BILL SCANLON, 74 Longtime official dies after illness

Commissioners have 30 days to appoint a replacement for Scanlon.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- When people talk about Bill Scanlon, they remember him as a popular man who really cared about people and his city.
Scanlon, a fixture on the Hermitage Board of Commissioners for more than 37 years, died Saturday at his home after a brief illness. He was 74.
Though he retired from the Sharon Steel Corp. in 1992 after 36 years of service, he never retired from his part-time job as a city commissioner. He served as president of the board for 12 years and vice president for five more.
"He was one of the nicest guys you'd ever want to meet," said Commissioner Sylvia Stull, who has served 26 years on the board.
"He was honest. He made his decisions on what he felt was best for the people," Stull said.
"I'm going to miss him very much. It's going to be tough to replace him," she said.
Deadline to fill post
The city's Home Rule Charter gives the remaining four commissioners 30 days to appoint someone to take Scanlon's place.
The board is expected to ask for letters of interest and resumes. The appointment will last 31/2 years. Interviews will be conducted.
The charter mandates that an appointment to a vacancy must come from the same political party of the commissioner being replaced. Any Democrat qualified to vote in the city is eligible.
Scanlon's peers had nothing but praise for their colleague.
"He's the kind of elected official any city would want to have," said Commissioner Larry Gurrera. "He was people-oriented. He was a good guy. It's going to be very tough [to replace him]."
"The city of Hermitage has just suffered a tremendous loss," said Commissioner Pat White, who served with Scanlon on the board for 21 years.
Role in growth
Hermitage was still Hickory Township and just a crossroads community when Scanlon first took office, White said, pointing out that Scanlon was instrumental in the success the city has become.
Scanlon was always interested in economic development and creating jobs that would keep young people living in the area. He was excited about the recent development of the LindenPointe Planned Technical Park, a project in which the city was an active partner.
He was also proud of the fact that the city went 12 years without raising real estate taxes.
City Manager Gary Hinkson said he thinks of "longevity and popularity" when he thinks of Scanlon. He was always the leading or among the leading vote-getters in every election, Hinkson said.
"Bill was really interested in the people of the community and how the city could help them," Hinkson said, recalling frequent phone calls from Scanlon about particular problems residents might be facing and how the city could help them, Hinkson said.
Young people were important to him and he was always pushing the board to publicly recognize their accomplishments with proclamations, Hinkson said.
Scanlon served for years on the city parks and recreation board and various other municipal and civic committees.
He was a decorated veteran of the Korean War and was instrumental in the development of Little League baseball in the city, even serving as an umpire for many years.
He enjoyed playing golf but those close to him said what he liked most was spending time with his grandchildren.