Chapter Eight
A New Century
2001-2013

West Virginia Capitol, 1932-present.
Postcard Collection

Governor Bob Wise

The 2001 inauguration of Robert E. Wise Jr. continued the recent tradition of a multi-day event. On Sunday, January 14, an interfaith prayer service was held at the Municipal Auditorium with Wise as keynote speaker. Representatives of several different religions participated in the 90-minute service. On the morning of January 15, a service celebrating the life of Martin Luther King Jr. was held at Asbury United Methodist Church, not far from the capitol. An inaugural brunch at the governor's mansion for invited guests followed.

Cover of program for Interfaith Prayer Service

Bob Wise and family. Ph2004-065

Excerpts from Wise's inaugural program

RSVP for inaugural events Inaugural ticket

Wise had been sworn into office by Cabell County Circuit Judge Dan O'Hanlon shortly after midnight at the governor's mansion but took the oath again during the public ceremonies on the boulevard side of the capitol. As he took the oath, his left hand was on a Bible given to him by his parents when he was a child. During the ceremony, about 30 people, among them outgoing Secretary of State Ken Hechler, were gathered on the boulevard to protest Wise's selection of Logan County Commissioner Art Kirkendoll as his special assistant for southern West Virginia. A new feature--ringing of the bell in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.--was added to the formal ceremonies. Following the new governor's inaugural address and the singing of "Amazing Grace" as the benediction, a public reception was held in the rotunda, with refreshments and entertainment at the Cultural Center. Among the performers were the West Virginia Kickers, a group of teenage who clogged, one of Wise's favorite activities.

Administration of the oath. Ph2004-065 Inaugural footage.

That evening, a VIP reception was held at the Marriott before the inaugural ball at the Civic Center. The Spinners, Big Planet Soul, Theron Denson, Asleep at the Wheel, and Brad Paisley provided entertainment for ball attendees.

Front side of Wise inaugural brochure

Governor Joe Manchin

In 2005, Joe Manchin III continued having an interfaith prayer service at the Municipal Auditorium on the Sunday before his inauguration as part of the inaugural activities, but he added a Mass at Sacred Heart Co-Cothedral prior to that service. On Sunday evening, an appreciation dinner was held for financial contributors for inaugural events.

Cover to program for inaugural mass

Municipal Auditorium. Courtesy Mary Johnson

Inaugural reception

Inaugural events on January 17, 2005, began at 8:30 a.m. with the Martin Luther King Jr. service as Asbury United Methodist Church. At 10:00, an inaugural parade, the first since Arch Moore's second-term inauguration in 1973, took place on Kanawha Boulevard despite temperatures below freezing. Bands from 35 high schools participated. Following an invitation-only inaugural reception at the governor's mansion at 11:00 a.m., the formal ceremonies began at noon on the south side of the capitol. Manchin gave his inaugural address after the 19-gun salute. A notable aspect of the ceremony was the involvement of several members of the Manchin family: Joe Manchin's cousin Mark Anthony Manchin was master of ceremonies; his grandchildren Chloe Bresch, Jack Bresch, Madeline Bresch, Kelsey Kirby, Joe Manchin V, and Sophie Manchin led the Pledge of Allegiance; and his son Joe Manchin IV sang the national anthem. As had been the case with recent inaugurations, a public reception was held in the rotunda, with refreshments and entertainment provided in the Cultural Center.

Excerpts from Manchin's 2005 inaugural program

Inaugural ticket

Inaugural footage

The evening concluded with the inaugural ball, which utilized five areas of the Civic Center. Performers included the Carpenter Ants, the Fabulous Hubcaps, Davisson Brothers, Liz Nichols, Rachel Proctor, Rick K and the All Nighters, Three Dog Night, Howie Damron, John Blisard and David O'Dell, Bob Thompson, and Black Diamond.

Inaugural mass. Sc2008-054

Inaugural mass. Gov. Joe Manchin Collection

Manchin's second inauguration in 2009 brought activities that were both similar to and different from his inauguration four years earlier. On the Sunday before the formal ceremony, there was an ecumenical mass at Sacred Heart that involved religious leaders of different faiths rather than two separate religious events.

Inaugural magazine

Inauguration day, January 19, 2009, began with the Martin Luther King Jr. service at Asbury United Methodist Church, followed by a parade along the boulevard. Gov. and Mrs. Manchin marched in the parade, during which the governor took an opportunity to fire the Mountaineer mascot's musket. Three dozen bands were scheduled to participate but about a dozen of those bands were unable to make the trip because of the weather. Among the participants were bands from West Virginia and Marshall universities and WVU football coach Bill Stewart and members of his staff.

Manchin at King service Inaugural parade Inaugural parade Inaugural parade Inaugural parade All photos from Gov. Manchin Collection

Inaugural map
From inaugural magazine

Inaugural program

The inaugural ceremony began place at 1:00 p.m., rather than the traditional 12:00 p.m., on the north side of the capitol. The Manchin grandchildren once again led the Pledge of Allegiance, but the governor's son served as master of ceremonies instead of singing. Randall Reid-Smith, commissioner of Culture and History, sang the national anthem, and Joe Manchin gave a 14-minute inaugural address. A public reception in the rotunda followed the conclusion of the ceremony, with refreshments and entertainment provided in the Cultural Center.

Views of the inaugural ceremony. Gov. Joe Manchin Collection

Events concluded with the inaugural ball at the Civic Center, decorated around the theme of seasons: spring in the mezzanine, with jazz musician Bob Thompson; summer in the North Hall, with the Davisson Brothers and Tom Watt The Buffet Man; fall in the South Hall, with Taylor Made, Alli Gillis and Heidi Newfield; and winter in the Grand Coliseum, with Big Planet Soul and The Spinners. Singer Travis Riddle performed in the lobby.

Inaugural party, January 18, Clay Center Inaugural ball, Civic Center Gayle Manchin Collection

Governor Earl Ray Tomblin

Elected to fill the unexpired of Sen. Robert C. Byrd after his death in June 2010, Joe Manchin resigned as governor on November 15, 2010, and was succeeded by Earl Ray Tomblin, Senate President, as acting governor. The following day, an investiture ceremony for Tomblin was held in front of the Senate Chamber. Tomblin was elected to fill Manchin's unexpired term on October 4, 2011. He took the oath in a private ceremony shortly after noon on November 13, 2011, immediately after he resigned as state senator, but also was inaugurated as the state's 35th governor in a public ceremony on the south side of the capitol, on a "sunny but blustery" Sunday in which temperatures neared 70 degrees. Senator Manchin presented the new governor at the inaugural ceremony. Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. sang the national anthem and "Amazing Grace" during the ceremony. Tomblin's inaugural address comments on the coal and natural gas industries drew boos from nearby anti-mountaintop mining and Occupy Charleston protesters and cheers from legislators. A public reception was held in the Great Hall of the Culture Center. 2010 Investiture invitation

Inaugural program

2011 Inaugural invitation

Tomblin's inauguration was scaled back from those of other recent West Virginia governors. The inauguration was only the second January inauguration not to coincide with the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday since the holiday was first observed in 1986--Cecil Underwood's 1997 inauguration was the other. Activities did not include an inaugural parade, which had been revived under Manchin. In addition, the inaugural ball was moved from the Charleston Civic Center to the Clay Center, which accommodated fewer people. Ten West Virginia musical groups were scheduled: West Virginia Symphony Brass Quintet, the Ryan Kennedy Trio, Bob Thompson, Adam DeGraff, Taylor Made, Matt Jones and the Road, the Soul Miners, the Davisson Brothers, City Heat, and the Street Players.