By Pat Lawrence
Mickey Welch at home. |
Parkersburg native Mickey Welch has a green thumb, a good heart and
a generous spirit. She regularly exercises them all, especially for
the YWCA on Dudley. Her hands–on philanthropy has included scraping,
digging, painting, and planting in addition to financial assistance.
She says, “The YWCA is a wonderful organization. It’s
a place for children to learn and play, where mothers don’t
have to worry.”
She was first invited to serve on the board over fifteen years ago.
“I got very involved.” She has rotated on and off the
board through the years, remaining a major supporter, always ready
to help, but never accepting the presidency. “I thought I could
contribute more by just doing than by being president.” Five
years ago, she bought all new playground equipment for the YWCA. “It
was time!” she says.
Walking the grounds with the maintenance man one day, she asked what
was in the small block building to the side of the facility. “He
said ‘You don’t want to know.’ Of course, then I
had to see for myself! ” After a thorough cleaning and complete
restoration, the run down, disordered storage shed was transformed
into a cheerful, airy cottage, gaily painted with children’s
book characters. Mickey was there in work clothes, cleaning and painting.
She put in the landscaping herself.
Mickey is also responsible for the establishment of the YWCA Montessori
program at the YWCA. In appreciation for her contribution toward the
special equipment, supplies and renovation that the program required,
it is called the Mickey Welch Montessori Academy. Mickey says, “It’s
for kids from 2-5. And they are the cutest kids you have ever seen!
They can do anything –even multiply and divide.”
Although the YWCA has been a longstanding interest, Mickey contributes
her time and energy in many places. As a Rotarian, she was active
in the student exchange program, transporting students and often housing
them herself. The year she headed the auction committee for SW Resources,
they raised over $100,000. She is also a board member for the Camden
Clark Trust and supporter of the United Way of the MOV.
When she is not doing good works for the community, she runs Welch
Oil and Gas. After her husband died in 1976, she ran the business
he had started, Welch Amusement Company. In that same year, Mickey’s
father –in-law left her his interests in Welch Oil and Gas.
She ran the amusement company for ten years, selling it in 1986 and
also operated a commercial office enterprise, which she sold in 1993.
But, she has kept Welch Oil and Gas and grown it into a solidly successful
business. Mickey is as comfortable discussing gas leases and drilling
rights as she is discussing roses and impatiens.
Highway construction took over her office spaces two years ago, and
now she works out of her spacious, contemporary home. It has worked
out well; she can talk oil production and drilling while looking over
the glorious landscape she has created to surround herself.
Mickey remains resolute in her support of the YWCA. “The YMCA
gets a lot of attention and a lot of visibility, while the YWCA tends
to get put in the back seat. That’s how it has always been.”
Still, Mickey is not the kind of woman who is willing to quietly relax
in the back seat. She plans on doing her best to put the YWCA in front
and center for Parkersburg.
Send an Email About This Article