It was a clear evening in downtown Columbus and the lights of the rink glowed bright, the crowd hushed as the moment arrived. A St. Clairsville native walked on to the ice and brought forth a familiar song as the air filled with a spirit that reaches far beyond the rink. That voice belongs to one of our hometown sons, Leo Welsh, who this year marks 22 years as the anthem singer for the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Welsh’s journey reminds us what values from small-town roots can bring. A 1997 graduate of St. Clairsville High School, he followed his musical passion to Ohio University and aimed for opera, studying his craft with the belief that one day his voice could carry.

He auditioned for the Blue Jackets through a radio contest, one that his wife Lisa encouraged him to enter. “I love sports and I love to sing,” he recalled of his initial step into taking the ice at each Xolumbus Blue Jacket’s home game.

Of course, singing the national anthem at a major sporting event is not just showmanship — it’s a tribute. For Welsh, each performance is made more meaningful by the presence of a military honoree on the ice, a tradition that began in 2008.

Whether it’s an active-duty member or a veteran, the pairing speaks volumes: it takes a small-town kid, proud of his heritage, and places him beside those who served the country. Together they represent something bigger than hockey, something bigger than the moment.

What’s more, Leo didn’t just settle for the anthem gig. He went on to build a full career in Columbus. After singing with Opera Columbus and working for years in nursing-home administration, he now serves as a nursing home administrator himself.

That’s not another story of chasing fame in the city; it’s one of leveraging talent, education, and work ethic into meaningful service.

And though his schedule keeps him in Columbus for much of the hockey season, Welsh still makes time to return home. His mother Cassie Welch, father Michael Welsh, sister Katie Steele and brother-in-law Brian Steele all remain in St. Clairsville.

The town that raised him continues to root for him — not just because he’s made it, but because he’s remained true to his roots. When the anthem begins and thousands stand to salute, a boy from St. Clairsville holds the microphone. He shows us that small-town character still matters; that when a local kid goes to do big things, he doesn’t leave his roots behind; he carries them forward.

Here’s to Leo Welsh — and here’s to the dream that began at home here in our Ohio Valley and echoes today under the big-city lights.