Lou Holtz Upper Ohio Valley Hall-of-Fame

While the WHS Athletic HOF induction ceremony was going on another Wellsville son was being honored at the same time down the river in Weirton, WV. It was a well deserved honor that he reluctantly accepted. He tried to refuse it but Frank Dawson wouldn't listen. He was then thinking of just not going. One of his sons & his wife threatened that they would accept the honor in his place whether he went or not. It took a lot of convincing by family and friends but he finally agreed to accept the honor, for their sake.

On Thursday, July 1, Wellsville's Nunzio Lombardozzi was inducted into the Lou Holtz Upper Ohio Valley Hall-of-Fame as a member of the Class of 2010. The ceremony was held at the Serbian American Cultural Center in Weirton. Lombardozzi was presented by nephew Ron Infanti. The Hall-of-Fame is located in East Liverpool, OH, in the former Bank One building, on 5th St. It was established in 1998 to recognize outstanding individuals from the region and preserving the cultural heritage of its communities. The first class of honorees were inducted into the hall on July 5, 1998.

The list of titles and accomplishments Lombardozzi has had over the years is longer than my arm and leg put together. However, over all that time, everything he accomplished was done from his love of community, friends and family. He did it all unselfishly and preferred that any accolades garnered be bestowed on others. He wasn't doing it for himself.

Nunzio Lombardozzi was born during the Depression Years in 1934, in his family home on Clover Street. He is the youngest of seven children born to Antonio & Mary DeFalco Lombardozzi. He is a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic School Class of 1948 and graduated from Wellsville High School in 1952. Following high school he served in the U.S. Army which included a tour in Korea. After his discharge from the Army he went to work at the former Crucilble Steel in Midland, PA. When it closed down in 1982 he had 31 years service in the mill. Instead of retiring he then went to work at Homer Laughlin China in Newell, WV. He has been the head of security over there for the past 24 years. He still says he's not ready for retirement. Nunzio has two sons - Mike and Anthony.

Lombardozzi is a life long member of the Immaculate Conception Church and has served as an usher for over 52 years. He's a Past Grand Knight of Wellsville's Knights of Columbus Carroll Council 507 and is still active in that organization. He is also an active member of Wellsville's Sons of Italy and is a Past V.P. of the SOI. He was instrumental when the Wellsville J.C.s got started, held nearly every office in that organization and was J.C. President in 1964. He's also served on the K of C Youth Campaign, Catholic Charities Commission,, the Boy Scout Commission, the Hammond Park Commission, the Columbiana County Housing Authority and was Director of Youth Baseball. He served as the WHS score keeper/time keeper for 39 years. He's served 42 years on the American Heart Association Fund Drive and was Chairman of that for 18 years. He's a Past Trustee for the Dollars for Scholars and served two years on the Lou Holtz Upper Ohio Valley Hall of Fame Committee. He was the founder & Chairman for six years of Wellsville's Fix-up/Clean-up Committee.

In addition to his active, voluntary community involvement Lombardozzi served seven terms as a Wellsville Councilman which included Council President. He also served two terms as Wellsville Mayor earning the nickname of "Marrying Sam". He conducted 330 marriage ceremonies while serving as Mayor.

In 1968 he received the J.C.'s Distinguished Service Award, was named a Citizen of the Week and was nationally recognized as winner of the Outstanding Community Leader of America. In 1983 he was selected by the Morning Journal as one of the recipients of the CC Men & Women Awards. Also in '83 he was named one of five Wellsville Chamber-of-Commerce Man of the Year Awards and was also honored with a Wellsville Friend of the School Award. He was named a Wellsville Legend in the Class of 2008 during the Riverside Reunion that year. Last year he was again honored by the Wellsville Area Chamber-of-Commerce for his community service on the Fix-up/Clean-up Committee.

We got this picture of Mr. Lombardozzi this past February and are honored it was used in the program for this year's ceremony. We feel the selection committee would be hard pressed to find some one more deserving than Nunzio as an "outstanding citizen of the region". The write-up in the program said Nuzio is some times called Mr. Wellsville. We call him friend. He is The Man.

Congratulations Sam...

ole nib