MRS. OLIVE HAMMOND received her early education at the Soldier’s Orphan’s School in Dayton, Pennsylvania. Many of the older generation in Ford City sat in her classroom. Mrs. Hammond taught at Ford City High School for many years. A dedicated teacher, she began her career in the four room school house on Ridge Avenue. She taught mathematics, history and English in the course of her career. She held both Bachelors and Masters degrees in Education from the University of Pittsburgh. Her special interest was history and she was the author of historical pamphlets, pageants and articles dealing with local events and institutions. In 1927, her Welhikanna History Club published Community Annals, a history of Ford City. Mrs. Hammond tutored immigrants, helping them to learn what they needed to learn to get their citizenship papers. Mrs. Hammond also served on the School Board of the Ford City Union School District.

RAYMOND HARVEY was born in Ford City on March 1, 1920 to Frank and Frannie (Thomas) Harvey. His father was in the construction business. His mother, a Chickasaw Indian, was born in 1889 near the community of Nebo, Oklahoma. After living in Ford City for four years, the family moved to his mother’s hometown of Sulphur, Oklahoma. Raymond was educated in the schools of Sulphur and he graduated from Oklahoma City High School in 1939. On August 16, 1939, he enlisted in the United States Army and served with distinction in both the Second World War and in Korea. He retired from the service in 1962 after a career of almost twenty-three years. Following his retirement as a lieutenant colonel, he was employed by Northrup Corporation in California for five years, was self-employed as an investment banker for the next eleven years and served as the Director of Indian Affairs for the Arizona Division of Emergency Services until a stroke forced his retirement in 1981. While in the service, Raymond Harvey was decorated many times. These include the Distinguished Service Cross for gallantry in combat, three silver stars, three bronze stars, three purple hearts, ten Campaign stars, two presidential unit citations, the Croix de Guerre with Palm (from the government of France), the Chung Mu Distinguished Service Medal with Gold Star (by the government of South Korea), a Combat Infantry Badge and seven additional medals. Perhaps Raymond’s finest moment came when, as Captain of Company C of the 117th Infantry, he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, our Nation’s highest military honor. In the presentation, President Harry S. Truman cited Raymond Harvey for “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action” on March 9, 1951 in the vicinity of Taemi-Dong, Korea. According toe the Society of the Congressional Medal of Honor, Ray is one of only five Armstrong County natives to have ever received a Congressional Medal of Honor. His biography appeared in the prestigious Order of the Purple Heart in December of 1994 and was circulated to over one half million readers. With his exceptional bravery, burial as a national hero in Arlington National Cemetery, the widespread publication of his name and good and noble deeds, Raymond Harvey has “brought lasting fame and recognition to the Ford City area”, as written in the by laws of the Ford City Area Hall of Fame. Ray was the recipient of numerous awards during the course of his extraordinary life. He received the Clyde Elrod Award for his “outstanding contributions to the Bureau of Emergency Indian Affairs”, the Medal of Valor in Arizona, the George Washington Award from the state of Arizona, the Military Order of Distinguished Service and Patriotism Award, the Retired Officers Association Heritage Award, the Medal of Honor from New York City, the American Red Cross Certificate of Merit and the “Man of the Year” from Pasadena, California for his participation in the People to People program. Ray passed away on November 18,1996 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Internment took place on December 6,1996 in Arlington National Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers included Brigadier General Joseph Foss, Sergeant Sylvester Herrera and Chief Warrant Officer Fred Ferguson. The final salute was given by the Combined Honor Guard of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3513 and the Ray Harvey Chapter of Korean War Veterans Association of Arizona. The Congressional Medal of Honor Citation was read by Donald Parks, PhD., a Korean War paratrooper. Next came the eulogy by Lieutenant General Frank Sackton, Professor of Public Affairs at Arizona State University. “I’m Free” was read by Brigadier General Bradford Smith. The recitation of this poem was followed with a prayer by Cynthia Perieira, Ray’s daughter. In his eulogy, Lt. General Sackton said, “we are here to say goodbye to a dear friend and colleague and a distinguished member of our military family. The word ‘distinguished’ doesn’t seem adequate to express the deeds and the contributions that Ray made for our country. The Medal of Honor was awarded to Ray for his heroic deeds in Korea by a grateful country. Ray was a gentleman of honor, a public servant of outstanding distinction, an animated and articulate spirit and a colleague whose friendship was a delight. St. Paul in his second epistle to Timothy fully expressed the character of Ray; ’I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith’. Ray is survived by his widow, Pamela Harvey of Scottsdale, Arizona, daughters Cynthia Perieira, Johnece Firestone and Margie Typer, son Michael, sister Mary Nesse and eight grandchildren.

STEPHEN HEFFNER was born in Ford City to James W. and Juanita (Tolliver)Heffner Carr on April 23, 1953. He was educated in the local public schools and graduated from Ford City High School in 1972. A gifted athlete, Stephen excelled particularly in basketball and was awarded an athletic scholarship to Westminster College where he graduated in 1977 with a Bachelors Degree in Education. Stephen has earned a great reputation for his volunteer efforts in Armstrong County, bringing enthusiasm and widespread appeal to his ventures. For the past twenty-five years, Stephen has given his time and skills as a professional disc jockey to a variety of causes. Thousands have enjoyed his entertaining. In short, Stephen is a good neighbor. He is currently an elementary school teacher at Shannock Valley Elementary School in Rural Valley where his students have consistently achieved to high levels. Stephen has two sons, Brent and Kyle. They attend the Second Baptist Church of Ford City.

OTHMER K. HEILMAN, a native of Kittanning Township, was born in 1898, one of ten children born to Salem and Molly (Keener) Heilman. He passed away on January 3, 1961, leaving his widow, Mrs. J. Eleanor (Huston) Heilman, daughter Rose (Heilman) Geidel and sons Othmer “Ott” Heliman and Richard Heilman. “O.K." is best remembered as the entrepreneur who organized and operated the O.K. Heilman Transfer Company in Ford City for more than forty years. He was truly a pioneering genius in the transportation business and in labor-management relations. After graduating from Kittanning High School, O.K. briefly attended Carnegie Institute of Technology studying chemistry. Finding it not to his liking, O.K. left college and returned to the area where he and his father bought a “Selden” truck. After a few months, O.K. bought his father’s half of the business and began his own proprietorship. He opened business on Labor Day, 1920 with a solid tired truck hauling freight from the railroad station in Ford City to customers in the local area. As time passed, his business expanded and made itself well known. Eventually, the business expanded and Heilman trucks, easily recognized by its familiar orange and black logo, became a regional company servicing the southwestern Pennsylvania area for industrial and house moving operations. In 1927, he purchased his first fleet of trucks from Shumaker Chevrolet in Ford City. In 1931, he added five Studebaker trucks, one of which was a tractor trailer. In 1935, the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission granted him permission to operate as far away as Brookville, Johnsonburg, St. Mary’s and Emporium. In 1935, the Federal Interstate Commerce Commission granted him license to operate over state lines, making him only the 117th carrier to receive such a license. O.K.’s firm continued to prosper until it eventually operated terminals in Akron, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, DuBois and Ford City with Ford City being the main headquarters. By 1961, his firm’s employees numbered seventy five, his fleet was more than one hundred and his payroll amounted to more than one half million dollars annually. In 1946, O.K. instituted a unique approach to labor management when he initiated a contributory profit-sharing plan; employee contributions were matched by the company and the combined funds were invested by a trustee. In 1961, those funds totaled nearly $300,000 and were designed to provide a financial cushion for employees upon retirement. The employee received not only his own contributions, but also those made by the company and a pro-rata amount determined by the annual company profits. Through the years, O.K. hosted a company banquet for his employees where he announced the company’s profit sharing and made awards for employees based upon their safety records. In 1956, O.K. began a scholarship program, awarding substantial scholarship to graduating high school senior in the area in which his firm operated. From 1956 until his death in 1961, O.K. presented forty-four scholarships to aspiring young men and women. The O.K. Heilman Transfer Company operated from 1920 until 1961 from its headquarters at Fourth Avenue and Fourteenth Street. After Othmer’s death on January 3, 1961, his son, Othmer, Jr. continued to operate the company for a number of years until it was sold to Preston Trucking Company from Maryland. The O.K. Heilman Trucking Company was an integral part of the Ford City community, providing jobs and service for more than forty years.

TEDROE “TED” HEILMAN was born on February 14, 1917 to Clarence and Elizabeth (Weeter) Heilman. Educated in the local public schools, he graduated from Ford City High School in 1935. He won the Rensselaer Award, given annually to the student achieving the highest scores in mathematics and science. He was married to Rose Gallo and they had two sons, William and Robert. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Ford City. Tedroe passed away on March 7, 1985. Ted, like humorist Will Rogers, never met a man he didn’t like. He was active in the community and would frequently go out of his way to help someone or some group that was in need. In recognition of his love and concern for children, he was awarded the prestigious YMCA “Service to Youth” award in 1970. He also received a Citation of Merit from the Muscular Dystrophy Association. He gave of his resources and himself, not with much fanfare, but rather quietly from the background, not the forefront. From 1942 until 1969, Ted ran a bus service in the communities of Ford Cliff, Ford City, Kittanning and West Kittanning. He also operated a chartered bus service to carry passengers all over the tri-state area. He hauled basketball, football and baseball players and their fans to thousands of games, often allowing children to ride free. Fans believed that he and his buses brought their teams good luck. Ted defied the laws of economics for more than thirty years in undercharging all of his competition. Eventually, it caught up with him and he was forced to close his business and run his last bus in 1969. The people of the area have learned to manage without him, but will remember him and the heartwarming efforts he made on behalf of our community. Ted loved Ford City.

IRA “Doc” HENRY was tax collector in Ford City Borough from 1933 to 1965. He was the Selective Service Official from the Ford City area from October 1940 until May 1947 and was involved with most of the young people from the area who left for the service during World War Two. He was a charter member of the American Legion and 40 & 8 Voiture which formed in France after the Armistice. In July 1968, he served as Adjutant of Post 654 of the Ford City American Legion for fifty years. In his job as Service Officer, he helped thousands of veterans, widows and children of those servicemen. He was Regimental Sergeant Major of the 112th Infantry during World War One. He received citations from President Harry Truman, the Congress of the United States and from Richard K. Mellon, Chairman of the U.S. Selective Service Administration for his work with the Draft Board during World War Two. Ira was married to the former Josephine Kreutz and had one daughter, Carol (Henry) Simmons. Doc Henry passed away December 2, 1978.

MRS. BETTY HILEMAN, daughter of the late Lafe and Maude Schriver, was born in Kittanning on June 10, 1912. She was married to the late Harold “Hick” Hileman and they have one daughter, Mrs. Sally Moody of Applewold. Betty has been an active member of the Ford City Baptist Church for sixty-five years, serving as the teacher, superintendent of the Sunday school and as chairperson of the Deaconess Board. She has been active with the American Red Cross, particularly with the bloodmobile and with the program involving blood donors between the ages of 18 and 21. She has served on the Board of Directors of the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army Auxillary. She has been active as a volunteer with the Manor Township Fireman’s Auxillary, the Ford City Senior Citizens (which she organized), the Armstrong County Memorial Hospital and the Armstrong County Health Center. Currently she is serving as the president of the Kittanning Area Women’s Club and as president of the Ford City Senior Citizens. She was a member of the International Women’s Club, Bogota, Colombia. She was instrumental in fund raising for the construction of the Ford City Public library. As a poet, she received two gold awards and one silver award from the World of Poetry.

HAROLD “ Hick” HILEMAN, son of Howard and Nell Hileman of Manorville, was born on July 23, 1910 and died on March 4, 1983. He was married to the former Betty Shriver of Kittanning. They had one daughter, Sally Moody of Applewold. “Hick” spent most of his life in service to others. During World War Two, he was a flight instructor at Randolph Field, Texas. Under his direction, the first bloodmobile visits were established in Armstrong County. He served as a member of the YMCA Board of Directors and the United Fund. He served as the chairman of the Ford City Community Picnic Committee, the Armstrong County Red Cross for three terms, was a co-founder of the Ford City Pony League baseball league and the Ford City Little League and was a Trustee of the Ford City First Baptist Church for ten years. As a member of the Ford City Baptist Church for forty-one years, he was a member of the Board of Trustees and the Superintendent of the Sunday School. He also served a term on the Manorville Borough Council. He organized the Serra Scotty Trailer Club of America, Mexico and Canada and was its International President. He was employed at Eljer for nearly forty-five years with thirty-six of those years as a supervisor. For three years, he served as a consultant for a pottery in Bogota, Colombia. He was honored by the Ford City Lion’s Club as its 1963 Man of the Year.

MARGARET LOUISE “PEG” HILEMAN was the first of five children born in McGrann to Austin and Bertha (Daley) Hileman . She was born April 9, 1908. Her brothers and sisters were Pete Clark, Sarah, Paul and Williana. Peg has lived in McGrann most of her life. Peg received her education in McGrann until fifth grade then completed her education at Ford City High School in 1924 at which time she went to work at PPG. She remained employed there until 1942.In 1942, while waiting for a civil service job to open up, she worked in an office and clerked at Flynn’s Department Store on Ford Street. She accepted a job with the U.S. Civil Service in Pittsburgh, working with Ordnance during World War Two. Peg’s job was to assemble ordnance (explosives) destined for overseas shipping to our military operations. When the war ended in 1945, Peg took a job with PPG in Ford City and remained there until her retirement in 1965. Peg has been very active in her church, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Kittanning, where she has been active in the choir for over fifty years. She has also worked eight years in the church’s office and has served as president of the church’s women’s group for many years. Peg was the President of the Nellie Bly Questers for several terms and was also once 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.

EDWARD HOBAUGH was a 1952 graduate of Ford City High School. As an athlete, he earned ten varsity letters, four of which came in baseball. In his senior year, he set an FCHS record by averaging fourteen strikeouts per game. In all, Ed’s baseball career would span twenty years from the time he pitched in his first game until he finished managing a minor league ball club in Gastonia, North Carolina. In 1951, Ed was the Most Valuable Player in the East- West American Legion game and earned a baseball scholarship to Michigan State where he became the first pitcher to be named captain of the varsity squad. While serving in the U.S. Army, Ed won eighteen consecutive games playing for the Fort Knox team. Following his honorable discharge, Ed pitched major league baseball for the Washington Senators and Cleveland Indians and minor league ball for Rochester, Columbus, Toronto, Indianapolis, Atlanta, Syracuse and Tucson. After his baseball career ended, Ed came home to teach in the Armstrong School District and coached baseball for Dayton and Armstrong Central High Schools. Ed is married to the former Mary Kathryn Bower and they have three children, Brad, Brian and Pamela.

J. JACOB HOBAUGH was born in Garretts Run on November 29, 1896 and lived the first six years of his life in a log cabin. Jake attended eight years of school at the John Hileman School which stood at the intersection of Silvis Hollow and Garretts Run Road. Jake was no stranger to hard work. He tended the family crops and cared for the family livestock. Almost all of the work was done by hand. Jake cut grain with a cradle and tied the sheaves by hand. Jake also worked in a family coal mine on their property, loading coal cars inside the mine a pushing them to the mine entrance for delivery to customers in a horse-drawn wagon. Jake also helped deliver the coal to customers. Jake considered himself fortunate to have been able to go to high school. He played baseball, basketball and football for four years at Kittanning High School, graduating in 1916. He spent the next two years at Penn State where he made the 155 pound wrestling team. He also made the baseball team as a catcher. In 1918, Jake volunteered for the service in the United States Army. Jake has been very active in many Ford City community affairs. He was an integral part of the Veterans’ ceremonies in Ford Park, at the Ford City Bridge and in the local cemeteries on Memorial and Veterans Day. He has been very active in presenting the American Legion Medal to eighth grade boys and girls in our local schools. He has been a staunch supporter of veteran and community activities as well as being in the forefront in civil defense. Jake retired from PPG in 1961 with many years of service as their safety engineer. With so much stress on the job, Jake played baseball to relieve it. He made a name for himself in local sports both as a player and manager. He was offered a contract by the Pittsburgh Pirates but turned it down because he was already employed by PPG. Jake was inducted into the Armstrong County Sports Hall of Fame. Jake was married to the former Bertha (McGregor) Hobaugh and they had one daughter, Mrs. Deloris Simmons of Ford City. Jake was a member of the Ford Memorial Methodist Church, loved golfing and attended many American Legion conventions.

PAMELA HOBAUGH was born June 3, 1965 to Edward and Mary Hobaugh. She graduated from Ford City Catholic School where she received the American Legion Award and from Ford City High School. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from St. Vincent College in 1987. She has been teaching biology at Kittanning High School since 1990. While attending Ford City High School, she was named Girl of the Month by the Junior Women’s Club and was a member of the National Honor Society and National Athletic Scholarship Society. She lettered in three sports (basketball, softball and volleyball) and was named MVP twice for basketball and once for volleyball. She was chosen for the Pittsburgh Press Girls Terrific Ten second team and was honored by the Armstrong County Sports Hall of Fame as the Athlete of the Year in 1985. She was awarded a basketball scholarship to St. Vincent College where she lettered in basketball and softball. She was one of eight players to be selected on the first St Vincent Girls Basketball team. While in college she was named as the first team All District catcher for three consecutive years. She was the Head Girls’ basketball coach at Ford City High School from 1994 to 1999 with an overall record of 95 wins and 37 losses. She coached her team to consecutive section titles in 1997 and 1998; her teams reached the district quarterfinals in the WPIAL twice, appeared twice in the AA semi finals and reached the PIAA semifinals in 1997. Her team advanced to the PIAA semi finals in 1998. She coached in the AlleKiski Valley Cager Classic in 1998 and coached the South team in the Pennsylvania High School Roundball Classic in 1998.

ADA JEAN HOFFMAN was born July 13, 1952 to James and Elva Jean Hoffman of 1230 Fourth Avenue. She attended Ford City Elementary and Ford City High School and went on to major in Music at Westminster College where she earned both her Bachelors and Masters Degrees. Her program of study included a month at the Royal Academy of music in London. Ada Jean currently teaches music in the West Middlesex School District where she is responsible for general music education, vocal music and gifted programs. She has served on the Middle States Evaluation Committee, is a member of five music education associations, is the vice president of Delta Kappa Gamma and has been elected to Kappa Delta Pi, two music honorary fraternities and is the past president of the AAUW. For her efforts to promote music education, she has been named to Who’s Who among American Teachers. Despite her demanding professional schedule, Ada Jean has maintained close ties to her hometown, traveling to Ford City every weekend. She has been the organist for the First Presbyterian Church since 1976 and its choir director since 1978. She is also the director of the For City Heritage Coir and as such has expanded the recognition of the choirs through out the area. Without Ada Jean’s willingness to sacrifice personal time and often, her safety, none of these activities would have been possible.

THOMAS HROMADIK of 147 Main Street, Ford City, son of Adam and Catherine (Zettle) Hromadik, was born in Manor Township on June 21, 1936. He was educated in the public schools of Ford City and continued his education by serving a number of years in the National Guard. For thirty-eight years he has made his living as a self-employed barber and as an auditor for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He served several times as a Democratic Committeeman and eight years as a Councilman for Ford City Borough. For four years, he was the president of Council. In 1980, he helped initiate Ford City Heritage Days, a week-long celebration to be held in the Ford Park each year in the week around the Fourth of July. His idea was to bring together the many different ethnic groups of Ford City once a year to remember their heritage. By starting in 1980, the celebrations began a countdown to the town’s one hundredth anniversary in 1987. Each one became bigger than the previous one. After such successes, Ford City continued to hold Heritage Days even after the hundredth anniversary. During the Centennial Celebration, Thom served on the committee to bring the Appalachian Wagon Train through Ford City. Thom has one son, Lance, and one daughter, Amy, and two granddaughters, Ashley and Sheila.

EDWARD L. HUTCHISON was born in Ford City on November 13, 1932 and died at the age of fifty-seven on September 29, 1990. His mother, Catherine (Spacholtz) Hutchison, makes her home with Edward’s widow, Mrs. Beverly (McKain) Hutchison at 1301 Sixth Avenue, Ford City. He was the father of two daughters, Susan and Mary Beth. He was a member of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Ford City and was employed as the head electrician for the Armstrong School District. Ed was educated at St. Mary’s Parochial School and graduated from Ford City High School in 1951. Following a tour of duty in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, he enrolled and completed a course in electricity through the International Correspondence School in Scranton and served his apprenticeship under William Schiffgens. He became the owner and operator of Hutch’s Electric in Ford City. Ed joined the Ford City Hose Company on August 8, 1956 and was active in the organization for thirty-four years, retiring from the active rolls in 1990. Beginning as truck mechanic, he gradually worked his way up to be chief, a position of leadership he held for 6 years. After attending the Penn State Fire School, he served there as an instructor for many years. At the Armstrong County Fire School, he was an instructor and trained firefighters in the use of gas masks. He was an active member of the Armstrong County and Western Pennsylvania Fireman’s Associations. Ed gave freely of his time and talents to the community. He was instrumental in wiring the business district for Christmas lighting and the Ford Park for the annual Heritage Days celebrations. He was truly devoted to the family, church and community.

JOSEPH KAMER volunteered countless hours of time and a great deal of effort to the recreation programs for area youth. He initiated the construction of three playgrounds, soliciting contributions from PPG, Eljer, the business community and the people of Ford City themselves. He organized playgrounds committees to operate the playgrounds and was constantly suggesting the new recreational programs for Ford City’s youth. He persuaded the Roxy Theater to have weekly movies at no cost for young children. He managed a weekly dance for area teenagers at the high school gym. He developed softball leagues in the community, overseeing all of their operations. He also worked closely with Mrs. Rose Faulx in organizing the first Ford City public library. Joe Kamer was also the chairman of the local relief committee, assisting the unemployed and nearly destitute families with food, clothing and medical assistance. He assisted many boys in going to C.C.C. camps. At Christmas time, he was especially active in soliciting food, clothing and toys for the needy and then distributing them with the help of his many helpers. In addition to these labors, Joe Kamer was the chairman of the Armstrong General Hospital Committee, collecting funds for the construction of the County’s hospital. He was active with the Department of Public Assistance, the Police Civil Service Commission, the Ford City Eagles #606, St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church and its Holy Name Society and St. Vincent DePaul committee, PPG’s local labor union and was employed at PPG as an electrician for forty two years. Joseph Kamer received the first Ford City Lions Club Man of the Year Award in 1951. Joe was married to Anna (Pabst) Kamer and had three children: Joseph, Cecelia and Dorothy.

LEO STANLEY “Twin” KIJOWSKI, son of John and Josephine(Gongola) Kijowski, was born in Ford City on April 26, 1928. He was educated in the public schools of Ford City. After working at PPG for three years, he entered the U.S. Army in 1951. While serving as a combat infantryman in the Korean War, he was severely wounded in October 1951. He was able to survive only through the power of prayer, the skill of the doctors and nurses who tended to him and to his twin brother Leonard, who provided the skin that was grafted on to Leo to replace his own, which had been severely burned to a massive extent. The story was carried by nearly every news source in the country including Life magazine. Leo was awarded the Purple Heart, the Good Conduct Medal, and the Korean Service Medal. He was honorably discharged on July 31, 1953. Upon returning home, Leo spent much time in the veteran’s hospitals but furthered his education by attending St. Vincent’s College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. He also became very involved in Ford City’s community improvement efforts. He joined the Ford City Lions Club and became one of its most productive and active leaders. Leo has been a Lion for more than thirty years, serving as its president and on numerous committees. Not only was he instrumental in activities that raised the funds necessary to construct the new Ford City Public Library, he also guided the efforts involved in the building of our Veteran’s Monument in the Ford Park. He has been an ardent supporter of the annual Candlelight Service on Memorial Day, the Meals on Wheels program and the Youth Work Referral Service. The Lions presented him with the Achievement Award in 1970, the District Service Award for Lionism in 1981, the Outstanding Humanitarian Award to Lionism and Community in 1983. In recent years, he was of great service to the effort to build the Gazebo in Ford Park. As a member of the Ford City Planning and Zoning Commission for six years, he helped formulate the Comprehensive Master Plan that made possible the renewal of Ford City during its Renaissance. Leo is active in the Disabled Veterans of America, the American Legion, the Veterans of ForeignWars, the Polish Falcons, and St. Francis of Paola Church.

J. HENRY KLINGENSMITH moved to Ford City in the late 1930s and became a partner in McGuire’s Drugstore. He then bought the present Klingensmith’s Drug Store from George Kettl who operated Kettl’s Drug Store where Klingensmith’s currently is. Fondly known as “Kling”, he served the community as a health care professional of exceptional character and dedication. “Kling” retired as a pharmacist in 1972 when he sold his store to his protégé, Joe Cippel. Before his death, J.Henry Klingensmith established a scholarship for students entering pharmacy as a profession. In 1984, Jeffrey Woodside became the first recipient of the J.Henry Klingensmith Memorial Scholarship. “Kling’s” dedication to his community continues to this day.

WILLIAM KRACHT was born in Ford City to Anthony and Theresa (Paffrath) Kracht on December 1, 1907. He died on August 24, 1986. He and his wife Elizabeth (Dodds) Kracht, had one daughter, Mrs. Robert (Margaret) Scapello of Latrobe. He was a member of Ford Memorial Methodist Church in Ford City. Bill retired from PPG in 1962 after 47 years of faithful service. He gave most of his life to the service of Ford City. As a member of the Ford City Lions Club, he was dedicated to promoting the Ford City Public Library by raising funds for its erection and maintenance and for raising funds for numerous community projects. The Lions Club honored him as the “Man of the Year.” He is also remembered for chaperoning the Saturday Night Dances for many, many years. In addition, he was active in promoting recreation and in the building of playgrounds in Ford City.

SAMUEL KELLER, son of Charles Frederick and Jane (Helsey) Keller, was born at Caldwell Furnace, Armstrong County on August 4, 1838. He had little chance for schooling for at the age of six, he was “put out” to work for a Mr. Brown in Clearfield County. He remained in Clearfield County until the age of twelve when he returned to Caldwell Furnace until August 29, 1861 when he enlisted in the Company C, 78th Regiment of the Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. Two full years of his enlistment were spent in combat in places such as Neely Bend, Lavergne, Stone River, Tallahassee, Decherd’s Station, Lookout Mountain and Chickamauga. After Chickmauga, his regiment was sent to Chattanooga and they would hold the town for three months. Receiving reinforcements, they went on to capture Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. He was honorably discharged due to disability on February 12, 1864 and returned to Stewartstown Furnace, Armstrong County where he worked the mines for the next fourteen years. He ran an engine and worked in the ore yard for the Laughlin Company and for fifteen years was employed in the carbon works. In 1900, Samuel came to Ford City to work at the PPG plant. Because of ill health, he had to resign. In 1909, he was elected Justice of the Peace. As Justice of the Peace of Ford City, Squire Keller was a highly respected citizen of Ford City and his intelligent and faithful discharge of his duties won him the good will of all who had dealings with him. He was firm but fair in his dealings with people, especially children. He was part of the Armstrong County contingent who returned to Gettysburg for its fiftieth year reunion of Union and Confederate soldiers. He always led the parades in Ford City. Samuel married Sarah Conway on March 27, 1867. They had nine children consisting of five daughters and four sons. Samuel passed away on February 16, 1924 and was buried with full military honors. He served his country “with valor and heroism.” He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Ford City.