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Honoring the Life of Former West Virginia First Lady Hovah Hall Underwood

Date: Oct. 10, 2004
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Minors and Children Arts, Entertainment, and History


HONORING THE LIFE OF FORMER WEST VIRGINIA FIRST LADY HOVAH HALL UNDERWOOD -- (Extensions of Remarks - October 10, 2004)

SPEECH OF
HON. SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO
OF WEST VIRGINIA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2004

Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark the passing and honor the life and contributions of a former First Lady of the state of West Virginia, Hovah Hall Underwood.

Hovah earned an AB Degree from Salem College and a certificate in Social Work from West Virginia University. She taught at Grantsville Elementary School, worked in a defense plant during World War II, and then served ten years as a child welfare worker in West Virginia before marrying Cecil Underwood in 1948.

Hovah was a young wife and mother when she and Cecil moved into the Governor's mansion in 1956--Cecelia was a toddler, and Craig and Sharon were both born while the family lived in the mansion. She served as a gracious first lady all the while focusing her energies on the task of raising three very young children.

In 1996, the citizens of West Virginia once again elected Cecil Underwood as Governor, and Hovah was once again our First Lady. Building upon a lifelong dedication to the work of Big Brothers/Big Sisters, she always liked to say that in this term she focused her energies on all the children of West Virginia. She was the driving force behind new programs to strengthen early learning and volunteerism in West Virginia.

Upon learning that our state has one of the highest rates of cancer among women in the nation, Hovah took the lead as the catalyst for expanded Breast Cancer Awareness and Screening initiatives. Hovah Underwood took seriously the charge to serve others each day of our lives, and her legacy is the many thousands of lives she touched.

At her Memorial Service, many remarked upon Hovah's wonderful smile. We know today that each time a young child learns to read, each time a "Big" and a "Little" share a special moment, each time a woman is saved from cancer, Hovah is smiling.

Our thoughts are with Governor Underwood, their children Cecelia Baker, Craig Underwood and Sharon Underwood, grandchildren Christopher and Coleman Richardson, Mary and Quintin Baker and Jordan and Myles Underwood.

All West Virginians have lost a very special friend.

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