[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 129 (Wednesday, July 22, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E663]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




REMEMBERING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF ENTERTAINER AND PUBLIC SERVANT SHIRLEY 
                                D. LOVE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. CAROL D. MILLER

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 22, 2020

  Mrs. MILLER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to posthumously recognize, 
Mr. Shirley Love. Shirley was born to Earl and Winona Love on May 15, 
1933. The name ``Shirley'' was suggested by the Love's family nurse, 
for his resemblance to her husband, Shirley Donnelly. Shirley Donnelley 
was a popular West Virginia newspaper columnist during the 1930's; 
unbeknownst to Earl and Winona at the time, their naming of their child 
not only passed on the uniqueness of the Shirley namesake but also a 
destiny for media greatness.
  Shirley Love always had a phenomenal voice. Before he was 
entertaining countless West Virginians on Radio & TV, he used his voice 
to serve God every Sunday in Oak Hill United Methodist Church's Choir. 
The owner of WOAY in the early 1950's was Robert Thomas. He was a 
member of the church's congregation and always paid close attention to 
the charm of Shirley's voice. After Shirley graduated Collins High 
School in 1952, Robert Thomas offered him a once-in-a-life-time-
opportunity as an announcer on his Network. Shirley accepted and 
quickly became the face of WOAY TV & Radio.
  Shirley served WOAY and entertained the people of West Virginia from 
1952 to 1997. He was best known for becoming one of Southern West 
Virginia's first TV nightly news anchors. He also hosted several 
programs through WOAY, including Friday Night Barn Dance, West Virginia 
Band Stand, and Saturday Night Wrestling. Of these, Saturday Night 
Wrestling was the most popular. Shirley kept audiences watching for 
decades through the way he handled fan interviews and intense 
competitor interactions.
  Shirley was appointed to represent West Virginia's Senate District 11 
in 1994 by Governor Caperton. He later retired from WOAY in 1997 and 
began to focus fully on public service rather than entertainment. 
Between 1994 and 2008, Shirley was elected and subsequently re-elected 
to Senate District 11 three times. He was later elected to the West 
Virginia House of Delegates from 2016 to 2018. Between both Chambers, 
Shirley selflessly served the people of Fayette County in the West 
Virginia Legislature for sixteen years. I had the honor of working 
along side him in the House of Delegates. I witnessed first-hand his 
integrity, honesty, and straight forwardness in the Legislature. He was 
truly a man of the people.
  A list of Shirley's other accomplishments includes--One of West 
Virginia's Representatives to the National Democratic Convention from 
1972 to 2016, Fayette County Democratic Executive Committee Member, 
West Virginia State Democratic Executive Committee Member, Member of 
the West Virginia Broadcasting Hall of Fame, one of Saturday Night 
Live's first guests in America, a lifetime member of the Oak Hill 
United Methodist Church, husband, and father to three children.
  May God bless Shirley Dean Love. I wish I could thank him for all he 
did for the great State of West Virginia. He will always be remembered 
by his family, friends, and the countless people he impacted throughout 
his life. I send my sincerest condolences to his wife, children, and 
grandchildren.

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