Left to right: Maggie Brennan, Chair of the CMHS and LAS; Jim Wellinghoff and Melvin Grier, Trustees Emeriti; Cori Wolff, Executive Director of the CMHS and LAS

Photograph by Joe Simon

Memorial Hall was built to honor service and strengthen community—so it’s especially fitting to recognize two individuals whose dedication has helped secure its future. After more than a decade of steady guidance and hands-on leadership, Melvin Grier and Jim Wellinghoff are transitioning from active board service to the honorary advisory role of Trustee Emeritus.

Their contributions helped shape Cincinnati Memorial Hall Society (CMHS)’s long-term direction and strengthen our foundation of preservation, programming, and partnerships today.

Jim Wellinghoff

Jim’s connection to Memorial Hall is deeply aligned with the building’s purpose. A Vietnam War veteran, he has brought a perspective rooted in service, responsibility, and commitment.

Throughout his tenure with CMHS, Jim offered strategic guidance informed by decades of civic involvement, including his presidency of the Mercantile Library. Within CMHS, he served as Treasurer and drew on his background in investment management to support financial stewardship and long-range planning.

A defining part of Jim’s legacy is preservation. He helped shape the vision behind Memorial Hall’s Second Century Fund, ensuring long-term care of this treasured venue for generations to come. He contributed to major preservation milestones, including advancing the $1-million Annie W. and Elizabeth M. Anderson Foundation gift tied to the 2015 renovation and naming of the Longworth Anderson Stage. Jim also helped create the philanthropic backbone of the Longworth-Anderson Series, leveraging key relationships such as The George and Margaret McLane Foundation annual matching grant.

Melvin Grier

Melvin has served CMHS with a distinctive Cincinnati lens—one rooted in a career dedicated to documenting the city. A U.S. Air Force veteran, his experience naturally aligns with Memorial Hall’s mission and history.

Over nearly ten years on the board, Melvin became a key voice in shaping CMHS as both a preservation organization and cultural institution. A Greater Cincinnati Journalism Hall of Fame inductee and respected photojournalist, he offered invaluable insight into how Memorial Hall communicates, builds trust, and represents itself to the broader community. His nonprofit work with arts organizations such as FotoFocus helped connect CMHS to Cincinnati’s creative ecosystem.

Melvin’s impact is especially visible in programming. His advocacy helped sustain a vibrant jazz thread within the Longworth-Anderson Series, reflecting Cincinnati’s musical history while welcoming world-class artists. He also encouraged thoughtful board growth and leadership that better reflects the full diversity of our city.

Honoring the past, strengthening the future

Trustee Emeritus is a recognition of service that has meaningfully shaped an organization’s trajectory. We are grateful for Melvin Grier and Jim Wellinghoff—their leadership, their belief in Memorial Hall, and the lasting impact of their work.