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
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