WVU to celebrate ‘Most Loyal’ award recipients during Mountaineer Week

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia University is recognizing its 2026 “Most Loyal” honorees for their service and leadership as part of the annual Mountaineer Week festivities Nov. 9-15.

The awards are given each year to celebrate WVU community members whose Mountaineer spirit shines as they make a difference in the lives of others.

The 2026 “Most Loyal” honorees are: Rusty Hutson Jr., Most Loyal West Virginian; Col. Thomas J. Boyd, Most Loyal Alumni Mountaineer; Frank DeMarco, Most Loyal Faculty/Professional Staff Mountaineer; and Shirley D. Robinson, Most Loyal Staff Mountaineer.

They will be recognized during halftime festivities at the WVU football game against Kansas on Nov. 14.

Recipients must display the loyalty, ideals and goals of WVU and the state of West Virginia through professional and civic engagement, business, service and leadership. The “Most Loyal” are selected by a joint committee representing the WVU Foundation, WVU Alumni Association, WVU Staff Council, WVU Faculty Senate and the Mountaineer Week Organizing Committee.

Most Loyal West Virginian

Rusty Hutson Jr.’s family roots date back to the early 1900s in Harrison County. Deeply connected to Appalachia, he carries on a family legacy of hard work and state pride. The first-generation college student accompanied his father in the oil and gas fields while he was growing up. He ultimately made a career in the industry, founding Diversified Energy, a leading natural gas company that employs more than 2,000 people in 14 states.

Hutson has a reputation for creating jobs, strengthening communities and investing in future generations, specifically in West Virginia. As a volunteer, he is chairman of the WVU Board of Governors and previously served on the governing board for his alma mater, Fairmont State University.

Hutson’s grit, stewardship and service define his lifelong commitment to his home state.

As a philanthropist, he has supported WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s, the WVU John Chambers College of Business and Economics, the WVU School of Nursing, the WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute and WVU Athletics.

Most Loyal Alumni Mountaineer

Col. Thomas J. Boyd is a distinguished alumnus whose lifelong service reflects both military excellence and loyalty to WVU. The 1971 journalism graduate was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force through the WVU Air Force ROTC program and worked around the world during his 30-year career. Boyd is respected as a top military public affairs officer and communications counselor.

From home or abroad, Boyd has faithfully supported the WVU College of Creative Arts and Media Reed School of Media and Communications. Over four decades, he has contributed to scholarships, student travel opportunities and faculty development. Boyd regularly mentors students and has assisted in the development of new online marketing programs.

Boyd has created three funds supporting the Reed School. Most recently he established the Reed School’s first faculty fellowship in his name. Through his generosity, leadership and advocacy, Boyd has strengthened WVU programs while investing in the success of future generations of Mountaineers.

Most Loyal Faculty/Professional Staff Mountaineer

As a teaching professor and director of the Chambers College Hardy Family Hospitality and Tourism Program, Frank DeMarco has shared his expertise across West Virginia for more than 30 years.

DeMarco is a two-time WVU graduate, earning an undergraduate business administration degree in 1989 and his master’s degree in business administration in 2004.

In addition to leading students in one of the state’s growing industries, DeMarco is a training consultant for an upscale, full-service hotel in Morgantown and partner at one of the city’s popular Mediterranean restaurants.

DeMarco is described as a mentor, advocate and tireless champion for students. He incorporates real-world experiences into the curriculum and aligns passions with professional career opportunities. In 2020, he helped develop and launch an online hospitality major to provide flexibility for those working in the field to expand their learning.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, DeMarco aided local restaurants and hotels through consulting, training and even pitching in on-site. His reputation in the community is one of reliability and service.

Most Loyal Staff Mountaineer

Morgantown native Shirley Robinson has been a dedicated presence at WVU for 38 years. Her consistency and loyalty extend beyond her desk as an administrative assistant.

Robinson’s professionalism with students and staff carries over to several volunteer positions. She advocates for classified staff as chair of the WVU Staff Council. She was the classified staff representative on the WVU Board of Governors from 2023 to 2025 and has spent a decade being the voice of her colleagues.

As a Goodwill City Ambassador in Morgantown, Robinson is the first to offer a friendly welcome to out-of-state visitors in town for WVU Athletics or sightseeing. She has been part of the WVU Sports Hall of Fame selection committee for more than five years and was notably the first Black woman tennis player at WVU in 1980.

When the West Virginia Black Bears, an MLB Draft League team, needed people to support players in town for the summer, Robinson stepped forward to volunteer as a reliable contact for the athletes. From lending an ear to packing snacks for road games, Robinson has shared her compassion and generosity with countless players.

On Saturday mornings, she can be found serving a warm meal to people who are homeless. Robinson is the pastor of Destiny Deliverance Ministries, and she lives by a personal motto: “What concerns you concerns God.”

Colleagues and friends value Robinson’s loyalty, and she continues to make a meaningful contribution to the success and growth of the university and the greater WVU community.