Wilson High alumni get set for hall of fame dinner event

Staff report

BOARDMAN

Woodrow Wilson High School alumni are establishing a hall of fame to honor Wilson graduates for their accomplishments and service.

The Woodrow Wilson High School Hall of Fame Dinner is set for May 25 at The Georgetown. The event will benefit the Woodrow Wilson Legacy Scholarship at Youngstown State University. Tickets cost $40 per person. The deadline for reservations is May 10; call 330-744-6954.

Woodrow Wilson High School graduated its first class in 1939. It was one of six public high schools in Youngstown, serving the neighborhoods around its former location at Gibson Street and Indianola Avenue on the South Side.

The school closed in 2007 and was razed the following year.

The Wilson Alumni Committee, which supports the legacy scholarship, has selected 12 inductees as the first to be inducted into the hall of fame.

Howard Friend, known as “Howdy,” class of 1944: military service in World War II, community service with the YMCA and Camp Fitch, and high school assistant principal, teacher, football/basketball coach and superintendent of Mahoning County Joint Vocational School.

1946 Wilson High Football Team: undefeated City Series champions under coach Howard Hartman. The team had a high state ranking, and its members constituted the Southside All-Star Team.

Parker McHenry, class of 1951: executive vice president and member of the Board of Directors of Mahoning National Bank, member of the Board of Directors of Sky Bank and taught banking classes at Youngstown State University.

Jackie Gawron, class of 1956, posthumously: teacher, supervisor and recipient of Teacher of the Year in 1987 for the Youngstown City Schools, co-chair for the Woodrow Wilson High School Last Stand in 2007, spearheaded the dinner dance in 2007 and 2009 and instrumental in establishing the legacy scholarship at YSU.

The Hon. Robert Milich, class of 1959: Youngstown Municipal Court judge, law director for Youngstown, retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve and Youngstown Health Department administrator.

Anthony D’Apolito, class of 1964: served in U.S. Army, veteran and sergeant for the Youngstown Police Department and investigator with the Office of the Mahoning County Prosecutor.

Dr. Rudy Braydich, class of 1969: dentist with Braydich Dental Inc., is involved with local school systems and free dental screening programs and chairs advisory committee for the Choffin School of Accredited Dental Assisting.

Bill Young, class of 1969: veteran charter and social studies instructor. He is teaching in Clyde, Ohio.

Dickie Banks, class of 1969: football player at Wilson, named to The Vindicator All-City Team and All-NEO Team, and coached Fighting Little Redmen and Wilson football.

Victor Slezak, class of 1975: accomplished actor in “Bluebloods, “The Americans,” “Hell on Wheels,” “Guiding Light” and various Broadway roles.

The Hon. Cheryl Waite, Class of 1977: first woman judge elected to Seventh District Court of Appeals, assistant law director for the City of Youngstown and served as president of YWCA Board of Trustees and Gateway Industries.

The Rev. Lewis Macklin II, class of 1984: pastor of Holy Trinity Missionary Baptist Church, Youngstown Area Urban League and C.H.O.I.C.E. trustee, United Way Board of Directors, and community volunteer, mentor and liaison to several organizations.