Apesos

WEIRTON — A former local scoutmaster, who spent many years as a steelworker and has been active in his church and other community activities, will be among those inducted as part of the Weirton Hall of Fame’s Class of 2017.

Markos “Mike” Apesos will be inducted in the category of public service.

The Hall of Fame dinner will be held at 2 p.m., Aug. 20 at the Holiday Inn of Weirton.

Apesos spent more than 30 years as Scoutmaster of Troop 131, sponsored by All Saints Greek Orthodox Church, helping to guide 20 of his scouts to the rank of Eagle Scout. He led local scouts to three World Jamborees and two National Jamborees. In 1980, he received the Silver Beaver, the highest honor for voluntary service to the Boy Scouts of America.

At Weirton Steel, he worked as a general electrician on the wire gang, eventually being promoted to general foreman. For many years, his crew was in charge of installing the Christmas lighting in downtown Weirton. He also has served as president of the 25-Year Club, and managed numerous club picnics and appearances in community parades.

He has been a member of All Saints Greek Orthodox Church since 1948, a member of its AHEPA — serving on its board of directors and as president — and has worked on several of the church’s renovation projects, including the installation of its air conditioning and the modernization of the kitchen and social hall. He also was a founding member of the committee overseeing the annual Greek Festival.

In honor of his service to the church, in 2016, Apesos received the St. Photios Award from the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Pittsburgh.

At the age of 91, he continues to be an active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion Honor Guard, presiding over dozens of military funerals, as well as Memorial Day and Veterans Day events.

He was married to his wife Ethel, who died in 2015, for 63 years. They couple had two children.

Other members of this year’s class are Dr. Juginder K. Luthra, in the category of music and fine arts; Norman D. Ferrari Jr., in the category of public service; and Marvin H. Levendorf, in the category of philanthropy.

Tickets for the induction dinner are on sale now, at a cost of $30 each, and may be obtained at the Weirton Municipal Building, 200 Municipal Plaza, Weirton.

Tickets will not be sold at the door.

This will be the ninth induction class for the Weirton Hall of Fame.

Honorees are selected through nominations of those with outstanding accomplishments who have distinguished themselves, for the benefit of the community, in one of six categories: philanthropy; public service; music and fine arts; business, industry and professions; education and religion; and sports and athletics.

To qualify, a nominee must be either a current or former resident of Weirton, having lived in the city for a minimum of five years since 1947.