WHEELING, W.Va. – Nov. 4, 2026 – The Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce has announced the grand marshals for the 2026 Main Street Bank Fantasy in Lights Parade: Doug Huff, noted sportswriter; Brian Joseph of Touchstone Labs; and Cheryl Pompeo of Oglebay Institute School of Dance.
“This year, we wanted to celebrate the idea of legacy in Wheeling by recognizing three individuals whose dedication to their fields and our community has made a lasting impact,” said Jennifer Materkoski, president of the Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce. “Doug, Brian and Cheryl each represent a different part of Wheeling’s story, and naming them grand marshals is our way of honoring their contributions.”
Huff, who began his sportswriting career at the age of 12, is a New Martinsville native and a graduate of Magnolia High School. He was the first student to receive a scholarship from the West Virginia University Sports Information Department for keeping statistics. Huff went on to have a 44-year career as a sports columnist for The Intelligencer and was a longtime member and officer of the West Virginia Sports Writers Association. In January 2026, he was named eighth on MaxPreps’ list of the 25 most influential people in high school football history. Huff will be riding on a float sponsored by Cardinal Operating Company with his daughter Bethany Schunn and his grandchildren.
Joseph is the founder of Touchstone Research Laboratory, Touchstone Testing Laboratory, CFOAM, and Touchstone Advanced Composites. A Wheeling native, he attended Linsly Military Institute, graduated from West Liberty State College and studied biophysics at the Ohio State University. Joseph has been recognized as the U.S. Small Business Administration’s WV Small Business Person of the Year and Ernst & Young’s West Virginia Entrepreneur of the Year, and he has been inducted into the Wheeling Hall of Fame and the West Liberty University Hall of Fame. He resides in Wheeling with his wife, Julie; daughter, Tesla; and dogs Edison and Foxy. He will be riding on a float sponsored by Touchstone Labs and The Black Diamond Girl Scouts.
Pompeo’s nearly 60-year career in dance includes 40 years spent teaching at the Oglebay Institute School of Dance. She has trained with acclaimed instructors from New York City, Moscow, Pittsburgh, and beyond, continually bringing world-class expertise to the Ohio Valley. Pompeo has been recognized in Who’s Who Among America’s Best Teachers and nominated for the West Virginia Governor’s Arts Award for Arts in Education. She resides in Wheeling with her husband, Gary, and her two cats, Sam and Tabby Dean. She will ride in a 2024 Mercedes CLE convertible owned by Ed Majewski and Jim Beasley.
The Main Street Bank Fantasy in Lights Parade is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 20. The procession will leave the staging area near 20th and Market streets just after 6 p.m. and follow the route north on Market Street to 10th Street, then south on Main Street. The procession should reach Main Street Bank at 20th and Main streets at approximately 6:30 p.m. The parade features illuminated floats, marching bands, dance groups, community organizations, businesses and special guests from across the Ohio Valley.
For more information, please visit www.wheelingchamber.com or call 304-233-2575.
About the Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce
The Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce is a 501(c)(6) organization with the mission of leading businesses in the Greater Wheeling area by developing and promoting philosophies, policies, programs and projects that foster enhanced opportunities for growth. For more information, visit www.wheelingchamber.com.
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