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2008 Business Hall of Fame Laureate

Governor Joe Manchin

Joe Manchin III is West Virginia’s 34th Governor. Born and raised in Farmington, West Virginia, he learned at a young age the value of commitment – commitment not only to his family, but his community and neighbors. From his grandfather, an immigrant from Italy and the town grocer, he inherited a head for business, while from his grandmother, a virtual one-woman social services agency, he discovered his heart for people.

After attending West Virginia University on a football scholarship, he became a successful businessman. As a member of the legislature from 1982-1`996, he earned a reputation for standing up for West Virginia to improve its schools, protect its veterans and senior citizens. As Secretary of State from 2000 to 2004, the office became known for providing excellent customer service. In addition, its SHARES program promoted democracy to all school children and registered 42,000 high school students to vote. Subsequently, the 2004 General Election saw the highest number of West Virginians cast votes since 1972. He also served from 200 to 2004 as president of the Marion county Rescue Squad.

As Governor, Joe Manchin is taking responsibility for improving West Virginia’s economic climate in an effort to retain and create good paying jobs with good paying jobs with health care benefits for the state’s workforce and reducing the ling-term debt. He is committed to making affordable and accessible health care available to our citizens, a seamless education system for our children, prescription drug assistance for our seniors and a better support structure for our veterans.

Under his leadership, West Virginia has become “Open for Business.” Working with the legislature, he has fixed the stat’s workers’ compensation system, instituted insurance reforms, established the first comprehensive teacher pay package in more than 15 years, decreased the state’s debt, strengthened its ethics laws and reduced the food tax.

Governor Manchin believes West Virginians expect and deserve a leader who works hard every day to improve the state, and who uses common sense to remove barriers hindering our economic development and children’s future. He acknowledges, however, that he cannot achieve success alone – it takes everyone working together to achieve real and lasting change.

He has quickly become a leader on the national scene as well. Governor Manchin currently served as Chairman of the Southern States Energy Board; Chair-Elect for 2008 of the Democratic Governors Association; Vice-Chair and Chair-Elect of the Southern Governors’ Association; Vice President of the Council of State Governments; and, the Chair of the Interstate Mining compact Commission.

He is an avid pilot, outdoorsman, hunter, fisherman and motorcyclist. He has been married for 40 years to the former Gayle Connelly of Beckley. The have three children and six grandchildren.