HALL OF FAME 1998 H. Darrel Darby, DPM, FACFAS, opened his podiatric practice in 1956, which later became Huntington Podiatry Associates in Huntington, West Virginia. While practicing, Darby received input from patients that led him to develop a post-operative shoe. He received a patent on the shoe and formed Darco International to manufacture and distribute the shoes and other medical products. Since its inception, Darco has become the leading manufacturer of post-operative shoes in the United States and is the world leader in the manufacturing and distribution of surgical shoes. Darco also manufactures a full line of generic orthopedic braces. Following high school graduation, Darby was employed as a coal miner. With the encouragement of his wife, Darby returned to school and graduated in 1956 from the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine. Darby served as president of the West Virginia Podiatric Medical Association, the Mid-Atlantic Podiatric Medical Association and became the only West Virginian to ever serve as president of the American Podiatric Medical Association. He was one of the founders of the Podiatry Insurance Company of America and served as its chairman from 1982 to 1993. Darby also ventured into other areas of business, building his first motel in the late 1960's. He later added 34 additional rooms to that property and today has four motels in the Beckley-Princeton area with a total of 430 rooms. Laurel Lodge Enterprises is the family-owned business that operates the motels and develops new properties. Darby and his wife, Laura, have six children and 13 grandchildren.