G. Ogden Nutting

1935 - 2023

George Ogden Nutting, 87, of Wheeling, W.Va., passed away Friday, August 25, 2023.

He was born October 21, 1935, in Washington, D.C., a son of the late Dr. George K. Nutting and Margaret Ogden Nutting.

He attended high school at St. Albans School in Washington, D.C., and graduated magna cum laude from Williams College with a degree in history, where he was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa fraternity – Delta Psi.

Nutting worked for more than 60 years at his private and family-owned Ogden Newspapers Inc., serving in various roles including publisher, general manager and president. The Wheeling Evening News, founded by Nutting's maternal grandfather, H.C. Ogden, September 22, 1890, formed the basis of the company that became the Ogden Newspapers Inc., which now has more than 50 community newspapers in 18 states.

An Episcopalian by faith, Nutting served for years as a Sunday school teacher at St. John's Episcopal Church in Wheeling, and served in the Vestry and as a Trustee of Lawrencefield Chapel. He was active at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church and also St. John's in later years.

He served on the boards of numerous community, statewide and national organizations with particular interest in West Virginia University and Bethany College, both of which presented him with honorary doctorate degrees and other recognition. He also served on the boards of The Linsly School, Wheeling Country Day School, was a founding officer of the Wheeling Ironmen and the Wheeling Junior Soccer Club, and was chairman of the board of the Half Dollar Trust and Savings Bank.

In 2013, he was inducted into the Wheeling Hall of Fame in the Business, Industry and Professions category, joining his grandfather, H.C. Ogden, who was inducted in 1982 in the same category. Nutting's wife, Betty Woods "Snookie" Nutting, joined him in the Wheeling Hall of Fame in 2017 for Public Service, making them the first married couple in the Hall of Fame as individual honorees and for different contributions to the city.

In 2005, West Virginia Gov. Bob Wise honored Nutting with the Distinguished West Virginian Award.

The West Virginia Press Association awarded him its highest honor, the Adam R. Kelly Premier Journalist Award, in 2010. The Southern Newspaper Publisher's Association in 2012 awarded Nutting its highest honor, the Mayborn Leadership Award, for his "vision, community leadership, and significant contributions to the newspaper industry."

In 2007, West Virginia University inducted Nutting into the Order of Vandalia, its most prestigious honor, for service to the state of West Virginia.

Nutting also served on boards and committees of the American Newspaper Publishers' Association, Southern Newspaper Publishers' Association and the West Virginia Press Association.

In 1996, Nutting joined with Kevin McClatchy's partnership group to ensure the Pittsburgh Pirates did not leave Pittsburgh. He later worked with McClatchy to help design and open PNC Park in 2001.

Nutting also served in the West Virginia National Guard, where he attained the rank of staff sergeant.

Nutting was an avid skier who skied until the age of 86 regularly at Seven Springs Mountain Resort and Hidden Valley Resort and many other areas. He twice was featured in Ski Magazine for likely skiing at more ski resorts than anyone had skied before. He also was an avid tennis player and lifelong promoter of growing tennis in Wheeling.

He is survived by his wife, Betty Woods "Snookie" Nutting; and his brother, who was his oldest friend and lifelong business partner, William C. Nutting and his wife, Pauline. He also is survived by his two sons, William O. Nutting and his wife, Veronica Zoani Quinterno, and Robert M. Nutting and his wife, Leslie; five granddaughters: Cameron Nutting Williams and her husband, Christophe; Taylor Nutting Gurbacs and her husband, Gabor; Lachlan Nutting; Veronica Nutting; and Alexia Nutting; one grandson, Ogden William Nutting; along with three great-grandchildren, Nolan Williams, Olivia Williams, and George Gurbacs. He also is survived by two nephews, Robert and Christopher Woods.

There will be no visitation or public service. Those desiring to do so should make contributions to the church or charity of their choice.