Newly promoted achiever Bob Davis helps kick off Warren festival

By Ed Runyan | June 6, 2015 at 12:06a.m.

WARREN

If Warren needed an example of how African-Americans can achieve, it need look no further than Bob Davis, longtime director of the Warren Water Department.

Davis started work a month ago as Cleveland’s director of public utilities, meaning he oversees the water, wastewater and electric utilities in a city of more than 390,000.

But he still lives in Warren, and he remains committed to the people here, Mayor Doug Franklin said Friday afternoon as he gave Davis the key to the city at the start of the 31st Warren-Trumbull County African American Achievers Association Festival, which runs 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. through Sunday on Courthouse Square.

“I’m so thankful to have known him,” the mayor said of Davis, who is president of the association, which organizes the festival and an annual hall of fame banquet.

“I’ll continue to be deeply rooted in the community and do what I can do to help the community to reduce tensions in our neighborhoods and give away scholarships,” Davis said.

Davis, Franklin and other festival organizers helped several children cut the ribbon to start the event, which features a basketball tournament today, musical performances on two stages, a health fair, a morning parade today, rides, games and food.

“We want everyone to come from all walks of life,” Davis said.

There is no admission charge, so the event relies on its sponsors to pay the bills – AVI Foodsystems of Warren, Century Link, Panera Bread and Echo Lanes – Davis said.

For the first time, two musical performances will take place at the Downtown Amphitheater adjacent to Courthouse Square. Those free shows will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and 8:30 to 10 p.m.

Among the basketball competitions are the 3-on-3, the drunk and free-throw competitions, from 1:30 to 7 p.m. today.

Cheryl Strother, director of nursing at the Warren Health Department, said there will be 13 types of health screenings provided, including vision, dental and HIV, and there will be a free bike-helmet giveaway. Bicycles will be given away through a drawing.