The honorees received recognition for their contributions to communications and the community.

The honorees received recognition for their contributions to communications and the community.
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Gasser family was honored as the 2005 Great Communicators at the Youngstown Hearing & amp; Speech Center's 13th annual Great Communicators Dinner Tuesday at Mr. Anthony's in Boardman.
The Gassers, owner/operators of Gasser Chair Co. in Liberty Township, were tapped for their outstanding contributions to communications and service to the community.
The company was founded in 1946 by George Gasser and his brothers, Roger and Louis Gasser. Today, many local charities and organizations have benefited from the generosity of the second generation of the family as it continues the founders' original principals in supporting the community in which they live and do business.
Also recognized at the dinner were John and Betty Holt, who received the May Vetterle award, given to an individual or family living with a speech or hearing loss and serving as a role model to others.
Vince Bevacqua, WYTV News Channel 33 anchor, served as the evening's master of ceremonies. Event sponsors were First Place Bank and SSB, and corporate sponsors included Packer Thomas, McDonald Investments, Gemco Aviation, Mum's the Word Florists and the DeBartolo Corp.
Past honorees
Past Great Communicator Award recipients have included the late Warren P. Williamson Jr., founder of WKBN radio and TV; Clarence R. Smith, Mahoning County Republican Party chairman and president of Compco; federal Judge Peter C. Economus; the late F.W Knecht, who was owner of Wendell August Forge, and his wife, Connie Knecht; former Youngstown State University president Dr. Leslie Cochran and his wife, Dr. Lin Cochran; the late Donald McKay, former president of Home Savings and Loan Association; the Paul and Anthony Rich Center for the Study and Treatment of Autism; community leaders Robert and Marilyn Wagmiller, Eleanor Beecher Flad, and the Beecher and Flad families;Herman Maass, plant manager of General Motors Lordstown, and YSU president David Sweet and his wife, Patricia.
Purpose
All proceeds from the dinner benefit the hearing and speech center, which is observing its 80th anniversary this year. The nonprofit United Way organization was founded in 1925 and strives to offer quality programs and services to people facing communication challenges.