FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin will deliver the Commencement address at West Virginia University at Parkersburg’s December ceremonies.

The 14th annual December Commencement will be held at 7 p.m., Friday (Dec. 17), in the College Activities Center.

Approximately 240 students are candidates for graduation.  They represent August and December graduates.  More than 100 are expected to take part in the ceremonies.  

The 35th governor of West Virginia, Governor Tomblin is a native of Logan County.  He received his undergraduate degree from West Virginia University, an M.B.A. from Marshall University and attended the University of Charleston.

A self-employed businessman and former school teacher, he was elected to the WV House of Delegates in 1974 at the age of 22 and held that position until he was elected to the WV Senate in 1980.  Governor Tomblin is the longest serving Senate President, a position he has held since his election in 1995. He was named the state’s first Lieutenant Governor in 2000.  He became acting Governor last month, when then Governor Joe Manchin resigned the position to fill the unexpired term of U. S. Senator Robert C. Byrd.