John Weed Powers left an indelible mark on the area

Atty. John Weed Powers was from a generation that lived the biblical admonition, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” Powers gave much — of his wealth, his time, his intelligence and expertise — for the betterment of our community. And sought little in return.

His heart was always in the right place — even though there were times when he came across as arrogant or unyielding.

The owners of this newspaper worked closely with Powers, a managing partner of the Youngstown law firm Manchester, Bennett, Powers & Ullman, for many years on the revitalization of downtown Youngstown and the central business district. While he could be a pain in the butt (we say that affectionately), he never gave us reason to question his sincerity or his commitment to the Mahoning Valley.

Powers has been described by friends and acquaintances as courageous, witty and dedicated. We also knew him as a visionary. When most people, including government officials, had just about thrown in the towel with regard to the rebirth of the center of the city, Powers used his family connections, his legal expertise and his ties to the region’s movers and shakers to help create the Youngstown Revitalization Foundation. The YRF was the forerunner of subsequent downtown redevelopment entities. But more than that, it provided the impetus for the private and public sectors to join forces in developing a blueprint for, first of all, tearing down dilapidated structures, and then for generating new government and business activity in the central district.

Powers did a lot of talking in those dark days of Youngstown’s existence, but he also put his money where his mouth was. He was a firm believer in the arts and other cultural activities, arguing passionately that a community’s quality of life was just as important for its survival as jobs, stable neighborhoods and honest government.

He was a founder of the Youngstown Area Arts Council and was active in the Rotary Club, Ballet Western Reserve, Youngstown Symphony Society, American Red Cross, Poland Presbyterian Church and Blackburn Home for the Aged.

His interest in politics was played out during his two terms as mayor of Poland Village and through his active involvement in the Citizens League of Greater Youngstown.

Mafia’s presence

Powers and Atty. James Callen, long-time staff member of the Northeast Ohio Legal Services, were instrumental in the creation of the League in 1982 in the midst of the Mafia’s display of power through its numerous illegal gambling operations, loan sharking and corruption of government through bribing — and owning — key officeholders.

In 1984, Powers, Callen and then Mayor-elect Patrick J. Ungaro testified before a U.S. Senate subcommittee that was conducting hearings on organized crime in the Great Lakes region.

Powers, a nephew of Edward W. Powers, for whom the downtown auditorium is named, created a stir in the community with his testimony because of his prominence and his willingness to pull off the scab that had festered for so long.

But that’s what made John Weed Powers such an asset to this community. He was not afraid to speak his mind and was not reluctant to clash with the perceived mighty of the region.

Powers died recently at age 93. He will long be remembered.