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I don't know Elon Musk personally. I only know of what I read in the news about this entrepreneur and business magnate whose personal worth is listed at $192 billion.
His success might be measured in the many projects from developing a driverless, gas-free car to sending celebrities into space via his rockets. For this and other things I am not privy to, Musk was named Time magazine's person of the year for 2021.
I didn't know Dean Smith of Bethany, W.Va., either but reading his obituary recently made me think he would have made a great neighbor. The 73-year-old Smith was a Marine Corps veteran, a hard worker who spent 30 years at Weirton Steel to support his wife Karen and their five children. He also operated a Christmas tree farm with his brother and was active in his church. The most telling words written about Smith were: "He deeply loved his family, his church and community."
I was fortunate to have met and interacted with Joseph Fatigati of Wheeling who also died recently. Fatigati was a U.S. Navy veteran having served in the Vietnam War. He remained in the Navy Reserves and was active in local military organizations. He was a proud American who devoted much of his time to making kids happy. Fatigati was known as "Santa Joe" and was instrumental in making sure local children in need had toys for Christmas.
Then there was Geneva Barrax of Wheeling. Her death came recently after 88 years on this planet. Barrax was an Air Force veteran who later worked for the IRS. Barrax was not shy about expressing her opinion to city fathers when she felt a wrong needed to be made right. A proud Democrat and active member of the NAACP, Barrax kept her finger on the pulse of social issues in her community. She also sang in church and performed professionally under the name of Kitty McCay. She has 12 brothers and sisters who preceded her in death. I can't imagine the grief she endured.
None of the three local people mentioned above were millionaires let alone billionaires. I imagine anyone who knew them would agree that their contributions to their fellow man were priceless.
I don't know what the formula is to be named person of the year for Time magazine. I do know that Dean Smith, Geneva Barrax and Joseph Fatigati may not have sent anyone into space or designed expensive cars but they led simple lives that touched us in countless ways. Now that's something to crow about.
Heather Ziegler can be reached via email at hziegler@theintelligencer.net.