As schools disappear, Youngstown's history is being lost; one man's trying to save part of it

EDITOR:
The current downsizing of Youngstown's school system and the razing of its historical buildings hold the threat of burying much of our schools history in the rubble. It would be unfortunate indeed if that history were not preserved.
Elements of that history can be found in the Reuben McMillan Library. (I wonder how many don't know that that is the name of the main library on Wick Avenue.) This writer's experience is that the library provides a history of the growth of the city and the great men who built it, but the soul of the city, its people, gets little attention. The early families, the Rogers, Wicks, Butlers, Powers, Rayens, Browns and the Tods, provided for the schools and were the brains and financial muscle that created the wealth and industry of the city. But it was the mid-19th and early 20th century influx of immigrants from all over Europe that provided the intellectual stock, their children and grandchildren, to be educated in those schools. It was those immigrants, followed by their educated progeny, who provided the sweat and ambition that made the city and gave Youngstown its soul. It is their part of the story that needs to be told and preserved.
There are many facets to the story and each would require a book. One of our citizens, Gene K. Janecko has taken it upon himself to record one of the facets: the story of Youngstown High School Football. He produces, in scrapbook form, each high school's football history. He has completed seven such books: Campbell Memorial Books I and II, 1924 to 2006, East-Campbell rivalry, 1927-1967, Chaney, 1926-2003, Struthers, 1916-2003, Ursuline 1932-2004, Fitch 1927-2005 and is currently working on Woodrow Wilson 1938-2006; each book exceeds 600 pages and is filled with great human interest stories, hundreds of pictures, and a wealth of facts.
Just a few to illustrate: One year in the late '20s, of the nationally selected 11 First Team All Americans, the two ends were products of the Youngstown schools: Joe Donchess of Pitt and Wes Fesler of Ohio State. In 1942 College football's most prestige's award recognizing the best college football player in the country, the Heisman Trophy, was won by Chaney's Frank Sinkwich, the son of Youngstown Croatian immigrants. The roster of All Americans trained in the Youngstown school system and the numbers that played in the National Football League is too long to illustrate here, but one that must be noted is Bob Dove of Ursuline. Bob Dove was an All American at Notre Dame and his National Football League career spanned a dozen years. He then coached at Youngstown State for almost a generation.
Gene is researching the obvious sources for his current Wilson project, but he discovers gold in those forgotten items tucked away in an old shoe box containing someone's treasured memories. He is seeking old newspaper clippings, letters of recognition, game programs and photographs. He finds those items put life into the story. Should you have such an item, call Gene at 330-792-0611 he will be thankful. He will guarantee their return and those golden memories will be a part of Youngstown history.
NICHOLAS BOLKOVAC
Youngstown