Dr. Mike Hess and Lester Filicsky will be honored Thursday night at the 2013 Benedum Fellows Banquet, to be held 6 p.m. at Bridgeport Conference Center.

 

Although reservation deadline has passed, there is still limited availability to attend the banquet, said Organizer Ruth Allen.

 

The event is being sponsored by the Exponent Telegram and Clarksburg Publishing Company President Brian Jarvis will serve as keynote speaker.

 

Former Bridgeport Mayor Joe Timms will present Hess and Filicsky with plaques and each will take the mic. Also speaking will be Benedum Festival Queen Madison Moyer, who will enlighten attendees about the festival’s namesake, Michael Late Benedum. Festival Chair John Belcastro will provide an overview of this year’s festival, to be held Friday evening and all day Saturday at Bridgeport City Park. (Click HERE for story on festival.) 

 

Inquire about availability of banquet tickets by calling Ruth Allen 304-842-3638.

 

Below is a feature on Dr. Mike Hess, which originally ran June 23. Look for the feature on Lester Filicsky later today on Connect-Bridgeport.

 

When Dr. Mike Hess received word that he was a 2013 Benedum Fellow, he immediately thought of his parents.

 

The late Alice and Dr. Robert Hess served as good examples for being rooted and active in happenings and causes of the community.

“I think my mother, as well as my father, really felt that you should always be available and able to offer whatever you can – from any aspect – whether financially or of your time,” Hess said. “I think both of those ways of giving were important to both of my parents.”

 

Hess said he took the lead from his parents and throughout his life has identified his own passions and found ways to give back.

 

One, of course, is the world of medicine. Having established his own private medical practice, he takes the needs of his patients to heart. Through memberships and appointments to various committees and boards, Hess has found extended opportunity.

 

For the Family Medicine Foundation of West Virginia, for which he serves as vice president, he plays a key role in providing scholarships to medical students and residents who want to pursue family medicine as a career.

 

He also is personally active with the Boy Scouts of America, providing free physicals and meeting other medical needs of members.

 

Music is another area of Hess’s life through which he serves. He is co-founder of Al Buterol and The Inhalers, a band of physicians who, for several years, played pop tunes to raise dollars for various charities.

 

“Al Burerol and The Inhalers was started by Dr. Tony Catania and myself,” Hess said. “We were talking one day while practicing in the basement and the next thing we knew we were adding members – doctors and others in the medical field that we knew. And four or five members sprouted into a 10-piece band which played in Clarksburg, Bridgeport, Morgantown and Wheeling for about 25 different charities over a nine and a half  year period.”

 

Throughout that time period, the band played at special events raising $250,000 for worthy causes.

Among the most memorable events, Hess said, was a Fairmont dance to benefit the Autism Recovery Resource Center.

“The greatest thing about that was that the kids with autism came to the dance and danced the whole time,” he said. “They were just so full of joy. Everyone said that was our best event.”

 

Hess is also founder of CHIRP - Children’s Instrument Recycle Program. Putting reconditioned musical instruments into the hands of aspiring young musicians is rewarding, to say the least, he said.

 

“When they get ahold of an instrument in good working condition, they can take it home and it’s essentially theirs,” he said. “They have a sense of ownership and take pride in what they are doing. They practice every night and improve on a weekly basis.”

 

A few years ago, Hess took an active role in forming the Bridgeport High School Alumni Band, in which he continues to be very active. The 1981 BHS graduate marches with his peers in an annual BHS Homecoming pre-game field show and parade, as well as the downtown Christmas parade.

 

Hess also provides special music at Bridgeport United Methodist Church, where he is a member and is active in the choir, BUMC Men and a bible study group led by Les Howard.

 

Every year, he wears his kilt with pride at the Scottish Festival & Celtic Gathering, helping to promote both his heritage and one of the community’s biggest annual festivals.

 

Hess said he has been linked to the happenings of Bridgeport – musically and otherwise – for as long as he can remember.

 

“As a kid I played the guitar or piano at every church along Philadelphia and Johnson avenues,” he said. “I’ve always been a community kid.”

 

He attributes not only his parents, but also his teachers, high school club sponsors and med school professors.

 

“It seems like they were always involved in some kind of community outreach,” he said.

 

Hess and his wife Beth have three children – Harrison, Madison and Allison – who are involved in art, music, theater and swimming.

He’s thankful for the place where he was raised and where he is raising his own children.

 

“It means a lot to be from this town because we were here when it was a small town – and it’s still a small town in spirit and atmosphere,” he said. “That’s sort of nice. We have the best of both worlds. It’s really fun to do what we do here.”

 

Hess and his fellow 2013 Benedum Fellow Les Filicsky will be honored July 11 at a banquet to be held at Bridgeport Conference Center. Tickets are $25 each and can be obtained by calling Bob or Ruth Allen at 304-842-3638 or the Benedum Civic Center at 304-842-8240.

The 2013 Benedum Festival will be held July 12-13 at Bridgeport City Park.

 

Annually, Benedum Fellows are chosen who exemplify the giving spirit of the festival’s namesake and community benefactor, Michael Late Benedum.

 

“Our committee looks for those who go above and beyond to help people,” said Bob Allen, committee chair. “That’s what Michael Benedum did for the community and his foundation is still doing things for the state. There’s not a college in West Virginia which doesn’t have a building or something that Michael Benedum paid for.”

 

In the Bridgeport community, Benedum – who was quite successful in the oil industry - left his mark by building the Bridgeport United Methodist Church and Benedum Civic Center, establishing the Bridgeport Cemetery and a number of other efforts.

 

Hess said he very much would have liked to meet Benedum and shake the hand of a man who did so much for the community he loves. He certainly applauds his example, also.