Committee Honors Nine People
Morgantown Dominion Post
4 July 2011
This year, the Celebration of America Committee will recognize nine
people for their contributions to the community.
Citizen of the Year: Barry Pallay
Barry Pallay, a chemical engineer and businessman, is a member of
the Monongalia County Development Authority, Region VI Planning and
Development Council, Morgantown Airport Committee and Tree of Life
Congregation Board of Directors.
He serves as vice president of the Upper Mon River Association,
chairman of the Mon River Recreation and Commerce Committee and
co-chair of the Mon Area Watersheds Compact.
High on his list of personal interests are floating and fishing the
rivers and streams of West Virginia. He has held more than 25 public
meetings in the last three years on water quality, water resources,
Marcellus shale and environmental issues.
Volunteers of the Year: Charlie and Sylvia Chico
Since 2007, Charlie Chico has worked to restore and maintain
Lawnwood Cemetery, adjoining Oak Grove Cemetery at the end of South
High Street. For three years, he trimmed and mowed the grass, then
helped organize a board to oversee the cemetery’s operation. He also
raises money for cemetery maintenance.
He has been a member of the Police Civil Service Commission for two
years, belongs to the Monongalia County Condemnation Commission,
volunteers at various events at his church, St. John University Parish,
and in the winter, clears sidewalks on Riverview Drive.
His wife, Sylvia Chico, became involved with the Mental Health
Association in 1965, collecting presents for patients at the state’s
mental hospital.
Sylvia has worked tirelessly for the Mental Health Association, now
known as Mental Health America, for 46 years, raising money, planning
its annual Christmas party, Operation Santa Claus, buying food, cards
and gifts for the residents, and letting them know that someone cared.
She takes part in Sarah’s Table, a church-based ministry to provide
meals to the homeless around Morgantown, and is a “Kitchen Angel”
volunteer at St. John University Parish.
Distinguished Monongalian: Jamie Lester
Sculptor Jamie Lester is best known as the man who designed the
West Virginia commemorative quarter, but this southern West Virginia
native specializes in bronze monument sculpture.
He created the largerthan-life bronze statue of basketball great Jerry
West installed at the WVU Coliseum in 2007, and has designed a
sculpture of noted comedian Don Knotts.
Other Lester sculptures include two 6-feet tall New York firefighters
on the Brooklyn Wall of Remembrance at Coney Island’s Keyspan Park,
honoring Brooklyn firefighters who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001;
a life-size half-figure of Jack Fleming, “The Voice of the
Mountaineers,” at the WVU Alumni Center; and the 55-inch portrait of
George Steinbrenner at Yankee Monument Park.
Senior Citizens of the Year: Kenneth and Elsie Carvell
Kenneth L. Carvell came to Morgantown in 1953 to teach forest
ecology at WVU. He retired in 1988, and during his 35 years teaching,
became well acquainted with the state, its people, forest lands and
conditions.
Since retirement, he has been active as publication chairman for the
Monongalia Historical Society, and gives frequent talks and field trips
for o u t d o o r groups. He is long-standing member of the local lzaak
Walton League and is noted for his classes for Life-time Learners on
local history and interesting places to visit throughout West Virginia.
Elsie S. Carvell, a Harrison County native, describes her major
accomplishments as “being Ken’s righthand man for his many projects”
and successfully establishing the Cheat Area Public Library, where she
continues to be involved. She was active in the campaign for zoning for
the Cheat area and efforts to preserve the Friary and Castle.
Veteran of the Year: Charles Harrington
Charles Harrington, 63, joined the U.S. Army in 1965 and served
for three years. He turned 18 in May 1966, only a few weeks before he
arrived in Long Binh, South Vietnam. For the rest of 1966 and in 1967,
he served in Vietnam with the 120th & 543rd Transportation
Companies. After his discharge, he became a firefighter in
Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
After moving to Morgantown in November 1999, he joined Vietnam Veterans
of America (VVA) Chapter 306 and discovered his passion for helping
other veterans. During his six years as chapter president, he also was
the VVA State Council president for a year and vice president for three.
A VA-certified service officer, he helps veterans and their families
with forms and documents at an office in the Mon County VA Clinic,
where he volunteers on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Employers of the Year: Gabriel Brothers
Gabriel Brothers, headquartered in Morgantown, is a family-owned
firm founded by brothers Arthur and Jim Gabriel. Jim died in 2005, but
Art Gabriel remains at the helm as company president.
“Gabriel Brothers is proud to have Morgantown as its corporate home
since opening its doors for business in 1961,” Art Gabriel said. “We
are celebrating our 50th anniversary in 2011, making the designation of
Employer of the Year even more of an honor.”
Gabriel Brothers employs about 3,000 people throughout its six-state
region — roughly one-third of them in West Virginia. A total of 500
associates work in Monongalia County at the corporate headquarters,
central distribution center and flagship retail store. The firm has
satellite distribution facilities in Fairmont and Clarksburg, and eight
retail stores throughout the state.
“Morgantown is and has always been the home for Gabes; we never
questioned our decision to make Morgantown our corporate headquarters
and home to our first retail store,” Art Gabriel said. “Our roots run
deep here.”