The Update | Lecture on Joseph G. Butler; Summit Radio Scholarship

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Local author Joseph Lambert will lecture on “Remembering Joseph G. Butler Jr.” at noon Thursday, May 18, at The Tyler History Center, downtown.

The lecture is part of the Mahoning Valley Historical Society’s Bites and Bits of History series. Admission is free, and attendees are invited to bring their lunch in a paper bag.

Lambert will discuss the life and career of the industrialist and philanthropist who was regarded by his contemporaries as “the First Citizen” of Youngstown.

The Butler Institute of American Art is named for Butler, who built it as a gift to the city’s population.

During his day, Butler was a man held in high regard among his peers, political figures and the average citizen. This was not because he was a man of wealth and influence, but rather because of the many worthwhile projects that he championed.

Radio Station Launches Struthers Scholarship

STRUTHERS, Ohio – The Summit FM radio station will celebrate the 10th anniversary of its broadcast partnership with Struthers City Schools with a new scholarship.

The Akron-based station, which broadcasts in the Mahoning Valley via Struthers High School’s WKTL transmitter, will unveil the scholarship and give a unique donation to the school district at 11:30 a.m. Friday at the Struthers Board of Education.

The Dennis Spisak Attitude for Gratitude Scholarship fund is exclusively for Struthers City School seniors preparing to attend college in the fall. The fund recognizes those who have overcome obstacles that may have prevented them from fully realizing their healthy potential.

Scholarship applicants are asked to reflect on and acknowledge someone they know or love who has experienced a physical or mental-health disruption or challenge. The Struthers City School class of 2024 will be the first recipients. The Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley will hold and distribute this new fund.    

The scholarship is named after former Struthers school board member Dennis Spisak, a longtime WKTL-FM radio program coordinator, the voice of Struthers City Schools football and a lifelong resident of Struthers.

“Dennis embodies the spirit of local community public radio,” said Summit general manager Tommy Bruno. “We are deeply grateful for his dedication and happy to name the scholarship in his honor.”  

Lawrence Johnson, a 1981 Struthers High graduate and Summit FM member, is the first donor to the fund. Donations can be made directly to the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley.  

Through its Music Alive instrument donation program, The Summit FM has donated dozens of refurbished musical instruments to Struthers City Schools students.

On Friday, the station will present eight additional musical instruments, including four trumpets, one trombone and three clarinets. This donation brings to 50 the total number of instruments donated by the station to Struthers City Schools.

The Summit FM can be heard locally at 90.7 FM.

Pictured at top: Local author Joseph Lambert.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.