Former Police Chief Back in Panhandle
By LYNNELLEN WINKLERIt's a homecoming of sorts for Ed and Goldie Long.
The Wheeling natives have taken up residency in Weirton as the new commanders of the Weirton Salvation Army.
Both Ed and Goldie hold the rank of captain in the Army and are coming to the area following stints in Morgantown, W.Va., and then Baltimore.
"We are loving every minute of it," Goldie said. "We are happy to be in Weirton, it's like being home.
"We're saddened to see the steel mills so still and silent, but reassured that the workers and their families have adjusted so well."
The Longs met as youngsters growing up in Center Wheeling, along 21st and 22nd streets, and were true childhood sweethearts. Both were trained in the service of the Salvation Army from childhood.
Both of the Longs had careers in community service prior to joining the Salvation Army. Ed served six years in the U.S. Marine Corps, 27 years as a uniformed police officer in Wheeling, and then five years as Wheeling's chief of police.
Goldie spent a number of years as the office manager for a Wheeling Presbyterian church.
Serving in Baltimore for 18 months, the Longs were officers in an area command, the Mid-River Command, and had direct responsibility of a large Boys & Girls Club.
While continuing to build on the opening of the new Center for Worship and Service, the old properties surrounding the Weirton Salvation Army Center need maintenance and aesthetic facelifts. The Longs want the buildings to be useable, planning to use the quonset hut for the annual Christmas toy and food distribution point. Both officers are aware and excited about the support provided to this outpost in the past.
The Longs have arrived in Weirton, as they say, "With our sleeves rolled up and ready to work. Part of the ethics that the Corps teaches all its members while growing up in the Salvation Army is how to serve the Lord and honor him with a good day's work."
"The Corps makes the decisions where to assign their officers, but in the back of our minds we always wanted to come to Weirton," Ed said.
"God does answer prayer," Goldie added.
On a more personal note, the Longs said they are happy to be back in the Ohio Valley to be closer to DiCarlo's Pizza.
"Every Sunday night after the Salvation Army's evening service, we picked up pizza. We really missed DiCarlo's while we were away," Goldie said.
The Longs have four grown daughters and eight grandchildren. Their youngest daughter is also a Salvation Army officer stationed in Florence, Ala. The oldest, along with her husband, works at the Salvation Army Camp in Martinsburg, W.Va. She is the camp administrator and he is the camp caretaker.
