Alan G. Davisattended Ford City Catholic School and graduated from FCHS in 1967. He attended New Castle Business School and Indiana University of Pennsylvania for criminology. He has worked at Eljer for thirty years.  From 1969-1971, Al served as an Infantry Reconnaissance Scout in Vietnam and was highly decorated with several medals for bravery. These medals included the National Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze stars, Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960 device, two O/S bars, Marksman, Good Conduct Medal, Army Commendation Medal and Combat Infantryman Badge.  Al coached the FCHS Junior High basketball team from 1986-1990, winning two section championships and the Ford City Catholic School teams from 1992-1995 fielding championship teams there too. In 1995, he became the assistant varsity girls basketball coach at FCHS with a record of 16-5. For several years, he coordinated the girls elementary program which was the first of its kind in our area.  In 1996, his girls team won the section title and went on to the WPIAL quarterfinals. The next year they repeated their section title and advanced to the semi-finals. He also coached the ninth grade team that won its section title. In 1998, as an assistant coach, his team went undefeated and advanced to the PIAA playoffs finishing fourth in the state. In 1999, his team advanced to the state quarterfinals.  In 2000, Al became the head girls basketball coach and recorded a mark of 21-4. They advanced to the WPIAL playoffs and lost in the first round to Serra Catholic in overtime. Al is married to the former Karen Michalik. They reside in Manorville.

J. Gary DeComo has served as District Justice in Magisterial District #1 since 1994. He has worked actively with the youth in his district by supporting various programs and initiating a youth community service program which provides and opportunity for first time offenders to work for non-profit agencies in lieu of cash payments of fines and costs. DeComo is also involved in youth drug and alcohol prevention programs. He visits schools within his district on a semi-annual basis to discuss the dangers, as well as the legal penalties, for using drugs and/or alcohol.  As a result of his personal efforts, he received a grant from Attorney General Mike Fisher in 1997 for use in these programs. In 1998, he was presented with a Governors Highway Safety award for work “above and beyond normal job or social responsibilities to promote highway safety. In 1999, he was chosen as the Child Advocate of the Year by the Armstrong County Children and Youth Services.  A graduate of Robert Morris College with a bachelor of arts degree in accounting and a member of the Pennsylvania Certified Public Accountants, he resides in Manorville with his wife Sheri and his two daughters, Tara and Breane.

Roger Huston Faulxwas born in Ford City to Desire and Rose Huston Faulx on March 14, 1919. His father was born in Belgium and his mother in Manor Township. Both of his parents were very active in war relief efforts to help the people of was ravaged Belgium in World War One ad his mother was instrumental in organizing the first Ford City Public Library. Roger has two brothers, Lewis and Ray, both deceased. Roger attended the public school of Ford City, graduating from FCHS in 1936. During World War Two, he rose to the rank of Sergeant of the 239th Military Police Company in the European Theater of Operations. He entered the Army on June 19, 1943 and was honorably discharged on February 20, 1946. After returning home, he held various jobs, but the prominent, lasting one was with Ford City Mellon Bank.  Roger was involved in numerous community organizations. He served on the Board of the American Red Cross, the Ford City Area Hall of Fame and the Ford City Public Library. He was actively involved with the American Cancer Society and the Hospice Program. He unselfishly volunteered his time to transport patients to their treatments and spent precious time with them in their homes. He was treasurer of the Methodist Men’s group at the Ford Memorial Methodist Church in Ford City.  Roger was a charter member of the Ford City Lions Club. He served as its King Lion and treasurer, a position he held for many years. He was very active in the organization and was often seen selling brooms made by the blind, working in the Lions booth at Heritage Days and selling tickets for the annual charity drawing. He gave of his time whenever and wherever it was needed. He received the recognition of being placed on the Honor Roll of Lionism with District 14 N, another prestigious award.  Roger was married to the former Edna Burdette and they had two sons, David, a special education teacher in the Johnstown area, and Randy, a fireman/policeman in Danville, Kentucky. David and his wife have a son, Dr. Michael Faulx. Randy has two sons, Jay and David.  Roger remarried after the death of Edna in 1954. His second wife was Betty Veres. Betty succumbed to cancer in 1084. Roger passed away on June 26, 1999.  Roger gave of himself tirelessly and consistently to his church, his community and his country.

Jennie Frisina was born to Samuel and Teresa (Cristofaro) Frisina in Pittsburgh on June 23, 1904. Both of ther parents were born in Italy, her father coming to this country ten years before her mother because he had to earn enough money to have her join him here. She came from a family of four, three girls and one boy. The family moved to Ford City when Jennie was five or six. The family all worked in the family store that they operated from their home in Bellwood Gardens and helped their father sell fruit from his fruit cart across from the railroad station in Kittanning. The oldest children in the family sacrificed a complete formal education to go to work early in their lives. They learned the basics at St. Mary’s Parochial School in Ford City. Through their hard work and by living a good Christian life, they succeeded.  At sixteen, Jennie married John Frisina, a foreman of maintenance men on the Pennsylvania Railroad. They bought a home at 1318 Fourth Avenue in Ford City and eighty years later, Jennie still resided in the same house. John and Jennie were the parents of two sons and two daughters; Sam, Anthony, Kathleen and Rose Jane. She became a single parent after John was killed by a hit and run driver near their home.
 She and her son Sam helped her aging mother run her store until she passed away. At this point, at age 65, she and Sam opened their own store, “Sam’s Market” on the corner of 14th Street and Fourth Avenue, less than half a block from the Senopole Family Store. She and Sam operated that corner store six days a week until they closed and sold it thirty years later. Jennie was ninety years old when she retired.  Jennie has always been used to hard work and taking care of herself and her family. She has always relied on her inner resources to survive. Her work ethic is very strong. She has always been a strong Christian woman and remains a role model for others to follow.

Sam Frisinawas one of four children born to John and Jennie Frisina in Ford City. He was born February 23, 1927. He attended St. Mary’s Parochial school and graduated from FCHS in 1945. He was employed by Steve Nickleach for a number of years, working for him eight hours a day and then working in his grandmother’s store. Sixty-hour weeks were routine for Sam. He had a great deal of experience as a manager and worker.  Somehow, he found the time to coach winning basketball teams at St. Mary’s School for over twenty years. He purchased a station wagon, basketballs and uniforms, treated his players to meals and snacks at away games, paid for the gas and taught them by example to be good Christian men. When cheerleaders accompanied the team to championship games, Sam always treated them with cones, snacks and meals after the games. He has always been involved in his church and made an annual retreat with is friends to the University of Notre Dame for many years. For many years, Sam was a member of the Ford City Lions Club. The Lions honored him for his work with the youth of Ford City.  His customers always marveled at Sam’s uncanny ability for adding dozens of figures in his head while he was waiting on them. Until Sam suffered a series of setbacks with his health, Sam attended St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Ford City on a regular basis. He is charitable and always has a smile for everyone he meets.

Abraham Greenbaum  was the youngest of eight children born to Meyer and Caroline (Frank) Greenbaum. Abe was born on May 5, 1859. After arriving in Kittanning around 1890, he spent the rest of his life actively identified with Armstrong County’s business, industrial, financial and civic life.
 In addition to the various enterprises with which he was engaged, he was a pioneer in the natural gas industry in this county and was one of the founders of the Kittanning Telephone Company (now Alltel), Fawcus Machine Company and the Ford City Electric Light, Heat and Power Company. For many years, he served as a director of Peoples Bank in Ford City and served as the president of its board of directors from 1931-1938. He resigned only due to poor health.
 Greenbaum and several other men of Armstrong County built the power plant on Third Avenue and successfully operated it for ten years at which time it was sold to Ford City Borough for $16,000 in cash and bonds. The Borough sold the power plant to West Penn Power in 1960 for more than $1,000,000. This money was used to facilitate a sewage project.  During World War One, Greenbaum took an active part in the Armstrong County Red Cross and Salvation Army. He was especially kind to children and orphans.  In 1922, Abe and his son Meyer opened a furniture and hardware store on the corner of Ford Street and Fourth Avenue that remains there to this day. Today, the store is owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. David Pride.  Abe married Rebecca Schloss in 1887 and spent thirty-seven years together until her death in 1924. They had a son Meyer and three grandchildren; Dr. James Greenbaum, the late Robert Greenbaum and the late George Greenbaum. Abe passed away on March 9, 1940 and was buried in West View Cemetery in Pittsburgh.

Margaret “Peg” Hilemanwas the first of five children born in McGrann to Austin Clark and Bertha Margaret Daley Hileman on April 9, 1908. Her brothers and sisters were Austin “Pete” Clark, Jr., Sarah Francis who died at age five from scarlet fever, Paul “P.D.” and Willianna (Mrs. Clair E. Miller). Peg has lived in McGrann almost all of her life.  Peg attended McGrann schools until the fifth grade then finished in Ford City. She very successfully completed her junior year at FCHS in 1924 and went to work in the office of the mirror works at PPG in Ford City. She remained there until 1942. In 1942, while waiting for a civil service job to open up, she worked in the office and clerked in Flynn’s Department Store on Ford Street. She accepted a job with the U.S. Civil Service in Pittsburgh working in Ordnance during World War Two. She wore a uniform, worked under very strict conditions involving explosives and traveled back and forth to McGrann on the train until her parents insisted that she take an apartment in Pittsburgh. She was paid $1025 a year and out of that she had a war bond taken out once a month and had to pay rent for the apartment. After the war ended in 1945, Peg went to work for the credit office at Kaufmann’s in Pittsburgh. An opening occurred at PPG late in 1945 and she accepted the position, remaining there until her retirement in 1965.
 Peg has been very active in her church, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Kittanning where she was active in the choir for over fifty years, worked for eight years in the church office and served as President of the Episcopal Church Women for many years.  Peg was president on the Nellie Bly Questers for several terms and also served as president of the Business and Professional Women’s Club for two years. For over fifty years Peg has been involved in service to her family, her church, her community and her country.

Mary C. Johns, daughter of Charles and Rose (Roebuck) Lefchik, was born December 23, 1952 in Ford City. She graduated from Holy Trinity Parochial School in 1966 and Ford City High School in 1970.  In high school, she was a majorette, co-captain and choreographer of the drill team and a member of the chorus, Penn-Ford Junior Historians and national Honor Society. She held a leading role in the junior class play and chorus musical. She was voted the best actress in senior class. She graduated from IUP in 1975 with a bachelor of science in health, phys. Ed and recreation and taught in the Armstrong School District for five years.  Mary has owned and operated center Stage Dance Studio for 21 years. A protégé of Miss Frances from the age of three in both tap and ballet, Mary teaches children from age 3 to age 18. Her students have performed at numerous competitions, Heritage Days and benefits for senior citizens and health centers. She has danced with the IUP Contemporary Dance Troup and performed the Nutcracker Suite with the Westmoreland Ballet Company. In 1988, she became a member of the Dance Masters of Pennsylvania and Dance Masters of America. In 2000, she was awarded a fellowship to study dance at the State University of New York in Buffalo.  Mary Johns has choreographed the school musicals for Kittanning High School and Ford City High School for many years. She has also designed routines for the Ford City Dance Squad, Silks and Junior League cheerleaders.  She has also choreographed routines for elementary school children. Much of her time is spent volunteering. Aside from her dance talents, she has served on the Armstrong Bicentennial Committee.  She and her husband Larry Johns established a scholarship awarded annually to a student furthering their own studies in the performing arts.

Dr. Frank McNutt was born on August 4, 1917 in Ford City. Dr. McNutt attended Ford City’s public elementary and secondary schools, graduating from FCHS in 1935. He did his undergraduate college work at Washington and Jefferson College and his medical school studies at Cornell University.  Immediately upon graduating Cornell Medical School, he was inducted as a medic in the U.S. Army and was sent to Japan. While awaiting the invasion, atomic bombs were detonated on Hiroshima and Nagasaki ending World War Two. Upon returning home, Dr. McNutt opened the first health clinic in Kittanning and practiced medicine there for many years. His patients often mention he was an outstanding and caring physician.
 McNutt was an outstanding supporter of the Armstrong County YMCA, the Salvation Army, Red Cross, Armstrong County Memorial Hospital and the public libraries in Ford City and Kittanning.  Frank was married to the late Rebecca Jane Connor and together they had five children; Marcia Bresett, Robert McNutt, Frank McNutt III, Christine McNutt and Mary Shettel.

Kenneth Mechling was born and raised in Pattonville, attended Pleasant View Elementary and graduated from FCHS in 1955. While in high school, Mechling played baseball and football, earning all-conference honors and several football and academic scholarship offers. Instead of accepting any of these offers, he worked a year then attended IUP, graduating in 1960. He continued his studies and earned a masters degree in 1964.
 Ken’s first teaching job was at FCHS where he taught biology and general science. He served two years as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army in 1960-1961 and returned to FCHS in 1962. In 1966, Mechling was hired as an associate professor of biology by Clarion University.  He would return to Michigan State during the summers to complete his doctorate work. When his doctorate work was completed in 1970, he was promoted to a full professorship at Clarion.
 Dr. Mechling has subsequently won every award ever given for teaching at Clarion University at the State Higher Education system. These honors include: Commendation for Excellence from the PA State Science Teachers Association, the Presidential Award for Continuing and Outstanding Service to Science Education from the National Science Supervisors’ Association and the Distinguished Service to Science Education, one of the National Science Teachers Association’s highest honors.  Mechling has written and directed more than forty grant programs and co-authored five handbooks on leadership in science education. Beginning in 1982, he began his own company, School Science Services, Inc., to provide science education instruction and consulting services to schools throughout the World.  He has worked as a campaign staffer for Representative David Wright who represented Armstrong and parts of Clarion County in the state legislature.  Mechling retired from Clarion in 2000 but still maintains an active schedule. He is currently teaching in several of Pennsylvania’s intermediate units and assists regional school districts in science education while preparing for upcoming overseas adventures in teaching in Tunisia, Morocco, Spain and Thailand.  Ken  married  Dorothy Jean Bower in 1959. Together they had five children; Kenneth, Kelly, Amy, Kristine and Andrew. They reside in Clarion.

Virginia “Jeannie” Palermo was born on December 29, 1932 to John and Mary (Kamis) Protz. Jeannie was the baby of the family and has always been proud that her three brothers all served on World War Two. She was educated at Holy Trinity Parochial School and graduated from FCHS in 1949. She was active in the school band and orchestra.  After graduating high school, Palermo was hired at PPG. While there, she cultivated her athletic skills, playing first base and batting lead off for many teams in the valley. She also excelled in golf with a four or five handicap and achieved a 279 on the bowling lanes. Jeannie worked at PPG for thirty-seven years before retiring and taking a position in her niece’s business, Young’s Interiors and Flooring in Ford City
 For many years, Jeannie’s mother was the Republican Committeewoman from Ford City Borough and Jeannie credits her interest in politics to her. She helped organize the annual Picnic in the Park and, since 1985, has served on the Heritage Days Committee. She was also actively involved in the Rails to Trails committee and the Republican Party. She served on Ford City Borough Council for eight years in the 1990s, assuming a leadership role in the economic revitalization project.  She is a lifelong member of Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church where she sings in the choir and serves as the secretary of the Christian Mothers organization.
 
Dr. Sen. Albert Pechan was born May 13, 1902 to Ludwig and Theresa Pechan, who had emigrated to this country from Slovakia. He attended St. Mary’s Parochial School and graduated from Ford City High School at the age of 16. He attended the University of Kentucky, Bucknell University and earned his D.D.S. from the University of Pittsburgh Dental School in 1928. He practiced general dentistry until his death in 1969.
 Pechan served on the University of Pittsburgh Board of Trustees, IUP Board of Trustees and Judicial Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh. He also served as a Ford City School Director for thirty years, being elected the first president of the newly formed Ford City Union School District.
 In 1948, Pechan became the first native son of Ford City to be elected to the legislative body of Pennsylvania, representing the senatorial district of Armstrong and Butler counties for four terms. He was the first state senator from this district to serve more than two consecutive terms.  As senator, Pechan introduced legislation to build the expressway from Pittsburgh to Brookville and he lived to see it completed to Kittanning. He also sponsored the building of the Allegheny Valley Expressway Bridge. Other legislation he authored included the changing of Indiana State College’s name to Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Pechan also sponsored the introduction of fluoride into Pennsylvania’s drinking water supplies and was called the Father of Pennsylvania Fluoridation. He served in the Senate as the chairman of the Public Health and Welfare committees and sat on the committees for Education, Highways, Constitutional Changes and Federal Relations, Banking, Military Affairs, Aeronautics, Law and Order and others. He became the Republican Whip in 1955.  In his honor, the Health and Medical Building at IUP was named for him as was a dormitory on the Kittanning campus of IUP. Pechan was instrumental in the establishment of the Kittanning campus of IUP. He was one of the first legislators to have a radio talk show concerning legislation. It was called “Your Senator Reports.” It was hosted by John B. McCue and aired on WACB. Pechan was named a Fellow by the American College of Dentistry in 1960, “Dentist of the Year” in 1957 and a Fellow in the Academy of General Dentistry.  Albert served as an alternate to the 1940 Republican National Convention and was its assistant sergeant of arms at the 1956 and 1960 National Conventions. He organized the first Young Republican Club of Armstrong County. He was a State Committeeman and a member of the Aeronautics Commission and Joint State Government Commission executive board. Albert was also a long-time vestryman at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Kittanning.  Pechan always demonstrated by his deeds to be conspicuous of the fact that he represented all of the people of his district regardless of their political affiliation. Accordingly, he made use of his influence to further the needs and influence of all of the residents of Armstrong and Butler Counties.
 Pechan was married to Leonora Shaffer until her death and later to Betty Tenerowicz, his surviving widow.

Frank Schauffhauser was born on October 31, 1911 in Ford City and passed away on March 26, 2001. His parents, uncles and aunts were all glassworkers from Eisenstein, Germany who came to Ford City before the turn of the century to find a better life working in Captain Ford’s glass plant.
 Shortly after the terrible flood that hit western Pensylvania on St. patrick’s Day in 1913, his family moved to higher ground on Sixth Avenue and lived in the same house all of his life.  Frank graduated from St. Mary’s Parochial School and, in 1926, completed his studies at FCHS, receiving a diploma in commercial courses. He went to work in the accounting office at PPG and remained there until retiring 42 years later.
 In the midst of the Great Depression, Frank purchased a box camera for sixty- nine cents and began to take and develop his own pictures. Many of these pictures were of our town and the events that spanned the middle and late century. For more than sixty- five years, he practiced his photography, often sharing his hobby with anyone who wished to see his work. Frank’s photography has not only taught people much of the history and heritage of the Ford City area, but has thrilled the thousands who viewed his photos over the years.  Frank was a member of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Ford City for 89 years.

Charles F. Schmaus was born in Ford City on April29, 1944 to the late Charles A, and Hedwig (Reich) Schmaus. He attended holy Trinity Parochial School and graduated from FCHS in 1962. During his senior year, he led his team to its twenty-eighth basketball sectional title. He received a full basketball scholarship to Virginia Military Institute where, as an outstanding player, he was named to a number of All-American teams and was drafted by the Cincinnati Royals in the fourth round of the NBA Draft. Upon his graduation from VMI, he was hired as the assistant coach there and four years later he became VMI’s head coach. In his first year his team, with a twenty-one game winning streak and an overall record of twenty-six and four, made an appearance in the NCAA Eastern Regional semi-finals, was ranked in the AP Top 20 and earned him “Coach of the year” honors in the Southern Conference.
 Chuck coached at VMI for eleven seasons, for one year at the University of Richmond and for several years at the Coastal Academy. For a number of years, he was a basketball referee.
 Chuck is married to the former Jean Macdonald of Miami, Florida. They have two children: Karen and Donald. The family resides in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina where he makes his living as a realtor.

James Solak, son of John and Mary (Bartolovic) Solak, was born July 12, 1947 in Ford City. He has one sister, Rose Marie Solak. Jim received his education at St. Mary’s Parochial School and graduated from FCHS in 1965. He continued his studies at IUP, receiving a bachelor of science degree in business in 1970 and his masters of education in business degree from IUP in 1975. In 1981, he earned and received his master of science degree from the University of Pittsburgh and his doctorate in education from the same institution in 1998.  Jim taught in the Plum School District for eight years and, for the past 23 years, has been a professor in the Management Information Systems Department of the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology at IUP.
 Solak has been active in the Ford City community for many years. He was a member of the Ford City Kiwanis Club and is currently a member of the Ford City Lions Club. As a Kiwanian, he was the sponsor of an active Key Club at FCHS. As a Lion, he assists with the FCHS LEO Club, a very active student volunteer group that benefits our community.  For 11 years. Jim has served as a member of the Armstrong School District Board of Directors, at times representing Ford City Borough, Ford Cliff Borough and Cadogan, and at other times representing Manorville and Manor Township. He is the current President of the school board and continues to support community schools. He has sat on the Lenape Vo-Tech Board and the ARIN Intermediate Board as well. He is the co-chair of the Save Our Schools committee and the Citizens for Community Schools committee.  Solak has been active as the director of the annual 5K race during Heritage Days in Ford City for the past thirteen years. During that time, participation has the race has grown annually.  Jim is the father of two daughters, one of whom, Toni Lynn Taladay, teaches special education classes in the Armstrong School District. His other daughter, Jamie Leigh Solak, is currently studying health and physical education at IUP. The Solak family attends holy Trinity Church in Ford City.

Frank Tolliver Sr., was born in Ford City on October 6, 1927 to Frank and Catherine Tolliver. He was married to the late Gloria Russell Tolliver and they were the parents of five children; Maxine, Frank, Jr., Renee, Paula Jo and Marcia. Their eight grandchildren include Jason and Christopher Tolliver, Gloria Nicole Day, Ashley Day, Courtney Sanders and Aubre, Regina and Karlyn Adams. Their great grandchildren are Jayla, Karon and Tyree Tolliver. Gloria passed away in 1982. In 1987, Frank married Charlotte Robinson Hall. They reside at 216 Third Avenue in Ford City.  Frank attended Ford City’s public schools and graduated from FCHS in 1945. After graduation, Frank worked for Meadow Gold Dairy in Kittanning until they closed in 1958. He then worked for a tire company in Kittanning and for five years worked for Ford City Borough. At the age of forty-one, he enrolled at IUP and earned his B.S. in education in 1972. From the time her received his diploma until his retirement in 1989, Frank taught at West Hills Elementary in the Armstrong School District. He was the very first black teacher ever hired by the ASD.  Although retired, Frank is active in the Second Baptist Church in Ford City where he serves as the superintendent of the Sunday school and also as the director of the senior choir. Frank values his heritage seriously and demonstrates this by erecting Black Heritage Displays at the post office, Lenape Elementary and FCHS during “Black History Month” (February) every year. He remembers the third Monday in January which commemorates the birthday of slain civil rights leader, the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr..  Frank enjoys playing chess, bowling, playing tennis and roller balding. He is a regular participant in the Senior Games in Kittanning and is a member of the Rising Star Masonic Lodge in New Kensington. He is also a member of the retirement branch of the Pennsylvania State Education Association. He serves as a member of the Family Counseling Board and is also a member of the Board of the Armstrong County Health Center.