SUMMERS COUNTY W.Va. (Hinton News) – Summers County Historical Society has released the names of those to be inducted into the Inspiration Gallery on Saturday, April 12, at 2 p.m. at Summers County Comprehensive High School. They are as follows:
Ken Allman is the founder and CEO of both PracticeLink, an online physician job bank and MountainPlex Properties LLC, both based in Hinton. In 2014 he was named West Virginia Small Business Person of the Year by the West Virginia Small Business Administration. He has been a philanthropist for many projects in Summers County and serves on the Board of the Hinton Area Foundation.
Ella Atkins heads the Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. Her specialty is unmanned vehicles, commonly known as drones. She is an AIAA Fellow (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics) and the Editor in Chief of the Journal of Aerospace Information Systems. She is also a private pilot.
Butch Miles was a world-famous jazz musician and drummer who attended Central Elementary in Hinton. He performed on every continent and played with Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Frank Sinatra, just to mention a few. He appeared on the Tonight Show, CBS 60 Minutes, Merv Griffith, and many other TV appearances. Butch also taught jazz at the University of Texas. Butch recorded over 100 albums.
Christopher Payne was born when most African Americans were enslaved, although he was born free. His mother taught him to read and write. From humble beginnings, he went on to found two churches in Hinton, three black newspapers in the state and was the first black legislator in West Virginia. Later Payne earned a law degree and finally was appointed as Consul General to the Dutch West Indies which later became the Virgin Islands.
Blind Alfred Reed, born blind, made his living writing and playing music. He recorded over 21 records including one of the most popular, “How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live” which was later sung by Bruce Springsteen. In 1937 Hinton passed an ordinance prohibiting him from playing on the street corner where he received tips.
Inspiration Gallery is designed to inspire students to achieve their greatest potential by honoring historical figures from the county who have made significant contributions. The induction ceremony is open to the public.
