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Chances are, if you have spent any amount of time in Weirton over the years, you have seen a building, community landmark, or project that has been touched by Tom Banketas.
From serving on the Weirton Sanitary Board, to designing local business developments, to establishing community gardens, to financing and overseeing much of the construction of the current Weirton Christian Center, and contributing to an uncountable number of charitable organizations and efforts, Banketas' generosity and work has touched many in the community.
What sets him apart, even more, is that, despite all of that, he doesn't seek the recognition.
He is deserving of it, though, and we congratulate him on his recent receipt of the Heart of A Lion Award from the Weirton Lions Club, which honored him for a lifetime of civic contributions and his giving nature.
A former teacher, Banketas also served in the Army. He was inducted into the Weirton Hall of Fame in 2018. The founder of Orion Development, he had his hands in the construction of Brooke Plaza in Follansbee, as well as various projects for national chains including Dollar General, CVS, Advance Auto and more.
He has contributed to many more organizations, including the Dunbar Recreation Center, the Salvation Army, House of the Carpenter, Urban Mission, the Chester-Newell Friends In Serving Humanity, High Rock Education Corp., the Cleveland Clinic, Hounds Haven and the Hancock County Animal Shelter.
He has done it all, and yet never asked for or sought out the recognition he truly deserves.
It is Tom's humility which sets him apart from so many, and that's why he deserves to be recognized.
We applaud him and know there is more to come - although we probably won't hear about it from him.