After nearly 5 decades Eddie (Buster) Murphy returned to her beloved village of Wellsville, Ohio. One of five children, Eddie not only was born in the village but grew up here, graduating from Wellsville High School.

She lived in Southern California for more than 35 years, where Eddie directed (in succession) Hughes Aircraft Company's and the University of California - Los Angeles' departments overseeing their retirees.

In her own retirement, Eddie has been active with her faith community associations and is passionate about “investing in the community where she grew up”.

Judge McNicol was appointed by Gov. John Kasich in February of 2018 to fill the unexpired term of Judge Charles C. Amato, who resigned for personal reasons. McNicol was sworn in on March 7, 2018.

Prior to appointment, McNicol had extensive trial experience as an assistant prosecutor, Mayor’s Court Magistrate, and municipal attorney in Columbiana County. He has served many communities as either a magistrate or legal counsel including Lisbon, Salineville, Wellsville, Rogers and East Liverpool.

Judge McNicol resides in Wellsville with his wife of more than 18 years, Maria, who is a teacher and coach in the Wellsville Local School District. They have two daughters, Jenna and Emily.

A recent arrival to Wellsville, Cressey Belden is a native Californian who spent the last twenty years in Massachusetts. When her adult daughter sought an art studio and space for a large scale installation, they decided to partner and obtain the former Catholic property in the heart of the Village. During her first year, Cressey got involved in conversations with the group that has become the Wellsville Community Foundation. She serves as a founding trustee and holds the office of Secretary. Outside of WCF, Cressey is a writer and artist. She has a background in marketing, film, small business, education and home restoration. A graduate of Princeton University, her degree is in Sociology.

Linda Rolley Weekley is a life-long resident of Wellsville, graduating from WHS in 1965. She received a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Kent State University. Linda taught for the Wellsville School System for 31 years and then concluded her education career as an adjunct professor at the Kent State East Liverpool Campus, retiring from that position in 2014.

Linda was married to the late Jeffrey M. Weekley for 50 years. She has 2 children, 6 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild.

A graduate of Wellsville High School, Ohio State University and Ohio Northern University’s Claude W. Pettit College of Law, Nicholas “Nick” Amato is a trial lawyer and partner at Amato Law, in practice for the past thirty-three years. He is an acting judge for the East Liverpool Municipal Court and is on the boards of the Columbiana County Port Authority and the Pete Amato Foundation. In 2021, the Ohio Supreme Court appointed him to the Board of Professional Conduct. He is admitted to practice in Ohio and Pennsylvania, and before the United States Supreme Court. Nick works in Wellsville and lives in East Liverpool. He and his wife Anne have two children.

Raised in Wellsville and a 2002 graduate of Wellsville High School, Bradley W. Elliott and his wife, Abigail, made a decision to purchase Bradley’s childhood home in 2020. They have one daughter, Madilynn Grace, whom they welcomed in the spring of 2021. Bradley has been invested in giving back to the Village by serving as a part time dispatcher for Wellsville Safety Services for nearly 10 years and is involved in the Wellsville Chamber of Commerce, where he is currently the Vice President. A licensed Realtor working for Forever Homes Realty, Bradley is also employed at Mountaineer Casino working in the food and beverage department.

Bradley is committed to the revitalization of Wellsville and the overall improvement of the community not just for the citizens now, but also for future generations.

David Thompson, a 2018 graduate of Wellsville High School, is a YSU graduate working with a bachelor’s degree in Geography/GIS, as well as a minor in Geology. He has experience in Strategic City Planning and Economic Development, and has worked towards revitalization efforts within Mahoning and Columbiana counties.

A graduate of Wellsville High School and West Liberty State College, WV, Robert (Geno) Williamson spent 37 years in the Hospitality/Foodservice industry. He was strategically involved with RAK Porcelain USA, Rosenthal USA, Sterling China Company, Homer Laughlin China, Shenango China, Merchandise Connection International, and Oneida Foodservice. He and his wife Kathy owned and operated a foodservice representative firm in metro New York for 17 years. In 2001, he founded The Williamson Group Real Estate Company in Wellsville, Ohio which he continues to operate. Geno recently retired and now divides his time between Wellsville, Long Island, NY, and Florida. They have three adult sons who live in New York.

Our founding member, Peter Russell stepped down from the WCF Board in December, 2021. Peter was pivotal in the genesis of the Wellsville Community Foundation and was the organization's incorporator. For decades, he volunteered service in our local organizations for community improvement. Although he is retired, he continues to assist the foundation with its community fundraising effort with a focus on parks, literacy, youth and healthy living.