McWhorter Clock Award
Affectionately known as “The Clock”, the West Virginia Storytelling Guild gives an award each year honoring a member of the Guild. This honor began in the year 2000 and is named for Bob McWhorter. Bob was passionate about storytelling and envisioned an annual storytelling festival in West Virginia. To honor Bob’s vision, the West Virginia Storytelling Guild created the Bob McWhorter Achievement Award. It is given annually to a member of the Guild that serves the storytelling community. The award is in the form of a clock and is presented each year to a deserving member at a regional or state-wide event. In general, the award is given to someone who is a visionary, a leader and exemplifies the spirit of service.
Recipients include:
2024 June Riffle for her long-standing commitment to the guild as treasurer, and more than 20 years as the guild’s tandem telling duo known as Mountain Echoes. She continues to tell as a solo performer.
2023 David O’Dell for his faithful service to storytelling through the Oral Traditions tent at the West Virginia Folk Festival for many years and his dedication to youth storytelling.
2022 Katie and Otto Ross for their untiring work on behalf of the Guild. They are a team, both in their work for the guild as vice president and treasurer and for their ongoing efforts to tell stories locally and regionally.
2021 Fred Powers for his work to promote the coal stories through his oral and written contributions.
2020 Bill Hairston, as a charter member of the guild, he has faithfully supported guild activities, developed his own fine storytelling work, and served as the guild’s ambassador for years at meetings, conferences and festivals.
2018 Dr. Fran Kirk: Fairmont State University professor, founder and director of the Mountain State Storytelling Institute, interim director of the Frank and Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center.
2017 Rich Knoblich: long-time driving force behind creation and organization of McWhorter Clock Award, founder and co-director of storytelling events in Pricketts Fort and Grand Vue Park, and decorated West Virginia Liars’ Contest competitor.
2016 Judi Tarowsky: co-creator of the West Virginia Storytelling Guild Festivals at Pricketts Fort and Grand Vue Park, creator of numerous events in the Greater Wheeling area, and fine teller of tales.
2015 Adam Booth: teller of a variety of styles of story, founder of the Speak Story Series, and educator of Appalachian tales and folklore
2014 Susanna “Granny Sue” Holstein: tireless promoter of storytelling in West Virginia who is a teller, blogger, and fine singer of many traditional ballads
2010 Jason Burns: In addition to a storytelling performer, Jason has served as Guild Webmaster and founder of West Virginia’s Spectral Heritage Project.
2009 JoAnn Dadisman – Editor-in-Chief of the West Virginia Storytelling Guild book, “From Our Mountains“, and one-half of the storytelling group Mountain Echoes.
2008 Bil Lepp – Nationally-recognized full-time storyteller with numerous awards and credits, and leading teller of tall tales
2007 Suzi “Mama” Whaples – Mountain Women founder and performer of many original tales
2007 Paul Lepp – Six time winner of the West Virginia Liars Contest held during the Vandalia Gathering music festival.
2006 Betty Cross – Storyteller who is one of the leading authorities of West Virginia supernatural phenomenon and historical tales.
2005 Tiffany Turner – Organizer of the Strand Theatre Storytelling Festival
2004 Ilene Evans – Founder of “Voices From the Earth” and History Alive presentations.
2003 Bonnie Collins – Winner of Vandalia Award and numerous other storytelling awards.
2002 Karen Vuranch – Well known storyteller of original and adapted tales.
2001 Judy Byers – Director of the Folklife Center at Fairmont State University.
2001 Jodi French-Burr – First president of the West Virginia Storytelling Guild and responsible for making it a nonprofit organization.
2000 Susanna “Granny Sue” Holstein – Past president of the West Virginia Storytelling Guild.
2000 Betty Bea Cox – Original cofounder of the West VirginiaStorytelling Festival
2000 Bob McWhorter (for whom the award is named) – Cofounder of the West Virginia Storytelling Festival and patron of the West Virginia Storytelling Festival.
2000 David Mann – past director of the West Virginia Storytelling Festival and former director of Jackson’s Mill.
2000 Joe and Anne Hutchison – Original cofounders of the West Virginia Storytelling Festival.