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 Tim
Irr
Tim was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
He grew up in a close, loving family of 6 children
where the virtues of equality, justice and truth
prevailed. His father was strongly involved with
their church and his mother did a lot of volunteer
work. As he grew up, Tim realized that not everyone
was as fortunate as himself and he learned not
to take things for granted. Tim’s loving
family and the example his parents set in helping
others instilled in him the desire to be involved
and volunteer to help others.
Tim first became involved in media in high school
where he began to take media classes and make
music videos. He then went on to college where
he explored different aspects of media. He graduated
from Duquesne University and started his career
in radio at KDKA. He then moved on to television
where his first job in television was at WDTV-TV
in Clarksburg, West Virginia. Next, he served
as the station assignment editor at WCHS-TV in
Charleston. After, he moved on to WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh
where he worked as an assignment editor. He then
took a public relations job at a Pittsburgh hospital
for two years before coming back to West Virginia
to work at WSAZ. Currently, Tim works as the five-thirty,
six, and eleven o'clock anchor.
Tim spends a lot of time volunteering in his community.
He mentors individual children in local elementary
and middle schools, he's involved in fundraising
for Muscular Dystrophy and ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral
Sclerosis) or Lou Gehrig's Disease, and he helps
with St. Joseph's school auction. He has also
served on the MU Early Childhood Development Center
board and was involved in the Success by Six program
where he covered stories on their monthly themes.
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 Clint
McElroy
Clint was born in Ironton, Ohio; moved away
when he was very young; lived in a number of places;
then moved back during high school. While growing
up, his family was very humorous. At times, the
humor even reached an almost competitive level
between them. Along with humor, reading was also
emphasized in his family and Clint grew up spending
a lot of time reading as well.
Clint attended Ironton High School and graduated
from Marshall University with a Bachelor of Arts
Degree in Speech. He is currently working on his
Master’s Degree in Journalism/Mass communications
at Marshall University. His jobs have included
being the News/Sports Director at WWBA, Tampa;
the News Director at WKEE, Huntington; the Vice
President-Operations at WRVC, Huntington; the
General Manager at WEMM, Huntington; and he's
currently a Morning show co-host at WTCR. He’s
also a Freelance comic book writer (Blood is the
Harvest, Green Hornet: Dark Tomorrow, King of
the USA); a Columnist for "Huntington Quarterly",
"Sketch", and "Adult Leadership"
magazines; and a Drama Consultant for the Southern
Baptist.
Clint is a Deacon at Highlawn Baptist Church;
a member of the First Stage Theatre Company, Huntington
Outdoor Theatre, and Centerstage Drama Ministry;
a Founding Member of the River Cities Ronald McDonald
House; a member of the City of Huntington Foundation;
and a proud member of the DIXONVERSE comics discussion
group.
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 Senator
Bob Plymale
Senator Plymale grew up in Ceredo, West Virginia.
As a young child, he enjoyed being read to by
his parents and had many favorite books he liked
to hear. While growing up, his mother was a schoolteacher
and his father was on the school board. His parents
focused on the importance of education and he
attended both pre-school and kindergarten, before
kindergarten became a part of formal education.
Senator Plymale attended Ceredo-Kenova High School
and then went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts
degree from Marshall University. He is currently
the Director at the Nick J. Rahall Appalachian
Transportation Institute located in Huntington,
WV and is serving his third four-year term in
the West Virginia Senate. In previous years, he
has served as the Chairman of the Senate Committee
on Pensions, Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee
on Education, Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee
on Health and Human Resources, and Co-Chairman
of the Forest Management Review Commission. Currently,
Senator Plymale is Chairman of the Senate Education
Committee and a ranking member of Senate Finance.
Also, in 2003 Governor Bob Wise appointed him
to the Southern Regional Education Board’s
Board of Control and the Appalachian Education
Laboratory (AEL). In 2003, he was also appointed
as a Commissioner on the Education Commission
of the States (ECS) of Denver, Colorado. In 2004,
he was appointed to a national task force on No
Child Left Behind (NCLB) that will be making recommendations
for changes to the President and Congress.
Senator Plymale also serves on the Huntington
Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Wayne County
Economic Development Authority, the Cabell County
Senior Service Organization, and he’s on
the Board of Directors at the Huntington Museum
of Arts. He has also served as the PTO President
at Ceredo Elementary School and Ceredo-Kenova
Middle School, as the L.S.I.C. Chair for both
schools, and as the Fundraising Chair for Spring
Valley High School.
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 Marie
Redd
Marie Redd is a native of Huntington, West
Virginia where, as the eldest of four children,
she grew up with her mother, stepfather, brothers,
sister, and grandparents. Because her grandparents,
mother and stepfather all worked, they arranged
their schedules so that they could take turns
taking care of the children. While Marie was growing
up, her grandparents had a chalkboard hanging
on their wall because they believed words are
very important.
Marie attended Huntington High School and is a
graduate of Marshall University where she obtained
her Master’s of Science Degree in Criminal
Justice. She was employed by IBM Corporation for
18 years before teaching Criminal Justice at Marshall
University. In 1998, she was elected to the West
Virginia State Senate where she became the first
African American to serve in the Senate and the
first woman senator ever elected from Cabell County.
Marie has served her community as a past President
of the Huntington Chapter of Links, Incorporated;
a member of the Marshall University Alumni Board
of Directors; a member of the YMCA C.D. Lauer
Board of Directors; the President of the First
Baptist Church Women’s Ministry; a member
of the International Connection Committee and
Graduate Advisor of the MU Campus Alpha Kappa
Alpha Sorority, Inc.; a member of the Huntington
Foundation; a member of the Federation of Democratic
Women and Cabell County Democratic Women’s
Club; a member of the Governor’s Committee
on Children and Families; a member of the WV Juvenile
Justice Board; a member of Barnett Child Care
Board; and a member of the Criminal Justice Association
and American Corrections Association.
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 Dr.
Joseph B. Touma
Dr. Joseph Touma grew up in Damascus, Syria.
He was raised by good, caring parents who were
generous, supportive and involved. While he was
growing up, his parents emphasized the importance
of having an education. By the time he was in
high school, he knew he wanted to go into the
medical profession so that he could help, heal
and support people.
Dr.
Joseph Touma received his M.D. from the Damascus
University School of Medicine where he and his
wife, Omayma, met as medical students. After marrying,
they moved to the United States to pursue residency
training. In 1971, they moved to Huntington, WV
and Dr. Joseph Touma began his renowned medical
practice, the River Cities Ear, Nose and Throat
Specialists P.L.L.C. and the Touma Ear and Balance
Center. Dr. Joseph Touma has contributed greatly
to his field of specialization. He has invented
15 medical devices; published 13 medical articles,
3 book chapters, several articles, and 11 patient
information brochures; produced 14 medical educational
video programs; traveled to present 58 different
lectures; and taught 18 courses across the country.
Dr. Joseph Touma also teaches as a clinical professor
at both Marshall University and WVU medical schools.
He has served as president of a number of local,
state and national medical organizations and has
received several medical awards including the
Physician’s Recognition Award.
Dr. Joseph Touma believes in civic responsibility
and has been active in many cultural, economic
and civic activities in the Tri-State Area for
over 30 years. He is a member of the Rotary Club,
Huntington Chamber of Commerce, John Marshall
Society, Marshall University Foundation and Huntington
Museum of Art. He is the founder and president
of The Touma Foundation, Inc. and he and his wife
established the Touma Near Eastern Gallery at
the Huntington Museum of Art and the Touma Museum
of Medicine in downtown Huntington. They are also
very active in historic property rehabilitation.
Dr. Joseph Touma has been recognized for his contribution
to the community with a number of civic awards
including the Herald-Dispatch Citizen of the Year
Award in 2000, the Distinguished West Virginian
Award given by Cecil Underwood in 1999 and the
West Virginia Philanthropist of the Year Award
in 1999. He was also inducted into the Marshall
University’s Business Hall of Fame in 2001
and the Greater Huntington Wall of Fame in 1997.
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 Dr.
Omayma Touma
Dr. Omayma Touma grew up the youngest of three
children in a small town on the Mediterranean
Sea. Her loving parents were devoted to each other
and their children as well as their church and
their community. Through their words and actions,
her parents instilled in her the importance of
education and the love for community involvement.
Her father was a self-made businessman who valued
education as a means of enlightenment as well
as a means of providing lifelong opportunities
and her mother provided a comfortable and happy
home and encouraged them to study. While growing
up, Dr. Omayma Touma remembers her father saying
many times that the best investment he had ever
made was providing his children with an education.
Dr. Omayma Touma received her M.D. from the Damascus
University School of Medicine in Syria. She and
her husband were then married and moved to the
United States. After receiving additional training
in Memphis, Tennessee and Detroit, Michigan, they
moved to Huntington, W.V. Dr. Omayma Touma practiced
pediatrics for several years. She then became
the Medical Director of the Cabell Huntington
Health Department for 12 years. Under Dr. Touma’s
leadership, the Cabell-Huntington Health Department
passed the Clear Indoor Air Regulation, which
resulted in the smoke free environment in nearly
all public places that Cabell county residents
enjoy today. Currently, Dr. Touma is an Associate
Professor at Marshall University Medical School’s
department of Family and Community Health. She
was also active in several local, state and national
public health committees and has served as president
of three of them.
Dr. Omayma Touma and her husband have been active
in many cultural, economic and civic volunteer
activities in the Tri-State Area for over 30 years.
Some of these activities include founding The
Touma Foundation, Inc., rehabilitating historic
property, and establishing the Touma Near Eastern
Gallery at the Huntington Museum of Art and the
Touma Museum of Medicine in downtown Huntington.
Just recently, Dr. Omayma Touma also served on
the Hoedown for Habitat committee where the money
raised was used in the construction of a Habitat
house for a family with three young children.
Dr. Omayma Touma has been recognized for her contribution
to the community with various awards including
Citizen of the Year Award in 2002, Achievement
Award from Marshall University Business School
in 2001, Distinguished West Virginian Award in
1999, Philanthropist of the Year Award in 1999,
the WV National Guard Meritorious Service Medal
in 1997 and the Marshall University Women of Color
Award in 1997.
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