In sports writing and politics, Danny Wells, who died Tuesday at 84, was 'one of a kind'

"A lot of people say that someone is one of a kind, but Danny really was," said retired Gazette sportswriter Rick Ryan, who was hired by Wells in 1994. "He had strong opinions and stuck to them, and he could be edgy and irascible, but a lot of people loved him for that and looked forward to reading him."

Ryan said that he has always been grateful that Wells "took a chance on me — a guy from Wheeling — even though he said Wheeling had stolen the Super Six state football championship from Charleston."

Wells, the Civic Center clock and 'frequent chaos' in the newsroom

In a 2018 reflective piece he wrote for the Gazette-Mail, Wells observed that writing columns was the favorite part of his career in sports journalism.

"After growing tired of covering actual sporting events, I looked for humor in the sports world, which often became drab," he wrote. "I had loads of fun being constantly critical of the Civic Center, for failing to replace a clock. I was told more than once that Civic Center manager John Robertson gave instructions never to replace that clock, as long as I was writing about it."

Robertson eventually relented, and a digital clock featuring advertisements was installed, "but it wasn't a REAL clock, round with hands," Wells complained.

Wells wrote that he enjoyed the noisy chatter of reporters and clatter of their typewriters during the pre-digital days at the Gazette, and confessed to "contributing to the frequent chaos" of the newsroom:

"I liked to sing while I typed," he wrote. "Loud singing. Annoying singing."

For some of his surviving newsroom contemporaries, "Blue Christmas" will likely trigger a flashback to Wells' slightly off-key, high-decibel voice — and an urge to lower the volume.

It was in the Gazette newsroom that Wells met his future wife, Sandy O'Shea Wells, who began her career as a fashion writer and became one of newspaper's top feature writers and columnists. The pair separated several years after Wells retired in 2001. Sandy Wells died in 2019.

Distance Run supporter, and a transition to politics

In addition to writing about sports, Wells was an early and ardent supporter of, and participant in, the Charleston Distance Run, running in the 15-mile event more than a dozen times and serving as its chairman from 1990 to 2000.

"Danny was just so likeable and fun to be around," said Distance Run founder Don Cohen. "You never knew what he was going to say, but I never heard him say a nasty word about anyone."

For a number of years, Wells co-hosted a sports radio talk show with John Dickensheets on WCHS-AM 580, and later, WBES-AM 950.

Following his retirement from the Gazette, Wells worked as a substitute teacher and staffed the information booth in the State Capitol Rotunda. It was there that his interest in state politics deepened, and the idea of running for office shifted from dream to reality.

In 2002, Wells was elected to his first of five terms in the House of Delegates, representing Kanawha County's 36th District and serving on the judiciary and natural resources committees, among others.

"Danny was a good legislator, who loved to get around and be a part of everything," said former Delegate Bonnie Brown, a fellow Democrat who served with Wells on the Judiciary Committee. 

"We knew Danny and Sandy since we moved here more than 50 years ago," Brown said. "Danny was a true character — from the old guard of the Gazette. We're so saddened by this."

Wells lost his seat by 22 votes in 2014, the same year that current state Democratic Party Chairman Mike Pushkin was elected to his first term in the House of Delegates.

"I had the great privilege of knowing Danny outside of politics as a family friend," Pushkin said. "I've known him all my life and grew up with his children. Danny had a real joy for life. He always made things more fun. He always had a smile on his face and managed to put one on everyone else's."

According to a statement released by the West Virginia Democratic Party, "Danny's dedication to public service and his zest for life have left an indelible mark on our state."

Wells' survivors include his son, Shannon, of Pittsburgh, and daughter, Shea, of Fayetteville.

Funeral service for Wells will be held at 6 p.m. on May 30 at Snodgrass Funeral Home, South Charleston. Friends may gather at the funeral home two hours prior to service.