HALL OF FAME 1996 Lyell B. Clay is a Charleston civic leader, attorney, and former publisher of the Charleston Daily Mail. He is well known as an accomplished musician and composer. Clay was named "West Virginian of the Year" by the Charleston Gazette in 1992 and received the Kanawha Valley' s "Spirit of the Valley" award in 1993. For his involvement in numerous charitable and community social agencies. Clay graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law and received a masters degree from Marshall University. He was in the private practice of law and serves on the University's Institutional Board of Advisors. He is Chairman of the Board of the Clay Foundation, former Chairman of Clay Communications and has served as Director of the American Newspaper Publishers Association. Marshall University awarded him an honorary doctorate of music degree at the 1995 Commencement.