Patrick Connolly and Richard Abel named 2013 Citizens of the Year

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The United Veterans Council of Youngstown chose Robert Bakalik of Youngstown as its 2013 Veteran of the Year and Patrick Connolly of Austintown and Richard E. Abel of Youngstown as its 2013 Citizens of the Year.

Susan Skrzynski, director of the Mahoning County Veteran Service Commission, presented plaques during the United Veterans Council’s recent 73rd Annual Awards and Recognition Banquet to Bakalik, Connolly and Abel in recognition their accomplishments.

Also recognized were UVC’s 2014 officers: Barry Landgraver, commander; Jennifer Baun, senior vice commander and adjutant; Antomi (Tony) Revetti, junior vice commander; Roderick A. Hosler, treasurer; Vincent Bellanca, chaplain; and Bruce Kirkland, sergeant-at-arms.

Here is information about the veteran and citizens of the year:

Veteran of the Year

Robert “Bob” F. Bakalik, of Youngstown, an Army veteran of the Korean War, was assigned to the 140th Tank Battalion, 40th Infantry Division in Korea on July 4, 1952. While with the 140th, he saw combat in the Kumwah Valley Sector, Sniper’s Ridge and Toko-Ri, spending nine months on the line.

A 1950 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School, he worked in the family grocery business, Franklin Foods, on Franklin Avenue, until April 1951, when he enlisted in the Army.

After the 140th rotated out of Korea, Bakalik was sent to Armor School, where he was an instructor. Among his decorations are the Korean Service Medal with three Bronze Campaign Stars, the National Defense Service Medal and the United Nations Service Medal.

Discharged in April 1954, Bakalik attended Youngstown College and graduated from the University of Miami, Fla., in 1958. He worked for Eastern Airlines and the Youngstown Municipal Airport before owning and operating Boombas Tavern and Restaurant in Youngstown, known for its pierogies and haluski.

He is one of the three founding members of Korean War Veterans Association Chapter 137.

Citizen of the Year

Patrick Connolly of Austintown lived on Youngstown’s South Side until he was 8, when he and his younger brothers and sisters were sent to St. Paul Orphanage in Pittsburgh, where he remained until he went into the Army.

After serving from 1954 to 1956 at Fort Knox, Ky., and Fort Lee, Va., Connolly worked for the railroad, Country Gardens and the General Motors Lordstown Complex, where he also was a representative for United Autoworkers of America Local 1112.

After retiring from GM, he operated a nursery, Connolly’s Garden Center in Austintown, which he had started while working at GM. Today, he works part time at County Gardens, also in Austintown.

Connolly is the founder and was instrumental in the conception, design and construction of the Mahoning Valley 9/11 Memorial on Raccoon Road in Austintown.

Annually, the 9/11 Memorial, under Connolly’s direction, hosts a community memorial service in remembrance of the 2001 terrorist attacks. He also organizes the upkeep and beautification of the memorial grounds and helps educate local schoolchildren about the significance of 9/11 and the Mahoning Valley 9/11 Memorial.

Connolly and his wife, Rosemarie, have three children and four grandchildren.

CITIZEN OF THE YEAR

Richard E. Abel, born in Youngstown and reared in Boardman, became vice president of the family owned Banner Supply Co. of Youngstown in 1999 after he graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and from Youngstown State University with a master’s degree in business administration in 1997.

Abel, who has a history of being generous to the community and its veterans organizations, was instrumental in providing a vehicle to help the Marine Corps League Detachment store and deliver toys collected by the Marine Corps Reserve unit at Youngstown Air Reserve Station in Vienna for the Toys for Tots program.

Additionally, Banner Supply, in concert with Core 6, donated roofing materials for the new American Legion Post 472 home on East Indianola Avenue and VFW Post 3307 on Albert Street.

He is married to the former Erika Ford, and they live in Canfield with their three children, Richard, Raquel and Kate.