The June Harless Hall of Fame is an annual ceremony held by the June Harless Center each year. The ceremony provides an opportunity to show appreciation and give recognition to those people who have been identified as outstanding contributors to West Virginia’s educational system with special focus on the rural areas of the state.
Individuals selected for induction into the Harless Hall of Fame have spent a lifetime providing creative leadership for educators and business and community organizations. This creative way of thinking about life and work is celebrated annually for individuals who have committed to improving the possibilities for West Virginia educators, families, and children.
Hall of Fame Inductees
TWENTIETH ANNUAL
- Ms. Michele Blatt
- Ms. Emily Calandrelli
- Dr. Teresa Eagle
- Ms. Sheryl Sandberg
NINETEENTH ANNUAL
- Mr. William A. Smith Sr.
- Dr. Sarah Armstrong Tucker
- Dr. Avinandan Mukherjee
EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL
- David L. Roach
- Sen. Amy Nichole Grady
- WV Public Education Collaborative
- National Youth Science Academy
SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL
- Mr. Dan Mollette
- Ms. Dolly Parton
- First Lady Cathy Justice
- Drs. Stan & Barbara Maynard
SIXTEENTH ANNUAL
- Mr. Robert, Jr. & Mrs. Lena Shell
- Drs. Joseph & Omayma Touma
- Mrs. Katherine Johnson
FIFTEENTH ANNUAL
- Mr. W. Clayton Burch
- NASA Independent Verification (IV&V) Educator Resource Center
- Mr. Brad and Mrs. Alys Smith
FOURTEENTH ANNUAL
- Dr. Robert Hayes
- Robert C. Byrd Institute
- Mr. Gary White
THIRTEENTH ANNUAL
- Mr. Ron Berger
- First Lady Joanne Jaeger Tomblin
- WV Women’s Education Forum
TWELFTH ANNUAL
- Dr. Kathy D’Antoni
- Mr. Michael J. Farrell, Esquire
- Southern Regional Education Board
ELEVENTH ANNUAL
- Gov. Gaston Caperton
- Dr. Illah Nourbakhsh
- Mr. A. Michael & Mrs. Henriella Perry
TENTH ANNUAL
- Gen. Robert H. “Doc” Foglesong
- Sen. Lloyd G. Jackson II
- U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller
NINTH ANNUAL
- Gov. Bob Wise
- Cabell County School System
- Frontier Communications
EIGHTH ANNUAL
- Dr. Lowell E. Johnson
- Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin
- Mr. Ralph Baxter
SEVENTH ANNUAL
- U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, III
- Dr. Jack McClanahan
- Dr. Rosalyn Templeton
SIXTH ANNUAL
- Representative Mary M. Poling
- Mr. C. Fred Shewey
- Wayne County School System
FIFTH ANNUAL
- Dr. Ruby Payne
- Dr. Steven Paine
- Pendleton County School System
FOURTH ANNUAL
- First Lady Gayle Manchin
- Dr. Keith Smith
- Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation
THIRD ANNUAL
- Mrs. Lydia McCue
- Mr. David Ice
- Sen. Robert Plymale
SECOND ANNUAL
- Mrs. Beverly Kingery
- Mr. Jimmy D. Hale
- Verizon
FIRST ANNUAL
- Dr. Jane McKee
- Dr. Bernard Queen
- Mr. James “Buck” Harless
Hallie Harless Distinguished Teacher Award
2006
Ms. Tonya Hatcher
Riverside Elementary School
Mingo County
2007
Mr. Doug Martin
Mingo Career and Technical Center
Mingo County
2008
Ms. April Adams
Kellogg Elementary School
Wayne County
Ms. Robin Ellis
Gilbert High School
Mingo County
2009
Mr. Jonathan Escue
Lincoln County High School
Lincoln County
Ms. Kristy East
Anawalt Elementary School
McDowell County
2010
Ms. Heather Woods
Lockhart Mount View High School
McDowell County
2011
Mr. Dan Gottron
River View High School
McDowell County
2012
Ms. Joni Shortridge
Lincoln County
2013
Mrs. Amanda Sowards
Lincoln County
2014
Mrs. Amanda Lester
McDowell County
2015
Mrs. Kelly Bryant
Logan County
2016
Ms. Whitney Preston
Logan County
2024
Mr. Joshua Johnson
Mingo Central High School
Mingo County
2025
Mr. Robert Thompson
Wayne High School
Wayne County