and a Wheeling Hall of Famer for public service, G. Ogden Nutting, passed away Friday at the age of 87.
Over seven decades in Wheeling, Nutting received numerous community awards and honors. In 2013, he was inducted into the Wheeling Hall of Fame in the Business, Industry and Professions category, joining his grandfather, H.C. Ogden, who was inducted in 1982 in the same category.
Nutting’s wife, Betty Woods “Snookie” Nutting, joined him in the Wheeling Hall of Fame in 2017 for Public Service, making them the first married couple in the Hall of Fame as individual honorees and for different areas of contributions to the city.
He served for more than 40 years on the Wheeling Park Commission and as a member of the Oglebay Foundation. Nutting was an advocate for and strong supporter of the Community Chest/United Way his entire career.
He believed strongly in giving back to the community, with his philanthropic efforts ranging from working with major organizations to specific projects such as the Nutting Art Gallery at West Liberty University, the Nutting Winter Sports Complex at Oglebay Park and Nutting Hall at Blaney House, the president’s residence at West Virginia University.
For more than 60 years, Nutting worked at his private and family-owned Ogden Newspapers Inc., serving in various capacities including publisher, general manager and president. The Wheeling Evening News, founded by Nutting’s maternal grandfather H.C. Ogden on Sept. 22, 1890, formed the basis of the company that became the Ogden Newspapers Inc.
He was deeply involved in education, both public and private. He served for 45 years as a member of the Board of Trustees at Bethany College, from which he received an Honorary Doctorate in 2001 and was chosen for Bethany’s Communication and Media Arts Department “Wall of Fame” in 2012. He was a board member of The Linsly School and also Wheeling Country Day School.
A lifelong sports enthusiast, Nutting regularly was found at local sports events. A skilled tennis player and enthusiast of skiing, he regularly skied at Seven Springs Mountain Resort and Hidden Valley Resort along with other ski areas across the country, and was twice chronicled in Ski Magazine.
He founded the original Wheeling Junior Soccer Club and also was a founding officer of the Wheeling Ironmen professional football team.
He also was involved in endeavors outside of Wheeling. In 1996, Nutting joined with Kevin McClatchy’s partnership group to ensure the Pittsburgh Pirates remained in Pittsburgh. He later worked with McClatchy to help design and open PNC Park in 2001.
Miss Betty S Woods Nutting, please accept my sincere condolences on the death of your husband.
I was one of your 7th grade students when you resigned to marry G. Odgen Nutting. You were my home room teacher and art teacher. I was Alice in Through the Looking Glass, the play our home room performed for the whole school that year. We all missed you so much but wished you well in all your endeavors.
From Sharon Bowen Marshall
Dear Betty Woods Nutting, I am from a long time ago, when you lived in Highland Park ,I remember Bud too; you had the girl scouts from Parkview to your home and taught us how to etch glass . I always thought ‘one day I want to thank her’ but here we are ,so I want to extend my prayers and sympathy to you,for loss of your husband. Strange the way things work out, time marches on. You are remembered fondly. from Betsy Bruhn Haller
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