WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. — There are few chapters in the modern history of West Liberty University that do not include Dr. John P. McCullough. For more than four decades, McCullough served the University as an educator, administrator, leader, mentor and advocate. He helped guide West Liberty through periods of growth and transition, influenced generations of students and colleagues, and became one of the most respected and recognizable figures in the University's history.

Now, his extraordinary legacy on the Hilltop will include a place in the West Liberty University Athletic Hall of Fame. McCullough will be formally inducted during the Hall of Fame ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 19.

McCullough's association with West Liberty spans more than 45 years and virtually every level of University leadership. He began as a professor of management before serving nearly 16 years as dean of the School of Business Administration and 11 years as provost and vice president of academic affairs.

When West Liberty needed steady leadership at the University's highest level, it repeatedly turned to McCullough. He served as interim president on three separate occasions, in 2001, from 2005-07 and again in 2015.

In December 2015, the West Liberty University Board of Governors provided a fitting conclusion to that remarkable progression of service when it unanimously named McCullough the University's 35th president.

By then, his influence could be found throughout nearly every corner of the Hilltop.

Athletics was no exception.

Throughout his career, McCullough has been a passionate advocate for the role intercollegiate athletics plays in the life of the University. He supported Hilltopper student-athletes, coaches and programs not simply from an administrative office, but through his presence, generosity and genuine interest in their success. He was a familiar face at West Liberty athletic events throughout the decades, celebrating the accomplishments of Hilltopper teams and remaining connected to the coaches and student-athletes who represented the University.

His support also extended well beyond the sidelines. McCullough's commitment to creating opportunities for West Liberty students has included significant philanthropic support of the University. His impact as an educator, administrator and benefactor has continued long after his formal retirement, ensuring that future generations of Hilltoppers benefit from the institution to which he devoted his professional life.

"Everyone who has spent time on the Hilltop seems to have a Dr. McCullough story," said West Liberty Director of Athletics Brad Forshey. "That tells you more about his impact than any list of titles ever could. He has touched generations of students, faculty, staff, coaches and alumni. His influence is woven into the history of this University."

That influence has been felt across generations. McCullough helped educate West Liberty students in the classroom, guided academic programs as a dean, helped shape the direction of the University as provost, provided stability during multiple presidential transitions and ultimately led the institution as its president.

At the conclusion of the University's Fall 2015 Commencement, McCullough had presided over 33 West Liberty commencement ceremonies, a remarkable illustration of the number of students whose West Liberty experience intersected with his own.

His legacy of service was already so significant that the University established the John P. McCullough Society in his honor, recognizing major benefactors whose generosity helps advance West Liberty's mission.

Yet those who know McCullough understand that his impact has never been about the titles he held or the recognition he received.

It has been about people. It is found in the students he taught and mentored, the faculty and staff members he supported, the leaders he advised, the programs he championed and the countless relationships he developed during a lifetime devoted to West Liberty.

That same spirit has defined his relationship with Hilltopper Athletics. McCullough understood that athletics is part of the fabric of a university community. For decades, he supported the young men and women wearing the Black and Gold and the coaches and staff members who helped guide them. His connection to Athletics remained constant through changing seasons, changing leadership and generations of student-athletes.
Even after his retirement, McCullough remained part of the Hilltopper family and a familiar presence around West Liberty Athletics.

"There are very few people who embody what it means to be a Hilltopper more than Dr. John P. McCullough," Forshey said. "His impact can't be measured by a title or by the number of years he served. It's measured in the students he supported, the people he mentored and the generations of Hilltoppers who are better because he was here. This is exactly the kind of lifetime impact the West Liberty University Athletic Hall of Fame should recognize."

McCullough's induction is unique among Hall of Fame honors. His legacy is not defined by wins and losses, championships or individual records. It is measured by something much larger: a lifetime spent helping build, strengthen and sustain the University that Hilltopper student-athletes have represented for generations.

More than 45 years after his journey at West Liberty began, Dr. John P. McCullough's place in the history of the University was already secure.

His induction into the West Liberty University Athletic Hall of Fame ensures that his extraordinary impact on Hilltopper Athletics will forever be recognized as part of that legacy.




West Liberty University blends a small-town environment with a comprehensive college experience, fostering students' aspirations through hands-on learning, personalized support, and unique academic programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Learn more at westliberty.edu.