West Virginia Department of Commerce Come Home to WV Essays

When your birthday's in a Bible here. Or your pictures in a frame. If you walk down your hometown road - someones bound to know your name. Or stop to talk about your kin, helping you remember when -- And shake your hand on Sunday morn in a church, just like back then. When thoughts of home draw you here and haunt your dreams at night. Even if you've been away awhile, come back, it's still alright. If your homeplace is standing or a distant memory -- The warmth that calls you still remains, Mountaineers we'll always be.
~ Marsha Chwalik, Inwood, WV
(Nominates: self)

Mysterious wonders and Mystic beauty makes this beautiful state I love. It moves beyond racism merging families alike and different. Here we do not have separate neighborhoods we live together regardless of race. We live in neighborhoods not divided divisions. WV holds my secrets passions and pain. Family is not defined by blood friends arent limited and children can be kids. WVU vs. MARSHALL is a national event, Halloween is mysterious, Christmas is magical and birthdays are the biggest event of the year. Where else will u find such security? WV is not just a state, it's my home!
~ Shamia Lewis, Charleston, WV
(Nominates: self)

Nikki Bowman, a WV native, recently returned home to launch WV LIVING Magazine. WV LIVING (www.wvlivingmagazine.com) is a highly acclaimed statewide lifestyle magazine that celebrates modern-day life in WV. Too often, WV's treasures are overlooked by visitors and natives alike. So Nikki is traveling to all corners of the state to showcase the states towns, artists and craftsmen and vibrant local businesses. Nikki and WV LIVING epitomize all that is positive about our state. Her story is an inspiration. The magazine brings WV home to everyone and encourages those who've left to return.
~ Gregory Bowman, Morgantown, WV
(Nominates: Nicole Bowman, spouse)

I felt like Dorothy following the yellow brick road as I came home to the WV mountains on Christmas Eve 2005 on I-64. In the twenty years I had been gone I had raised two sons, lost a wife, made many wonderful memories, experienced many disappointments and ministered two churches. But, I was always a native West Virginian. I soon settled in and got to know WV again. My 91-year-old mother welcomed me back and I met my new wife here. We live in an 80 year-old Victorian house and I pastor a church here in Richwood...the place I first saw on Christmas Eve 2005 and made my home.
~ Jack Tolbert, Richwood, WV
(Nominates: self)

I have lived many places in my life. Although I wasn't born here, West Virginia is the only place I call home. My birthplace originally is the Midwest, but growing up, we traveled and lived in North Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska and New York. West Virginia has my heart and has been home for 30 years. It's just never felt like home anywhere else. Myself, My husband and our two sons live on a farm surrounded by mountains and it is truly "Our small piece of Heaven." As an artist, the breath taking beauty of our state is truly an inspiration.
~ Linita Chapman, Cool Ridge, WV
(Nominates: self)

My sister moved to Mississippi in the 1980s. She never, however, left in WV spirit. She bought a house in Weston in the 1990s and came home every holiday and summer. With one bold stroke of nature in 2005 Hurricane Katrina blew away her home, car and all of her possessions. Her Weston "summer home" became her permanent residence. From there she has practiced law and supported everything she loved in West Virginia with the renewed vigor of a mountaineer. Because of her love and enthusiasm Lewis County elected her to the House of Delegates in 2008. Welcome home sis!
~ Peggy Donaldson Smith, Weston, WV
(Nominates: Patty Smith, sister)

Born at St. Francis Hospital in 1955, I left West Virginia as a teenager living in Florida and Georgia. I had my daughter and knew to raise her right I need to come home. I wanted a career in radio so I could make a difference. I have. I work for WQBE and life is better, life is happier, life is more empowering. Not only did I come back, but so did part of my family. You can make life better, happier and more empowering all you have to do is come home to West Virginia.
~ Lenora Holley, Hurricane, WV
(Nominates: self)

I came home today and a mountain made me cry. The air is sweeter here than anywhere Ive been. My life has taken me many places, but my heart is always here. All of nature sings with my heart and it is a joyous song. A song of rivers and mountains and hollers and trees. A song of walks in the winter and green in the spring. A song of family beside me and memories awakened. Its good to be home again.
~ Dreama Pritt, Hurricane, WVV
(Nominates: self)

Kathleen Panek grew up in Northern WV and returned here in 1995 after a 35 year "sentence" in Illinois. Kathleen opened a bed and breakfast in Shinnston, where she customizes exciting tourist packages for her guests. She's been actively involved with rails to trails and tourism throughout the State. Serving as Shinnston's volunteer "Tourist Information Center," Kathleen has been a valuable asset to Shinnston, serving on Council, the Blueprint team and various boards and organizations. Kathleen is a vocal and excited advocate for the state and all the wonderful things it has to offer.
~ Debra Herndon, Shinnston, WV
(Nominates: Kathleen Panek, friend)

I was born and raised in Longacre WV, left when I was 38 yrs old worked as a Sous chef up to an Executive Chef. I have worked in South Caroline, Louisana, Texas and Florida. Left because there was no good paying jobs in the state. I missed being home, Mountains and family so I came back and found a good paying job here in Charleston and if you say there is nothing here then you are as wrong as I was. I am glad I came home and will never leave so come home to where you belong.
~ Rick Fleming, Cross Lanes, WV
(Nominates: self)

I love WV. It's a part of my heart. It's beautiful mountainous views. I love WV. I's a part of my soul. Will be til the day I grow old. Its rivers, valleys and fresh water streams, camping with family and friends. A wild and wonderful experience. WV your in my fond memories. White water rapids, New River Gorge all adventures in one. I sit back to take it all in. My passion takes over again. I've been around this great big world city to city through time. Nothing captures hy heart like this state. WV's one of a kind.
~ Sidney Davis III, Charleston, WV
(Nominates: Deborah Davis, wife)

Kara is the perfect spokesperson for your campaign. The granddaughter of two coal miners, she moved to TN in 1997 to pursue a career in tourism, but always longed to come home and promote the beautiful state and county she loves. As Executive Director of the Greenbrier County CVB, she has dedicated herself to not only promoting it as a great place to visit, but also a great place to live. Her excitement about the future of the state, its people, its natural beauty and the perfect place to raise her daughter, makes me wish I could come home, too.
~ Jean Yates, Maryville, TN
(Nominates: Kara D. Dense, aunt)

Growing up in West Virginia has made for some fond memories. I spent the first eighteen years of my life here, until I enlisted in the military in the early part of 1970. I soon found myself Stationed in Southern California, a real culture shock for this naive Mountaineer. I recall driving my 63 Chevy Impala down Highway 101 when I first heard "Take Me Home Country Roads." I fought back tears as I reminisced. Twenty years later, with many places under my belt, I would return to find the same thing you will find when you come back HOME.
~ Steve Nestor, St. Albans, WV
(Nominates: self)

When we met 10 years ago in Tennessee, I knew Kara's dream was to someday return home to WV and make a difference to the people and the place that she loved. When the opportunity of CVB Director in Greenbrier County arose just 8 month's after our daughter's birth, we knew it was the right thing to do for our family. She is now living her dream of telling the world what a wonderful place WV is to visit and live. It didn't take her long to convince me and I know she could do the same for others.
~ Brian Dense, Lewisburg, WV
(Nominates: Kara D. Dense, wife)