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 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 |
1991 Brig. Gen. Tom Mancinelli |
| 1981 Dr. Jay Arena |
1992 Dr. Thomas Mazzocco |
| 1982 Leo Vecellio |
1993 Angelo S. Petitto |
| 1983 Capt. Tom Paul Scott, USN |
1994 Augustine A. Mazzei, Jr. |
| 1984 Dr. K. Alvin Merendino |
1995 Joseph L. Tropea |
| 1985 Robert DeProspero |
1996 Frank A. Oliverio |
| 1986 Lt. Gen. Leonard H. Perroots |
1997 Larry Argiro |
| 1987 Michael C. Paterno |
1998 Joseph F. Fuscaldo |
| 1988 Joseph Antonini |
1999 Andrew J. Paterno |
| 1989 Rear Admiral Thomas Lopez |
2000 Lucius Cavallero |
| 1990 Larry Ciccarelli |
2001 Victor Basile |
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2002 Father Hilarion Cann |
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2003 A. James Manchin |
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2004 Russell Bonasso & Samuel Bonasso |
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2005 Carmine J. Cann |
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2006 Joseph M. Minard |
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2007 Leonard J. "Joe" Trupo & Louis J. "Zeke" Trupo |
Honorary Italian-American Award
1979 Senator Jennings Randolph,
John D. Rockefeller, IV |
1990 Msgr. John O"Reilly
1991 Thomas C. Burns |
| 1980 James Compton |
1992 Sam Huff |
| 1981 Odus Kincaid |
1993 Milan Puskar |
| 1982 Msgr. Benjamin Farrell |
1994 Judge Callie I. Tsapis |
| 1983 Frank Maxwell |
1995 Robert L. Reynolds |
| 1984 Gov. John D. Rockefeller |
1996 Father Charles McCallister |
| 1985 Gov. Arch A. Moore, Jr. |
1997 Governor Cecil H. Underwood |
| 1986 US Senator Robert Byrd |
1998 Ed Pastilong |
| 1987 John Williams |
1999 Bishop Bernard W. Schmitt |
| 1988 Jon A. McBride |
2000 Leland Byrd |
| 1989 Gov. Gaston Caperton |
2001 Daniel McCarthy, Circuit Judge (Ret.) |
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2002 Governor Bob Wise |
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2003 I.L. "Ike" Morris |
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2004 Alan Mollohan |
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2005 Dr. Kelley Nelson |
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2006 James. C. Hunt |
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2007 Harry Green, Jr. |
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