Scouting America honors distinguished citizens and businesses across North Central West Virginia and the Upper Ohio River Valley

Scouting America’s Mountaineer Area Council will honor Craig Walker, William Wilmoth, Hope Gas and WesBanco as 2025 Distinguished Citizens and Corporate Citizens for leadership, community service and support of youth programs.

News Release
October 23, 2025

MORGANTOWN AND WHEELING, W.Va. – The Mountaineer Area Council of Scouting America is proud to announce the honorees for the 2025 Distinguished Citizens Dinners, recognizing outstanding individuals and businesses for their dedication to youth, community service, and the values of Scouting.

Each year, these events celebrate leaders who exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives, while also raising critical support for Scouting programs across the region. This year, two distinguished community leaders and two corporate partners will be recognized for their exceptional contributions.

Honoring Distinguished Citizens

Craig Walker and William “Bill” Wilmoth will be recognized as Distinguished Citizens for their long-standing commitment to service, leadership, and youth development.

Craig Walker, who will be honored during the Morgantown Distinguished Citizens Dinner on October 23 at The Erickson Alumni Center, is the CEO of FCX, a Morgantown-based manufacturer of solid-state ground power equipment with installations in more than 80 countries—primarily serving military applications. Since joining FCX in 2008 and becoming CEO in 2009, Walker has led the company’s turnaround and growth.

His 48-year career includes leadership roles as Vice President and CFO of the WVU Foundation, Director of Business Services for Glenmark Holding, and Chief of Staff to the WVU President. Walker holds both a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master of Science in Sport Management from West Virginia University. He is a member of the WVU School of Physical Education Hall of Fame and actively supports numerous community and industry organizations. His past leadership includes serving as president of the Mylan Park Board of Directors, chair of the Morgantown Area Partnership, and treasurer of the WV Chapter of the National Defense Industrial Association.

Bill Wilmoth, a seasoned attorney and former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia, has spent decades defending clients and advising organizations in complex legal matters involving commercial law, healthcare compliance, and white-collar crime. He is a dedicated civic leader and a current member of the Mountaineer Area Council Board of Directors, where he played a pivotal role in facilitating the merger of the Mountaineer Area Council and Ohio River Valley Council to better serve youth across the region.

Wilmoth has held leadership positions with the U.S. Department of Justice, the WVU Board of Governors (as past chair), and Discover the Real West Virginia Foundation (as past president), among others. Wilmoth will be recognized on November 6 at the Distinguished Citizen Dinner at the White Palace at Wheeling Park in Wheeling, WV.

Honoring Distinguished Corporate Citizens

The Scouting America Council will also recognize two outstanding corporate partners as Distinguished Corporate Citizens for their ongoing support of community and youth initiatives:

Hope Gas (North Central West Virginia) will be honored on October 23 for their philanthropic and community support projects throughout the region. Hope Gas also believes in helping the communities they serve in many ways, including volunteerism and grantmaking.

Their employees are always ready to lend a helping hand to organizations that need one; they arrive on site, equipped with necessary tools and supplies, and spend the day doing whatever it takes to complete a community vitality project. Over 1200 volunteer hours have been logged so far in 2025 – they are keeping hope alive!

Grant funds are available to qualifying organizations, schools and volunteer fire departments for projects and programs that support educational, environmental, basic human needs and community vitality initiatives.

Hope’s matching gifts program offers a 1:1 match on donations made to qualifying organizations and is designed to empower employees to make an even greater difference in our communities. This program reflects their commitment to giving back and creating positive change together.

And finally, under economic development, they strive to find innovative ideas that can act as a catalyst for economic growth for existing businesses and to attract new economic opportunities in the regions they serve.

WesBanco will be recognized in Wheeling on November 6 for providing foundational financial support and education to communities in which they serve. For more than 150 years, WesBanco has remained a strong and stable financial institution with deep community roots. With branches and offices in 9 different states, WesBanco is headquartered in Wheeling, WV, and over the past decade, has built a national reputation as a safe, sound and profitable bank holding company that always strives to do better by its customers.

WesBanco views community development not just as a responsibility but as an opportunity to create strong, vibrant communities through financial investment, education, and strategic partnerships. Its commitment is guided by “5 Pillars of Community Development” that focus on ensuring economic opportunities for all, with a special emphasis on low- and moderate-income areas.