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McAleer, Jimmy “Loafer” July 10, 1864 – April 29, 1931
Baseball Player (Born Youngstown, OH)
When Mr. McAleer played for the Cleveland Spiders (1889 – 1898; 1892, 1895, 1896 World Series), he was the first person from the Mahoning Valley to play in the majors. In 1901, he came out of retirement to become the first manager of the American League's Cleveland Indians. He was manager of the new St. Louis Browns (1902-1908) and the Washington Senators (1911). In 1912, he became co-owner and president of the Boston Red Sox, but was forced to sell out in 1914. (Business Journal Mid-January 2000, Vindicator 7-13-86, Baseball: The Biographical Encyclopedia )
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McBride, Wilbert B. July 14, 1915 – July 5, 2002
Attorney and Lyricist (Born Youngstown, OH)
Beautiful Ohio , words by Ballard MacDonald and music by Mary Earl, was adopted as the state song on October 14, 1969. Mr. McBride, a Youngstown attorney, felt the lyrics about love and little red canoes did not adequately represent the state. He wrote new lyrics and had Senate Minority Leader Harry Meshel of Youngstown introduce legislation to have them officially changed. His lyrics were adopted and became law on November 6, 1989. (Vindicator 2-24-88, 6-30-89, 7-17-2002; http://www.netstate.com/states/symb/song/oh_beautiful_oh.htm )
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McFadden, Paul September 24, 1961 -
Football Player (Born Euclid, OH; resident of Mahoning County)
Mr. McFadden was a kicker at Youngstown State University (1980-1983) known for his barefooted-kicking style. He played with the Philadelphia Eagles (1984-1987), the New York Giants (1988), and the Atlanta Falcons (1989). After his NFL career, he returned to Youngstown and served as the Director of Athletic Development at YSU from 1993 to 2000. In August of 2000, he became YSU's Director of Development. (http://www.ysu.edu/sports/penguinclub/mcfadden.htm , Vindicator 1-28-01)
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McGovern , Maureen July 27, 1949 -
Singer/Actress (Born Boardman, OH)
Ms. McGovern began her career singing the 1973 Academy Award winning song The Morning After from the film The Poseidon Adventure . In 1975, she became the first singer to record two Oscar-nominated songs in the same year: We May Never Love Like This Again from the Towering Inferno , which won, and Wherever Love Takes Me from the British film Gold . In 1978, she hit the charts again singing Can You Read My Mind? from Superman . She appeared in the 1980 film Airplane! , as singing nun Sister Angelina. She has starred on Broadway in The Pirates of Penzance , Nine , and 3 Penny Opera , and provided the voice for Rachel in the animated film Joseph: King of Dreams . (Savvy December 1989, Current Biography 1990, Vindicator 5-1-88, 8-28-2000)
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McGovern , Michael J. October 3, 1854 – April 2, 1933
Poet (Born Castlerea, Ireland; resident of Mahoning County)
Mr. McGovern came to Youngstown around 1888. He is known as the Puddler Poet of Youngstown because of the poems he wrote while working as a puddler in the local steel mills. “In the labor verse for which he is best known, he struck out unmercifully against unjust employers and selfish bosses”. His works were collected in Labor Lyrics and Other Poems published in 1899. He is buried in Calvary Cemetery (Vindicator 4-3-33, 4-9-33, 9-26-37)
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McGuffey , William Holmes September 23, 1800 – May 4, 1873
Educator (Born Washington County, PA; area resident)
Mr. McGuffey grew up in Coitsville Township and was educated at a log cabin school in Youngstown. He began teaching in Calcutta, OH at the age of 13. He was a professor at Miami University of Ohio and the University of Virginia, president of Ohio University, and an ordained Presbyterian minister. He was known for his series of school readers, the McGuffey Readers, which were published between 1836 and 1920. It is estimated that more than half of the students of this time period used the six levels of Readers in their schooling and their sales figures ranked in the same class as the Bible and Webster's Dictionary. Some school districts today are returning to them because of their emphasis on honesty, hard work and moral integrity. McGuffey Road in Youngstown was originally the pathway that his father created for the children to go to school and the site of his boyhood home was listed as a National Historic Landmark in 1966. (Y - McGuffey, William H. folder, Vindicator 7-26-2004)
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McKinley , William January 29, 1843 – September 14, 1901
President (Born Niles, OH; resident of Mahoning County)
William McKinley's family moved from Niles to Poland, OH when he was nine so that he could attend the Poland Union Seminary. He taught in Poland's Kerr School District (1860-1861) and worked at the Poland post office. After serving in the Civil War, he studied law and worked for a law office in Youngstown. He was admitted to the bar in 1876 and practiced in Canton, OH. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives (1876-1891) and was governor of Ohio (1892-1896). He ran on the Republican ticket and won the presidential election in 1896 to become the 25 th President of the United States. He was reelected in 1900. On September 6, 1901, he was shot by anarchist Leon F. Czolgosz and died eight days later. He is buried in Canton, OH at the McKinley National Memorial. His Niles home is now the McKinley Home and Research Center. (The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents; Vindicator 10-14-2002; Encyclopedia of the American Presidency; http://www.mckinleymuseum.org/ )
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McMillan, Reuben October 7, 1820 – June 23, 1898
Educator (Born Canfield, OH)
Mr. McMillan was superintendent of the Youngstown Schools and one of the five original founders of the Youngstown Library Association, which created a library for Youngstown. On March 5, 1898, the Youngstown Library Association was renamed the “Reuben McMillan Free Library Association” in his honor. (Y - McMillan, Reuben folder)
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Maguire, Paul August 22, 1938 –
Football Player (Born Youngstown, OH)
Mr. Maguire attended Ursuline High School and The Citadel. He played for the San Diego Chargers (1960-1963, 1963 AFL Champions) and the Buffalo Bills (1964-1970, 1964 and 1965 AFL Champions). He has been a sports commentator for NBC and ESPN. (Total Football II , Vindicator 4-9-98)
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Mancini , Ray “Boom Boom” March 4, 1961 -
Boxer (Born Youngstown, OH)
Mr. Mancini is the son of another boxer, Leonard Jon Mancini, who was also known as “Boom-Boom”. Ray was the Youngstown/Cleveland Golden Gloves boxing champ from 1977-1979 and won the North American Boxing Federation lightweight title in 1981 by defeating Jorge Morales. In 1982, he beat Arturio Frias to become the World Boxing Association lightweight champion. He lost the title to Livingstone Bramble in 1984 and officially retired from boxing in 1985. He attempted comebacks in 1989 and 1992, but is now involved in boxing promotions, acting, and his film production company, Boom Boom Productions. In 2000, his company filmed Turn of Faith in Youngstown, with Ray in a starring role. (Vindicator 2-5-95, 5-4-2000; Business Journal Mid-July 1994)
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Manigault-Stallworth, Omarosa 1974 –
Television Personality (Born Youngstown, OH)
Ms. Manigault-Stallworth rose to fame as a contestant on the Donald Trump reality television show, The Apprentice , which began in 2003. She also appeared in Fear Factor and The Surreal Life . She graduated from Rayen High School in 1992, Central State University (Wilberforce, OH) in 1996, and has earned a master's degree from Howard University (Washington, DC). She is currently working on a PhD in communications. Since the show, she has trademarked her first name and will only use her full name for her political work. Her husband, Aaron Stallworth, runs a scholarship program for inner-city youths. (www.omarosa.com , Vindicator 2-6-2004, People 4-19-2004, 5-3-2004, 8-16-2004)
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Mayo, John Lewis (Jack) July 26, 1925 –
Baseball Player (Born Litchfield, IL; resident of Mahoning County)
Mr. Mayo came to Youngstown with his family in 1937. After serving as a Marine in World War II, he played baseball at Notre Dame University. He played for the Philadelphia Phillies (1948-1952, 1950 World Series) and was one of the Philadelphia “Whiz Kids” that won the 1950 National League pennant. He played briefly for Baltimore and Montreal before returning to the Phillies (1953). After retiring from baseball, he returned to Youngstown and became co-partner of Mayo-Orvets Realtors, now called Mayo & Associates. (Total Baseball , Vindicator 10-16-74)
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Monus, Michael I. “Mickey” August 20, 1947 -
Phar-Mor Executive (Born Youngstown, OH)
Mr. Monus co-founded the discount drugstore chain Phar-Mor in 1982, was vice president and general partner in the Colorado Rockies baseball team, general partner and founder of the World Basketball League (WBL), and president of the local WBL franchise, the Youngstown Pride. He made headlines in 1992 when it was discovered that he was involved in large-scale corporate fraud. He was convicted on 109 felony counts and charged with embezzling as much as 1 billion dollars from Phar-Mor, mostly to bolster the failing WBL. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison and fined 1 million dollars in 1995, but the sentence was reduced by eight years and the fine halved in 1999. He was forced to sell his shares of the Colorado Rockies, the WBL folded in 1992, and the last Phar-Mor closed in 2002. (Drug Store News 3/1/99, Newsweek 8/31/92, Y - Phar-Mor Inc. folder)
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Mooney, Edward Francis, Cardinal May 9, 1882 – October 25, 1958
Cardinal (Born Mount Savage, MD; resident of Mahoning County)
Cardinal Mooney's family moved to Youngstown when he was 5 years old, where he attended St. Columba's parish school. After earning bachelor's and master's degrees in the U.S., he received a doctorate in philosophy and a doctorate in theology at the North American College in Rome, Italy. He was ordained in Rome on April 10, 1909. He taught at St. Mary's Seminary in Cleveland and founded the Cathedral Latin School there in 1916. In August 1922, he was appointed pastor of St. Patrick's in Youngstown, which lasted only a short time before he became spiritual director at the North American College. He served with great diplomatic skill in India and Japan before being named Bishop of Rochester (New York) on August 28, 1933. During World War II, “he was, in effect, spokesman for the Church in the U.S.” and showed support for the United Nations. When he was transferred to Detroit in 1937, he encouraged union organizing and founded the Labor Institute, which offered classes in social ethics. He was named a cardinal on February 21, 1946. He died in Rome, just an hour before the conclave began to elect the successor of Pope Pius XII. Cardinal Mooney High School in Youngstown is named for him.
(http://www.fiu.edu/~mirandas/bios-m.htm#Mooney , New Catholic Encyclopedia )
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Nielsen, Jerri March 1, 1952 - June 23, 2009
Physician (Born Salem, OH; died Southwick, MA)
Dr. Nielsen attended West Branch High School and graduated form the Medical College of Toledo in 1977. After a bitter divorce, which resulted in the estrangement of her children, Dr. Nielsen took a one-year assignment as the only physician for the 40 scientists and support staff stationed at Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. After only four months, she found a lump in her breast that did not respond to treatment. She taught a welder to do a tissue biopsy under her direction, using only ice to numb the area. The lump proved cancerous, but due to the cold she could not be flown out. The Air Force dropped chemotherapy drugs that she administered to herself for three months. On October 16, 1999, the temperature rose to –53 degrees, allowing an airplane to land for 20 minutes to pick her up. She had a mastectomy at Indiana University Hospital. After a period of remission, the cancer returned in 2005 and Nielsen died on June 23, 2009 at age 57. She wrote a book, Ice Bound: A Doctor's Incredible Battle for Survival at the South Pole. (Vindicator 7-17-01; 6-25-09; Lisbon Morning Journal 9-19-03; Ice Bound)
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Olsavsky, Jerome (Jerry) March 29, 1967 –
Football Player (Born Youngstown, OH)
Mr. Olsavsky attended Chaney High School and the University of Pittsburgh. He played for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1989 to 1997. He signed with the Cincinnati Bengals in 1997, but was waived in early 1998 after breaking his hand. He played for the Baltimore Ravens in 1998. After coaching in various places, he is now assistant football coach at Youngstown State University. (Total Football II , Vindicator 10-29-98, 3-25-2003)
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O'Neill, Ed April 12, 1946 -
Actor (Born Youngstown, OH)
Mr. O'Neill played football at Ursuline High School and Youngstown State University, and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers. After the Steelers cut him during his rookie year, he taught social studies as a substitute teacher and started acting at the Youngstown Playhouse and YSU. He made his Broadway debut as “Paddy Klonski” in Knockout (1979). He is noted for playing Al Bundy on Fox's television series Married… With Children (1987-1997), for which he received two Golden Globe nominations. His first feature film leading role was in the 1991 movie Dutch . He also starred as Joe Friday in the 2003-2004 Dragnet series on ABC. He returned to ABC starring as Jay Pritchett in the hit series Modern Family starting in 2009. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on August 30, 2011. (www.imdb.com; Vindicator 3-15-81, 8-16-11; Cleveland Plain Dealer 1-14-91)
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Packard, James Ward November 5, 1863 – March 20, 1928
Packard, William Doud November 3, 1861 – November 11, 1923
Automotive Innovators (Born Warren, OH)
In 1890, the Packard brothers established the Packard Electric Company in Warren, which made incandescent carbon arc “Packard Lamps”. In 1898, Ward Packard bought a Winton automobile, which he felt needed improvement. When the owner of the Winton Company ignored his advice, he formed a partnership with one of Winton's major stockholders, George L. Weiss, and William Packard to build automobiles as Packard & Weiss. The first Packard automobile was finished in November of 1899. In September of 1900, the company incorporated as the Ohio Automobile Company, which developed such innovations as the first “H” pattern gearshift and the first steering wheel in an automobile. The company was renamed the Packard Motor Car Company in 1902. By this time, the quality of the automobiles had attracted wealthy investors from Michigan, who gained control of the company's stock and moved the company to Detroit in 1903. Ward Packard kept his stock and remained listed as president until 1909. (The company merged with the Studebaker Corporation in 1954, with the last Packard automobile being made in 1958.) Returning their attention to the Packard Electric Company, the brothers sold off the lamp business and focused on making automotive electrical systems, receiving over 30 patents on their designs. General Motors acquired the company in 1932, renaming it Delphi Packard Electric Systems in 1995. The company was spun off and became independent of GM in 1999. Both brothers were philanthropists, with William best remembered for donating the land that became Packard Park, and donating the money to build W.D. Packard Music Hall and to maintain the Packard Band. The National Packard Museum was established in Warren in 1990. (Automobile Dealers Association of Eastern Ohio 2-1965, Metro Eye 9-95 www.packardclub.org )
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Parise, Ronald May 24, 1951 – May 9, 2008
Astronaut (Born Warren, OH)
Dr. Ronald A. Parise was a graduate of Western Reserve High School and Youngstown State University. He received his doctorate in astronomy from the University of Florida. He began working for companies that provided technical support for NASA and in 1984 was chosen as a payload specialist for the new NASA Spacelab ASTRO observatory missions. His shuttle flight was scheduled to launch in March of 1986, but the Challenger explosion caused a five-year delay. He eventually flew on both of the Spacelab ASTRO missions aboard the space shuttles Columbia (December 2-10, 1990) and Endeavor (March 2-18, 1995). Mr. Parise died at the age of 56 from brain cancer. (Vindicator May 11, 2008 1:6; http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/PS/parise.html, Who's Who in Space)
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Patchen, Kenneth December 13, 1911 – January 8, 1972
Poet/Novelist /Painter (Born Niles, OH)
Mr. Patchen was born in Niles but raised on Patchen Avenue in Warren. His father was a steelworker and he worked briefly in the mills as well before deciding to focus on writing. His writing is considered experimental in that he was more concerned with the way language could reflect emotions rather than following standard literary patterns. His poetry ranged from political to metaphysical to romantic, and he has been called “one of the great love poets of the century”. He also wrote plays and essays and invented “picture poems” where words and illustrations are inseparably combined into one work of art.

(Encyclopedia of World Biography , Vindicator 11-7-88)
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Pavlik, Kelly April 4, 1982 -
Boxer (Born Youngstown, Ohio)
Mr. Pavlik grew up on Youngstown’s south side and attended both Lowellville High School and the Mahoning County Joint Vocational School, where he graduated in 2000.  He had already proven his skill in the boxing world even before completing his education.  In 1998 he became both the National Junior Golden Gloves Welterweight Champion and National Junior PAL Welterweight Champion.  The following year he was the U.S. National Under-19 Welterweight Champion.  Immediately after graduating from school, Pavlik wasted no time and entered the professional ring, defeating Eric Benito Tzand in a 3^rd round KO on June 16, 2000.  A year later almost to the day Pavlik defeated Grady Brewer in a 2^nd round TKO.  In 2005 he filled the vacant NABF Middleweight Title with a TKO of Fulgencio Zuniga.  Pavlik successfully defended his NABF title twice, against Bronco McKart and Jose Zertuche.  On September 29, 2007 Pavlik defeated Jermain Taylor for the WBC and WBO Middleweight title.  He defended his world title three times, against Gary Lockett in 2008, and Marco Rubio and Miguel Espino in 2009.  He had surgery on his left hand twice in 2009 due to complications from a staph infection. On April 17, 2010 Pavlik lost his title to Sergio Martinez in a 12-round unanimous decision.  About a year later Pavlik retooled and entered the super middleweight division in a victorious fight against Alfonso Lopez.  Sidetracked by alcohol abuse problems, Pavlik is currently working on a return to championship boxing. (Sources: www.boxrec.com; www.teampavlik.com;
http://www.ring-rap.com/2011/08/03/boxing-didnt-beat-kelly-pavlik-alcohol-has/)
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Pendleton, Austin March 27, 1940 –
Actor/Stage Director (Born Warren, OH)
Mr. Pendleton has appeared in such movies as What's Up Doc , The Front Page , Starting Over , The Muppet Movie , Short Circuit , My Cousin Vinny , Guarding Tess, and A Beautiful Mind. He provided the voice for the character Gurgle in Finding Nemo . He was “Motel the Tailor” in the original Broadway cast of Fiddler on the Roof , and was nominated for a Tony Award for directing the Broadway revival of The Little Foxes with Elizabeth Taylor (1981). (Vindicator 11-30-86, www.imdb.com )
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Policy, Carmen January 26, 1943 –
Attorney and Sports Executive (Born Youngstown, OH)
Mr. Policy attended Ursuline High School and graduated from Youngstown State University in 1963. He went to law school at Georgetown University and passed the Ohio Bar in 1966. He practiced law until 1991, when he moved to San Francisco to become president of Debartolo's 49ers. In 1998, he and Alfred Lerner teamed up in a successful bid to bring an NFL team back to Cleveland. He owns 10 percent of the Cleveland Browns, who made their debut in the 1999 season, and was president and CEO of the team until 2004. (Vindicator 9-9-1998, Who's Who in America 2005 http://www.sfweekly.com/issues/1999-10-13/news/feature2_1.html )
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Powell, Craig November 13, 1971 –
Football Player (Born Youngstown, OH)
Mr. Powell attended Rayen High School and was named to Parade Magazine 's All-American High School Football Team in 1990. He attended Ohio State University (1992-1994) but left a year early to play for the Cleveland Browns (1995). Plagued by injuries, he played sporadically for the Browns and the Baltimore Ravens (1996) and later played for the New York Jets (1998). (Total Football II , Vindicator 12-28-90, 4-23-95, 11-19-96)
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Rogers, Volney December 1, 1846 - December 3, 1919
Attorney/Naturalist (Born East Palestine, OH; resident of Mahoning County)
In 1890, Mr. Rogers toured the Mill Creek Gorge by horseback. Its beauty inspired him to purchase all the available land in the area to preserve it for future generations. He authored the 1891 Township Parks Improvement Act that permitted the Township of Youngstown to issue bonds and acquire the Mill Creek Gorge. Rogers not only drafted the legislation that paved the way for the development of the first park district in Ohio, he also donated his land to the park and supervised the park's planning and development. A sculpture of Volney Rogers stands at the entrance of Mill Creek Park. He is buried in Tod Cemetery. (http://www.sculpturecenter.org/img/big/01061.jpg , Mahoning Memories , A Heritage to Share, Y – Rogers, Volney folder)
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Samuels, Rae 1886 – October 24, 1979
Vaudevillian (Born Youngstown, OH)
Known as the “Blue Streak of Vaudeville”, Rae Samuels started touring as a child. By 1911 she was a singing star and she appeared in the 1912 Ziegfeld Follies. She played the Palace for the first time in 1914. Appearing there in 1918, she was the first performer to sing Irving Berlin's “Oh! How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning.” She earned her nickname from singing her comic songs with gusto and often punching the scenery at the end of her act, a gesture she said Milton Berle adopted from her. She got equal billing with Al Jolson in The Honeymoon Express and was one of the highest paid women in vaudeville, earning $2,000 a week or more. She performed for almost 50 years before retiring in the early 1930s with her manager and husband, Marty Forkin. (Vindicator 11-15-79, Encyclopedia of Vaudeville , The Vaudevillians by Bill Smith)
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Singer, Clyde October 20, 1908 – January 5, 1999
Painter/Curator (Born Malvern, OH; resident of Mahoning County)
Mr. Singer studied at the Columbus Art School until winning a scholarship to the prestigious Art Students League in New York City. In 1935, he made his breakthrough showing at the National Academy of Design and the Whitney Museum of American Art. Joseph Butler III, director of the Butler Institute of American Art, asked him to assist with curating and teaching at the Butler, an offer he accepted in 1940. He was drafted during World War II and painted signs at Fort Bragg before going overseas. In his lifetime, he painted more than 3,000 works of art, mostly in oils, specializing in everyday urban life and lovely ladies. He became associate director and curator for the Butler Institute of American Art, as well as an art critic and columnist for the Vindicator . He participated in more than 500 shows, won more than 40 prizes, and had more than 50 private showings. (Vindicator 1-6-99, 5-20-96; Cleveland Plain Dealer 8-4-90; American Artist 2-1969)
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Sinkwich, Frank October 10, 1920 – October 22, 1990
Football Player (Born McKees Rocks, PA; resident of Mahoning County)
Mr. Sinkwich was a football star at Chaney High School. He played for the University of Georgia (1939-1943) and appeared in the 1941 Orange Bowl. In 1942 he became the first college player to gain 2,000 yards in total offense. At the 1942 Rose Bowl, he scored the game's only touchdown to give the Bulldogs a win over UCLA. That same year, he was awarded the coveted Heisman Trophy. Professionally, he played for the Detroit Lions (1943- 1944) and the New York Yankees (1946-1947) and the Baltimore Colts (1947). He was named the Most Valuable Player in professional football in 1944. After he retired, he ran four beer-distributing companies in the South. Chaney High School named their athletic field after him, and the Mahoning Avenue bridge was renamed the Frank Sinkwich Bridge in his honor. (Total Football II , Vindicator 10-28-97, 4-26-88, 4-29-88, 8-1-99, 10-22-90)
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Slezak, Victor 1958 -
Actor (Born Youngstown, OH)
Mr. Slezak attended Wilson High School. He started acting in off-off Broadway shows and touring companies, and once acted with Youngstown's Ed O'Neill in “Of Mice and Men”. He has been on The Guiding Light and One Life to Live soap operas, and in such movies as The Bridges of Madison County and The Devil's Own . (Vindicator 11-30-86, www.imdb.com )
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Smith, Sherman November 1, 1954 –
Football Player (Born Youngstown, OH)
After attending North High School, Mr. Smith quarterbacked for Miami University of Ohio, where he led the team to three Mid-American Conference titles. He was a running back for the Seattle Seahawks for seven years and was one of their all-time leading rushers with over 3, 400 yards and 28 touchdowns. He was traded to the San Diego Chargers but injuries affected his career and he remained there only two years. He started coaching at the high school level, and then moved up to Miami University and the University of Illinois. He is now the running backs coach for the Tennessee Titans. (Vindicator 8-13-1983, Total Football II , http://www.titansradio.com/coaches/smith.html , http://www.nflhs.com/news/coachesspotlight/shermansmith_02172005_sim.asp )
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Spencer, Ross (Harrison) August 21, 1921 – July 25, 1998
Writer (Born Hughart, WV; resident of Mahoning County)
Mr. Spencer's family moved to Youngstown when he was an infant. After graduating from Chaney High School, he served in the military in WWII and the Korean War and settled in Chicago. His first mystery novel, The Dada Caper , was published in 1978 when he was 57 years old. In 1987, he moved back to Youngstown and moved the settings of his novels from Chicago to Youngstown as well. He wrote 13 mysteries and over 100 works of poetry before dying of cancer in 1998. (Contemporary Authors 101, 169; Vindicator 9-9-90, 10-14-91, 12-15-91)
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Stevens, Harry Mozley June 14, 1855 – May 3, 1934
Concessionaire (Born London, England; resident of Niles, OH)
Mr. Stevens moved his family to Niles, OH, in 1882. He found work as an iron puddler, organized a union and led their first strike. To support his family during the strike, he became a bookseller. Stopping at a ball game in Columbus, he got an idea for an improved scorecard for which he won concession rights. The popular phrase “you can't tell the players without a scorecard” was his invention. He broadened his business to food concessions and moved to New York. On a cold day at the Polo Grounds, his usual fare of ice cream and lemonade were not selling. He offered sausages in buns with mustard instead, yelling “get ‘em while they're hot”. Sports cartoonist Tad Dorgan portrayed it in a cartoon as a “hot dog” and the name stuck. Stevens was responsible for switching ballpark fare from ice cream and lemonade to peanuts and hot dogs, and was the first to offer drinking straws with soda bottles. He also was the first to send vendors into the stands and to use exclusivity clauses with products. His business expanded to ballparks, racetracks, and convention centers all over the country. His business was sold to Aramark in 1995. He is buried at Union Cemetery in Niles, OH. (Telegram 5-4-1934, Nation's Restaurant News 2-1996, Dictionary of American Biography Supplement 7)
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Stoops, Bob September 9, 1960 –
Football Coach (Born Youngstown, OH)
Mr. Stoops graduated from Cardinal Mooney High School and was a defensive back for the University of Iowa. He coached in various capacities at the University of Iowa, Kent State University, Kansas State University and the University of Florida before becoming the head coach at the University of Oklahoma in 1999, where he has remained. He led the team to victory in the 2000 Orange Bowl and was named the Associated Press National Coach of the Year. (Vindicator 2-19-2001, http://www.soonersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=2899&SPID=209&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=300&ATCLID=11564
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Stoudt, Cliff March 27, 1955 –
Football Player (Born Oberlin, OH; resident of Mahoning County)
Mr. Stoudt was a star quarterback for YSU, leading them to their first ever post-season playoffs in 1974. Recruited by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1977, he remained on the sidelines while Terry Bradshaw led the Steelers to four Super Bowl victories. In 1983, he got his chance and led the Steelers to a 9-2 start. However, after losing four of the last five regular season games, with the fans turning hostile, he left to quarterback the USFL's Birmingham Stallions (1984-1986). He also played for the St. Louis Cardinals (1986-1987), the Phoenix Cardinals (1988), and the Miami Dolphins (1989).
(Total Football II , Vindicator 1-12-84, 3-28-84, 8-29-86, 9-13-87)
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Stringer, Korey May 8, 1974 – August 1, 2001
Football Player (Born Warren, OH)
Mr. Stringer attended Warren Harding High School, where he was an All-State tackle and a member of the 1990 Division I championship team. He was an All-American at Ohio State University (1992-1995), and a 1995 first round draft pick for the Minnesota Vikings, for whom he played offensive tackle. In 2000, he was selected for the Pro Bowl. On August 1, 2001, Korey Stringer died of heatstroke brought on by practicing in hot weather at the Vikings' training camp in Mankato, MN. His was the first heatstroke death in the NFL and has caused teams to adopt better safety measures during practices. He is buried in Pineview Cemetery in Warren. (Total Football II , Vindicator 4-23-95, 8-2-2001, 8-7-2001)
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Tarbell, Ida November 5, 1875 - January 6, 1944
Writer/Educator (Born Hatch Hollow, PA; resident of Mahoning County)
Miss Tarbell was preceptress of the Poland Union Seminary in Poland, OH from August 1880 through June of 1882. She was a writer for and managing editor of The Chautauquan , associate editor of McClure's Magazine , and associate editor of The American Magazine . She won recognition for her expose of the Standard Oil trust, History of the Standard Oil Company , which led to a federal government investigation and breakup of the monopoly. She is also famous for her biographical studies of Abraham Lincoln. Upon her death, the New York Times called her the “dean of women authors in this country.” (Current Biography 1944, All in the Day's Work by Ida Tarbell, Vindicator 6-22-42, New York Times 1-7-44)
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Thomas, Sue May 1950 -
FBI Agent (Born Boardman, OH; resident of Columbiana, OH)
The television show, Sue Thomas, FBEye , on the PAX network was based on the real life experiences of Ms. Thomas. Deaf at 18 months, she was taught to speak and read lips at the Youngstown Hearing and Speech Center. Though she faltered in school because there were no special programs, she became an Ohio state champion in freestyle roller-skating when she was seven. She persevered and graduated from college with degrees in political science and international affairs, but no one would hire her because she couldn't answer a telephone. She learned sign language and became a counselor for the deaf, later working for the FBI identifying fingerprints. When the FBI needed someone to read lips, she started analyzing videos and observing suspects in public. After 3 ½ years, she left to pursue other interests and became a motivational speaker. The series based on her FBI years began October 2002, with deaf actress Deanne Bray cast in the lead role. In 2001, Ms. Thomas was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, which has started to affect her vision. (Family Circle 2-17-04, Lisbon Morning Journal 2-9-2004)
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Tod, David February 21, 1805 - November 13, 1868
Governor of Ohio (Born Youngstown, OH)
Mr. Tod was a “friend and supporter of Lincoln, leader of leaders in the Union cause, diplomat, lawyer, captain of industry and beloved citizen of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley.” He started practicing law in 1827, was postmaster of Warren, an Ohio state senator for one term (1838-1839), ambassador to Brazil (1847-1851), and governor of Ohio (1862-1864). He is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery. (History of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley, Vindicator 4-19-33, http://www.ohiohistory.org/onlinedoc/ohgovernment/governors/tod.html )
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Traficant, James May 8, 1941 -
U.S. Congressman (Born Youngstown, OH)
Mr. Traficant was quarterback at Cardinal Mooney High School and the University of Pittsburgh, where he earned a bachelor's degree in education. He was director of the Mahoning County drug counseling program for 10 years, earning a master's in both administration and counseling, before winning election as Mahoning County sheriff (1981-1985). A resident of Poland, OH, he represented the 17 th congressional district from 1985 until 2002, when he was convicted on federal charges of racketeering, bribery, obstruction of justice, and tax evasion. When he was expelled from the House of Representatives on July 24, 2002, “he became only the second House member since the Civil War to be kicked out of Congress”. His sentencing includes 8 years in prison, three years of supervised release following his prison term, paying for his incarceration (up to $150,000), and paying $19,580 in unpaid taxes. He is scheduled for release on August 10, 2009. (Who's Who in America 2002; Vindicator 7-30-02, 8-6-02, 12-30-2003; Akron Beacon Journal 12-27-87)
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Tressel, Jim December 5, 1952 –
Football Coach (Born Mentor, OH; resident of Mahoning County)
Mr. Tressel came to Youngstown in 1986 as the head football coach for Youngstown State University. He led the Penguins to four Division 1-AA national championships (1991, 1993, 1994, 1997), six appearances at the national championships, and 10 appearances in the Division 1-AA playoffs. He and his father, Lee Tressel (1978 Division III at Baldwin Wallace), are the only father and son coaches to win national championships. He was chosen as Ohio Coach of the Year seven times, and has earned many national coaching titles. He was known for his community involvement and for encouraging scholarship among his players. He became the 22nd head coach at Ohio State University on January 18, 2001. In his second year at OSU, the team won their first national championship since 1968 at the 2003 Fiesta Bowl, defeating the unbeaten University of Miami in double overtime. The team achieved the first 14–0 season record in major college football since the University of Pennsylvania’s 15–0 record in 1897. Due to reports of rules violations during the 2010 season, further NCAA investigation uncovered other misconduct and he was forced to resign as head coach on May 30, 2011.  His overall record at Ohio State was 106–22, which, combined with his YSU years, gives him a career record of 241-79-2. His teams had a 6–4 bowl record, a 5–3 mark in BCS bowl games, and a 9–1 record against the Michigan Wolverines and appeared in three BCS National Championship Games and seven Big Ten Conference championships.  (Vindicator 1-4-2003; 5-31-2011)
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Triplett, Mel December 24, 1931 – July 25, 2002
Football Player (Born Indianola, MS; resident of Mahoning County)
Mr. Triplett's family, including brother Bill, moved to Girard in 1944. During his junior and senior years at Girard High School, he was working full-time in a steel mill while participating in football, basketball, baseball, track and gymnastics. Married in his sophomore year of high school, he worked full-time while attending the University of Toledo on a football scholarship. By the time he was drafted by the New York Giants in 1955, he was the father of four. He was with the Giants until 1960, including their 1956 World Championship win. He was traded to the Minnesota Vikings in 1961 and retired from professional football the following year. (Total Football II ; Full Tilt to the NFL: Steel Valley Heroes by Ron Rotunno; Vindicator 8-11-02)
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Triplett, William (Bill) May 9, 1940 –
Football Player (Born Indianola, MS; resident of Mahoning County)
Like his brother Mel, Mr. Triplett was a football star at Girard High School. He attended Miami University of Ohio and was a first round draft pick for the New York Giants, who immediately traded him to the St. Louis Cardinals for a quarterback and a draft choice. He played for the Cardinals in 1962 and 1963, but was diagnosed with tuberculosis and missed the entire 1964 season. He returned to play for the Cardinals (1965-1966), the New York Giants (1967), and the Detroit Lions (1968-1972). (Total Football II ; Full Tilt to the NFL: Steel Valley Heroes by Ron Rotunno)
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Upton, Harriet Taylor December 17, 1853 – November 2, 1945
Suffragist, Writer (Born Ravenna, OH; resident of Warren, OH)
Mrs. Upton's family moved to Warren in 1861. When James Garfield became president, her father was appointed to Garfield's vacated congressional seat and she went to Washington as her widowed father's official hostess. There she met and married lawyer George Upton in 1884. In 1890, she joined the National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA) and served as treasurer from 1895 to 1910. From 1903 to 1910, she ran the day-to-day operations of the NWSA from the national headquarters at Upton House in Warren. She edited Progress , a monthly suffrage paper from 1902 until 1910; it was made the official organ of the NWSA in 1907. From 1899 to 1908, and again from 1911 to 1920, she was president of the Ohio Woman Suffrage Association. In 1920, when Tennessee was the last state needed to ratify the 19 th Amendment, she and Carrie Chapman Catt campaigned tirelessly to get it passed. After its passage, Mrs. Upton was appointed vice chairman of the Republican National Executive Committee, the first woman to hold a major position in any political party, where she remained for four years. Besides her political writings, she wrote children's books, A Twentieth Century History of Trumbull County, Ohio , and History of the Western Reserve . She was the first woman to serve on the Warren Board of Education, and she made an unsuccessful bid for her father's congressional seat in 1924 at the age of 70. In the early 1940's, she moved to Pasadena, California, where she died at the age of 91. Her home, Upton House, has been preserved by the Upton Association. (Business Journal 10-98; MVHS Newsletter 3-98; Vindicator 3-27-38, 8-28-60, 9-9-84; Encyclopedia of Women's History in America; Notable American Women 1607-1950 )
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Wagner, Paula 1948 –
Film Producer (Born Youngstown, OH)
Born Paula Kauffman, Mrs. Wagner started acting at the Youngstown Playhouse at age 13. She graduated from Hubbard High School and Carnegie Mellon University before going to New York. After working 10 years as an actress, she became a talent agent for Creative Artists Agency. She nurtured a young Tom Cruise into a superstar and represented Val Kilmer, Oliver Stone and Demi Moore. In 1992, she and Cruise started Cruise/Wagner Productions. Their first film was Mission: Impossible , which went only one dollar over budget and made millions. For this feat, the Producers' Guild of America presented them with the Nova Award. They have also won the Producers' Guild's Vision Award. The company has produced the Mission: Impossible sequels, The Last Samurai , and War of the Worlds . (Vindicator 6-1-2000, 8-29-2004; Current Biography 1998)
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Warfield, Paul November 28, 1942 –
Football Player (Born Warren, OH)
Mr. Warfield was an All-American at Warren G. Harding High School and Ohio State University, and a first round draft pick for the Cleveland Browns (1964-1969). He also played for the Miami Dolphins (1970-1974; 3 Super Bowls), the World Football League's Memphis Southmen (1975), and again for the Browns (1976-1977). He caught 427 passes for a total of 8,565 yards, with a 20.1-yard per catch average. He made 85 career touchdowns. He was on the All-NFL team five times, named to eight Pro Bowls, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 1983. (http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.jsp?player_id=225, Total Football II, Vindicator 7-24-83)
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Warner Brothers Motion Picture Moguls
Harry December 12, 1881 - July 25, 1958
Albert July 23, 1884 - November 26, 1967
Samuel August 10, 1888 - October 5, 1927
Jack August 2, 1892 - September 9, 1978
The three older Warner brothers were born in Poland, while Jack was born in London, Ontario, Canada. The family settled in Youngstown in 1896, where Harry and their father, Benjamin, first opened a shoe repair shop, then a kosher meat shop and deli. The boys tried everything from selling ice cream cones to gambling before Sam bought an Edison Kinetoscope and one film. They showed this first film, The Great Train Robbery , in an empty store in Niles, OH. Once everyone had seen it there, they took the film on the road. They started several theaters and a film exchange, which was crushed by a monopoly of film producers. Starting over, they filmed “Warner Features” in New York and again went broke. Things began to turn around when they made the film My Four Years in Germany , whose success led to the establishment of Warner Brothers Pictures Inc. in 1923. Sam pushed the company into making “talking pictures” but died the night before the premier of The Jazz Singer , the first film containing sound and one of the studio's greatest triumphs. As a tribute to Sam, the Warners built the opulent Warner Theater in Youngstown, which opened May 14, 1931. It still stands as the Edward W. Powers Auditorium and is now home to the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra. Although the brothers had moved away, Youngstown was again featured in their lives when their father, Benjamin, died here while visiting his daughter. As for their company, in 1989 it merged with Time Inc. to become Time Warner Inc., which merged with AOL in 2001 to become the largest media company in the world. (Metro Eye 4-1997; Ohio Magazine 3-1985; Vindicator 11-4-1935, 8-15-1938, 8-16-1938, 8-17-1938, 8-19-1938, 6-20-41; http://www.youngstownsymphony.com/symphony_center.html , http://www.timewarner.com/corp/ )
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White, William DeKova January 28, 1934 -
Baseball Player (Born Lakewood, FL; resident of Warren, OH)
Mr. White played for the New York Giants in 1956. After being drafted and serving in the military for two years, he returned to play for the St. Louis Cardinals (1959-1965, 1964 World Series). He finished his professional career with the Philadelphia Phillies (1966-1970). He was an announcer for the New York Yankees for 17 years. In 1989, he became the first African-American president of the National League, remaining in that position until 1994. (Business Journal Mid-January 2000, Baseball: The Biographical Encyclopedia )
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Wilkins, Jeff April 19, 1972 –
Football Player (Born Austintown, OH)
Mr. Wilkins attended Fitch High School and Youngstown State University, where he was the most prolific kicker and scorer in YSU football history. He played for the Philadelphia Eagles (1994), and the San Francisco 49ers (1994 -1996), and currently plays for the St. Louis Rams (1997- present, 2000 Super Bowl). (Vindicator 1-28-01, http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/stats?statsId=3082 )
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Woods & Bray, the Wonder Dancers
Woods, Frances March 21, 1907 – July 17, 2000 (Born Girard, OH)
Bray, Billy July 29, 1904 – March 23, 2000 (Born Connellsville, PA)
Ripley's Believe It or Not called this husband and wife dance team the Wonder Dancers because Frances Woods was a deaf mute born without eardrums. Her husband taught her to dance by playing different rhythms on the piano, which she followed from vibrations in the floor. They kept her deafness a secret so the focus would be on their dancing but after five years of touring the truth was discovered and they became a media sensation. Besides ballroom dancing, the couple specialized in the very physical Adagio and Apache dancing where Frances was twirled above Billy's head or flung across the stage. They opened a dance studio in Youngstown in 1958 and continued to dance at nursing homes and charity events across the country well into their eighties. They were awarded the Ohio Governor's Award in 1978 for “achievement benefiting mankind and improving the quality of life for all Ohioans.” They moved to Spring Hill, Florida in 1998. Frances, born Esther Richina Thomas, died only months after Billy, whose real name was Anthony Caliguire. (The Wonder Dancers: Woods & Bray; Vindicator 8-11-1991, 7-10-1977; Austintown Leader 2-1-1984; http://www.workersforjesus.com/dfi/964.htm )
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Woods, Rose Mary December 26, 1917 – January 22, 2005
Nixon's Secretary (Born Sebring, OH)
Ms. Woods worked as a secretary for Royal China in Sebring before becoming a secretary on Capital Hill. Newly elected senator Richard Nixon made her his personal secretary in 1950 and she continued in that position through his presidency. While transcribing the subpoenaed White House tapes during the investigation of the Watergate break-in, she said she accidentally erased four or five minutes, denying that she had erased the entire missing 18 ½ minutes. The erased conversation was between President Nixon and his chief of staff, H.R. Haldeman, and may have revealed whether Nixon knew about the break-in. Though the Watergate court questioned her for three days, the prosecutors could not disprove her story and she was not charged with obstruction of justice. She was so close to the family that Nixon asked her to tell his wife and daughters that he was resigning. She worked for Nixon in California after his resignation before moving to Alliance, OH in 1976. (Washington Post 1-24-05, New York Times 1-24-05)
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