Induction honors 3 for township service

The candidates have contributed to civic and community efforts.
AUSTINTOWN -- The Austintown Growth Foundation has inducted three people into its Hall of Fame.
Inductees Joe Koch, Robert Senn and David Stryffeler have contributed to the community through civic or service-oriented efforts.
Koch, a developer, is a lifelong resident of Austintown and a graduate of Fitch High School, where he was an outstanding athlete.
After attending Heidelberg College and Youngstown State University, Joe began the Koch Construction Co. in 1978 that did rough framing, room additions, roofing and remodeling in the building trade. In 1988, through hard work and ambition, Koch purchased Stan Jim Homes, a construction company. From that point on, his companies opened numerous developments in the township and other Valley locations. His organization was recognized by "Inc" Magazine as the 140th fastest-growing private company in the United States.
The Koch Co. has developed the Fairview Heights, Countryside, Stone Hollow, Boulder Creek, Spring Meadow and Meander Cove subdivisions in Austintown and more than five other developments in other locations.
Charitable foundation
In 2002, Koch established the Koch Family Charitable Foundation to maintain, operate and fund recreational community baseball leagues in the tri-county area. His foundation and companies have sponsored numerous baseball teams from Little League through Class B Baseball and many youth soccer teams.
He and his wife, the former Patti Brace, live in the township with their four children, Joseph Jr., Anthony, Victoria and Amanda.
Senn moved into the Austintown business and social scene in 1967.
He and his wife, Anna May Ratay Senn, reared four children; Sherri, Michele, Rob and Jennifer, all Fitch graduates.
Senn is probably best known for his business, Robert Senn Studio, the largest privately owned portrait studio in the tri-county area and ranked in the top 10 studios in the state.
He is a member of the Ohio and America's Professional Photographers Association and a member of the Senior Photographers International. He has received numerous honors including having several of his pictures published in trade magazines and articles written and published about his style of photography, business plans and studio operations.
Senn is also known for his community service through several organizations. He is an active member of the Austintown Rotary Club, where he serves as chairman of the reverse raffle project. He is a Paul Harris Fellow, a member of the Regional Chamber, Austintown Growth Foundation, Austintown 20-20, and a former president of the Austintown Ski Club.
He has raised thousands of dollars for many civic needs in the township.
Resident since 1959
Stryffeler has been a resident of Austintown since 1959. He and his wife, Teresa, have seven children, all of whom are Fitch graduates. Among their 28 grandchildren, three have graduated from Fitch and nine are still attending school in Austintown.
He has been active in the Austintown Little League and The Saxon Club and volunteers his time with the Boy Scouts of America, Austintown Little Falcons, Fitch Touchdown Club, Austintown Township Park and Mahoning County Board of Elections.
He began as a coach in the Austintown Little League from 1969-77, during which time he served as secretary for seven years. He then became league president for the next seven years.
While serving as president, Stryffeler played a key part in the start of the girls fast-pitch league, which in 1978 won the Williamsport regional title. He also played an integral part in the design and construction of the baseball complex known as Champ Field.
In the 1990s, Stryffeler served as a committeeman for six years with the Republican Party.