The second class of Summit Awards recipients includes an Akron and worldwide rubber and industrial giant and three Olympian ice skating greats.
The awards, given by the Summit County Historical Society, are presented to distinguished past or present residents of Akron and Summit County who have been recognized nationally for inspirational accomplishments and whose life stories continue to affect the community in a positive way.
Named as recipients are:
• Sports Awards — Carol Heiss Jenkins, Hayes Jenkins and David Jenkins. The Jenkins brothers were born in Akron. In 1956, Heiss and Hayes Jenkins took part in the Winter Olympics, with Heiss winning a silver and Jenkins winning a gold medal in ice skating. In 1960, Heiss and David Jenkins both won golds. Heiss became Mrs. Hayes Jenkins, and the couple still lives in the Cleveland area. Dr. David Jenkins, a gastroenterologist, lives in Oklahoma.
• Industrialism Award — The late Harvey S. Firestone Sr. A native of Columbiana County, Firestone organized the Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. in 1900 in Akron. He was an advocate for civic affairs in the city.
• Humanitarianism Award — Brevet Maj. Gen. Alvin C. Voris. He was important for his recruitment activity during the Civil War in the Akron area. As a lawyer, he boosted the morale of the troops he led, including some segments of the United States Colored Troops. He was wounded at Gettysburg, and after the war worked with people after emancipation and prior to Reconstruction in receiving their due rights. He later served in the Ohio legislature, Constitutional Assembly and also served as both a common pleas and probate judge.
• Medicine Award — Dr. Haynes Robinson. He specializes in pediatric medicine, genetics and anatomic pathology at Akron Children’s Hospital Genetic Center. A graduate of the Ohio State University Medical School, he completed residencies at Akron Children’s for pediatrics and Roswell Park Memorial Institute, Buffalo, N.Y., for pathology. He was voted one of the best doctors for 2011-12 by the group Best Doctors.
• Arts Award — Woodrow Nash. A Buchtel High School graduate, Nash is a three-dimensional artist whose work appeared on jazz labels for Father Hines and Cat Anderson. He also has worked for Goodyear Aerospace Corp. and American Greetings Corp. His work is trademarked as African Nuveau.
Entertainment Award — Melina Kanakaredes. A Firestone High School graduate and a second-generation Greek-American, she is a television and Broadway star whose career highlights include performing in Guiding Light, NYPD Blue, Providence and CSI: New York.
Honorary chair of the event is Rob Briggs, past president of the GAR Foundation, chairman emeritus and former CEO of Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs LLP, and current vice chair of the Knight Foundation board of trustees.
The first group of award winners was announced in 2011.
The 2013 awards will be given out at an event March 16 at Greystone Hall in downtown Akron.
For more on the Summit County Historical Society, go to www.summithistory.org.
Jim Carney can be reached at 330-996-3576 or at jcarney@thebeaconjournal.com.
