Photo by Joselyn King Jeremy West, chair of the West Liberty Foundation, tries out the flight simulator following the opening of the new Gary E. West Aviation Center on Friday.

WEST LIBERTY – West Liberty opened its new on-campus aviation center on Friday, and also announced a $1.2 million project to build “West Woods” on the grounds of its recently opened Appalachian Aquatic Conservation Center.

Wheeling businessman and philanthropist Gary E. West had a love for his alma mater, West Liberty University, and a passion for aviation, according to his wife, Flip West.

On Friday, Flip West and members of the West family were present to cut the ribbon on the Gary E. West Aviation Center, located in the east wing on the first floor of the Main Building.

West was a trained pilot who got his first pilot’s license in 1984, and he flew to Boca Raton, Florida, the same day, Flip West explained.

She recounted how she accompanied him on that first flight, and that they landed at a dark Florida airport at about 2 a.m. His steadiness during that trip convinced her she need not be fearful to fly with him in the pilot’s seat.

The West family donated $1.7 million to make the on-campus aviation center a reality.

“This is my tribute to Gary,” Flip West said. “I knew his passion, and that’s why this was meant to be.

“He loved West Liberty. And he loved aviation.”

At its center is a flight simulator unit. There is classroom space, a study area, kitchen space and a debriefing room where students can sit and talk with instructors after their simulated flights.

WLU began its aviation program last year by offering hands-on flight instruction at the Ohio County Airport. An aviation degree is offered in partnership with Marshall University and the Bill Noe Flight School, and the program offers hands-on flight training using Marshall’s fleet of Cirrus SR20 aircraft. Students earn a joint degree with Marshall University upon graduation.

Students will continue to fly planes at the airport and use classroom space that has been constructed for them there, student Jeremiah Ratcliffe explained. The aviation center gives them a place to practice flying when the weather isn’t accommodating, he added.

Also announced on Friday was the upcoming “West Woods” project.

The West family has donated six cabins on 35 acres of land near the Appalachian Aquatic Conservation Center. The value of that gift is $1.2 million, announced WLU President Timothy Borchers.

The cabins offer living opportunities for the conservation center studies, and each have two to three bedrooms.

The adjacent woods also provide hands-on learning opportunities for students and biological sciences faculty. A greenhouse will be purchased and place there through a grant in partnership with Oglebay Park and Grow OV.

WLU on Friday also announced the establishment of two aviation scholarships there in honor of two local women who received their aviation license and became pilots during the 1920s. The scholarships are named for Virginia A. Joseph, and Joann Stifel Corson.

West graduated from WLU in 1958 with a BSBA degree. Following his graduation, he worked for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company for 13 years.

In 1970, he purchased Valley Welding Supply Company in Wheeling, West Virginia. Gary West grew Valley Welding to 55 locations in 10 states, becoming the largest privately held distributor of medical gas and welding supply products in the United States.