Don’t miss this fabulous evening! On Saturday, October 8, 2011, at Greystone Hall, the Summit County Historical Society of Akron, Ohio will present awards, co-sponsored by the City of Akron, to notable residents or former residents of Summit County. These individuals have been selected for the national recognition they have received for their accomplishments, and how their inspirational life story continues to impact life in Summit County, Ohio.
According to Leianne Neff Heppner, Executive Director of the Summit County Historical Society, “these awards are to bring attention to the important national impact made by members of our local community. Throughout history our nation has been improved by these great works, and this is our chance to give them the local recognition they deserve.”
Honorary Chair of the 2011 Summit Awards: Dr. W. Gerald Austen
Dr. W. Gerald Austen, M.D., is a renowned heart surgeon and is widely considered one of the foremost heart specialists in the world. Since 1974, he has been the Edward D. Churchill professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School and at Massachusetts General Hospital. From 1969 to 1997, Dr. Austen was chief of the surgical services at Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Austen is the former President of the American College of Surgeons, the American Association for Thoracic Surgery, the American Surgical Association and the Massachusetts and American Heart Associations. Dr. Austen is a member emeritus of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a life member emeritus of the corporation of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and past Chairman emeritus of the board of trustees of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Dr. Austen received his Bachelor of Science from MIT and his Doctor of Medicine from Harvard Medical School.
Recipients of 2011 Summit Awards:
Sports: Shirley Fry Irvin – In the 1950s, Irvin was the #1 rated women's tennis player in the world, and 1 of only twelve to win all 4 major Open tournaments. Her father owned a shop on E. Exchange Street where he strung tennis rackets while Irvin learned to play tennis on the Mason Park courts nearby. Irvin currently lives in Florida.
Arts: James Stewart Polshek - As an architect, Polshek is known for designing the John S. Knight Center and National Inventors Hall of Fame in Akron, Clinton Presidential Center, and most recently the Newseum, the news museum in Washington, D.C. He grew up in Akron and currently resides in Manhattan, New York.
Humanitarianism: Ara Parseghian - A native of Akron, Parseghian is being recognized for his humanitarian efforts in funding research on Niemann-Pick disease. Others will know him as the football coach of Northwestern University, but most famously as the head coach of The University of Notre Dame.
Entertainment: Dolores Parker Morgan - One of Duke Ellington's earliest jazz vocalists, Morgan performed in theatres across the United States and has recorded several records and songs.
Philanthropy: John S. and James L. Knight* – Founders of Knight-Ridder papers and founders of the Knight Foundation, these brothers are being recognized for their philanthropic efforts on a national scale.
Trailblazer: Frederick Douglass “Fritz” Pollard* – Pollard is known as the first African-American to be a head coach of a professional football team. His is also one of the first two African-Americans to play in the NFL, earning himself a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Industrialism: Lewis Miller* - A local inventor, Miller had a number of patents and businesses but is most well known as a co-founder of the Chautauqua Institute and the Akron Sunday School plan.
Founded in 1924, the Summit County Historical Society is a private, 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. Their mission is to preserve and interpret the history of Summit County and Akron, and to educate regional communities about the people and events that have shaped our rich history. To learn more about the Summit County Historical Society please call (330)535-1120 or visit the web site at www.summithistory.org.
*deceased
