Al Molnar
WHEELING, W.Va. — Veteran journalist Al Molnar, whose career with The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register spanned 59 years, has died at age 87.
The longtime newspaperman, who resided in St. Clairsville, died Sunday evening after a series of illnesses. He began his career in journalism 70 years ago.
Molnar enjoyed a 42-year career as a full-time employee of the Wheeling News-Register, followed by 17 years as a columnist. He retired from full-time employment in 1996.
After retirement, Molnar continued writing a weekly column in the Sunday News-Register until June 2013. He began his “Around East Ohio” column in 1979, writing the column for a total of 34 years.
He started his career in journalism in 1946 at United Press Association, later United Press International, in Washington, D.C.
Molnar was employed by The Intelligencer in Wheeling in 1954. Within two weeks, he transferred to the staff of the Wheeling News-Register. During his years with the paper, he served as city editor, Ohio editor, news editor and columnist.
In his final column published in the Sunday News-Register on June 2, 2013, Molnar recalled, “My long journey with the N-R started on a frigid Feb. 1, 1954. My retirement in 1996 ended 42 years full-time service. For 17 years after that, I continued writing my weekly column.
“Add to that four years’ employment with United Press International, 33 months of Army service during the Korean War period and two years’ summer employment during my junior and senior years in high school. That adds up to a total of 69 years I’ve been working for a living,” he wrote.
The newspaperman concluded his final column by telling readers, “I will miss you more than you miss me. But I’m sure we’ll meet again somewhere along the way.”
Molnar’s survivors include his wife, Janis Chuckery Molnar, and eight children, 15 grandchildren, two step-grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Visitation for Molnar will be from 3-5 and 7-9 p.m. Thursday at Toothman Funeral Home in St. Clairsville. A vigil service is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
His funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in St. Clairsville. The Rev. Thomas Chillog will preside. Burial will follow in Union Cemetery, St. Clairsville.
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