More than 100 people gathered in the courtroom  of The Honorable Judge Thomas Bedell to witness the swearing in of Bennett "Ben" Queen as the State Senator of our district on Friday, Jan. 6. 

 

Bedell swore Queen in as he laid his hand on the family bible held by Queen's girlfriend (who is now his fiance after proposing to her following being sworn in) Meredith Ward. Standing beside Queen was West Virginia State Senate President Craig Blair. 

 

Also witnessing the ceremony were his father, Mike Queen, his mother, Paula Carder, his grandfather Fray Queen, his grandmother (me) Rosalyn Queen, his aunt Christy Thompson, his aunt and uncle Lisa and Andy Lang, his aunt and uncle Leslie and Dixon Pruitt and uncle Martin Queen.

 

Queen has completed serving six years as a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates and looks forward to starting his work as a State Senator. He graduated from Bridgeport High School and West Virginia University and is the owner of Ben Queen Photography.  He is an active member of the Simpson Creek Baptist Church.

 

Queen follows a long tradition of public service by members of his family.  His grandfather, Fray Queen, was elected to serve as a Harrison County magistrate.  He first was elected as a Constable in the Clark District and then went on to be an elected magistrate. 

 

Originally, Fray Queen's office was located in Shinnston and then he moved into the Harrison County Courthouse where he served until retiring. Ben's father, Mike Queen, served as a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates. He later was elected as a member of the Harrison County Board of Education and would serve as school board president. This makes three generations of Queens to serve Harrison County.

 

I would be remiss if Idid not mention that Ben's great aunt, the late Ruby Queen Keister, was elected to serve as a Harrison County Commissioner.  This would make four proud generations of Queens to serve the citizens of Harrison County.

 

Queen invites the citizens of his district to visit him in Charleston while the legislature is in session.

 

A proud grandmother is happy to bring this article to you and until next week “Now You Have Heard It Through The Grapevine.”

 

Editor's Note: Shown, from left, are Mike Queen, Ben Queen, and Fray Queen.