The families of early 20th Century Malden played a distinct role in the life of Booker T. Washington and those families are now being honored.

West Virginia State University, the Booker T. Washington Memorial Association and the Kanawha Valley Historical and Preservation Society dedicated a new statue in Malden Monday where Washington spent part of his early childhood.

Fifty-six families of African ancestry in old Malden were part of the recognition. 

Charleston resident Ronald Woodson is the great grandson of William Davis, Washington's first teacher. He says it was the first thing his father told him. "I then read the autobiography of Booker T. Washington and I saw my great grandfather's name in there, which made me proud to know that we knew somebody famous," Woodson said.

During his time in Malden, Washington worked days in the salt industry and attended school at night for blacks. After his graduation from Hampton Institute, Washington returned to Malden to teacher public school and Sunday School for two years. During his years as president of Tuskegee Instiute, Washington would return to Malden and spend time with his half sister Amanda Johnson.

Institute resident Anna Gilmer says the people of Malden remember what a great speaker Washington was. She says she believes he picked up his attention to detail while working in the salt industry. "He was taught how to do things in detail, to be sure something was thoroughly done," Gilmer said.

At Monday afternoon's ceremony, Governor Joe Manchin and the fifth graders of Malden Elementary School unveiled and then read aloud what's written on the monument.