In 1987 Valdiserri was ousted from his job as executive vice president at Weirton in a boardroom coup.

FORBES: Man of steel

Weirton went public in 1989 but then bankrupt in 2003 during tough times for the domestic steel industry.

FORBES: OutFront

He rose through the ranks at National Steel and its spinoff, Weirton Steel.

FORBES: Man of steel

In 1987, in a boardroom coup, Valdiserri, then 50, was ousted from his job as executive vice president at Weirton.

FORBES: Man of steel

Seeing Weirton captured in a film was unusual because West Virginia's rust belt is just not a place that is often visited by the arbiters of popular culture.

WSJ: Hey, Who Are You Calling a Snob?

That ISG has been able to crank up its own production to meet demand is due partly to its having recently also bought two other American companies: Weirton Steel and Georgetown Steel.

ECONOMIST: On a roll | The

While Weirton does have its aforementioned water tower, any visit there pierces you with the awareness of economic struggle and dwindling population: "Almost as many churches as people, " as Mr. Venderlic sings it.

WSJ: Hey, Who Are You Calling a Snob?