Dedication of Veterans Memorial Museum of Southern West Virginia, Inc.
Hinton, West Virginia
May 30, 1997
James (Jim) A. Leslie, Jr., Mayor
Cecil Underwood, Governor, State of WV
Senator Leonard Anderson, WV State Senate
Rep. Bob Kiss, WV House of Representatives
Rep. Ron Thompson, WV House of Representatives
Museum Founders:
Rev. Carl Edwards, WWII Veteran, President
William Phillips, Korean War Veteran, Curator/Vice President
Carla Leslie, Wife of Mayor, Director of Museum Project, Sec'y./Treasurer
Contributions by:
Curt Messer, Veteran
Gail Mason Kerns, Vietnam Veteran
Community participation by:
Hinton Area Kids, Patty Jeffries, Director
JROTC, Woodrow Wilson High School
WV National Guard, 130th Air Wing Division, Charleston, WV
Prior Community Service
Mayor of Hinton, 1983 – 2001 (18 Years)
8 consecutive terms, including 1st 4-year term (1997-2001)
Councilman, 1973 – 75, 2020-24 (6 Years)
Accomplishments:
Main Street Hinton (StreetScape in Historic District)
City Sidetrack Park
Towne Square (Temple & 3rd Avenue)
Railroad Museum (former Cox Department Store)
Veterans Memorial Museum of Southern West Virginia (old Carnegie Library)
City Parking Lot (beside Railroad Museum)
Depot Acquisition from CSX
Hinton Area Foundation (co-founder with Richard Lawrence)
Buncher Rail Car Service (now Appalachian Tank Car Service)
McDonald's
Magic Mart
DHHR relocation to City Hall Annex
ManTech (Defense Contractor)
17th Avenue Business Building Complex
Technology Center
City Levy expanded to include Public Library funding
New WasteWater Treatment Facility
Closure of old city landfill (EPA standards)
Codification (City Code)
Annexation of Bluestone Dam and Summers County High School
Zoning of entire City for business and residential
Annual Free City-Wide CleanUp
Tire Recycling
Residential Sidewalk Replacement Program - (50/50 --- City/Property Owner)