Wilson Hall of Fame Dinner set for May 28

BOARDMAN

Woodrow Wilson High School Hall of Fame dinner will take place May 28 at Mr. Anthony’s, 7440 South Ave. Tickets are $40, and reservations are due today. Proceeds will benefit the Woodrow Wilson Legacy Scholarship at Youngstown State University. For information and reservations, call 330-744-6954, or email ytownwilsonhalloffame@weebly.com.

A gourmet buffet will be served from 5 to 7 p.m., and the program will begin at 6:45. There will be basket and 50-50 raffles.

The former Woodrow Wilson High School graduated its first class in 1939, and was located at Gibson and Indianola avenues on the South Side of Youngstown. It was closed in 2007 and razed in 2008.

Wilson Alumni Committee continues to recognize alumni and support the legacy scholarship with the Hall of Fame Dinner, and have selected 11 graduates of the high school to be inducted into the hall of fame:

Ed Strauss, Class of 1945, served in the military during the occupation of Japan in 1947, and was a teacher and coach at Struthers, East and Boardman high schools. He worked at Youngstown State University as a film and video director and served as the head softball coach from 1985 to 1995.

Del Sinchak, 1953, is a military veteran, polka band leader, owner of Dusi Music and founder of WAM Recording Studios. He is the marketing director of Peppermint Recording Studio and vice president of the American Federation of Musicians Local 86-242. He was nominated twice for Grammy Awards for Best Polka Recording of the Year, and has received two Crystal Awards from the Cleveland Polka Hall of Fame for Band and Album of the Year.

Wilson High School 880-relay teammates of 1961 advanced to city and district championship and participated in state finals. Members are Brian Trainor, 1961; Thomas R. Sablak, 1962; Thomas A. Yurich, 1961; and Robert Shimek, 1961.

Frank Frattaroli, 1965, is a Vietnam veteran and former reserve deputy sheriff. He is the co-owner of Belleria Pizzeria in Struthers and former chairman for Coaches for Cancer at YSU.

William E. Brown Jr., 1967, also is a Vietnam veteran and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism. He worked as a nurse in the emergency department of a level one trauma center and founded the Emergency Medical Services program at YSU when he was a faculty member.

Al Franceschelli, 1970, coached baseball competitively and was the former president of the Babe Ruth League, winning 12 state and seven regional championships. His team won the 2003 World Series in Boston, and he was coach at Cardinal Mooney High School for 10 seasons. He owns A&C Beverage in downtown Youngstown.

Donald Murphy, 1981, is a community project organizer and advocate for Core 6, which provides housing for needy families and a new facility for American Legion Post 472. He received many community service awards and is general manager at Donnell Ford.

Rochelle Martin-Robinson, 1981, is a veteran of the Ohio National Guard and ordained minister of Total Renewal Church of God in Rex, Texas. She worked in the Central Intelligence Agency and is a member of several boards. She also is mayor of Douglasville, Ga.