West Virginia Department of Commerce Come Home to WV Essays

Moe grew up in Thomas, WV, youngest of four brothers and the only Jewish family on the block. He is so proud of his WV/Thomas heritage and instills that pride in our two daughters with stories and memories. He is the most compassionate person I know.  In his success as an attorney, he continuously gives without question to family/friends and his community particularly his hometown of Thomas. All who know him will speak of his unselfish character. It would make our families and friends proud to have him as WV's newest Spokesperson saying Come Home to WV!
~ Danica Barrett, Morgantown, WV
(Nominates: Harry "Moe" Rubenstein, family friend, ex-Husband)

My sister Shirley promotes West Virginia and all of its glory to all she meets. She is a great promoter of the state and truly bleeds gold and blue. She even has a West Virginia room in her home with all gold and blue. Her screen saver on her computer is Pat White. Her cell phone plays the Mountaineer fight song. Lastly, her answering machine's last phrase says "Go Mountaineers". She really is a true West Virginian.
~ Tammy Abraham, Bridgeport, WV
(Nominates: Shirley Brown, sister )

"In the Beginning," my husband and I were born in West Virginia,  Huntington and Alderson, respectively. We met and married in Florida, but always planned to retire to West Virginia.  Because of the numerous hurricanes in Florida, we altered our plans and moved back early. We found a 133 year old church, converted it into our home, and found new jobs. After several visits  my sister and brother-in-law plan to move back next year  and start a business. We all agree  that it is wonderful getting back to our roots and our "Church Home" is "ALMOST HEAVEN!" AMEN
~ Linda Montgomery, Sinks Grove, WV
(Nominates: self)

Living away from WV for nearly 7 years brought a new meaning of home to me. I was fortunate to of had a great job in NC and my wife and I started our life there with our son  but when her brother passed away in 2005 it hit home. We were fortunate to have great friends in NC, but when you loose your family you have lost everything. Family runs deep in these mountains and you will never find more friendly people than what we have in this wonderful state. I am blessed to be back home with family.
~ Eddie St. Clair, Fanrock, WV
(Nominates: self)

My husband, who was born in Charleston, left in 1987 for the "promised land" of Charlotte, NC. After living in NC and Tennessee for 13 years, he returned home to West Virginia in 2002.  In 2003, we reconnected and married. He is delighted to be back in his beloved Mountain State where his career in nursing and program management has flourished. Jim has found ideal job opportunities in the very state he left ostensibly for career advancement!  Fortunately for us all, you can go back home again and we are all happy he is here!
~ Jane Smallridge, Charleston, WV
(Nominates: Jim Smallridge, husband)

Come home to WV,  where the business climate is booming, where we have 4 distinct beautiful seasons, where we are patriotic and appreciate our veterans, of which I am one. I work for a state of the art veterans nursing home where we take care of, and honor, the men & women who took care of us by answering the call of duty. Of this, we are proud to be West Virginians.
~ Mark White, Fairmont, WV
(Nominates: self)

My wife says West Virginia is an excellent place to raise children. We are expecting our third. WV has small town charm and city conveniences. People stop to say, “Hello,” because we are all Mountaineers. Here, there are remote areas for recreation and relaxing. Our former pastor asked why we were leaving North Carolina after six years of residency when it is God’s country. My wife replied, “Maybe so, but WV is ‘Almost Heaven.’” Once WV is in your blood, it is who you are regardless of where life may take you.
~ Daniel Calloway, Charleston, WV
(Nominates: Amy Jo Calloway, wife )

My name is Gary Lee Tolley. I lived in Europe and all around the U.S. while in the military. West Virginia is always home. My father moved away to find work, always wanting to return home, but died before he could. I have returned to West Virginia with my wife and we have opened several businesses here. We are always telling others how much we love it. I have written a song to honor my father and other West Virginia natives that moved and dream about coming home. I love West Virginia and I hope I can represent it to the world.
~ Gary Lee Tolley, Letart, WV
(Nominates: self)

Almost Heaven West Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains… Shenandoah River… The song rings into my ears powered by my iPod as the plane descends closer and closer to home. I can clearly see the mountains now far below out the window of the plane.  I can also see a narrow river snaking over the terrain still muddy from a recent rain storm and the melting snow. In a few moments the pilot will make the same announcement I have heard so many times before  as I made this same trip home to visit every three to four weeks  for the previous two years… This is it, after so many years of working away I am finally home!
~ John Casey, Apple Grove, WV
(Nominates: self)

Mr. Lynch embodies how to use WV talents and heritage to make a difference in the state. With his daily efforts, Lynch built E.G. Bear Company to enhance the social, economic, and cultural aspects of West Virginia. Since 1995 Lynch has taught WV people how to start businesses from their homes and teach others about serving their greater communities. These values have brought success to many, proving the people of WV can be world-class successful people. Lynch recently set a world record for building the Worlds Largest Teddy Bear, Evan, who stands a tremendous 61 feet tall.
~ Cathy Teets, Terra Alta, WV 
(Nominates: Jason S. Lynch, author)

After more than eight years of my mother campaigning for me to return home to WV, I arrived in October 2008. My mother is a proud West Virginian who appreciates every detail of the scenery, every individual, and, the unique art, music, talent, and cultures of WV. She defends the state wherever she is; she has written editorial responses to The Post and Courier (Charleston, SC), The Tonight Show and others. She also knows how to have fun with some WV stereotypes – in a cottage that she rents, she didn’t just lock the door to the room containing the furnace. She was more creative, ingeniously inferring the room may be a moonshine still...
~ Jill M. Szakacs, Bluefield, WV
(Nominates: Rhonda Shoemaker, mother)

Shannon returned in 2005 after being away for college and beginning her career. She returned to give back and serve as a young WV leader on the regional/ national level. Her energy, passion, communication skills, and effective leadership would make her the perfect spokesperson. In addition, she is a young face who contributes a great deal to our state’s vitality in her leadership role with WV Grantmakers’ Association. She would be an excellent spokesperson to encourage others to come to WV, share her success of being an active young leader, and assist in successfully attracting and retaining young talent.  
~ Paul Daughterty, Morgantown, WV
(Nominates:  Shannon Cunningham, colleague)

Amy R. King worked as an auditor for PricewaterhouseCoopers in Richmond. After
attending law school, she joined a large Charlotte firm and gained world-class experience in banking and finance law. However, she desired the unique combination of qualities that West Virginia offers to young professionals - a stimulating global work environment, affordable lifestyle, proximity to family and friends, immediate opportunities for community leadership, and the potential for limitless professional success. Amy returned to Charleston in 2006 and, as a new partner in a major regional law firm, is a superbly articulate spokesperson for her decision and a future leader of West Virginia.
~David P. Ferretti and Michael J. Basile
(Nominates: Amy King, colleague)

Our son, John Cotton Casto, and his wife, Amy, are both West Virginians who worked to "Come Home."  Their jobs and training took them away but as soon as their first son was born, they came home to raise their children as they were raised. Today they have built a good life and spend their (John, Amy, JC, Blake, Seth) active time snow skiing, boating, canoeing, biking, hiking, snow boarding, swimming, water skiing, camping; visiting state parks, Clay Center, fairs and festivals; playing/coaching youth basket ball and with their church, school, work and community. It's "Home!"
~Jan Casto, St. Albans, WV
(Nominates: John and Amy Casto, son & family)

I nominate Lew Dobbins. Lew was inducted into the West Virginia Broadcasters' Hall of Fame in October 2008. Lew was born and raised in West Virginia and retired from radio.TV broadcasting. He had many out-of-state job opportunities offered to him over the years, but Lew declined all offers as he was, is and always will be a tried and true West Virginian. He as appointed by the late A. James Manchin back in 1981 as a "West Virginia Ambassador of Communication Among All People." He has the personality and "voice," so he'd be your best "choice."
~Cynthia Dobbins, Clarksburg, WV
(Nominates: Lew Dobbins, husband)