43
By ALEXIS BARTOLOMUCCI
The Austintown Growth Foundation hosted a Hall of Fame awards ceremony on Sept. 13.
The Austintown Growth Foundation is a community supported, nonprofit development association. They promote community activities and addressing municipal affairs. AGF was founded in 1987 by a group of township trustees and board of education members.
Organizers created the foundation as a cross-jurisdictional instrument to help deal with concerns like regional planning, transportation and development, zoning and community image. The Austintown Growth Foundation hopes to become the Mahoning Valley’s most influential community-oriented leadership and focus group.
The 2016 Hall of Fame Awards were given to Andrew Frost, JR., Brad Gessner, James Johnson, Dr. Fred Owens, Gary Reel and Walter Terlecky. The Hall of Fame Image Awards were given to Boak & Songs - Sam Boak, Generial Insurance - Randy Bokesch and Upstairs Longue - Joe Saadey.
Frost, JR. moved to Austintown to dedicate his life to making Austintown a safe place to raise a family. He was chief and took an all-volunteer fire department and built it into a combination department will full and part-time employees.
Gessner is a Fitch graduate and worked to help make Austintown a better place for children. He served as president of the congregation at Austintown Community Church, served two terms of the Austintown Board of Education and spent 11 years on the Community Corrections Assocation.
Johnson is a Fitch graduate and served in the United States Army Reserves from 1965-1971. He has the reputation of the “helper” of Austintown because of his willingness to help others. Johnson considered his jobs with the Austintown Police Department and the Township - not a job - but a profession.
Owens is a professor and Program Head of Telecommunication Studies at Youngstown State University. He has been named Distinguished Professor of YSU twice for excellence in teaching and community service. He served as president and foundation board chairman of the Rotary Club of Youngstown, president of the Austintown Growth Foundation and had several other positions in community organizations.
Reel is a graduate of Austintown Fitch. He served as Community Service chairman of the Rotary Club of Austintown for five years and is currently the Public Relations chair. Reel continues to volunteer for different organizations around the community.
Terlecky graduated from Austintown Fitch High School. He joined the Army after graduated and served for two years. Terlecky then became a realtor and helped build apartments and townhouses in Austintown bringing more people into the community. Terlecky donated the Westchester Building to the Township in 1997 with the stipulation that the revenue it brought in would be spent for improvement projects, especially for the children.
The Austintown Growth Foundation continues to work on growing the community and making Austintown a better place for the residents.