McGuffey Pioneer Award goes to Lariccia family of Boardman

The award recognizes contributions to literacy and historic preservation.

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — The Lariccia family of Boardman has been selected as the recipient of the 2008 Pioneer Award from the William Holmes McGuffey Historical Society.

The honor is given to individuals for notable contributions in the fields of literacy and/or historic preservation.

This is the society’s third annual award and will go to local philanthropist Tony Lariccia and his wife, Mary, and their daughters, Natalie and Dana.

It will be presented at an 11 a.m. Saturday brunch ceremony at Johnny’s Restaurant and Banquet Center, 7807 Market St., Boardman.

The award, a crystal paperweight, is presented in honor of William Holmes McGuffey, dubbed “America’s Schoolmaster” for his McGuffey Eclectic Readers that served as the reading book of choice in U.S. classrooms for decades after their first publishing in 1836.

McGuffey grew up on a family farm in Coitsville Township, and more than a dozen of his descendants are members of the historical society.

The Lariccias have become well known for their generosity to the Mahoning Valley, donating more than $10 million to various causes and institutions with Youngstown State University being the recipient of some $4 million of those funds.

“We encourage others to follow his lead,” said Richard Scarsella, society president.

The McGuffey homestead on McGuffey Road is a Registered National Historic Landmark, and the society donated it to Mill Creek MetroParks in 1998 as the McGuffey Wildlife Preserve.

The society also bought the McGuffey Family Archives and donated them to the Butler Institute of American Art.

The society sponsors an annual essay contest for seventh- and eighth-graders in the Youngstown city schools to help foster McGuffey’s legacy and improve writing fluency.

Tickets for Saturday’s award brunch are $20. Reservations may be made by calling the society at (330) 726-8277 or the restaurant.