Features
Owner of Liberty Steel, family killed in plane crash
Written by Stephanie Ritenbaugh
July 1, 2025
The owner of Liberty Steel Industries and his family were among the six victims of a plane crash in Ohio on Sunday.
Authorities identified the bodies of James ‘Jim’ Weller, 67, president and CEO of Liberty Steel Industries Inc.; his wife, Veronica, 68; their son John, 36; and daughter-in-law Maria, 34, according to The Vindicator in Youngstown.
The pilot, Joseph Maxin, 63, and co-pilot, Timothy Blake, 55, also died when the twin-engine Cessna 441 Conquest went down about seven minutes after takeoff from Youngstown Regional Airport just before 7 a.m. Sunday.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident, The Vindicator reported.
The family was traveling to Bozeman, Mont.
Warren, Ohio-based Liberty Steel processes hot-rolled, cold-rolled, and coated flat-rolled steel in addition to providing stamping and blanking services.
It has facilities in Lordstown and Warren, Ohio, as well as in Saltillo, Mexico. Its customer base spans North America, Mexico, and Brazil, according to its website.
Weller’s father, James Weller Sr., founded the steel service center in 1965.
Stephanie Ritenbaugh
Read more from Stephanie RitenbaughLatest in Features
SMU Survey: Buyers’ Sentiment slips again, future outlook improves
Each of our Sentiment Indices continues to reflect that steel buyers are positive about their present and future business prospects, though that confidence has eased considerably compared to the beginning of the year.
SMU scrap market survey results now available
SMU’s October ferrous scrap market survey results are now available on our website to all premium members.
SMU flat-rolled market survey results now available
SMU’s latest steel buyers market survey results are now available on our website to all premium members.
Final Thoughts
A recent IIMA meeting in Brazil shows how the US and much of the rest of the world are operating in parallel realities.
SMU Survey: Sheet and plate lead times stabilize
Sheet and plate lead times saw minor shifts this week, according to SMU’s latest market survey. Sheet times have inched up over the last month but remain within days of multi-year lows, as they have since May. Plate lead times have bobbed within a tight range for months, hovering roughly a week longer than this time last year.