Dr. Donald Hofreuter

WHEELING – The final member of the Ohio Valley Hall of Fame Class of 2026 has been named.

Dr. Donald Hofreuter will be honored posthumously as the recipient of the Denny Magruder Distinguished Service Award during the hall of fame banquet on Saturday, Aug. 15 at WesBanco Arena.

Dr. Hofreuter is part of a hall of fame class that is comprised of Weirton Madonna’s Ross Comis and Cambridge’s Eric Fox from the decade of the 2010s; Bellaire’s Ashley Vavrek and Trent Luyster of Harrison Central from the decade of the 2000s while Cameron’s R.C. Anderson and Barnesville’s Ryan Grear are the honorees from the 1990s. Weir’s Erica West and Bellaire’s Charlie Ward were chosen for the 1980s while Jeff Rice of St. Clairsville and Ed “Buzzy” Evans were the 1970 honorees with Steubenville’s Sandy Williams and Warwood’s Bob Dunlevy representing the 1960s; Tony Ciroli (St. Clairsville) and Dugan Hill (Caldwell) represent the coaches; Jim Prati (Warren Consolidated) was chosen as the official; Becky Strahler of Fort Frye, Don Strahler of Fort Frye and Darryl Hoppel of Beaver Local comprise the “Legends” category.

Hofreuter was the valedictorian of the Linsly School Class of 1950 and went on to earn his undergraduate degree from Princeton University and then graduated from Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1958. He also did post graduate training through the University of Cincinnati.

However, his passion for the Ohio Valley brought him back to Wheeling Hospital following his time in Cincinnati and he spent his entire career there until retiring in 2006.

Dr. Hofreuter was instrumental in helping to build the relationship, which still stands today, between the OVAC and Wheeling Hospital, now under the WVU Medicine umbrella.

Dr. Hofreuter, along with John DeBlasis, orchestrated numerous sports medicine clinics and provided physicals for OVAC member schools. He was also impactful in bringing certified Athletic Trainers to numerous conference members.

During the football season, Hofreuter helped organize free injury clinics for all OVAC athletes, which proved especially beneficial in the sport of football. He also provided physical examinations for all officials who worked OVAC sporting events.

Prior to getting Wheeling Hospital involved, Hofreuter’s passion for the OVAC was evident when he was one of the founding members of the OVAC Foundation. He was encouraged to get involved by the late Bill Van Horne and Sam Mumley, both of whom are members of the conference hall of fame. That group’s work helped to raise funds to support the OVAC for more than half a decade to help the conference regain financial stability.

Dr. Hofreuter had a private practice from 1961 until 1993, while working at Wheeling Hospital. He was the hospital’s Director of Medical Affairs from 1982-1993 and then served as acting administrator for four months before ascending to the hospital’s CEO in January of 1994. He held that post until his retirement in 2006.

Dr. Hofreuter, who died in 2021, was also active in the Ohio Valley through his work with numerous civic groups and charities.