By Clint McElroy
HQ 59 | AUTUMN 2006
How my life has changed since I opened my big fat mouth and suggested that the city of Huntington needed a new slogan. Admittedly, the response has been varied, but overwhelming, nonetheless.
I have encountered resentment:
“We don’t need a new slogan, troublemaker! We’re perfectly happy with the one we have. I can’t really remember what it is at the moment, but we’re happy with it!”
I have encountered disbelief:
“I thought we HAD a slogan. Didn’t we get a new slogan when they built the new jetport? Oh, wait a second….”
But the thing I have encountered in abundance has been extension…to other towns in the area.
A person in Barboursville told me they had a suggestion for a slogan for their town:
“It’s here in Barboursville…so why do they call it the HUNTINGTON Mall?”
A person in Ona told me they too had a suggested slogan:
“The mall is in Ona…so why does Barboursville say it’s there?”
Even specific neighborhoods got into the act:
“The South Side: Slow Down on Tenth Street Or We’ll Call the Cops!”
“Lavalette: Come Visit, But There Isn’t Really Any Lava.”
“Four-And-A-Half Alley: Now With Convenient Curbside Service.”
Okay, I made the last one up. But I didn’t make up the amazing response we had to our call for slogans and the voting that followed. Over 150 people cast their votes (did that many vote in the recent election?). We will pass along the top vote getter to the City of Huntington, Chamber of Commerce, Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and Huntington Area Development Council.
So without further ado, here’s the top ten….Gee, I feel like Letterman:
10. Huntington: Big City Plans, Hometown Values.
9. Huntington: Everyone’s Hometown.
8. We Are Huntington.
7. Huntington: Golden Yesterdays, Greater Tomorrow.
6. We are Huntington. We are Marshall.
5. Come Home to Huntington.
4. Huntington: The City You’ve “Herd” About.
3. Huntington: Feels Like Home.
2. Huntington: The Gateway to West Virginia.
And the WINNER (just imagine a drum roll here … work with me people, work with me!)
Huntington: The Heart of West Virginia
So Mr. Mayor, City Council, Chamber of Commerce big wigs, economic developers and convention and tourism officials, here’s the ball. Now run with it!
