VICTOR J. LABUTKA , son of Joseph and Anna (Chermak) Labutka, was born in Ford City on September 3, 1925. He attended Holy Trinity Parochial School and graduated from Ford City High School in 1943. Shortly after graduation, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served in the Pacific Theater of Operations. He was awarded the Victory Medal, the Phillipines Liberation Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. He was honorably discharged as a sergeant in October, 1945. Upon returning home, Vic attended the Pittsburgh Institute of Plastic. He was hired by PPG and retired in 1992 with 45 years of service. Throughout his adult life, Vic has been very active in serving his church and his community. At St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Ford City, he was a member of the choir, an usher and very active in the St. Vincent DePaul Society-an organization that attends to the needs of the poor. He visits the sick in hospitals and nursing homes. He is also an active member of the Holy Name Society and serves as the sexton of St. Mary’s Cemetery. He is active in the Food Bank program and is on the Board of the American Red Cross. He has held offices in the VFW, the C.U. Club and the Eagles. He has been a dynamic member of the Ford City Lions Club since 1971 and has served them as president and treasurer. He was selected to the Honor Roll of Lionism and has received the Melvin Jones Fellow Award for outstanding service. He has also been honored by the Red Cross for his many years of involvement with the Bloodmobile program. To date, Vic has donated over twenty gallons of blood. Vic is married to the former Lois Heilman and they have raised six children: Linda, Richard, Jim, Lori, Cindy and Scott. They have also been blessed with fourteen grandchildren.

VICTORIA LANG was born in Charleroi, Pennsylvania to James and Martha Vitale on October 27, 1916. She was educated in the public schools of Ford City and graduated from Ford City High School. Her father was an accomplished designer of specialty glass at PPG and her mother was a housewife. Victoria graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from IUP and was a substitute in the Armstrong School District and at Lenape Vo Tech School for a number of years. She was married to the late Donald Lang and they raised three children, Grace Woodside, Donna and Jim. They have eight grandchildren and ten great grandchildren. Vicky has worked with the Girl Scouts of Ford City for a number of years. She trained leaders within the Keystone Tall Trees Council of the Girl Scouts and founded the “Girl Scouts Little House” at 1302 Sixth Avenue. Hundreds of young women build life skills under Vicky’s tutelage while she served as the Camp Director at Camp Blaine. She also helped to found Camp Meadow, the Keystone Tall Tree Council’s current camp. Vicky has also served on the Board of the Ford City Public Library, the Ford City League of Arts and the Mid County Transit Authority. She is a member of the Heritage Days Choir and her church choir. She is an Elder of the First Presbyterian Church of Ford City and has served as the superintendent of the Sunday school there for a number of years.

CHARLES LEFCHIK , son of John J. and Anna (Morovsky) Lefchik, was born in Ford City on November 4, 1919. He attended Holy Trinity Parochial School and graduated from Ford City High School in 1939. Shortly after graduation, Charles joined the Pennsylvania National Guard based in Ford City. As a Corporal in Company C, he went joined U.S. 112th infantry in February, 1941. After choosing to become a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division, 507th Regiment, he parachuted into France on D-Day, June 6, 1944. He was captured on June 10, 1944 and remained a prisoner of war until liberated by the 10th Armored Division on April 27, 1945. He was honorably discharged in October 1945 after serving six years. He was awarded the Bronze Star, the Combat Infantry Badge, a Presidential Unit Citation and the French Fourragere. Upon returning to civilian life, he took employment with PPG in Ford City. He worked in a number of departments and finished in the herculite department with 36 years of service. Charles is a very active member of the Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church. He has been President of the Holy Name Society and, for twenty-five years, has been a leader of the annual Holy Thursday Procession from St. Lawrence Church in Cadogan to the many Roman Catholic Churches of Ford City. He is a minister of the Eucharist, a lector and a server for the celebration of the Holy Mass at Holy Trinity in the mornings. He has also enjoyed a long participation in Men’s Jednota bowling. Charles is married to Rose Roebuck and they are the parents of three children, Donna, Mary and Michael. They have one granddaughter, Jessica Bure.

CHARLES LEFTON , the son of Isaac and Lillian Lefkofsky, was born in Ford City in 1920. Educated in the local public schools, he graduated from Ford City High School in 1935. He went on to further is education at the Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania. During World War Two, he served in Europe until his honorable discharge at the end of the War. For the past fifty years, he has been a merchant on Ford Street. Beginning as an apprentice with his father and uncle in the Lefkofsky Clothing Store, he assumed operation of the family-owned business upon is father’s death in 1951. He has served the public in a variety of ways ever since. For many years, he was an active member and officer of the Ford City Business Association and currently serves as its secretary. He continues to serve on the Armstrong County Recreation Authority, the Manor Township Joint Municipal Water and Sewage Authority, the Board of Trustees of the YMCA, and on the Board of the Armstrong County Chamber of Commerce. He served on the Board of MACADO, an organization which encouraged industrial development, and as a member of the board that brought the Pittsburgh Symphony to the area. He is also member of the board of his synagogue. For a number of years he was active supporting the efforts of the Ford City High School Band Boosters and Foreign Exchange Student Organization. Charles and his late wife Erika were the parents of two children, Ira in Philadelphia and Barbara in Phoenix.

RENA HEILMAN LINDSAY was born into a medical family in Dime, Parks Township. The name “Heilman” was an honorary name given the family in Germany meaning “healing man.” Rena’s father was a descendant of Christian and Peter Heilman, early pioneers of Armstrong County and later located his medical practice in Leechburg. Rena’s mother, Esther Heilman, was a descendant of pioneer stock, settlers of the Crooked Creek Valley area. In addition to Rena’s father and herself, two of her brothers were surgeons as well. With all of this background, it was only naturally that Rena Heilman would become the first female surgeon in Armstrong County. She made house calls at all time of the day and night, regardless of the weather. She kept a stable of four horses and this gave her the title of a “four horse doctor.” She was a young, attractive woman and for her protection, carried a loaded revolver in her doctor’s bag. In her seven years of practice in Leechburg, she delivered an estimated nine hundred babies. It was said that, between 1900-1910, Rena was “there before the stork was” when a baby was born in Leechburg. In 1910, she married Pittsburgh lawyer Alexander Lindsay and moved with him to the city. They had three children, Alexander Lindsay, Helen Lee (a noted Pittsburgh artist) and Anne York (a noted organist). Four years before her death, she returned to South Buffalo Township to live on her family horse farm. She died at the age of ninety- nine in the beautiful countryside she had once covered on her house calls.

HENRY LIVENGOOD was born in Manorville and lived there until moving into Ford City. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1951-1953 during the Korean War. He was selected as the outstanding Young Man for the Ford City/Kittanning Area for 1968, president of the Ford City/Kittanning Jaycees 1969-1970, president of the Ford City Kiwanis Club in 1973-74, president of the Armstrong County Federation of Churches 1973-1975, member of the Board of Directors of the Armstrong County Health Center 1973-1977, member of the Board of Directors of the Armstrong County Redevelopment Authority 1972-1977 and a member of the Board of Directors of the Armstrong County Unit of the American Cancer Society. He also served as president of the Social Progress of Armstrong Retarded Citizens, sat on the Board of Directors for the United Way of Armstrong County, was a member of the Armstrong County Historical Society, Armstrong Association of Retarded Citizens, Veterans of Foreign Wars #6554, the BPOE Elks #203, Armstrong County Farmer’s Association, the Crooked Creek and Cowanshannock Watershed Associations, Armstrong Chamber of Commerce, and the Rural Valley Grange #1750. He served as president and vice president of the Ford City Kiwanis Club, vice president of Manorville Grace Lutheran Church’s council, an honorary Life member of the Western Pennsylvania firemen’s Association and a member of the Pennsylvania VFW Legislative Committee. Henry was elected Register and Recorder of Armstrong County in 1971 and served in the office until his death. He was elected State Representative in 1976 and held the office until his death. He sat on the following committees: Business and Commerce, Education, State Government, Local Government, legislative Budget and Finance and was the state legislature’s Chairman of the Industrial Development and Tourism Committees. He was also on the Executive Committee of the ERC Council of State Governments. Henry was married to the former Donna Shott. His children were Karen, Kimberly, Kathie, Kelly, Keith, Kristen and stepchildren Marshall and Douglass Thompson.

LYNNFORD “Skinny” LIVENGOOD was a long time shopkeeper in Manorville. He was also the postmaster of Manorville for many years and was everyone’s friend. He listened to their joys and sorrows. From 1932 until 1972, he operated Livengood’s Market on Water Street. In the other half of his building was the U.S. Post Office which he operated from 1942 until 1973. As postmaster, Skinny was instrumental in organizing local organizations for other postmasters. He was also always involved in area civic activities, giving freely of his time and funds.

FRANK LUX was a member of St. Cecelia’s Men’s Choir and the Holy Name Society of St. Mary’s Church of Ford City. He worked at PPG for fifty years with twenty-five of those years spent as the supervisor of the Wareroom Department. He retired in 1959. Frank was a long time member of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles #606 where he served as an officer for twenty-nine years, serving one term as president and nineteen years as its secretary. He served on the Eagle Degree team in the Forties and was very active in the various programs sponsored by the Eagles such as the Cub Scouts, boy Scouts, Sea Scouts and Mother’s Day programs. During World War Two, he was active in all of the War Bond drives. Frank Lux served as the last burgess and the first mayor of Ford City in two four year terms (1953-1961). In his time, he was very active in the civil defense program and the Auxillary Police. He was chairman of the committee that attempted to establish a Boys Club in Ford City. Frank was married to Catherine (Maus) Lux. They raised eight children: Edward, John, Albert, Alfred, Frank, Marcella, Ann and Mrs. A. Ondo.

DONALD MAINS came to Ford City from his hometown of Perryopolis, Pennsylvania. There he received his formal education before going on the California University of Pennsylvania where he starred as an athlete. Don was captain of his college football team and since has been elected to the California University of PA “All Time” Football team. He has also been elected to the Fayette County Baseball Hall of Fame. Don was head football coach at Frazier High School (1953-1964) before coming to Ford City High School to assume the duties of head football coach (1965-1977). He was also the Head Baseball Coach at FCHS from 1979-1989 and during this period, his baseball teams made the WPIAL playoffs seven straight years. These teams won two WPIAL championships and made the semi-finals once. Don’s teams have made it to the final four of the PIAA in three of the past four years. In 1986, his FCHS team was the State runner up, losing only in the final game. In the following year 1987, with a team consisting of different players, Don’s squad went all the way winning the PIAA State Class AA Championship. His record in 10 seasons as Ford City’s head baseball coach was an astounding 162 wins and only 53 losses. Largely through his coaching, Ford City High School has become recognized as a baseball power in western Pennsylvania.

GENEVIEVE MANTINI , daughter of Nicholas and Rozalia Kozak, was born in Ford City on January 17, 1923. She attended St. Mary’s Parochial School and Ford City Elementary, graduating from Ford City High School in 1941. For two years, she was a reporter for the Leader Times. In 1943, she enlisted in the U.S. Navy. She completed her boot school at Iowa State Teacher’s College and then attended Mount Vernon Academy in Washington D.C. She worked her way up the ranks to Chief Petty Officer Storekeeper and later, because of critical shortages of yeoman personnel, she worked her way up to Yeoman Chief Petty Officer. She handled communications for the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Ernest King in the 5th wing of the Navy Department. She was honorably discharged on August 7, 1946. She has preserved the bell from the U.S.S. Dauntless and the yacht of the Dodge brothers which became the flagship of Admiral King. Genevieve is an active member of the Three Rivers WAVES Association and the Chief Petty Officers Association and regularly attends their meetings and conventions. Genevieve was employed by the Pennsylvania State Department of Public and retired with twenty years of service. She is active in her community and church. She initiated the annual visit from St. Nicholas and was the first to light the tree erected in the Park Gazebo on December 5th each year. The following morning, fruit and candy is distributed to hundreds of children. This practice has proven so popular, it has been adopted by Pucelli High School of Columbus, Georgia. Genevieve is married to Angelo “Red” Mantini and they are the parents of eight children: Mark, Terry, Dennis, Lydia, Nikki, Jeffrey, Roch and Eric. They are blessed with sixteen grandchildren. The family is a member of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Ford City.

AMBROSE MATEER , after graduating Dayton Academy, began teaching in the area for eight years. He then embarked in the mercantile business and then moved to Rosston remaining there until 1906. In that year, he bought the building on Third Avenue now known as the Folta Building. Here he opened a general dry goods store with grocery and hardware lines. His prices and the quality of his goods brought him a large patronage.

FRANCIS McCABE was born in Charleroi, Pennsylvania on August 29, 1911, and came to Ford City when PPG halted operations there in 1930. “Irish” was a very active citizen. For many years, he sang in the church choir of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church and served there as an usher. Francis was very active in the United Glass and Ceramic Workers Union Local 14 and served as its chairman for ten years. He was also elected Vice president of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO. He served on the Ford City Community Picnic Committee for many years and as General Chairman in 1953. He was elected a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in 1956 and to Miami in 1972. He was also the co-founder of the Community Action Agency and the Progressive Workshop. Appointed to the Ford City Sewage Authority, he served as chairman for five years. In 1956 he was appointed to the Clarion State College Board of Trustees and served as their chairman for three years. He was a member of the Clarion State College Foundation for nine years and served as its president for one year. He was a life member of the Ford City Eagles, serving as president in 1939 and District President for two years. “Irish” was also a life member of the Kittanning Council Knights of Columbus and Kittanning Elks Lodge #203. “Irish” was married to the late Zelma (Grafton) McCabe and they had one daughter, Colleen.

JOHN B. McCUE was born in Ford City in 1921, the son of Henry and Mary (McCrossin) McCue. John graduated from St. Mary’s Parochial School, winning the American Legion Award. In 1939, he graduated from Ford City High School, once again receiving the outstanding boy award as a member of the National Honor Society, the debating team and as a participant in many extra-curricular activities. John earned his BA from Penn State University in only three years, majoring in speech and political science and being active on the debating team. John then attended Pitt Law School but had his education interrupted for higher service as a gunner on a B-17 bomber. He flew 32 missions over Germany for the Air Force in 1944 and 1945. He was awarded the Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters and earned four battle stars for the military campaigns. He returned to finish his law degree at Pitt, graduating in 1948 with a commission as a Second Lieutenant after taking ROTC classes. John began his law practice in Armstrong County in 1949 with offices in Ford City, Kittanning and Freeport. It was at this time that he joined the Ford City National Guard, Company C, 112th Infantry, 28th Division of the Pennsylvania National Guard. In 1950, he was called to active duty for two years during the Korean War and then returned home to continue his law practice. He retired from the National Guard with the rank of Colonel and was later promoted to the rank of Brigadier General. John became the solicitor for Ford City Borough and Freeport Borough, serving in these capacities for over twenty-five years. He was assistant District Attorney in 1955 and 1956. He served as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1962 and then again from 1970-1976. As a charter member of the Armstrong Educational Trust, he was instrumental in bringing the IUP campus to Kittanning as well as an off campus center in 1963. John was married to Mary Helen (Clapper) McCue and they have two sons, Michael and Patrick.

JOHN MIKULA , as a Leader Times general reporter and photographer, recorded 39 years of history regarding Ford City and the surrounding area. He retired in 1987 from the only job he held following his graduation from the University of Pittsburgh in 1948. What was once “news” is now part of the past-both the important and the trivial. Hundreds of photographs of local persons and scenes, along with the stories that accompanied them, are on the record in the files of the Leader Times because of John Mikula. John also became very involved in the activities of the Ford City Lions Club digging out the basement of the Girl Scout house on Sixth Avenue and doing every phase of the construction of Camp Blaine for the Girl Scouts. As a member of the American Legion in the 1950s, he repaired and renovated toys for children. John was also a veteran of World War Two, serving in the United States Navy.

RALPH MILLER , a Ford Cliff native, spent more than forty years in public service. During his eight years as a Councilman, Ford Cliff paved the streets. He also served Ford Cliff as the secretary for seven more years. A Ford Cliff fireman for more than forty-five years, he helped raise thousands of dollars to purchase new trucks and equipment. One of their best fundraisers was the Ford Cliff Carnival which Ralph organized and chaired for more than thirty-five years. Ralph was also U.S. Navy veteran of two wars: World War Two and the Korean War. Miller was also the Ford Cliff representative to the MTJMA. He helped guide the infant water and sewage authority to becoming one of the major service providers in Manor Township, Manorville and Ford Cliff. Starting on borrowed money, the authority became self-sufficient quickly with Ralph’s guidance. Ralph also served on the Ford City Community Picnic committee and served as its general chairman. He also worked with the Seventy Fifth Anniversary Celebration Committee in 1962. He was involved with the area Boy Scouts, Little League and Pony League baseball and aided in many area veteran’s affairs. Ralph and his wife raised three children, Tom, Tim and Trudy. He retired from Allegheny Ludlum in Leechburg and has been a member of the American Legion for forty-one years, the VFW for twenty-one years and the Leechburg Elks for fifteen years.

JENNIE MINTEER . The late Jennie Minteer was born in Manorville, Pennsylvania to Robert and Anna (Mansfield) Cunningham on April 28, 1893. Her brothers and sisters included Reese, Edith Myers, Robert, Eva Maud Amment, Jessie Parker, Helen, Sanford and Martha Markle. After graduating from Manorville Elementary School, she was employed in the Ford China Company, an industry founded by Captain John B. Ford in Ford City in 1898. Jennie was married to Ralph Minteer of McGrann and they were the parents of Jim, Ronald, Helen Kijowski, Robert, Charlotte Sellers and Stanley. Jennie was active for a number of years in the Grace Lutheran Church of Manorville and served on its Altar Society. She was active for twenty-five years as the Secretary of the Rebecca Lodge of Manorville. She served the Gray Ladies for twenty-five years whose purpose was to offer aid in military hospitals such as Deshons Veterans Hospital in Butler. As a licensed practicing nurse, she served our area for over twenty-five years. She brought home service men and women who were convalescing for weekend trips of healing and support and organized bus trips for women to visit the wounded servicemen during World War Two. Jennie also served as Chairperson of the Souvenir Committee and on the History Committee for Manorville’s Centennial Committee in 1966. This history committee was responsible for publishing the History of Manorville, a well-written and illustrated book. Jennie enjoyed being a housewife and mother of six children. She enjoyed traveling and camping. She was a collector of glasses from nearly every state. Jennie Minteer passed away on April 2, 1969, twenty-six days short of her seventy sixth birthday.

GLEN MOHR , son of Henry and Myrtle (Painter) Mohr, was born in McGrann of October 6, 1916. He attended local public schools and attended both Kittanning and Ford City High Schools. He and his wife, the former Pauline Michalik of Ford City, reside at 631 Fourth Avenue. They raised two children, Bill and Cynthia. They are blessed with five children and one great grandchild. Glen enlisted in the U.S. Army on July 26, 1944 and was honorably discharged on November 24, 1945. Prior to enlisting, Glen had been employed as a crane operator at PPG for seven years. Glen entered the service as a combat infantryman and mortarman with the 7th Army, 255th Infantry Battalion, 63rd Division. On April 1, 1945, he was severely wounded in Leiman, Germany, causing him to lose his eyesight. All of his combat experience took place in Europe. For his service during World War Two, he was awarded the Victory Medal, the World War Two Medal, the Good Conduct Medal and the Purple Heart. Upon returning to Ford City, Glen opened Glen’s Cigar and Cigarette Shop in downtown Ford City and became a successful businessman. The family worships at St. Francis of Paola Church in Ford City.

WILLIAM MONROE was born October 29, 1911 and died on January 28, 1990. He was the son of William and Mary (Schiffler) Monroe. He and his wife Marie (Schiffgens) Monroe were the parents of Mary Louisa and James.Educated at the Carnegie Institute of Technology, he served the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company for 45 years, retiring as the Superintendent of the Optical Department. He faithfully served the community as finance chairman of the Ford City Borough Council and turned over his monthly stipend, along with his regular, personal contributions, to a different church, charity of social service campaign. For fifty years he served the Ford City Eagles Club as either its president of secretary. He was instrumental in providing leadership for numerous community charities and projects. As Chairman of the Ford City Borough Sewage Authority, he molded it into one of the most efficiently operated sewage treatment facilities in western Pennsylvania. Bill was active in the Holy Name Society at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church and in the Ford City Kiwanis Club.

DR. JAMES MOORE was born April 10, 1920 in Altoona, Pennsylvania to John and Eleanor Moore. Dr. Moore maintained a family practice in Ford City for forty-three years. He was a member of St. Mary’s Church where he was a member of the Holy Name Society. During World War Two, he was a flight surgeon achieving the rank of captain. A graduate of St. James Parochial School and Wilkinsburg High School, he graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1942 and received his medical degree from Pitt in 1946. He interned at Mercy Hospital for eighteen months and did another 18 month internship in surgery and anesthesiology at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Youngstown, Ohio and St. Joseph’s Hospital in Joliet, Illinois. From 1949-1953, he maintained a practice in Pittsburgh and served the residents of Armstrong County from his Ford City office. For many tears, he also practiced obstetrics, delivering several thousand babies. In 1985, he was joined in his medical practice by his son Terrance. Together they had an office at 710 Fourth Avenue. Dr. James Moore was a member of the American Medical Association, the Pennsylvania Medical Society, the American Academy of Family Practice and the Pennsylvania Academy of Family Practice. In 1996, he received a commendation, plaque and lapel pin from the Pennsylvania Medical Society for fifty years of service as a family practioner. He was also the recipient of the degree of Fellow from the American Academy of Family Practice. Dr. Moore served locally as the volunteer physician for the American Red Cross, the Boy Scouts of America, and the Ford City Board of Health. During his forty-four years on the staff at Armstrong County Memorial Hospital he served terms as the Chairman of the Medical Obstetrical Department and the Department of Pharmaceuticals and Therapeutics. For many years, Dr. Moore served as the medical consultant and lecturer for the PreCana Program, the marriage preparation course required by the Diocese of Greensburg. Dr. Moore married Dorothy Woodring on June 30, 1951. They would raise three sons, James P. Moore of Arlington, Virginia, Dr. Terrance E. Moore of Ford City and Gregory S. Moore of Branford, Connecticut.

JENNIE LEE MORGAN was born in Ford City on April 3, 1935 to Delmar and Pearl Morgan. She graduated from Ford City High School in 1953 and then studied courses at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. For three years, she was employed by the Armstrong County Community Action Agency where she initiated and was responsible for the distribution of surplus government cheese and butter. For twenty fours years, she was employed as the Executive Director of the Easter Seals Society of Armstrong County. In 1979, it became the first small Easter Seals Society in Pennsylvania to receive national certification. She was honored in 1977 as Miss Wheelchair Pennsylvania, one year after Christine Valasek Kunchek, another Ford City woman, won the title. Jennie has been very active in volunteer work. She has served on the election board in Manor Township as inspector and judge of elections for twenty-four years. She also served fifteen years as the treasurer of the Ford Memorial Methodist Church, a Sunday School teacher, a member of the Kittanning Business and Professional Women’s Association for twelve years and as a chairperson of the Attendant Care Advisory Committee of United Cerebral Palsy of Western Pennsylvania for two years. Appointed by Secretary John White, she was a member of the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare Attendant Care Advisory Committee for two years. She served as the chairperson of the Armstrong County Committee of the International Year of Disabled Persons for 1981, as a member of the Architectural Accessible Task Force for the Department of Public Welfare in Armstrong County, as a member of he Department of Health in Armstrong County and the Pittsburgh District and as a member of the Planning Committee to determine the need for building a new hospital in Armstrong County. She held the positions of president, vice president and recording secretary of the Kittanning business and Professional Women’s Club as well as secretary and treasurer of the Pennsylvania Easter Seals Executive Association. Judge Roy House appointed her as a member of the Health Systems Agency Local task Force. Jennie attended the Governor’s Conference for Handicapped Individuals in 1976 and Governor Milton Shapp appointed her to be one of only sixteen delegates to represent Pennsylvania at the White House Conference on Handicapped Individuals where she met President Jimmy Carter and Senator John Heinz. She served with distinction on the National Miss Wheelchair American Pageant Committee as a judge in 1984 in Salt Lake City. While working for the Easter Seals Society, it was not unusual for Jennie and her staff of four to work with forty to fifty pre-school children in speech therapy. Jennie’s hobbies include crafts, reading, machine and hand knitting, crocheting and traveling throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico.

MIKE MOYTA was a typical yet truly rare Slovakian immigrant. He developed his interest in shoes by visiting a neighbor, a master shoemaker. He did small jobs at first and soon was repairing and making shoes. He made all of his own shoes and has never purchased a pair in 83 years. In 1921, he decided to seek his fortune in America and settled in Ford City in 1923. In 1924, he opened a shoemaker shop on Ninth Street and operated it until his death.

SUZANNE MYERS , daughter of the late Frantz and Alma (Riggle) Myers of Burrell Township, was born in Cochran’s Mills in 1933. A lifetime resident of Armstrong County, she has excelled in her chosen profession of teaching. She graduated from FCHS in 1952, Grove City College and Thiel College in 1956 and 1957 and was awarded a Masters Degree in Economics from Penn State in 1959. She began teaching economics at FCHS in 1956 and for the past 28 years has taught economics and political science at Lenape Vocational Technical School. For the past decade, she has taught evening classes in economics at Butler County Community College. While at FCHS, Suzanne served at the advisor for the Student Council and the Future Teachers of America. At Lenape Vo-Tech, she initiated the student government and national honor society and continues to sponsor them. She has been active in school-industry projects, Junior Achievement, and scholastic competition with school throughout the United States. Mrs. Myers has served as president of the Allegheny-Kiski Valley Alumni Chapter of Grove City College, president of Delta Kappa Gamma Sorority, and president of its local and state chapter of Alpha Theta and three times the president of the Thiel Women’s Club. She has been recognized by Junior Achievement for “outstanding commitment in preparing students for the world of work using Junior Achievement’s programs.” Through her teaching, Butler County Community College placed first in the college division in the Time Education Program/ Social Science area when her students were honored as one of only twelve nationwide to receive first prize honors in Time Magazine’s Newsquest contest. Both the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Senate honored Mrs. Myers for her outstanding teaching with appropriate citations in 1989.Ms. Myers has served for many years on the Good Citizens Committee of the Fort Hand Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and continues to serve as the consumer education consultant for the Boy Scouts of America in counseling for the rank of Eagle Scout.