The David A. Couch ALS/Neuromuscular Disease Fund honors David A. Couch, who passed away on December 16, 2001, from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), otherwise known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Couch was a Parkersburg businessman and served as Wood County Commissioner from 1996 until 2000. During his lifetime, he was involved in many community service organizations, including the Nemesis Temple of the Shrine, and he served on the United Bank Board of Directors and was active at St. Andrews United Methodist Church. Couch also served as co-grand marshal for the 2000 Relay for Life sponsored by the American Cancer Society.
In 2000, Couch's friends and family established this fund to help support research into ALS and to provide for the financial needs of others afflicted with the disease. Every year, the Dave Couch Golf Tournament is held to raise proceeds for ALS research and to build the funds of the David A. Couch ALS/Neuromuscular Disease Fund. Since the fund's establishment, grants have been awarded to fund medical research and to support equipment loan closets.
Through this fund, Dave's memory lives on and important support is made possible. It is the hope of the Couch Family that medical research will find a cure for this horrible disease.
