Joneses to Receive YSU Friend of the University Honor

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Roger and Gloria Jones, founders of Fireline Inc., will receive Youngstown State University’s 2016 Friend of the University Award at an invitation-only event Friday at Stambaugh Auditorium in Youngstown.

The award recognizes leadership and contributions to YSU and the community by a particular individual or individuals. The event enables YSU to acknowledge individuals who have made significant financial or personal commitments to YSU and the community, according to a news release announcing the award late last week.

Fireline Inc. is a Youngstown-based manufacturer of high-performance ceramic shapes used in a variety of molten metal applications.

The Joneses are long-time YSU supporters and have endowed two scholarships at the university. Over the years they also have contributed to YSU’s College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, College of Creative Arts and Communication and Dana School of Music, as well as the Friends of Music Scholarship, the YSU Foundation Reaching for Tomorrow’s Stars Scholarship, 88.5 WYSU-FM and the YSU English Festival.

A Korean War veteran and recipient of the Bronze Star, Roger Jones has a bachelor’s degree in ceramic engineering from Alfred University and came to the Youngstown area to head research and development for Dixon Crucible. He also is a sculptor, with one of his pieces featured on the YSU campus in the space between Tod Hall and the Butler Institute of American Art.

Gloria Jones has an undergraduate degree from Elmira College in biology and chemistry, a master’s in physiological chemistry from the University of Buffalo and a master’s in English from YSU. She worked in medical research, taught at YSU for more than 20 years and taught at the University of Nis in Serbia on a Fulbright scholarship. She later was vice president of special projects at Fireline.

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