2 alumni to be honored for community service

Each will receive an Eagle Excellence Award.
HUBBARD -- A highlight of the Saturday's Hubbard Alumni Banquet at the Brentford House will be the recognition of two alumni members for their community service.
Honored will be Geraldine Hallapy and George Praznik, who have worked to promote Hubbard as a great place to work and live. Each will be presented with an Eagle Excellence Award.
Class of 1951
Hallapy graduated in 1951 from Hubbard High School, where she was involved in the Glee Club, Hubbard Staff, class plays and Tri-Hi-Y.
After working at McKelvey's department store, she began a career in banking that has spanned 47 years. During that time, she completed a general banking certification from Ohio University, attended the American Institute of Banking and completed a commercial-loan-to-business program.
She began her career at Dollar Savings and Trust, now National City Bank, where she retired as vice president in 2003. She was the first woman manager and vice president at the Hubbard office.
Hallapy is a deaconess at Central Christian Church, where she has been a member 47 years. In addition to the alumni association, for which she serves as treasurer of the Class of 1951, she has been a member of the Football Moms, Track Boosters, Hubbard Area Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, Hubbard Community Fund, Friends of Hubbard Library, Crop Walk for Hunger, Hubbard Historical Society and the Red Hat Society.
She served on the board of trustees for Hubbard Public Library and for Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital, has been involved with Hubbard Fun Fest and holidays, and recently co-chaired People in Progress.
She married Robert J. Hallapy in 1953, who is now deceased. They had two sons, Robert J. and Rodney Hallapy, and she has four grandchildren.
Class of 1953
Praznik graduated in 1953 from Hubbard, where he was active in sports, excelled in basketball and received All Steel Valley honors during his senior year.
His career in the insurance industry has spanned 38 years. As a senior representative for Metropolitan Life, he earned many awards for outstanding sales.
He has served as Hubbard councilman and was council president for eight months and the city's mayor for seven and a half years.
Among city improvements under Praznik's leadership were upgrades to waterlines, sidewalks, curbs and roads, the annexation of Pine Lakes and Deer Creek golf courses and the opening of Flying J and Lighting Products.
He's been active in the Northside Club, Hubbard Area Chamber of Commerce, Lions and Optimists clubs, the historical society, Spring Hills and the Youngstown crime clinic.
His wife, Nancy, is a 1956 Hubbard High School graduate. They have four children and nine grandchildren.