Marshall University Athletics
Gerald J. Harrison Named As Huntington Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Board Member
4/2/2026 9:47:00 AM | General
Marshall’s Vice President & Director of Athletics was sworn in on Wednesday
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall Vice President & Director of Athletics Gerald J. Harrison is officially a board member for the Huntington Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB).
Harrison was sworn in to his new appointment with the CVB on Wednesday afternoon in Huntington.
"I am honored and privileged to officially be a member of the Huntington Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and to help build the greater Huntington community for its prosperous future," Harrison said. "Thank you to the great leaders of our city for trusting me with this special responsibility. During my nine months here, I have seen first-hand how special the partnership is between Marshall University and the Huntington community. When you have that type of bond between university and community, the possibilities are endless, and we look forward to working with Huntington's leaders to make this city better. As Marshall grows, so too does the community! It's a great day to run with The Herd and to be a resident of Huntington."
Huntington Mayor Patrick Farrell praised the addition of Harrison to the Huntington Area CVB, saying the correlation between Marshall Athletics' success and financial success in dollars for the region is palpable.
"Marshall Athletics play a major role in bringing people to Huntington," Farrell said. "Every game, every event fills our hotels, supports our restaurants and showcases our city to visitors from across the region. This appointment reflects how important that connection is to our local economy and our future growth."
Some of the future ventures that embed Marshall Athletics with the city's economic growth include Marshall University's Jack Cook Field serving as the host for the 2026 West Virginia High School Baseball State Championships, which runs from June 6-13.
Marshall University and Jack Cook Field has a three-year contract with the West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission to host the WV State Baseball Championships with an option for a fourth year in 2029, meaning sustained economic growth and new money coming to the Huntington area through the use of sports facilities over a multi-year period.
Marshall Athletics has also recently launched the Herd Hospitality wing of its athletic department, which opens its venues to the public for potential rental opportunities, increasing its connection within the Huntington community.
To learn more about Herd Hospitality, click HERE.
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---HerdZone.com---
