Bishop Larry Kulick returns to hometown to emcee Hall of Fame ceremony in Leechburg

Organizers of the Leechburg Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony are set to honor three people for their outstanding contributions to the community.

In its 18th year, the awards dinner is hosted by the Leechburg Area Community Association.

This year’s inductees are Ian Coyle, Robin Patton and the Rev. James Arter. Bishop Larry J. Kulick of the Diocese of Greensburg, a Leechburg native, returns as the master of ceremonies.

“We always enjoy Bishop Kulick being the master of ceremonies, and I love being able to have these hard-working individuals who go above and beyond be recognized,” said Doreen Smeal, president of the association.

Kulick said after being ordained bishop of the Diocese of Greensburg, he assured organizers he would continue to support the event as its emcee.

“The organizers wanted to know if I would continue in that role. And I was enthusiastic about saying that I would because this is important to the greater Leechburg community and is a small way that I can give back to the community,” Kulick said. “The awards dinner is incredibly important to me because it recognizes business professionals and local community leaders who sacrifice their own time as a model of service.”

Smeal said the Hall of Fame is a way to honor prominent people of the Leechburg Area School District.

Inductees must have resided in the Leechburg area for five years or more. Some are inducted posthumously.

“They’re residents who’ve given unselfishly and represented an outstanding contribution to the community,” Smeal said.

The dinner usually draws about 100 people. Organizers are pleased to see its return after a two-year hiatus because of the covid-19 pandemic.

“We have so many individuals that we could nominate every year,” Smeal said. “We hope for this to continue as an annual event.”

The 2023 inductees

• Ian Coyle, 36, graduated from Leechburg Area High School in 2004 and from Allegheny College in 2008. He is employed as vice president of sales for Data Ideology. He also owns ITC Consulting and DJ Cai Entertainment.

He is president and founder of Semper Gratus and volunteers with Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Allegheny College’s Relay for Life, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Allegheny College’s admissions department.

Additionally, Coyle serves on the board of directors for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and The Mentoring Partnership of Southwestern Pennsylvania.

“My favorite thing about Leechburg is the sense of community,” Coyle said.

• Robin Patton, 61, graduated from Leechburg Area High School and earned an associate degree in medical science from New Kensington Commercial School. She works at Central Blood Bank.

Patton volunteers with the Leechburg Food Bank, Gilpin Township Firehall Ladies Auxiliary, Cat Crusaders and is founder of Cat Rescue/Trap Neuter Return.

“My favorite thing about Leechburg is the simpleness of a small town. It’s comforting,” Patton said. “The instinctive eye contact with people knowing you’re likely our neighbor or (have a) relationship within the community, such as volunteering.”

She and her husband, Ron, have three children and three grandchildren.

• The Rev. James Arter, 42, has called Leechburg home since he moved to the borough as pastor of First Evangelical Lutheran Church in 2011.

Arter graduated from Grove City College and Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg.

He and his wife, Elizabeth, have a daughter, Rebecca.

Arter previously ministered at Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeport, St. Paul’s Highfield Lutheran Church in Vandergrift, Hebron Evangelical Lutheran Church in Leechburg and Bethesda Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lower Burrell.

He volunteers as president of the Leechburg Ministerial Association and is dean of Southwestern Pennsylvania Lutheran Synod Conference 3.

Additionally, Arter is a council representative at SWPA Lutheran Synod, serves on the advisory board of the Senior Life Center in Kittanning and is a board member of Leechburg Community Food Bank.

“My favorite thing about Leechburg is (it’s) a community that cares about its neighbors,” Arter said. “We’re blessed with small, independent businesses owned by entrepreneurs who truly care about the community. Despite the challenges we face, we continue to be a great community to live, work and raise a family.”