West Virginia
Former Mayor of Williamstown passed away
WILLIAMSTOWN, W.Va. (WTAP) – Jean Ford was the first female Mayor of Williamstown, West Virginia. She served the community for 23 years and many will say she was very passionate about the town and people.
After serving as mayor, she focused on her and her late husbands jewelry shop, Mel’s Diamond House until early 2023.
“She was passionate about her hometown. She was passionate about Williamstown and that passion, you can tell it when you were in her presence when she would go to meetings or out in the community giving speeches. She wanted the best for that community and the people in that community.” said George Cosenza, local Attorney.
Senator Joe Manchin was a friend of Jean and sent his deepest condolences to her family and loved ones. “Gayle and I are heartbroken by the death of our dear friend, former Mayor Jean Ford. Jean was an incredibly dedicated public servant who served the city of Williamstown for more than two decades and was the first female mayor of Williamstown. Her impact on Williamstown and the entire state will last for generations. She has been a lifelong friend and I had the honor of speaking with her hours before she passed. We extend our deepest condolences to Jean’s family and all of her loved ones as they mourn this tremendous loss.”
The Mayor of Vienna, Randy Rapp expressed how much she meant to him and how honest she was. “Jean Ford was one of the best people who lived in the Mid-Ohio Valley and she never met a stranger. Everyone loved her because she was honest. She was a mentor to me and if the definition for Class needed wrote, Class was Jean Ford. She made the Mid-Ohio Valley and Williamstown the best it could look. She did it right all the time, it was always perfect. They do not make people like her anymore”.
Ford was involved in many different things in the community such as the Williamstown Kiwanis, Wood County Development Authority, 17 years at the First Bank, 8 years on Williamstown City Council, served on Board of Ohio Regional Council, Employed Savings Company, graduate of Williamstown High School, Owner-operator of Mel’s Diamond House, and Serves WV Woman’s Commission by appointment of WV Governor.
When Ford was first elected she donated part of her paycheck to the Williamstown Fire Department, which was $400.
“Jean Ford was a total respectful person. She treated people with that same respect, she had a lot of friends and for a city like Williamstown population she had a lot of friends in Charleston too. The Governor’s were always at her beckon and she basically, it might be hard to say this, but people do not understand how hard it is to get a stop light, but Jean could call the Governor and get something like that” said James Colombo, Wood County Commissioner.
George Cosenza described her as an icon.
“Because of the legacy that she left in the community, that she left in this community, the legacy that she left as a business woman, but I think even more importantly the legacy that she left for the people that knew her and loved her and what she did and as Mayor of Williamstown, she’s an icon. If we had a Mount Rushmore, her face would be on it” said Cosenza.
Cosenza and Colombo share their favorite memories with Jean Ford.
“Going to New York City with Mel and Jean and my lovely wife Lori and having dinner at the Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Center and listening to the orchestra and dancing on that fabulous dance floor. That’s one of the greatest memories I have being with Jean. We laughed and we just had a wonderful, wonderful time.” said Cosenza.
“At one time, I was interested in bringing West Virginia water and just give us an example of what other people are doing and she actually was, for a small lady she just went into my face and said you better not do that and I said why jean and she said basically what people believe this is our water, we should be able to control our own water. She was just a great person. She always had the ability to be direct one way or another, positive or negative, but her negatives were always positive, so that’s a good thing.” said Colombo.
Arrangement for the services are still being determined at this time.
Rest In Peace Jean, you will be missed by many.
Copyright 2024 WTAP. All rights reserved.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The following events happened on these dates in West Virginia history, compiled by the West Virginia Humanities Council from its online encyclopedia, e-WV.
April 19, 1896: Writer Melville Davisson Post was born in Harrison County. His best-known works are the Randolph Mason series, published in three volumes, and the more successful collection Uncle Abner: Master of Mysteries.
April 19, 1902: Author Jean Lee Latham was born in Buckhannon. She wrote a number of children’s books, including Carry On, Mr. Bowditch, which won the 1956 Newbery Award.
April 20, 1823: Gen. Jesse Lee Reno was born in Wheeling. He graduated from West Point in 1846 with another cadet from western Virginia, Thomas J. Jackson, later known as “Stonewall.” Reno was the highest-ranking officer from present West Virginia killed in the Civil War.
April 20, 1863: President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation that in 60 days, West Virginia would become a state. The occasion was marked 100 years later during the state’s Centennial celebration with a special ceremonial session of the West Virginia Legislature on April 20, 1963, in Wheeling.
April 20, 1909: Fiddler Melvin Wine was born near Burnsville in Braxton County. A favorite of old-time music enthusiasts nationally, he was chosen as a National Heritage Fellow in 1991 by the National Endowment for the Arts — the highest recognition given to a folk artist in the United States.
April 20, 1939: Poet Irene McKinney was born in Belington, Barbour County. Gov. Gaston Caperton appointed her state poet laureate in 1993, and she served in that capacity until her death in 2012.
April 21, 1908: Musician Phoeba Cottrell Parsons was born in Calhoun County. Parsons’ traditional clawhammer banjo style, unaccompanied ballad singing, riddles and storytelling have influenced countless younger musicians.
April 21, 1936: President Franklin Roosevelt established the Jefferson National Forest. The West Virginia portion of the forest includes about 19,000 acres in Monroe County.
April 22, 1908: Marshall “Little Sleepy” Glenn was born in Elkins. Glenn coached basketball at West Virginia University from 1934 to 1938 and football from 1937 to 1940. He was inducted into the WVU Sports Hall of Fame in 1992.
April 22, 1948: Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and musician Larry Groce was born in Dallas, Texas. He is best known as the longtime host and artistic director of the Mountain Stage radio program.
April 22, 2003: Activist Judy Bonds, a Raleigh County native, received the Goldman Environmental Prize for her fight against mountaintop removal mining. Her efforts inspired thousands and turned a local West Virginia issue into a national cause.
April 23, 1857: Andrew S. Rowan was born in Gap Mills, Monroe County. Rowan, a military officer, was chosen as the messenger when President William McKinley wanted to send a message to Cuban Gen. Calixto Garcia during the Spanish-American War. The 1899 pamphlet A Message to Garcia made the incident famous.
April 24, 1865: McNeill’s Rangers surrendered to Union troops at New Creek — now Keyser. The Confederate guerrilla force probably never numbered more than 100 men at any time but managed to inflict regular damage on Union operations.
April 25, 1863: In what became known as the Jones-Imboden Raid, about 1,500 Confederate soldiers under Gen. William “Grumble” Jones advanced through Greenland Gap, a deep pass through New Creek Mountain in present Grant County. The Confederates encountered 87 Union soldiers who held off several assaults before finally surrendering.
April 25, 1923: Union leader Arnold Ray Miller was born at Leewood on Cabin Creek in Kanawha County. In December 1972, he defeated Tony Boyle to become president of the United Mine Workers and served until 1979.
e-WV is a project of the West Virginia Humanities Council. For more information, contact the council at 1310 Kanawha Blvd. E., Charleston, WV 25301, call 304-346-8500 or visit wvencyclopedia.org.
During the Gold-Blue spring game on Saturday, the West Virginia coaching staff named wide receiver Cyrus Traught the recipient of the 2026 Tommy Nikolich Award.
The award, which is always given out at the end of spring ball, recognizes a walk-on team member who has distinguished himself through his attitude and work ethic. The award is presented in memory of Tommy Nickolich, a former WVU player (1980-82) who passed away from cancer in 1983.
Traugh is a Parkersburg native and graduate of Parkersburg South High School. He began his career at Youngstown State before transferring back home to play for the Mountaineers last season. In his final year with the Penguins, he logged 36 receptions, 409 yards, and a team-leading five touchdowns, two of which came against Pitt.
During the 2025 campaign with the Mountaineers, he saw action against Robert Morris and Kansas, playing 10 snaps against the Jayhawks, but did not record any stats.
Head coach Rich Rodriguez has mentioned him twice this spring as someone who has been doing some good things and making progress. Wide receivers coach Ryan Garrett also showed him some love during his press conference last week.
The Mountaineers completely revamped the wide receiver room this offseason, upping the level of talent at both inside and outside receiver spots, but perhaps Traugh can work his way into the mix if he puts together a strong summer and fall camp. If he’s not a regular in the rotation, he’ll serve as a quality depth piece who can play special teams.
Past Nickolich Award winners:
2025: Clay Ash, RB
2024: Avery Wilcox, S
2023: C.J. Cole, WR
2022: Nick Malone, OL
2021: Graeson Malashevich, WR/H
2020: Osman Kamara, S
2019: Jake Abbott, LB
2018: Evan Staley, K
2017: Nick Meadows, LS
2016: Jon Lewis, DL
2015: Justin Arndt, LB
2014: Michael Calicchio, OL
2013: Connor Arlia, WR
2012: Tyler Anderson, DE
2011: Ryan Nehlen, WR
2010: Matt Lindamood, FB
2009: Josh Taylor, DL
2008: Adam Hughes, LS
2007: Andy Emery, LB
2006: Tim Lindsey, LS
2005: George Shehl, H/DB
2004: Jeff Noechel, LB
2003: John Pennington, WR
2002: Moe Fofana, RB
2001: Jeremy Knapp, TE
2000: Ben Collins, LB
1999: Bryan Lorenz, LB
1998: Mark Corman, TE
1997: David Lightcap, DB
1996: Matt Ceresa, OL
1995: Rob Keys, DB
1994: Randy Fulmore, DB
1993: Matt McCulty, WR
1992: Brett Parise, WR, Ray Wilcox, LB
1991: Keith Taparausky, RB
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