Unflattering stories about professional athletes and their misbehavior are staples in the newspaper, unfortunately. But sometimes, the pros do truly heartwarming things. Here are accounts of recent activities by two professional athletes with ties to West Virginia:

National Basketball Association star O.J. Mayo hasn't forgotten his roots. The former Huntington High School standout has gone on to play for the Memphis Grizzlies.

In September, Mayo paid for food and personal care items distributed to 400 families in Huntington. On Saturday, according to The Associated Press, food for Thanksgiving was distributed to 1,000 Huntington-area families. It was handed out at the A.D. Lewis Community Center, "where Mayo honed his athletic skills as a youngster."

The massive act of kindness would not have been possible had it not been for Mayo. He donated 500 turkeys and 500 hams. That isn't pocket change, if you've been to the grocery store recently.

Former West Virginia University quarterback Pat White burnished his reputation as a class act earlier this month.

Reporter Jeff Darlington, of The Miami Herald, reported it. Darlington told readers that he had received an e-mail from a reader who, with his son, had attended a game between the Miami Dolphins and the New England Patriots. Veterans were honored in a pregame ceremony.

According to the e-mail, the reader, a New England fan, was disappointed that none of the Patriots players went out of his way to acknowledge the veterans. Just one player on the field did so. Pat White, of the Dolphins, jogged over to the veterans and shook hands with each of them.

Professional athletes often serve as role models for young people. It is unfortunate that too many of them set bad examples. We think West Virginians can be proud that White and Mayo have done things recently that make it a pleasure to point to them as young men worthy of the title "role model."