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Wayne Worth's Story

Wayne Worth was born in Manchester, Connecticut on October 5, 1978. Right from the start, his life had some trials and tribulations, when at six months old his biological father was incarcerated. Wayne would live with his young biological mother until the age of seven, when she was unable to take care of him anymore which resulted in Wayne entering the foster care system for three years and a group home for one year.

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Wayne's story in West Virginia started when he was 11 years old. A single father in Pocahontas County (named Jud Worth) adopted Wayne and provided him with a stable and loving family. For the next eight years Wayne would be raised in the Pocahontas County Community of Minnehaha Springs, where he would be fully embraced by his neighbors. His adoptive father would later marry Margaret Worth and Wayne and his two other adopted brothers (Michael and Christopher) would now have a new mother and sister added to the family. 

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After High School School Wayne would attend Marshall University. This would be a rather tough transition for him, due to having some learning challenges in Reading/Comprehension which stemmed prior to his adoption. However, Wayne would persevere through six years of college and graduate with a Social Work Degree. Even through his struggles, both educationally and personally (stemming from adverse childhood experiences prior to his adoption), at the age of 25 he started to recognize how blessed he was to be adopted by the Worth Family, and for the opportunities that both his family and West Virginia have given him. So, out of sheer curiosity and a new-found pride for his State, Wayne decided to jump in his old 1988 Chevy Corsica and travel to every county seat in West Virginia to learn a little about this place that he now loved and cherished deeply. It took him six months to see every county. Wayne would have so much fun on the first trip, that he decided to take another trip to all 55 Counties to see the places he didn't see the first time. On his third trip to every county, his adopted brother Christopher Worth (who has Cerebral Palsy) also traveled with him. By the fourth trip, Wayne would video interview local historians on their county's history and started a documentary called "Journey into the Wild and Wonderful." In four years, Wayne would interview over 100 historians in 44 counties. Unfortunately the project stalled out (due to many our State's older historians passing away and taking that knowledge with them). However, Journey into the Wild and Wonderful would later inspire Wayne to do a shorter version of each county's history, which he would title, "On the Road in West Virginia: Our 55 Counties." 

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Wayne's passion for West Virginia and her people goes well beyond his passion for the State's history and culture. Wayne has been a licensed social worker over 18 years, and in those 18 years has helped our state's senior citizens and persons with disabilities live independently in the place they love and call home and also helping folks struggling with drug addiction find treatment and recovery. Over the years, Wayne has also devoted his time and energy to serving his community and state. He has done this in many different ways through his Neighborhood Watch and Litter Cleanups in Clarksburg, being campaign chair for the United Way of Harrison and Doddridge Counties from 2022-2024, serving as the District 29-I Lions Club Disaster Relief Chairman, volunteering in nine flood relief efforts in West Virginia since 2016, and currently serving on Clarksburg City Council. Most importantly though, he's married to the love of his life, Amanda Worth (his Dandy Mandy). When asked why he does all he does, he'll tell you, "I do it to pay forward all the blessings and opportunities that God, my family, and West Virginia have provide to my life. Because I know I'll never be able to pay it back. And I do it because being a true reflection of Christ in your life, means actively loving you neighbors as yourself, and expecting nothing in return except the hope that others will pay forward the blessings and opportunities provided to them."

Wayne Worth at Fiddler's Mill (Upshur County)

Wayne Worth at the Williams River (Pocahontas County)

Wayne Worth and his Wife (Amanda Worth) at

Valley Falls State Park in Marion County

Wayne Worth in Clendenin volunteering in the 2016
Flood Relief and Recovery

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