Ross contributes significant gift to D&E capital campaign
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ELKINS -- Davis & Elkins College has received a significant gift in support of the "Creating Home: It Takes a Village" capital campaign.
Coalton native and D&E alumnus Mike Ross' contribution will be used to help fund the construction of a Freshman Village.
The Freshman Village will include the hillside where Roxanna Booth Hall and Gribble Hall are located, both of which will undergo upgrades. Additionally, a new, yet unnamed residence hall structure will be constructed, three and one-half stories tall and creating a 100-bed, suite-style structure.
"The face behind this very generous gift is both a familiar one and a loyal one," said D&E President Chris A. Wood. "Mike Ross has been a stalwart presence in helping to move D&E forward and has a well-defined history of giving back to D&E. His gifts have always focused on the student experience, and that says a lot about Mike."
Ross has a long history of supporting D&E. In 2015, he supported the West Virginia Highlander's 2015 appearance in the nation's 4th of July parade. He also has given to the "Candlelight Christmas" concert, the D&E Fund, the Highlands Scholarship, the Eastern Regional Science Fair, renovation of the Hermanson Campus Center, the Senator Club, performances by the West Virginia Symphony, the Randolph County Scholarship Fund, the D&E Baseball Team, and the Mike Ross Endowed Scholarship.
Ross received the D&E Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2015.
"Mike shares our commitment to make impactful improvements to the D&E campus and realizes that, as this campaign has defined, a dynamic living and learning community is essential to our college growth," Wood said. "His gift, along with others for the capital campaign, ensures that our top-notch academics are complemented with excellent residential facilities. This campaign is a commitment to Davis & Elkins College and its future, and we are deeply grateful for Mike's generous gift."
Ross worked as a coal miner and heavy equipment operator after college. In 1971, Ross and his business partner, Robert Wharton, started Ross & Wharton Gas Company, which provides livelihoods for several full-time employees and many independent contractors throughout West Virginia to this day.
Ross helped build thriving businesses, and in 1992 was elected to represent West Virginia's 15th Senatorial District in the state legislature, where he would hold a seat for 12 years. He held office again in 2009, when he was appointed to fill the West Virginia House of Delegates seat left vacant by the death of Delegate Bill Proudfoot.
The Freshman Village represents Phase II of the Campus Master Plan approved by the D&E Board of Trustees in 2019. Phase I of the plan was completed in 2020 and consisted of $7.2 million in upgrades to the Myles Center for the Arts and Myles Plaza to offer space for campus and community gatherings.