RICHARD “Dick” ANDERSON was “Mr. Santa Claus” in the Ford City/Kittanning area for nearly forty years. From his Applewold workshop, Dick specialized in restoring old bicycles and then giving them away to needy children. Nearly every time, the costs and labors of these hundreds of restorations were conducted at from his own time and wallet. He received numerous awards and congratulatory letters and commendations for his work. Dick always recognized his many, many helpers every time he was lauded for his efforts. One of the ballfields in North Buffalo Township bears his name, a tribute to a man who truly epitomized the principle of selfless effort for those less fortunate than himself.

DR. NATE APPLE never played basketball at Ford City High School. He did play ball for area teams. When he went to the University of Pittsburgh, he made the varsity basketball team and started for four years in the mid Forties. Nate captained the Pitt cagers in 1946-47. He received all district honors and participated in the New York Herald Tribune East-West game in Madison Square Garden. After graduation from Pitt Dental School, Nate was offered a contract with Louisville of the old American Basketball Association. He decided, instead, to open a dental practice in Ford City. He continued to play semi-professional ball for the Butler Cubs in the Tri-State League in 1948-49. He also played for the Kay-Eyes and V.F.W. teams during this time span. Dr. Apple also served with the United States Navy from 1950-1952. He was named a Varsity Letterman of Distinction by Pitt in 1978 and was elected to the Armstrong County Sports Hall of Fame in 1981.

HENRY ARNER was born in January 29, 1899. He was an active businessman and citizen of Ford City for 40 years. Because of the death of his father when Henry was only 13 years old, he had to put aside his studies and go to work to help out at home. For a time he worked at PPG in Ford City. Equipped with various entrepreneurial skills, he decided to leave the employment of PPG and go into business for himself. He went into the lumber and hardware business but a fire destroyed everything. He rebuilt and also went into the flower business, buying out Crissman’s Greenhouse in Bellwood Gardens. Throughout his life he remained very active in community affairs. He was a member of the Ford City Kiwanis for 30 years, serving as its president and as a member of its board of directors. He was also an active member of the Masonic Lodge of Kittanning, the Coudersport Consistory, the Pittsburgh Shriner’s Club, the Knights of Pythias and the Ford City Eagles. He served for a number of years as a director in the Mellon Bank and was a member of the Manorville Lutheran Church, where he sang in the choir. He was married to Gertrude Sara Brown of Manorville. Their children are Helen Spence, Shirley, Dale and Paul Arner. Arner’s Hardware and Lumber at 920 Fifth Avenue continues to operate as a family owned business. Henry Arner passed away on November 27, 1957 at the age of fifty-eight.

VICTOR AUBREY , son of the late Fred and Nora Aubrey, was born in Ford City on February 18, 1906 and died December 13, 1978. His grandfather was also named Victor Aubrey, a famous glassmaker from France who came to New Albany, Indiana to make plate glass for Captain John B. Ford and who followed the old captain to Creighton, Tarentum, Toledo and Ford City. Vic was educated in the public schools of Ford City and graduated from FCHS in 1927. He was a fine student, active in plays, concerts and sports. He excelled in baseball, football and track. His classmates elected him treasurer of his graduating class. Following his graduation from Ford City High School, Vic pursued a career in engineering at Carnegie Institute of Technology. He did much of the surveying for the $6 million dollar project of Crooked Creek Dam for the Army Corps of Engineers in 1937. Prior to becoming the engineer for Ford City Borough in 1954, he worked for the Pennsylvania Department of Highways for the prestigious firm of Day and Zimmerman in Philadelphia. When war broke out in 1941, Vic enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He helped build airstrips through out the south Pacific. His service with the Construction Battalion (the Seabees) lasted until the war’s end in 1945 when he was honorably discharged as a Chief Petty Officer. Vic served as the Borough engineer from 1954-1972. He was a member of the Sewage Authority that built the Ford City Sewage Treatment Plant and helped garner the necessary support to build the ballfields on the Ford City-Cadogan road. He did much to improve the quality of public recreation in the area. One of the ballfields bears his name. Vic was an active member of the Kittanning Elks, the Ford City Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Ford City American Legion and the Society of Professional Engineers. Vic was married to the former Margaret Kettl, also of Ford City. They were members of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Ford City.

JOHN BADURA was a banker in Ford City for over forty-five years, a past school board director and civic leader. He served Ford City Borough and the Ford City Union School District as their auditor for many years. During World War Two, he served as the treasurer of the Selectee Sendoff Committee, Chairman and emcee of the Bond Rally Drives and was the organizer of the committee that erected the first veteran’s memorial in Ford Park. He was also the treasurer of the Borough Sewage Authority.

REVEREND FATHER BENEDICT BALDAUF came to Ford City as the second resident pastor. He served the parish of Ford City from June 1894 until his death on January 29, 1940. He was a part time merchant and investor. Upon his father’s death in Germany, he converted his inheritance of thousands of dollars into the building now known as St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Ford City. Considered one of the most beautiful churches in western Pennsylvania, the cornerstone of St. Mary’s was laid on October 15, 1911 and completed November 7, 1915. The majesty of the towering Gothic structure is a tribute and lasting memorial to his time spent in Ford City and here on this Earth. Its spires dominate any view of our town.

WALTER BALL was born in Ford City on February 22, 1919 to Gabriel and Eva Ball. He was educated in the local public schools. He is a lifelong member of St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church and is a member of the Holy Name Society and former treasurer of the parish. He graduated from the Pittsburgh Horology School in 1942 as a watchmaker. He worked this profession in Pittsburgh until 1946 when he returned to Ford City and opened a jewelry store with his brother, the late Samuel Ball. He operated this jewelry store in the same location, 908 Fifth Avenue, until his retirement in March of 1993.Walter also attended the Bulova Watch School as newer watch technologies emerged. Walter is a charter member of the Ford City Lions Club. He is a past president of the club and recipient of the Melvin Jones Award for distinguished community service as a Lion. With the Lions, Walter was always active in all projects undertaken by the Lions. He participated in the free glasses for the disadvantaged, the Lions Scholarship program for graduating high school seniors, Ford City Heritage Days, the construction of the Gazebo in Ford Park, broom sales for the blind and the annual Candlelight Service on Memorial Day. Walter married Cecelia Kamer on September 6, 1944. They have four children, seventeen grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. Now that he is retired, Walter enjoys walking in town and talking with the people of the community that have been so important to his throughout his life in Ford City. He continues to help out making pirohi at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church and remains active in many Lions projects.

BESSIE (EKIS) BARR was born in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania on April 8, 1896 to I.W. and Cora (Geist) Ekis and died on July 24, 1992 at the age of 96 in Brookville, Pennsylvania. She was very active in Ford City for more than twenty-five years, serving her church and community, and teaching history and civics at Ford City High School. She was a member of the National Education Association, the Pennsylvania State Education Association and the International Society of Delta Kappa Gamma, Alpha Theta chapter. She excelled in teaching. She loved to learn and taught her students to love learning. She cared much about her students and demanded much from them in return. Her standards were extremely high and she expected her students to reach them. A strong disciplinarian, she succeeded in inspiring her student to excel. Many of her students entered government service on the local, state and national levels in one capacity or another. Many are still serving. She was a teacher who went the extra mile. Her Penn-Ford Club was the envy of the state. She instilled in her students not only a love for local, state and national history, but a love and commitment to the school and community. Loving service to others was her motto.

WILLIS BAUM was born in Deemertown, Manor Township to J. Franklin and Barbara (McAllister) Baum on May 24, 1906. He was educated in the local public schools and graduated as Salutatorian of the graduating class of 1924 from Ford City High School. He earned his Masters degree from the University of Pittsburgh and returned home to teach in the local schools, retiring as superintendent of the Ford City Union School District just before the Armstrong School District was formed. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy in World War Two. Mr. Baum served as a teacher and administrator for many years in Armstrong County, mainly in Manorville and Ford City. He progressed up through the ranks as a teacher and principal in elementary schools and then in the high schools. He was greatly respected by students, parents, teachers and school board members. During the Great Depression, he served with distinction in the Civilian Conservation Corps here in Armstrong County. Until his death on October 31, 1992, he was active in St. Luke’s United Church of Christ in Kittanning. Living most of his life in Manorville, he was married to Ruth (Nall) Baum.

THOMAS BENNER was a businessman, postmaster, civic leader and travelogue speaker in Ford City. Tom came to Ford City as a partner in the Ford City Hardware from 1947-1955 and became postmaster from 1955-1975. He took part in civic affairs from the time he arrived here until his death. Tom was a World traveler and photographer and had slides of all of his travels. He conducted more than 175 travelogue discussions to civic and religious groups throughout the area.

SELMA (Baars) BERNAUER was born on June 12, 1900 in Manor Township. Both of her parents, Gustave and Anna Schultz Baars, were born in Germany. As a young girl of fourteen, she worked in PPG’s Works #5 where her job was to clean glass. She married Sylvester Bernauer in September 1919 and they had four daughters Dorothy, Bernice, Gloria and Shirley. Selma had one sister, Hermina Mack (who lived to be one hundred years old, and two brothers Carl and Albert Baars. Her husband Sylvester died in 1966.Mr. And Mrs. Bernauer first rented their house at 1323 Fifth Avenue from PPG for $14.00 per month. When PPG sold the houses, they bought both halves for $2800. She remembers the 1913 and 1936 floods in Ford City very well.She has been very active in the Baptist Church and has taught Sunday School for many years.

ELIZABETH COCHRAN SEAMAN –“Nellie Bly” was born on May 5, 1864 in Cochran Mills, Armstrong County. She started her journalistic career when in her teens, she wrote under the nom de plume of “Nellie Bly”. She started as a writer for a Pittsburgh newspaper earning $5.00 per week. She moved from Pittsburgh to New York City to work for Joseph Pulitzer, editor and publisher of the New York World. In New York she earned $25,000 per year. Her endeavors included such feats as going down into the ocean in a diving bell and up into the air in a hot air balloon. She lived in an insane asylum as a patient, reporting on the atrocities that were done to patients. This feat nearly brought her a comparable amount of fame as her most famous exploit: her round-the-World trip to beat Jules Verne’s fictional 80 days. There is a monument erected to her memory in the village of Cochran’s Mills, her birthplace.

IDA BRUMBAUGH was born in Conifer, Pennsylvania on May 17, 1919 to Joseph and Margaret (Darone) Pisoni. She was one of five children. As a young girl, Ida’s family moved to Cadogan. She attended Cadogan Elementary and, following her completion of its studies, she went to work immediately. She has been working ever since. For nine years, she was employed by PPG, but did most of her work for the Latin American Club in Ford City. She started at the bottom and through the years has worked her way up to become manager of the club. Ida’s L.A. Club has pleased Armstrong Countians for over twenty-five years. During her tenure with the Club, she has hosted countless weddings, banquets and dinners for thousands. It is not unusual for her to personally cook and cater functions of her church, St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Ford City. Ida’s husband Curt passed away in 1961, leaving her to raise her two sons as a widow. Her sons are Gary and David. Ida is very proud of her five grandchildren. Trying new recipes, growing and arranging flowers and crocheting are a few of her hobbies. Ida represents the finest of examples of good family values that are so needed in America today. She is a wonderful role model for women everywhere.

SANDY BRYANT was a church leader, Masonic leader and civic leader. He was a deacon, treasurer and Sunday School teacher in the Macedonia Baptist Church. He was a Mason for over sixty years and served that organization as its Master and secretary. He was also a member of the Ford City Planning Board.

MARY (CHMELA) BUNTON was a member of the first graduating class from the Holy Trinity School in 1920 along with six others. She was active in Slovak Sokol gymnastics from her early childhood. She attended many regional and national meets as well as internationally. The drill team for which she competed won two silver cups. She also won an individual bronze and gold medal. Later her activities increased with Holy Trinity Church where she served in the first Sodality Club and Ladies Club, now the Christian Mothers and Ladies Guild. She has served as chairperson of many of the activities of the church. Mary said, “Its my life now, I can’t find a better way to spend my time.”

OKEY BURTON came to Ford City from Cameron, West Virginia to organize and operate the old Wick Pottery which was failing. John Wick of Kittanning and Captain John B. Ford jointly owned this pottery. He had been transferred there by Eljer and had complete supervision over the entire pottery. After the pottery became successful, Eljer transferred its entire operation here. Mr. Burton worked for Eljer until his retirement on August 31, 1961. Okey joined the American Legion in 1922 and served his post very well. He served the local post as its commander seven times and filled the unexpired terms of two others who died in office. He attended at least twenty-five state conventions and four national conventions. He served many terms as District Deputy Commander and served on many community committees involving the American Legion. Okey was married to Sybilla (Klein) Burton. They raised two children, a son, J.O. Burton and a daughter, Mary J. Swarmer.

ANNE BYRON was born on August 6, 1903 to Malcolm and Margaret Graham in Shettleston, Scotland. Her family came to the United States in 1905, settling in Brockway, Pennsylvania where Anne completed her elementary education. Her family moved to Cadogan in 1917 where her father worked in the coalmines. Both parents died in the influenza epidemic of 1917-18. Following her graduation from Kittanning High School and business school, Anne took a job in the office of the Allegheny River Mining Company in Cadogan. She married Jack Byron on Christmas Day, 1922. She and her husband, who was also the postmaster of McGrann, operated a grocery store there in the 1930s. When she was widowed in 1938, she was left to raise her six sons by herself. At the time, the eldest son was fourteen and the youngest was only six months old. She was appointed postmaster and continued to do those duties as well as operating the grocery store in order to raise her family. She lived to see her six sons, John, Robert, Thomas, James, William and Richard, grow up and become successful. She was looking forward to retirement when she was tragically killed in an automobile accident in Oxford, North Carolina on May 27, 1966. The family worshipped at the First Baptist Church of Ford City.