By SHELLEY HANSON

PADEN CITY — For the past 40 years Beri Fox has served as president and CEO of the family business — Marble King in Paden City.

While some people may think of marbles as just a toy, over the decades Fox has marketed the colorful glass balls for a variety of industrial and artistic uses across the globe. Doing so, she said, has helped keep the business alive during modern times.

For Fox, a typical work day can include matters related to production at the plant and international sales and then visiting with schoolchildren in the plant’s gift shop.

“I work on economic development and marketing and creating new business for marbles,” she said. “This year Marble King is celebrating its 75th anniversary. We’re planning a big celebration in August.”

Fox’s parents, the late Roger and Jean Howdyshell, took over ownership of the business in 1983 with Roger managing the company many years prior to that. King said she grew up in the business, but didn’t know as a child that she would be leading it one day.

“I worked with my parents at different times. It was a huge benefit to have a flexible schedule,” she noted, adding it made raising her children easier to do.

“When the opportunity presented itself it was the right fit,” she said of taking over the business. “It allowed flexibility for me and it allowed a different perspective from a younger generation than my parents, which helped in its longevity.”

She noted it has been great to carry on the family tradition of producing a quality product.

Fox, 68, believes one of the bright spots in the Ohio Valley is that it offers a huge support group for women in leadership roles. She noted some of the groups she belongs to do just that.

“I think it’s interesting and I appreciate being a part of it, and I try to give back,” she said.

Fox said her philosophy in life and work is to have balance. She also aims to make the most of each day and to encourage others.

Fox said one valuable lesson she has learned in her work life is that one needs to overcome their fears to become successful.

“The most valuable lesson I learned was to overcome fear when presented an opportunity,” she said.

For example, when Fox was invited to speak about Marble King and the importance of American manufacturing on national TV, she was nervous about doing it but did it anyway.

“That little voice says, ‘You can’t do that.’ You have to be able to stop it and be able to say, ‘Why can’t I do that? Yes, I can do that,'” she said. “That doesn’t mean you’re not scared or the fear went away. … Never let the fear keep you from trying. … You have to look at the bigger picture and go forward.”

Fox and Marble King were chosen to help represent manufacturing in West Virginia during a special gathering at the White House in 2019 titled the Made in America Product Showcase.

Fox believes there continues to be more women in manufacturing every year.

“Education and employment opportunities have increased, and women are taking advantage of them,” she said.

Fox would advise young women interested in or starting out in manufacturing to not let fear get in the way of trying.

“I think there is much more equality in the school system. When given the opportunity, girls are like, ‘Hey, I can do that,'” she said.

In her personal life, Fox said she is most proud of her children, son Michael and twin daughters Jeanne and Jennifer, and of being a grandmother to nine grandchildren.

“My favorite pastime is spending time with them,” she said.

In her professional life, Fox said she was very proud to represent West Virginia during the showcase at the White House.

“It was a three-day event and it was quite an honor,” she said.

Fox said Marble King marbles have been used and appeared in big movies including “The Goonies,” “Home Alone 1 and 2” and “Hook” with Dustin Hoffman. She noted film director Steven Spielberg was interested in marbles and promoting them.

Marble King marbles have been featured in documentaries about West Virginia and in an exhibit at The Cultural Center in Charleston. This same display can now be seen at the Grave Creek Archaeological Complex in Moundsville.

Fox said Marble King would not be what it is today without the work of its employees.

“Our employees are wonderful,” she said. “We wouldn’t be celebrating our 75th anniversary without their dedication. We’re fortunate to have employees who have been with us 30 years or more.”

Fox noted some of the company’s older marbles have become valuable with collectors paying big money for them.

“It would amaze Dad to see marbles from the 1960s, how collectible they have become; some are worth $3,000 and $4,000,” she said.