Doug Skaff Jr.

Doug Skaff Jr.

Mountaineer, public servant, entrepreneur. His spirit lives on in West Virginia.

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Doug Skaff Jr., smiling, in a navy blazer and open-collar white shirt

“He’d find a way to slip in WVU in every conversation. If there was no conversation and he was just passing by a fellow Mountaineer, he’d yell ‘Let’s Go, Mountaineers!’ with a number one held high in the air.”

Teresa Skaff, Doug’s sister

West Virginia was always home.

Doug’s story starts in South Charleston, as the first child of Doug and Maryann Skaff. A proud Black Eagle, he led South Charleston High School as student body president.

When it came time to apply to colleges, he had only one on the list: West Virginia University. What he found in Morgantown became the thing he spent his life sharing.

A career with Owens Corning took him out of state for a few years, but he always meant to come back, and the company helped him do it. Home again, he ran for office, built businesses, and gave his time to his church and his community.

Everything on this page is something Doug started, led or loved. Much of it is still going.

The Godfather of the Mountaineer Maniacs.

Doug founded the student spirit group so his passion for the Mountaineers would reach every student at WVU.

Mountaineer Maniacs
Founder
WVUp All Night
Co-founder of the free late-night weekend program for students
Student Government Association
President, 1999 to 2000
Mr. Mountaineer
Voted 1999 to 2000
Youth Summit
Led with Senator Robert C. Byrd for high school leaders
Campus life
Delta Tau Delta, Delta Sigma Pi and Mountain Honorary
Two WVU degrees
A bachelor’s in marketing in 2000, then a master’s in industrial and labor relations
WVU Alumni Association
Board of Directors
Honorary degree
Public Service, 2012

The Maniacs remain the largest student organization at WVU, and WVUp All Night still offers students free late-night activities every weekend.

West Virginia first, party second.

Doug worked across the aisle on economic development, education and innovation.

YearsOfficeRole
2008 to 2014, 2018 to 2023House of DelegatesDelegate for Kanawha County, first elected in 2008
2020 to 2023House Minority LeaderLed his caucus in the West Virginia House
2024Secretary of StateCandidate
2026State SenateAnnounced candidate

  • HD Media

    President. Publisher of the Charleston Gazette-Mail and The Herald-Dispatch.

  • Fazio’s

    Co-owner of the Charleston Italian restaurant.

  • Skaff Family enterprises

    Including Building Remodeling Warehouse.

  • West Virginia Press Association

    Interim executive director.

He backed West Virginia with his own work.

He learned the trade at Owens Corning, in human resources, distribution, marketing and management, then brought it home.

He worked to be useful.

The scholarship in his name is how that giving continues.

  • Guys Night Out

    Organized the fundraiser for Sojourner’s Shelter.

  • West Virginia Kids Cancer Crusaders

    Helped establish it.

  • St. George Orthodox Cathedral

    Church activities and outreach.

The Douglas J. Skaff, Jr. Mountaineer Spirit Scholarship

Doug’s family established this scholarship at West Virginia University to carry his spirit forward.

It is awarded to West Virginia resident undergraduates in the WVU John Chambers College of Business and Economics, with preference for students involved in the Mountaineer Maniacs or the Student Government Association.

Give online

Opens the WVU giving form with Doug’s scholarship already selected.

Giving by mail? Earmark your gift for the Douglas J. Skaff, Jr. Mountaineer Spirit Scholarship, fund 3Z1185.

All gifts are made through the WVU Foundation.

“The students who benefit from this scholarship may never have a chance to meet him, but they will know what he stood for and what he meant to his family.”

Josh Hall, Milan Puskar Dean, Chambers College

Keep his stories going.

Everyone who knows Doug has a story about him. Add yours, with a photo if you have one.

Shared memories will appear here.

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Memories are reviewed by Doug’s family before they appear.