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It is the contributions of the residents of a city or town - those who are willing to step forward to provide leadership, guidance, and support for others - which helps to make it a community.
In Weirton, many of those who have made such contributions are honored annually through induction into the Weirton Hall of Fame.
Established by action of Weirton Council in 2008, the Hall of Fame enshrines the names of those honored citizens - past and present - who have made a lasting impact which often is felt for generations.
This year’s class was announced in May, and will be honored during a dinner and ceremony to be held Aug. 15 at the Lauttamus Center on Colliers Way.
Seven individuals have been selected for this year’s class, representing four of the six potential categories established by the Hall of Fame Committee - itself made up of dedicated volunteers tasked with poring through files of nominees to select each year’s class.
Those set to be inducted this year include: John Charles Greco and Gus Charles "Chuck" Svokas, both in the category of Public Service; John J. Bernabei and Irene Markich Mindzak, both in the category of Business, Industry, and Professions; Richard "Rick" Rine in the category of Education and Religion; and Melvin Lawrence Coleman Sr. and Mandy Carnes-Ellison, both the category of Sports and Athletics.
Other possible categories for induction are Philanthropy and Music and Fine Arts.
I’ve had the privilege of meeting, and, in some cases, working with some of the inductees. No doubt many of our residents have had some contact with them at some point in their lives, whether it be going into a local business, taking lessons from or being coached by one of them, or maybe benefiting from a contribution they have made to an organization which provides a needed service for others.
As part of the ceremony next weekend, each inductee (or their representative) will receive a commemorative medallion, with their name to be included on a plaque to later be installed in the Weirton Room of the Millsop Community Center.
They will join a lengthy roster of past and present residents who have been honored over almost 20 years of inductions.
Those include last year’s induction class of Daniel L. McCune, Gabriel Arlia, Dr. Jasbir Makar, Mark Glyptis, Pamela Makricosta, Patti Barnabei, Robert J. Busick, and David H. Reitter.
The roster also includes both Gus and Aggie Monezis, Ray Seifert, George Vargo, Nick Tranto, Karen Gould, Kitty Kochman, Eli Dragisich, Rik Rekowski, Louis Kuntupis, Bob Watson, Victor Greco, J.J. and Dewey Guida, E.T. Weir, Tom Banketas, Callie Tsapis, Dennis Jones, Goldie Baly and dozens more.
Words can seldom establish the true picture of what each of these men and women have done to leave a mark on Weirton and the surrounding area. Some have big, well-known profiles, while others have preferred to do their work quietly with little fanfare.
Without their contributions, though, Weirton would look different. There are businesses which would have never been opened, and thus jobs not created, there are programs which may never have been created to offer residents opportunities to learn and grow, athletic teams which may have gone in a different direction, elements of the community which may not have existed.
They and their efforts are to be remembered and celebrated, and, hopefully, to serve as an inspiration for those of us here now and in the years to come of the impact a single individual may have.
I offer my congratulations to this year’s inductees and look forward to the upcoming ceremony to honor your lives.
(Howell, a resident of Colliers, is part of the news staff of The Weirton Daily Times. He can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com or followed on Twitter/X @CHowellWDT)