Phone: (330)-386-5443
Fax: (330)-382-0244

Henry J. "Hank" Kuzma

      Over the course of his life, Kuzma has worn a number of hats – athlete, coach, athletic director, educator, administrator and fundraiser. To most of his friends, however, he is still just “Coach.”

Kuzma may best be known throughout the Valley as a successful coach of basketball programs at both the college and high school level. As coach of the former College of Steubenville Barons, Kuzma was chosen “small college coach of the year” in 1958. That same year his team was selected as the No. 1 small college team in the nation by the United Press Board of Coaches. With talents such as Jim Smith, Paul Brownlee, John Clark, John Blanda, John Nese, Wayne Smith, Jack Cibulka and Bobby Maher, the Barons made the NAIA tournament three times.

A few years later, Kuzma made headlines as coach at Midland High School in western Pennsylvania. With stars such as Norm Van Lier (a 1999 Lou Holtz/Upper Ohio Valley Hall of Fame Inductee) and Simmy Hall, Kuzma’s Midland teams won 141 games and lost only 15. The team played in the (top) Class AAA division in Pennsylvania, and in 1965, won 28 straight games and the state championship.

Also a teacher and administrator, Kuzma served as principal of Midland High School, a position he also held at Hershey High School in Hershey, Pa., from 1968 to 1976. He returned to Steubenville in 1978 briefly as coach and athletic director. He worked for several years as director of development for St. John Medical Center (now Trinity Medical Center).

After the University of Steubenville dropped the intercollegiate athletic program in 1981, Kuzma’s on-court strengths as coach were channeled in a new direction of university development. He has been a participant of every capital campaign and fund-raising project undertaken by the university. He has served the university as alumni director, director of corporate and foundation support and director of development. Today, he serves as “university ambassador.” He has raised funds for all of the newest buildings on campus.

He continues to help Franciscan University of Steubenville today through his consulting agency, Hank Kuzma Associates. In addition to the university, Kuzma aided with fund-raising projects for Assistance in Motherhood, St. Peter’s church, All Saints School, the Sisters of St. Francis and other non-profit organizations in Steubenville and Weirton.

A native of Steelton, Pa., Kuzma was a star on his high school basketball team that was Central Pennsylvania champion. He then played two years of independent basketball before the late Chick Davies recruited him for Duquesne. He played four years for the Dukes starting in the 1947-48 season. Led by Charlie Cooper, Red Manning and Kuzma, those Dukes made the NIT field at Madison Square Garden twice and compiled a 70-23 record over the four-year period.

Following college, Kuzma played semipro basketball in Harrisburg and was employed in the manufacture of Thompson jet engines. He and his wife, Catherine, a retired teacher of 40 years, have four children and 13 grandchildren.

James A. and Margaret H. Locke
      

For more than 45 years, the name James Locke Jeweler has been synonymous with quality merchandise and service far beyond the Tri-State borders, and at the heart of the business are “Jim” and Margaret Locke.

James A. Locke, Jr. grew up on a farm on Bell School Road while Margaret Locke migrated with her parents from Pittsburgh to Wellsville as a child. On Sept. 13, 1940, the two were wed.

Following service with the U.S. Air Force in World War II, the Lockes returned to East Liverpool, where he began working in the jewelry business at Morton Jewelers. In 1955, the Lockes went into business for themselves with the opening of James Locke Jeweler. Since its founding, Jim Locke has served as president and treasurer for the store since it opened, which attracts customers from all over the country. The store is American Gem Society rated and is an accredited American Gem Laboratory.

From their store on East Fifth Street has stemmed a history of community and philanthropic involvement unknown to most people. Within a small circle of friends and relatives are told stories of financial and emotional help given by the Lockes over the years.

Jim Locke has filled leadership roles in several community organizations, including Kiwanis Club where he served as president and the Red Feather, the forerunner of the current United Way. He was a founder of the youth baseball program in East Liverpool, helping to organize the program, where he served as coach and manager.  A lifetime member of Trinity Church, he served as president of the board of trustees and was a member of its Canticle Choir.

He was manager of the former Merchants Association and was an original member of the 1^st National Community Bank, now serving as director emeritus. Likewise, he is an emeritus member of the Riverview Cemetery Association.

He is a member of Masonic Riddle Lodge 315 and a 32-degree Mason with the Scottish Rite of Steubenville, Elks Lodge 258 and Past Noble Grand of Penova Odd Fellows Lodge.

Margaret Locke also is a member of Trinity Church, where she taught Bible school and was a member of the Canticle Choir and the Church Service Guild.

A charter member of the Tri-State Pottery Festival, she is a former secretary of the YMCA Board. She is director emeritus of the East Liverpool Historical Society, as well as a member of the Wellsville Historical Society and the Sandy Beaver Canal Society.

She is past member of the East Liverpool Business and Professional Women’s Club and headed the East Liverpool High School Nike Club, founded by the organization. She is a member and past president of the East Liverpool Quota Club.

She was a member of former Mayor John Payne’s Task Force in the creation of the former Diamond area, part of the group responsible for Santaland and the downtown Christmas lighting. She began the Plate Turners’ Society, originated the Pudlian Dictionary and contributed writings to the Pottery Festival book and the Potters Handbook.

She has been vice president and secretary of James Locke Jeweler, Inc. since its opening and holds the title of Registered Jeweler with the American Gem Society.

The couple has two sons, three grandchildren and a great-grandson.

John A. Venesile, Ph. D.
      

A lifelong love affair with music has proved to be a life’s work of love for Wellsville native son, John A. Venesile. A 1954 graduate of Wellsville High School, Venesile was born July 17, 1937 to Mary Venesile of Wellsville and the late John Venesile.

Venesile’s love of music and life’s work may be attributed to his mother, who scrimped and saved to purchase a piano for her son and, thereby, gave him an important instrument for his future.

While in high school, Venesile was a member of the Wellsville Tiger Marching Band, serving as drum major. Upon graduation, he began his pursuit of musical studies at Ohio University in Athens.

After receiving his bachelor’s degree from Ohio University, Venesile spent eight years in the Independence City School District serving as conductor of the high school band and choral groups, as well as chairman of the department of music. During that time he pursued and earned his master’s degree from Case Western Reserve University in 1967.

From 1969 through 1977, he served as the director of instrumental music for Rocky River City Schools, In addition to serving as chairman of the music department, he also was the band and orchestra conductor and the elementary music director.

The late ‘80s and early ‘90s took Venesile to Case Western Reserve, where, while pursuing his doctorate, he served as a teaching assistant and conductor of the symphonic band. He earned his Ph. D. in 1992.

After he received his doctorate, he served as an adjunct professor at John Carroll University teaching classes in education and music and art in the elementary school until his retirement earlier this year.

From 1977 through 2001, Venesile served as a professor of music and education at Cuyahoga Community College, where he also was coordinator of music studies and education and taught classes in music and education.

Throughout his teaching career, Venesile held to his belief that music education for children and adults alike is as important as reading, writing or arithmetic because of the opportunity for expression that it affords.

Now semi-retired, Venesile serves as director of the Music Fine Arts Association of the Western Reserve.

Over the course of his career, Venesile has been the recipient of numerous excellence in teaching awards, including the 1989 National Teaching Excellence Award. In 1998, he was presented the Alumni Service Award, presented by the School of Music of Ohio University in recognition of significant service, dedication and loyalty to the profession.

He and his wife, the former Nina Grande of Wellsville, have been married 42 years and are the parents of five children.

Dean Martin
      

From humble beginnings in his hometown of Steubenville, Ohio, Dean Martin rose to international stardom in film, television and the recording industry. Martin entered the world on June 7, 1917 as Dino Crocetti, the second son of Gaetano and Angela Barra Crocetti and was born at home. His father was a barber who emigrated from Italy in 1913 and married Angela, a seamstress, who learned to sew from her upbringing in a children’s orphanage after losing her own parents.

In his youth, Martin’s whole life evolved around family, school and church. As he grew older, however, he became restless. Trying different jobs available, he worked as a service station attendant, a shoe-shine boy, a steel millworker, a store clerk and even as an amateur boxer known as “Kid Crochet.” At age 16, he gave up boxing, realizing that getting punched around wasn’t what he wanted in life. He turned to other work – running numbers and liquor and booking small bets – exciting jobs for a 16-year-old – especially for the money he was earning during a struggling economy.

Those jobs led him to gambling establishments around Steubenville, where he learned from the adults that he watched and became an expert cardsman himself. He became so proficient at dealing that for several months he traveled the area as a top level croupier. At a time when jobs were scarce, many would have envied his lifestyle, but he wanted more.

From the gambling establishments he also gained exposure to the entertainers who performed in them.  The story goes that one night in August 1934, some of his friends pushed him onto the stage to sing since they had heard him carry a pretty good tune during his daytime job. At 17, the youth had found his niche.

In 1936, while still working other jobs,  he began performing at clubs and small fairs. By 1939, he had made it to the “State Restaurant” in Columbus, when he was spotted by a local band leader Ernie McKay while using the name “Dino Martini.” He then began performing as a vocalist in McKay’s orchestra, when another bandleader, Sammy Watkins, heard about him in nearby Cleveland. Watkins grabbed him from McKay in hopes of bringing him even wider recognition as a feature vocalist in his band under the new name, Dean Martin.

In September 1943, Martin signed an exclusive contract with MCA to be able to perform at New York’s Riobamba  Room.” He was now singing at the bigger places, including the famous “500 Club” where he met Jerry Lewis, a little known comedian on the same bill. The two began working together and for the next 10 years their incomes rose from $50 a week to the largest box office stars of that era, earning millions.

Martin began releasing hit song after hit song for his recording company Capitol, including “That’s Amore,” “Memories Are Made of this” and “Volare.”

Then after a decade of working with a partner, Martin called it quits and went solo.

The world took notice as Martin’s acting abilities came to the fore, starting with the critically acclaimed “Young Lions.” Other popular films followed.

In 1960, another entertainment history-making event took place. Known simply as “The Rat Pack,” a group of friends, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop joined Martin in a fun-filled romp through motion pictures with hits such as Ocean’s 11, Sergeants 3, and a new forum, “Las Vegas.” The Rat Pack took a then small gambling town and turned it into one of the biggest entertainment meccas.

The 1960s ushered in many changes in the entertainment industry, but Martin was able to retain a place of his own. Even as “Beatle mania” was sweeping the nation, Martin dug in his heels and was able to replace the Beatles from the top of the chart with his 1964 release of “Everybody Loves Somebody.” Although he continued to record and turn out movies, Martin’s next big leap came in television.

In 1965, he signed to do his own weekly television series, “The Dean Martin Show.” The show was constantly in the top 10 ratings, with the “Dean Martin Christmas” episode earning the distinction as the single most watched television special of 1967.

His successful variety show ran for nearly nine years. He then changed formats and continued with “The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts” for nearly another decade, all the while conquering new heights in Vegas, the town that he loved. He was the first performer to open the MGM Grand, and whose attendance record still has not been broken at Bally’s.

Married three times, Martin was the father of seven children, four to his first wife and three to his second wife.

Though Martin died on Christmas Day 1995, he still has thousands of fans. Many turn up each year in his hometown for the annual Dean Martin Festival slated for June 15-16 this year.

Pfc. Melvin E. Newlin
      

As America celebrated its independence July 4, 1967, Pfc. Melvin E. Newlin was one of thousands of  American G.I.s who laid down his life in the far off land of the Quang Nam Province, Republic of Vietnam. The  Wellsville native was just 18 years old when he paid the ultimate sacrifice in defense of his comrades under attack by the Viet Cong.

Born in Wellsville Sept., 27, 1948, the fifth of eight children of Joseph L. and Ruth J. Newlin, he was a member of the U.S. Marine Corps 2^nd Battalion, 5^th Marines, 1^st Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force. He was serving as a machine gunner attached to 1^st Platoon, Company F, 2^nd Battalion, on July 3-4 1967. He and four other Marines were manning a key position on the perimeter of the Nong Son outpost when the Viet Cong launched a savage and well-coordinated mortar and infantry assault, seriously wounding Newlin and killing his four comrades. Propping himself against his machine gun, Pfc. Newlin poured a deadly accurate stream of fire into the charging ranks of the enemy. Though repeatedly hit by small-arms fire, he twice repelled enemy attempts to overrun his position. During the third attempt, a grenade explosion wounded him again and knocked him to the ground unconscious. The Viet Cong guerrillas, believing him dead, bypassed him and continued their assault on the main force. Meanwhile, Pfc. Newlin regained consciousness, crawled back to his weapon, and brought it to bear on the rear of the enemy, causing havoc and confusion among them. Spotting the enemy’s attempt to bring a captured 108 recoilless weapon to bear on other Marine positions, Newlin shifted his fire, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy and preventing them from firing the captured weapon. He then shifted his fire back to the primary enemy force, causing the enemy to stop their assault on the Marine bunkers and to once again attack his machine gun position. Valiantly fighting off two more enemy assaults, he firmly held his ground until mortally wounded.

Single-handedly, Pfc. Newlin broke up and disorganized the entire enemy assault force, causing them to lose momentum and delaying them long enough for his fellow Marines to organize a defense and beat off their secondary attack.

For his indomitable courage, fortitude and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of almost certain death, Pfc. Newlin was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor by President Richard Nixon on March 18, 1969 at the White House.

Currently, awaiting passage by the Ohio House of Representatives is Senate Bill 21, sponsored by Sen. Greg DiDonato (D-30^th District), which would designate a 5.3-mile section of state Route 7 as the Melvin E. Newlin Memorial Highway. The initial petition for renaming the portion of highway, which runs from Liverpool Township through Newlin’s hometown of Wellsville to the Columbiana and Jefferson county borders, was made by the John W. Covert Chapter 47 of the Disabled American Veterans of East Liverpool.

C. A. Smith
      

One of the Upper Ohio Valley’s most successful and colorful sons, Charles A. “C.A.” Smith was born April 14, 1867, in Wellsville, the youngest of eight children of Alexander and Margaret Smith.

At an early age, he went to live with the  Alex Mahon family of the Arroyo area of nearby West Virginia. When about 17, he became interested in the oil and gas business while working as a water boy for a crew laying a gas pipeline in the district.

Smith seemed to have been blessed with something of a Midas’ touch at the launch of a colorful and varied career that spanned more than a half century, reaching into many phases of growth of the valley beginning in the 1890s.

His interest in the oil and gas business prompted him to begin drilling operations in the McDonald, Pa., area. Constantly expanding his interests, he eventually acquired the Ohio Valley Gas Co., which he sold in 1898.

In 1899, Smith began the development of what is now Chester, W.Va. Smith bought farms in the area to lay the groundwork for the community, named after an uncle, Chester Mahon.

It was during the late 1890s that he launched Rock Springs Park as an amusement center, became one of the builders of the Chester-East Liverpool Bridge and started the East Liverpool-Rock Springs Railway. The bridge was opened in 1898.

Linked with the growth of Chester, Smith established the South Side Water Co. about 1900 and paved the streets of what is now the upper part of Chester. In 1946, he sold the water company to the city of Chester.

During the busy days of 1900, Smith also turned to the pottery industry. That year the Taylor, Smith & Taylor Co. was built in Chester, with Smith, his brother, W.L. Smith, and John Taylor and sons, the original stockholders. In 1903, Smith and his brother bought out the Taylors, keeping the controlling interest in the pottery.

Also about 1900, Edwin M. Knowles constructed a pottery in Chester, and Smith became one of the original stockholders. Smith also was connected with what became the American Vitrified Products Co., which once operated in the East End.

In 1914, Smith moved further into the transportation field, becoming the owner of the Steubenville, East Liverpool & Beaver Valley Traction Co., with headquarters in East Liverpool. The purchase of the traction company returned ownership of the Chester Bridge to Smith’s hands. In 1938, he sold the bridge to the state of Ohio for $2,185,000. Smith also purchased the light and power rights in the Steubenville-East Liverpool area. Those interests were sold in 1917 to what became the Ohio Power Co.

Partial abandonment of the trolleys started in 1935, and in 1939, the traction company went out of business. The Valley Motor Transit Co. began in its stead. Also that year, the Smith concern took over the East Liverpool-Newell run. Smith served as president and general manager of both organizations. To his death in October 1953, Smith remained active in Valley Motor operations.

For the last 10 years of his life, Hillcrest Farms near Chester was Smith’s principal interest. Hillcrest Farms took form in 1917. In 1919, Smith went into the Hereford cattle business and began producing champion stock. At the time of his death, Smith’s herd numbered about 700 head and was considered one of the best in the United States. Hillcrest Farms produced the grand champion bull of the Chicago International Livestock Exposition in 1947, 1949 and 1951 and the grand champion female at Chicago in 1950 and 1951. Smith’s prize bulls were frequently sold for record prices of the times.

Apple growing also played a big part in Hillcrest’s success. Of the farm’s 4,000 acres, 1,000 were devoted to apples.

 Smith was married twice and had five children by the first marriage.

William "Bill" VanHorne
      

For 54 years William “Bill” Van Horne chronicled Ohio Valley sports with a passion, love and knowledge of sports that is respected and remembered six years after his death.

Born in Martins Ferry March 9, 1921, Van Horne was graduated from Martins Ferry High School in 1939. Following graduation, he attended a crash, six-week course at Northwestern University for outstanding high school journalism students. When the Martins Ferry Times Leader’s sports editor was called to war in 1941, Van Horne was hired as his replacement.

His first week on the job found him covering Martins Ferry High School’s quest for the high school basketball championship, giving him something of a baptism by fire.

Van Horne retained the sports editor position at the Times Leader for 25 years before moving on to hold the same position at the Wheeling & Sunday News Register for 29 years.

Over the course of his career, Van Horne received numerous awards for his sports journalism. He was named “West Virginia Sportswriter of the Year, 1972.” He was awarded West Virginia Wrestling Sportswriter of the Year honors three times, and in ’93, he received the West Virginia Press Association’s award for “Best Sports Columnist.”

Known for his truth and fairness in reporting, Van Horne also was admired because he considered no sporting event too large or small to chronicle. From high school wrestling and track and field events to college bowl games, Major League Baseball All-Star Games to the LPGA tour, Van Horne found pleasure in covering all sports. One of his greatest thrills came in 1960, when Tiltonsville’s Bill Mazeroski belted his historic home run in  the bottom of the ninth inning of the seventh game of the World Series to defeat the Yankees and give the Pittsburgh Pirates the World Championship title.

Van Horne’s 54-year career afforded him the opportunity to follow the rise of many promising Ohio Valley high school athletes to their respective professional careers. Mazeroski, John Havlicek, Phil and Joe Niekro, Lou and Alex Groza and Bobby Douglas are among those with whom Van Horne maintained professional and personal ties. In 1989, all of them attended a testimonial dinner honoring Van Horne, which drew 850 people.

Van Horne broadcast play-by-play accounts of local high school football and basketball games on WTRF Radio during the late ‘40s and early ‘50s. He served as announcer for numerous OVAC and District wrestling tournaments, as well as official scorekeeper for those events.

He was a member and past president of the West Virginia Sports Writers Association and the Football Writers of America. He was the first sportswriter from West Virginia to be elected to the Football Writers of America Board of Directors, and he served as the state chairman for the Heisman Trophy selection committee.

In his hometown of Martins Ferry, Van Horne was a community leader serving on the Recreation Board and as president and member of the Martins Ferry Rotary Club. After moving to his adopted community of Wheeling, he was a charter member of the Wheeling Hall of Fame Board.

He was named the Upper Ohio Valley Dapper Dan Man of the Year in 1992. The grandstands of the Wheeling Jesuit University Outdoor Athletic Complex were dedicated and named for Van Horne in a posthumous ceremony held Sept. 4, 1998.

Twice married, Van Horne has a daughter and granddaughter. Gladys Van Horne of Wheeling is his widow.