On the left: Photos of Timothy Quinn alongside other mementos in the home of his sister, Trisha Quinn. Timothy was known as “Nature Boy” because of his love of fishing. At home, he was a caretaker, looking after his three children and his disabled mother, who died six months after her son was killed in the blast.
Clairton Coke Works Explosion: One Year Later
On August 11, 2025, an explosion at the Clairton Works of U.S. Steel killed Timothy Quinn (39) and his coworker, Steven Menefee (52), who were both USW Local 1557 members. On this past Sunday (8/9/26), The Pittsbugh Post-Gazette published an article, Echoes of the Blast, about the explosion and the difficult impact on their respective families.
Above:Steven Menefee, his wife, Danielle, and his two daughters, Eliana and Ariella, during a family trip to Hilton Head.
After Steven Menefee was killed, his daughters slept in sweatshirts they call their “Daddy hoodies.” On the back of each reads a Bible verse he lived by: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
Another passage he came to follow: “May the work I have done speak for me.” “It definitely challenged the rest of the people in the church to live a life like he did,” said Frank Todaro, pastor at the Bible Alliance Church.
Rickey Sayer
CBS Pittsburgh
Mark Glyptis
President USW Local 2911
Mike Vitello
USW Training Coordinator
John Saunders
USW Dist. 1 Staff Rep.
Pat McGeehan
WV House of Delegates
Dean Harris
Mayor of Weirton
Pastor Gary C. Lilly
“Here's to you, Weirton”
American Legion
Honor Guard
Rev. Robert Macek
& Enid Williams
Steelworker Memorial
Rev. Kenny Jacobs
& Enid Williams
Here’s to You
Weirton
Here’s to you Weirton,
City of steel and smoke and steeples.
Your Main Street garnished with memories
Of fearless men with fists of iron –
Shift working, hard-hat wearing,
Track laying, crane running, bridge building,
God fearing, flag waving, freedom loving people.
Looking up through orange glow
And graphite skies to Weirton Heights
And Marland Heights and seeing
All the way to heaven.
From King’s Creek to Weir Crest
Keepers of the city gates filling busy shops
And on occasion raising a hearty toast
To better days and lasting friendships.​​
Men and women of every calling
Stopping by friendly restaurants
To enjoy ethnic foods and lunch-time laughter.
Families watching parades
With marching bands and wide-eyed children
Dancing in the streets.
Soldiers, saints, and sometime-sinners,
Brothers and sisters and sure-enough winners
Shoulder to shoulder chasing the future
With double shifts and Sunday School
And early Mass and Friday night football
And made-up stories at the all-night diner
Where the coffee was as strong as the men who drank it.
And here’s to the sounds of Weirton –
Steam whistles, church bells,
Train cars coupling, motors humming,
And flat-bed trucks groaning
Under coils of steel made with sweat and pride.
Homes along the avenues
Graced with families of faith and hope
And children playing and mothers praying.
Tables warm with meals just made.
And around those tables
Sit the worthy citizens of this city of
Labor, love and lore.
Grateful men and women strong enough
To take on the world
And never give up till the job is done.
Weirtonites – who’ve done more than make a living –
They filled a city with glory and gave it life –
And lit a flame that will never go out!
Here’s to you Weirton​​
—Pastor Gary C. Lilly
NOTE: Permission to use
this poem was granted by
the poem's author, Pastor Lilly.
