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Rob Herrington paused for a moment before speaking Wednesday evening at the JeffCo Event Center.
The longtime chief of Wintersville Fire and Rescue had just accepted an award on behalf of the organization, something he has done many times during his 40 years in that position.
For Herrington, though, the Heart Award presented during the annual Lee Alexander West Spiritual Movement recognition ceremony was special.
He told the story of how his son, Lucas, was befriended by West on the first day after transferring to Steubenville City Schools, and how West helped him become acclimated to his new surroundings. The Herringtons knew then that West was a special person.
"Color, size and what neighborhood you lived in didn't matter to that kid. Lee was not like that," Herrington said.
From listening to stories about him shared by anyone who knew him, it's clear West had a big future in front on him. That all changed on the evening of Jan. 31, 2012, when he died from injuries suffered in a house fire at the age of 15.
"Anyone who knew him knew he always had a smile on his face, he was always cracking a joke and he was always wanting to welcome and celebrate and have a good time," his mother, Alexandra "Cookie" West explained.
"He wouldn't want us to be sad, he wouldn't want us to reflect on this day as a somber time, but as a time to celebrate his life and to celebrate others, because that's what he was thinking of. He never met a stranger, and he wanted to always celebrate others. We established the LAWS Movement organization from his wishes."
Each year, members of a community are recognized during the remembrance that is held on the anniversary of that fatal fire. In addition to the Heart Award, five area educators were honored with Teacher Impact Awards and the Bay Six Project received the Village Impact Award.
Educators recognized this year included Christina Henderson, Amanda Coldebella, Jessie Clark, Samantha Fornsaglio and Danica Guthrie. They were selected after a nomination process that included essays on how they had touched the lives of their students and others around them.
"I want to say thank you. For students to have taken the time to do this is very touching," Clark said.
Guthrie agreed receiving the recognition was important.
"This came at a time where I didn't know if I was making an impact in my students' lives," she said. "So, when I heard I was getting this … just hearing that keeps me motivated."
Making a difference in the lives of others was important to Lee West, his mother said.
"He had a desire to help his community through diverse ways, whether it was helping single mothers and fathers or creating opportunities for kids to have wholesome fun, these are the things he spoke to me about," Cookie West said.
"LAWS was established to do just that -- to give back, not only through financial support, but through our hands and feet, getting out there and helping to make a difference in the community. We've been doing that for the last 12 years."
That also helped inspire the addition of the Village Impact Award several years ago, she added.
This year's recipient, Bay Six, certainly meets the criteria. The organization has been serving the area for a little more than seven years, she said, and has expanded from its Mingo Junction home, adding a Follansbee location. The nonprofit organization distributes an average of 100 meals daily between the locations, and its Christmas project touched more than 650 children this past year.
"We believe that it does take a village," said Bobby Westfall, who was joined by his wife, Stacy, while accepting the award. "Everybody having encounters with kids and families on a daily basis, you are impacting them in so many ways.
"For us, it's just about making sure than every person knows that they are seen and they are loved and they are valued," he continued. "Because I believe that once you know you have worth, your decision-making changes, your ambitions grow and you can do amazing things. It starts with teachers, it starts with families, it starts with what you are doing here."
That's the type of effect Lee West had on others.
"All you need to know about Lee's impact on my son was that in 2017, Lucas was the starting wide receiver at the University of Mount Union and played in the national championship game, and they won," Herrington remembered. "And his ring for the national championship has Lee's initials inside of it. He's never forgotten.
"He has a tattoo on his leg with Lee's initials," Herrington continued. "I asked him why he got it there, and he said because when I look down I always remember."
That's part of the reason the short life West lived remains an inspiration, 12 years after his death.
"He was always thinking about other people," Cookie West said. "This is him still loving on his community, this is him still smiling down on his community and encouraging and cheering you on.
"Be that one who can make a difference," she added. "Maybe you're not going to get an award, and maybe no one is going to see it, but God sees it. He sees it and is cheering you on."
(Gallabrese, a resident of Steubenville, is executive editor of the Herald-Star and The Weirton Daily Times.)