During the course of the last three and a half decades, The Clarksburg Columbian Club has made a point of trying to bring in big names for the annual Frank Loria Awards Banquet. With this year marking the 35^th annual event the group has lined up a name not only the parents and organizers will know, but one that most of those in attendance will know as well.

 

Event Chairman Mike Romano has announced that former West Virginia University quarterback and Miami Dolphin Pat White will serve as the guest speaker. The event is this coming Monday, March 19, at the Bridgeport Conference Center.

 

The banquet will begin at 6 p.m.

 

“To have a young man like Pat White to speak is certainly an honor. Pat can speak to his achievements on the gridiron, but he can also speak to the student-athletes what it means to be a scholar and to be a professional in the business world,” said Romano. “It’s important for these young men to realize that even the greatest of careers come to an end, but that if you prepare correctly you can be productive and successful whether it’s after high school, college or if someone is fortunate enough to go as far as Pat was able to go.”

 

Academics are a critical part of the message for the banquet. And it falls in line with who the banquet is done in honor of – Frank Loria.

 

The Loria Awards Banquet celebrates the high athletic and academic standards of Harrison County native Frank Loria -Virginia Tech University’s first All-American in 1966 and first Consensus All-American in 1967 including Academic All-American Honors. “Frankie Paul,” as he was known to his family and friends, went on to play professionally and eventually coached at Marshall University.

 

Frankie died at the age of 23 in the tragic 1970 MU plane crash with nearly the entire football team.

 

“I believe the Loria Banquet has been so successful for 35 years because it celebrates a man whose time on this earth wasn’t just about achievement in football, but achievement in life,” said Romano. “We celebrate that by not only rewarding the young men on hand for their athletic accomplishments, but academic achievement as well.”

 

The young men being honored at the event are the first-team members of the All-Harrison County football team. The team is picked by the sports staff of The Exponent Telegram.

 

Several honors will be given out during the event. The Frank Loria Award will go to the top overall player in Harrison County. There will also be a “Lineman of the Year” and “Coach of the Year” honor given out. Another major honor, which sometimes goes to more than one individual, is the “Academic Award” for success on the field and in the classroom.

 

“We think everyone will be excited to hear from Pat White because a lot of us remember there was more than one time he would carry the team to a victory. He was that type of player; a winner,” said Romano. “It’s just a great event made possible through the Columbian Club and the Harrison County School system.

 

“The Columbian Club dedicates a lot of time and money to this and believes every minute and every penny is worth it,” Romano, who will be involved with his 23^rd event, continued. “I’m just glad to be a small part of the event.”

 

Several other dignitaries will be on hand. Frank Loria’s son, Frank Jr., is expected to be there, as is Red Dawson, the coach from Loria’s team that was not on the plane that crashed. Marshall Athletic Director Mike Hamrick, former WVU AD Ed Pastilong and a bevy of other coaches on the college level are also expected to attend.

 

Players being honored this year include offensive first team selection Kobie Carpenter (Lincoln), Jake Bowen (Bridgeport), Dalton Westfall (Liberty), Ryan Anderson (South Harrison), Freddy Canary (South Harrison), Jonathan Leep (Lincoln), James Cava (Notre Dame), Jimmy Allison (Bridgeport), Jaden Marino (Robert C. Byrd), Jaden Rollyson (Liberty), Jeremiah Reed (Liberty), Tre Junkins (Robert C. Byrd), Ghovan Davidson (Robert C. Byrd), and Chance Howell (Liberty).

 

First team defensive selections include Christian Olivio (Bridgeport), Robert Arnold (Robert C. Byrd), Clifford “Bubba” Ellis II (Lincoln), Nick Rush (South Harrison), Cam Barnett (South Harrison), Brent Barnett (South Harrison), Hunter Moore (Lincoln), John Merica (Bridgeport), Ryan LaAsmar (Notre Dame), Josh Osborn (Bridgeport), Seth McKinney (Liberty), Chapin Murphy (Bridgeport), Broderick Lantz (Liberty), Landon McFadden (South Harrison), and Koby Kiefer (Bridgeport).

 

Editor's Note: Top photo, courtesy of WVU Sports Communications, is of Pat White. Bottom photo shows the prestigious Frank Loria Trophy. Photo by www.benqueenphotography.com.