An Overdue Reunion

 

My reunion with Memori Dooley Dobbs on April 17, 2026, in Fairmont, WV.

I just got back from Fairmont, West Virginia where I had a reunion that was 48 years overdue.

On May 27, 1978, I was a young state trooper on highway patrol when a car careened off of an Interstate 79 bridge that crossed over the Montour Railroad in Cecil Township.

When I arrived, I noticed a mangled car in the ravine that had fallen 53 feet and landed on its roof. There were no signs of life as Frederick Mark D. Dooley, the 22-year-old driver; his 19-year-old wife, Karen Hines Dooley; and his mother, Juanita Ruth Hines Dooley, had died. I was with a group of bystanders and first responders when we heard the faint cry of a baby. We jumped into action, and while others lifted the car, I reached in and pulled a tiny baby from the wreckage. That strong little survivor was six-month old Memori Dooley. She was rushed to Canonsburg Hospital, where she was treated for a hip injury.

It turns out that the Dooley family had left Fairmont at about 4 a.m. and were headed to Cleveland, Ohio for a family wedding on this Memorial Day weekend. They planned to meet family at the Bridgeville exit so they could continue on together, but I believe Frederick Mark Dooley fell asleep at the wheel at 5:30 a.m., just before they were to make that first stop.

After the accident and the initial shock, the Dooley and Hines families held funerals for three members of their family. Their only saving grace and hope was a little miracle named Memori.

Although many years have passed, I always wondered what had happened to the little baby girl from the wreck. Several months ago, I did some on-line research, and I found an obituary for one of Memori’s aunts that listed the names of several of her relatives. I then reached out to another Aunt Debra Dooley, and she told me that Memori was raised by her maternal grandparents in Fairmont. She gave me Memori's contact information, and we were able to talk on the phone. 

Today, after 48 years of wondering, my wife Mary Jeanne and I met Memori for lunch at an Italian restaurant in Fairmont. She was accompanied by her husband Deon Dobbs, their two sons Zyon and Zycheus Dobbs; two aunts Jacqueline Mordecai and Jo Ann Brown; and two uncles Randy Hines and Joe Brown. It made me happy to see that Memori’s life has been filled with the love and support of an amazing family.

                 

Lunch at Muriale's Italian Kitchen in Fairmont, WV.

The reunion: from the left, Jacqueline Mordecai, Jo Ann Brown, Zyon Dobbs, Randy Hines, Zycheus Dobbs, my wife Mary Jeanne Maggi and me, Memori, Deon Dobbs, and Joe Brown.

Memori's parents, Frederick Mark D. & Karen Hines Dooley

                                                 

Juanita Dooley
The Times-West Virginian
 May 28, 1978

                                                       

The Washington Observer-Reporter May 30, 1978



Cara Sapida of WPXI traveled to Fairmont to cover the reunion.  
Channel 11 Exclusive: Woman rescued from crash as a baby in 1978 reunited with man who saved her - WPXI

Larry Maggi is a retired trooper with the Pennsylvania State Police, a former Washington County Sheriff, and a member of the Washington County Board of Commissioners, serving 209,000 constituents in Southwestern Pennsylvania. 

Larry Maggi

Washington County Commissioner

maggil@co.washington.pa.us

 

 

 

The 2026 NFL Draft Guide for Washington County Football Fans

 

At the NFL Draft Briefing & Brainstorming Session
 at Acrisure Stadium in February of 2025

The NFL Draft will take over Pittsburgh April 23 - April 25, bringing with it a mix of football-related activities, road closures, and other travel disruptions. The information provided here is for locals who are planning to visit the city for the draft activities. 

As a Washington County commissioner and a member of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, I have attended National Football League briefings in preparation for the league’s second biggest event next to the Super Bowl. According to the NFL's website, "the three-day event is expected to draw representatives from all 32 NFL teams, top player prospects from the most iconic football conferences in the nation and between 500,000 to 700,000 fans. The economic impact of previous Draft destinations has ranged between $120 million to upwards of $213 million..." In preparation for this event, the SPC published this guide to the draft: https://www.spcregion.org/2026/03/31/the-nfl-draft-is-almost-here-your-complete-transportation-guide-for-the-event/

The Pittsburgh skyline in April of 2026

While the actual draft-related activities are free, visitors should be prepared to pay dearly for lodging, parking, food, and drinks while visiting Pittsburgh. According to the Visit Pittsburgh website, you must register for free access to the Draft Campus by using the NFL OnePass app or by visiting NFL.com/DraftAccess at which point you will receive a QR code that will be scanned upon entry. If you do not have a smartphone, on-site registration will be available through the Fan Services staff. It must also be noted that attendees will pass through security screening when entering the Draft campus. The NFL Draft follows a clear bag policy consistent with NFL events and the policy can be viewed, along with the policy of prohibited items, by visiting NFL.com

Once you have a Draft Access pass, you will be able to watch a total of 257 draft picks spread over seven rounds at Point State Park and Acrisure Stadium. Click on the following link to see the complete 2026 NFL Draft round-by-round order; the compensatory draft picks; and the rules of the draft: https://operations.nfl.com/journey-to-the-nfl/the-nfl-draft/2026-nfl-draft/

Chase Mitchell courtesy of the
 Vanderbilt University website. 

In Washington County, the hotels are prepared for Pittsburgh’s over-flow of guests, and the city of Washington is hosting a pre-draft party from 4 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22 to honor Chase Mitchell, a prospective draft pick who is a Washington High School graduate and offensive lineman at Vanderbilt University. This event will be held at the Main Street Farmers Market Pavilion in downtown Washington. Click here to read more about Mitchell https://vucommodores.com/roster/chase-mitchell/

Visitors will be able to walk across the Roberto Clemente Bridge,
 which will be closed to vehicle traffic during the draft.

The Visit Pittsburgh website notes that the Draft Theater and Main Stage, where the televised pick selections will take place, will be located just outside of Acrisure Stadium on Pittsburgh’s North Shore. A Fan Festival will be held at Point State Park, and will feature interactive activities, youth programming, food, beverages and immersive NFL exhibits. Fans can use the Roberto Clemente Bridge (a.k.a. the Sixth Steet Bridge which will be closed to vehicle traffic) and the Gateway Clipper Fleet to travel between the two sites. Here is the link to the Gateway Clipper’s shuttle services page: https://www.gatewayclipper.com/shuttle-service/

For information about additional transportation services including city Football Flyer bus routes, light rail Pittsburgh Regional Transit services, and road closures you can visit the Airport Corridor Transportation Association page: https://actapgh.org/getting-to-and-around-the-2026-nfl-draft/ Another resource for transportation information is the Visit Pittsburgh’s link to the NFL Draft: Road Closures & Traffic Changes: https://www.visitpittsburgh.com/nfl-draft-pittsburgh/nfl-draft-central/nfl-draft-pittsburgh-transportation-guide/nfl-draft-road-closures-traffic-changes/

According to the SPC, Sheetz has partnered with PRT to make light rail and the Monongahela Incline completely free from April 23 through 25. The free-fare initiative covers all travel on the Red, Blue, and Silver lines with no tickets, transit cards or apps required to board. Fans can use the Gateway, Wood Street, Steel Plaza or First Avenue stations for rides to North Side Station. Riders should note that Allegheny Station will be closed April 22 through 25 and should plan to use North Side Station instead. 

Because of the planned road closures, Washington County residents might want to park their cars and  consider taking a bus into the city.

Jeff Kotula, Chairman of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Promotion Agency, recommends using Freedom Transit’s normal route, which includes various departing times from Washington County (Jessop Place Park and Ride; Beau Street Park and Ride; and Southpointe Park and Ride) between 12:05 p.m. and 5:25 p.m.  Freedom Transit has also added three return trips from Pittsburgh back to Washington at 10 p.m., 11:30 p.m. and 12:15 p.m. Click here to visit the Freedom Transit website for more information: https://freedom-transit.org/nfldraft/

Kotula pointed out that Freedom Transit is awaiting information from PRT as to where the bus stops will be located downtown, so be sure to check the Freedom Transit website for updates. Freedom Transit bus tickets, which cost $4 one way, can be downloaded from the Freedom Transit app. Cash is also accepted on the bus.

The Mid Mon Valley Transit Authority is also providing routes for the draft and Kotula provided this link for additional information: https://mmvta.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/NFL-Draft-Flyer.pdf

For those who can’t attend the draft, they can watch the picks on the NFL Network, ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and on NFL+ with Round 1 beginning on Thursday, April 23.

Here are some additional links to help you plan your NFL Draft experience:

 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s interactive NFL Draft Guide:

 https://newsinteractive.post-gazette.com/2026-nfl-draft-pittsburgh/

 

WESA FM’s Draft Guide

https://www.wesa.fm/pittsburgh-2026-nfl-draft

 

WPXI’s Draft Guide

https://www.wpxi.com/nfldraft/

 

 Larry Maggi is a retired trooper with the Pennsylvania State Police, a former Washington County Sheriff, and a member of the Washington County Board of Commissioners, serving over 209,000 constituents in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

Larry Maggi

Washington County Commissioner

maggil@co.washington.pa.us