The West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival has had its offices housed in many locations throughout Clarksburg since its inception in 1979. The Festival office is now located at 340 West Main Street, downtown Clarksburg, the very street where the Festival was born.
Clarksburg community leaders worked diligently in 1979 to bring this wonderful street festival to life. Merle Moore, who was then the Harrison County Library Director along with WVIHF Foundation Members, Sam Chico, the late Sam D'Annunzio, James LaRosa, Louis Spatafore the late John Manchin and the late Frank Iaquinta had a strong desire to preserve and perpetuate the ethnic heritage of Americans of Italian ancestry and their contributions to the United States and West Virginia in particular by Italian Americans.
HONORS AND AWARDS
Each year the Festival pays special tribute to outstanding Americans by making public awards and recognitions. Recipients of these awards have included the following individuals.
Outstanding West Virginia Italian-American Award
1980 Nicholas T. Camicia
1981 Dr. Jay Arena
1982 Leo Vecellio
1983 Capt. Tom Paul Scott, USN
1984 Dr. K. Alvin Merendino
1985 Robert DeProspero
1986 Lt. Gen. Leonard H. Perroots
1987 Michael C. Paterno
1988 Joseph Antonini
1989 Rear Admiral Thomas Lopez
1990 Larry Ciccarelli
1991 Brig. Gen. Tom Mancinelli
1992 Dr. Thomas Mazzocco
1993 Angelo S. Petitto
1994 Augustine A. Mazzei, Jr.
1995 Joseph L. Tropea
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1996 Frank A. Oliverio
1997 Larry Argiro
1998 Joseph F. Fuscaldo
1999 Andrew J. Paterno
2000 Lucius Cavallero
2001 Victor Basile
2002 Father Hilarion Cann
2003 A. James Manchin
2004 Russell Bonasso & Samuel Bonasso
2005 Carmine J. Cann
2006 Joseph M. Minard
2007 Leonard J. "Joe" Trupo & Louis J. "Zeke" Trupo
2008 Michael A. Oliverio
2009 Governor Joe Manchin III
2010 Donald J. Adams & Robert Adams
2011 Mike Ross
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Honorary Italian-American Award
1979 Senator Jennings Randolph,
John D. Rockefeller, IV
1980 James Compton
1981 Odus Kincaid
1982 Msgr. Benjamin Farrell
1983 Frank Maxwell
1984 Gov. John D. Rockefeller
1985 Gov. Arch A. Moore, Jr.
1986 US Senator Robert Byrd
1987 John Williams
1988 Jon A. McBride
1989 Gov. Gaston Caperton
1990 Msgr. John O'Reilly
1991 Thomas C. Burns
1992 Sam Huff
1993 Milan Puskar
1994 Judge Callie I. Tsapis
1995 Robert L. Reynolds
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1996 Father Charles McCallister
1997 Governor Cecil H. Underwood
1998 Ed Pastilong
1999 Bishop Bernard W. Schmitt
2000 Leland Byrd
2001 Daniel McCarthy, Circuit Judge (Ret.)
2002 Governor Bob Wise
2003 I.L. "Ike" Morris
2004 Alan Mollohan
2005 Dr. Kelley Nelson
2006 James. C. Hunt
2007 Harry Green, Jr.
2008 Dr. Julian Bailes
2009 Mr. Michael Belmear
2010 Don Hamilton
2011 Jim Justice
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