Gabriel, Jones, Walker to receive WVU honorary degrees during May Commencement

Arthur Gabriel, co-founder of Gabriel Brothers, from left, Tom Jones, former WVU Health Systems president and CEO, and Beth Walker, former West Virginia Supreme Court justice, will receive honorary degrees during WVU May Commencement ceremonies. (WVU Graphic)

Download full-size

In recognition of their dedicated service in the health, retail and legal fields, West Virginia University will award honorary degrees to Arthur Gabriel, co-founder of Gabriel Brothers, Tom Jones, former WVU Health System president and CEO, and former West Virginia Supreme Court Justice Beth Walker during May Commencement.

Nominations for honorary degrees, the highest distinction WVU bestows, are accepted each year through the Office of the Provost for exceptional people who have made outstanding contributions to their field and society.

Arthur Gabriel
Taking inspiration from their father who was a clothing retailer, Arthur Gabriel founded Gabriel Brothers with his brother, James, and served as the company's president, secretary and treasurer.

The first Gabriel Brothers store - now known as Gabe's - opened in Morgantown in 1961, and the company expanded to 115 stores in multiple states before it was sold. The company headquarters remains in Morgantown.

Arthur Gabriel, co-founder of Gabriel Brothers and 2026 honorary degree recipient (Submitted Photo)

Download full-size

Gabriel is a University graduate who previously served on the WVU John Chambers College of Business and EconomicsVisiting Committee. Gabriel was inducted into the Business Hall of Fame in 2021.

He is a past board member for the Lebanese American University, One Valley Bank and Centra Bank, and is active in many social and religious organizations.

Gabriel will be recognized during the WVU Chambers College Commencement ceremony at 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 16.

Tom Jones
A West Virginia native, J. Thomas "Tom" Jones worked in health care across West Virginia for 42 years.

He served as president and chief executive officer for the WVU Health System from 2002 until his retirement in 2014. During that time, the system grew from two to seven hospitals with 11,000 associates and revenues of $1.5 billion.

Tom Jones, former president and CEO for WVU Health System and 2026 honorary degree recipient (WVU Photo/Brian Persinger)

Download full-size

Prior to that, Jones served as CEO of the Genesis Health System and St. Mary's Hospital in Huntington, and chief operating officer for Wheeling Hospital.

During his career, Jones held board positions for the American Hospital Association and West Virginia Hospital Association. He also served on the boards and chaired the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, West Virginia Business Roundtable and West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission.

Jones was a member of the WVU Board of Governors from 2014-2024, including two years as chair. Additionally, he has served on and chaired the WVU School of Public Health Advisory Committee.

Jones earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business from WVU and master's degree in hospital administration from the University of Minnesota. He also holds a certificate in health care leadership from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business.

He is a Lifetime Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and has been recognized as one of the "10 Most Influential Leaders in West Virginia" by West Virginia Executive magazine, a Distinguished West Virginian by the governor and a member of the West Virginia Business Hall of Fame.

He was also named a Most Distinguished Alumnus by the WVU Chambers College and is a member of the Order of Vandalia and Woodburn Circle Society.

Jones will be recognized during the School of Dentistry, School of Nursing, School of Pharmacy and School of Public Health Commencement ceremony at noon on Friday, May 15.

Beth Walker
An advocate for public engagement and civics education, Beth Walker served as justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia from 2017 to 2025, including two terms as chief justice in 2019 and 2023.

Currently a senior status retired justice, she recently chaired the advisory committee to propose rule changes to the Code of Judicial Conduct and continues to assist with special Court projects.

Beth Walker, former West Virginia Supreme Court justice and 2026 honorary degree recipient (Submitted Photo)

Download full-size

Walker is a founding co-host of "Lady Justice: Women of the Court," a podcast in partnership with the National Center of State Courts, featuring state supreme court justices discussing the judicial branch of government and their experiences on their state's highest appellate court.

She founded and chaired the West Virginia Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being and currently serves on the advisory committee to the American Bar Association Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs. She is an active volunteer in support of the West Virginia Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program.

Walker graduated from Hillsdale College in 1987, earned her law degree in 1990 from The Ohio State University College of Law and then spent her entire professional career working in West Virginia.

For more than 25 years before taking the bench, she concentrated her practice on labor and employment law, first as a partner with the regional law firm Bowles Rice and then as associate general counsel for WVU Medicine. She is a fellow of The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers.

Walker is also an alum and former board chair of Leadership West Virginia. A lifelong Girl Scout, she also served as chair and long-time member of the board of directors of Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council.

She will be recognized during the WVU College of Law Commencement ceremony at 9 a.m. on Friday, May 15.

The three honorary degree recipients were chosen to be recognized through the nomination processes.

Nominees are evaluated on three criteria and need only meet one criterion to be eligible to receive an honorary degree. Those criteria are having attained national or international preeminence in their field; having provided distinguished and preeminent leadership in society; and/or having a sustained record of extraordinary philanthropy to WVU and/or having supported the University substantially in various ways.

President Michael T. Benson previously announced his selection of Syd Peng , Charles E. Lawall Chair of Mining Engineering Emeritus in the WVU Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources Department of Mining Engineering , as the recipient of his first Presidential Honorary Degree.

Selections for Presidential Honorary Degrees are at the discretion of the president.

Commencement Weekend is May 15-17, with nine ceremonies scheduled at the Hope Coliseum .

See the full Commencement schedule.

-WVU-