YOUNGSTOWN Traffic Club disbands after 65 years in the Valley

YOUNGSTOWN -- The changing nature of business has led to the demise of 65-year-old professional group, the Youngstown Traffic Club.
During the 1960s and 1970s, industry was flourishing in the Mahoning Valley, and the group had as many as 700 members, who were traffic managers of area companies.
Youngstown Sheet & amp; Tube Co. alone contributed 40 members to the club at one time. Members came to meetings to share ideas about transporting goods by rail and truck.
Now, the club has 84 members but hardly anyone comes to the monthly meetings, said Bob Meredith, retired traffic manager for Conrail and former club president.
Part of the problem has been the demise of the Valley's steel industry, he said.
Also, companies and railroads that remain here either have moved traffic control functions to corporate headquarters in other cities or have given their local traffic managers so many duties that they can't attend club meetings, he said.
A Youngstown Traffic Club scholarship program will continue under the direction of officials at Youngstown State University. It rewards the efforts of sophomores at YSU.
The club donated money to endow the program years ago and will donate some of its remaining funds to the program.
The club also will be donating money to area charities and turning over its records to the Youngstown Historical Society.
The final activity will be a Christmas party Monday.