Homer Warren Fish (1902-1961) came to Wheeling, West Virginia in 1935, in the aftermath of the Great Depression—to work for the Wheeling Planning Commission and the State Road Commission. Soon after, he became an advisor to the Wheeling Park Commission (WPC), and then superintendent of the fledgling Oglebay Park in early 1936 when park commissioners recognized the new position as they realized the amount of work and expertise needed to develop the former estate-farm into a public recreation facility.During his 25 years of service to the WPC, Homer Fish created an enviable program of park development admired throughout the nation. Under his direction, Oglebay Park, flagship of the WPC properties, became an exemplary recreation area, studied by park and city officials from all over as an example of achievement in facility development and recreation programming.
Fish was the right man at the right time, remembered by staff members as "...a builder and financial genius" for doing a lot with a little—either paid staff or operating funds—was his genius as director of parks and recreation in nearby Steubenville, Ohio (1930-1935). Municipal budgets were cut unmercifully in the early 1930s, but when he left Steubenville for Wheeling, he left behind a record of accomplishments: Bellview golf course, three swimming pools, an expanded playground system, and a master plan. This experience shaped his financial philosophy and management style the rest of his life.During Fish’s tenure, Oglebay Park was transformed from an estate-farm of 25 acres to a model municipal park of over 1,000 acres. In the beginning, with limited funds and workers and a handful of loyal men left over from farm days, he introduced picnic sites, nature trails, a family center for recreation, pool/recreation complex, golf course riding academy and bridle trails. Early on, a large outdoor theater, a youth camp, and family vacation cottages were added.