Today in Wheeling History: June 25—Slim Lehart, “The Wheeling Cat,” country singer and Wheeling Jamboree star, born in Viola, West Virginia (1935).
Richard Edmond Hartley, known professionally as Slim Lehart, was born June 25, 1935, in Viola, West Virginia, and was raised in the nearby rural community of Calis. His early years in this small Ohio County community shaped his identity long before he became one of the most recognizable figures in Wheeling’s musical history. As a teenager he moved into Wheeling, where he soon enlisted in the U.S. Navy at age seventeen. He served aboard the USS Randolph during the Korean War, an experience that preceded his long public life in the Ohio Valley.
After returning home, Lehart pursued country music and quickly became associated with the Wheeling Jamboree. His first guest appearance came in 1965, and by 1970 he had become a contracted regular whose lively, crowd‑engaging style made him a Saturday‑night favorite at the Capitol Theatre. Over the decades he performed alongside major country artists and toured widely while maintaining deep roots in the region.
Beyond music, Lehart operated local venues such as Club Madrid and served for many years as a Marshall County commissioner. He received numerous honors, including a star on the Capitol Theatre Walkway of Stars and recognition as a Distinguished Mountaineer. After retiring from regular performances in 2017, he remained a beloved figure in Wheeling. He died August 5, 2023, leaving a legacy deeply woven into the area’s musical and civic life.
To learn more: Wikipedia - Slim Lehart (https://tinyurl.com/bddjr4z3), Kepner Funeral Homes - "Slim Lehart -- The Wheeling Cat" (https://tinyurl.com/3hk5y37t), Wheeling Intelligencer - "Slim Lehart, 'The Wheeling Cat' Dies at 88" (https://tinyurl.com/5eua2a2z), WTRF - "Slim Lehart, 'The Wheeling Cat,' Dead at 88" (https://tinyurl.com/yc5xs8hv), Flickr - Ohio County Public Library - Slim Lehart (https://tinyurl.com/y8j95eju)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Kepner Funeral Homes
Richard Edmond Hartley, known professionally as Slim Lehart, was born June 25, 1935, in Viola, West Virginia, and was raised in the nearby rural community of Calis. His early years in this small Ohio County community shaped his identity long before he became one of the most recognizable figures in Wheeling’s musical history. As a teenager he moved into Wheeling, where he soon enlisted in the U.S. Navy at age seventeen. He served aboard the USS Randolph during the Korean War, an experience that preceded his long public life in the Ohio Valley.
After returning home, Lehart pursued country music and quickly became associated with the Wheeling Jamboree. His first guest appearance came in 1965, and by 1970 he had become a contracted regular whose lively, crowd‑engaging style made him a Saturday‑night favorite at the Capitol Theatre. Over the decades he performed alongside major country artists and toured widely while maintaining deep roots in the region.
Beyond music, Lehart operated local venues such as Club Madrid and served for many years as a Marshall County commissioner. He received numerous honors, including a star on the Capitol Theatre Walkway of Stars and recognition as a Distinguished Mountaineer. After retiring from regular performances in 2017, he remained a beloved figure in Wheeling. He died August 5, 2023, leaving a legacy deeply woven into the area’s musical and civic life.
To learn more: Wikipedia - Slim Lehart (https://tinyurl.com/bddjr4z3), Kepner Funeral Homes - "Slim Lehart -- The Wheeling Cat" (https://tinyurl.com/3hk5y37t), Wheeling Intelligencer - "Slim Lehart, 'The Wheeling Cat' Dies at 88" (https://tinyurl.com/5eua2a2z), WTRF - "Slim Lehart, 'The Wheeling Cat,' Dead at 88" (https://tinyurl.com/yc5xs8hv), Flickr - Ohio County Public Library - Slim Lehart (https://tinyurl.com/y8j95eju)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Kepner Funeral Homes
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