Photo provided by Jerry Godby,
P.R.I.D.E. in Logan County, Inc.
P.R.I.D.E. in Logan County, Inc.
LOGAN, WEST VIRGINIA
N 37° 51.031 / W 081° 59.728
Copyright version 1920, sheet bronze.
Smithsonian Art Inventory Control Number: 47260123.
Copyright version 1920, sheet bronze.
Smithsonian Art Inventory Control Number: 47260123.
Located in War Memorial Park on Midelburg Island grounds of Logan High School.
The inscription on the plaque on the front of the base reads:
1917 (American Legion Shield) 1918
TO THE MEMORY OF ALL MEN
OF LOGAN COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA
WHO MADE
THE SUPREME SACRIFICE IN
THE WORLD WAR
KILLED IN ACTION:
(twenty names in two columns)
DIED OF WOUNDS:
(ten names in two columns)
DIED OF DISEASE, ETC., A. E. F:
(nine names in two columns)
THE ERECTION OF THIS MEMORIAL
WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE ACTIVITY OF
PETE C. MINOTTI,
AIDED BY PATRIOTIC FRIENDS OF THE COUNTY
1928
1917 (American Legion Shield) 1918
TO THE MEMORY OF ALL MEN
OF LOGAN COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA
WHO MADE
THE SUPREME SACRIFICE IN
THE WORLD WAR
KILLED IN ACTION:
(twenty names in two columns)
DIED OF WOUNDS:
(ten names in two columns)
DIED OF DISEASE, ETC., A. E. F:
(nine names in two columns)
THE ERECTION OF THIS MEMORIAL
WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE ACTIVITY OF
PETE C. MINOTTI,
AIDED BY PATRIOTIC FRIENDS OF THE COUNTY
1928
The Doughboy is sometimes known as the Pete Minotti Memorial. Peter C. Minotti, an Italian immigrant and local contractor, was determined to see that Logan had a memorial, and worked for months with the Logan American Legion and all others in Logan who were interested. Mr. Minotti made a talk before a large crowd at the Doughboy’s November 11, 1928 dedication at the west entrance to the Logan County Courthouse, and was presented with a miniature Doughboy.
The Doughboy was moved to its current location in 1964. The area, dedicated as War Memorial Park, includes large stone tablets honoring those from Logan County who made the supreme sacrifice in World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
The Doughboy was moved to its current location in 1964. The area, dedicated as War Memorial Park, includes large stone tablets honoring those from Logan County who made the supreme sacrifice in World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
Photo provided by Jerry Godby, P.R.I.D.E. in Logan County, Inc.
By 1983, the statue was in deteriorating shape due to accumulated incidents of vandalism. Thus, that year a Doughboy Committee was formed by Ray McKinney, commander of the Junior ROTC program at Logan High School at the time. The committee raised over $37,000, resulting in a major restoration which included replacement of the entire left arm, the rifle and bayonet, and the upper part of the upraised right hand and grenade. The repairs were performed by bronze/copper sculptor Joe Mullins of Charleston, West Virginia, and the Doughboy was rededicated during the November 11, 1983 dedication of the park. The committee also consisted of other veterans such as World War II fighter pilot, Bill Abraham, Clyde Freeman of Chapmanville, Charlie Moore, who was the Commander of the Chapmanville American Legion, and others, including Lila Hinchman of the Logan Women’s Club.
Photo provided by Jerry Godby, P.R.I.D.E. in Logan County, Inc.
A Logan Banner picture of the November 11, 1928 dedication of Logan’s Doughboy.
Update April 20. 2015: A meeting of the Logan County Commission produced a successful motion to appoint members to a committee to oversee updates and improvements to the war memorial consisting of the addition of names of veterans from the area who served in conflicts since Vietnam.
