YSU will honor couple for support

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Reid and Judy Schmutz, lifelong Youngstown residents and supporters of Youngstown State University, will receive YSU’s Friends of the University Award at a dinner Saturday at the Youngstown Country Club.

The award recognizes outstanding leadership and contributions to YSU and the community. Among the previous recipients are Warren P. Williamson III, Eleanor Beecher Flad, Helen Stambaugh, Nathaniel Jones, the Beeghly Family and John and Denise DeBartolo York.

The Schmutzes grew up across the street from each other and attended The Rayen School on Youngstown’s North Side. They married in 1965 and have three children – Charles Jr., Andy and Jill.

Reid Schmutz, a graduate of Brown University, worked 25 years at the Standard Slag Co., leaving in 1989 as vice president of operations. He then became president of the YSU Foundation, where he helped grow the foundation’s assets to more than $180 million and helped implement the YSU University Scholars program. He retired earlier this year.

He has served as president of the Mahoning Valley Historical Society, the Youngstown Rotary Club and the YSU Penguin Club. He is a member of the 1985 inaugural class of Leadership Mahoning Valley.

Judy Schmutz serves on the board of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County and is a sustaining member of the Junior League of Youngstown. She previously served on the board of the Boardman Methodist Preschool and the Boardman PTA. In 1997, after 22 years of service, she received lifetime membership in the Ohio PTA.

The Schmutzes are supporters of the YSU Mad about The Arts, WATTS, the Schmutz Family Lobby in Stambaugh Stadium and the Schmutz Family Classroom in Williamson Hall. Endowments established are the Schmutz Family Scholarship Fund and the Schmutz Athletic Facilities Support Fund.