BY GREG GULAS contributor
      Ceremonies for the 50th Curbstone Coaches Hall of Fame Banquet are set for Sunday, May 7 at Mr. Anthony’s Banquet Center in Boardman with 13 new members set for enshrinement. Former Cardinal Mooney and University of Michigan football standout, NFL Super Bowl champion and local business entrepreneur Ed Muransky will serve as guest speaker.
      The 2017 class includes Jeff Bayuk (football, coach), Mark Brungard (football), Jim Bryant (bowling), Bruce Burge (contribution to sports), John Cullen (basketball, coach), Tony DelBene (baseball), Wally Ford, Jr. (all-sports award), Jim O’Malley (football), Anthony Montana (special award), Henry Nemenz (posthumous award), Craig Snyder (boxing), Tammy Swearingen (volleyball, coach) and Dave Veitz (special award).
      The lone posthumous honoree this year is the late Henry P. Nemenz Sr. whose father, Gustav, established the first Nemenz grocery store in 1930 during the Great Depression and beginning in 1956, when he began working in the family business as a meat cutter, helped oversee the opening of some 25 different retail grocery locations while actively supporting many causes and youth teams during a stellar seven-decade entrepreneurial business career.
      Born November 12, 1938, he was a graduate of North Lima High School where he played sports under the watchful eye of former YSU women’s basketball coach and 1992 Curbstone Coaches Hall of Famer, Ed DiGregorio.
      He opened his first store in 1976, Nemenz Valu King in Boardman and over the years built and remodeled numerous grocery stores in the area.
      At the time of his death on June 12, 2015, he was president and CEO of H.P. Nemenz Foods Stores, Inc. and was owner of two IGA Supercenter Stores and several Save-A-Lot locations.
      Over the years and under the direction of this year’s inductee, Nemenz Enterprise Holdings, Inc. (started in 1955) was selected as Ohio “Grocer of the Year,” “Retailer Grocer of the Year” and in 2012, was named “Multiple Location Retail Grocer of the Year” by the esteemed Ohio Grocers Association; an award that recognizes the corporate commitment and delivery of the finest in service, employee relations, customer satisfaction and pricing.
      He taught his children well and through his dedication and perseverance the family tradition continues as all are in the Nemenz IGA and Save-A-Lot grocery business.
      Always first to lend a helping hand for those in need or to assist in a fundraiser, among the many groups and organizations, Nemenz assisted through sports and academic donations are the Youngstown City Schools, Team Challenge, St. Dominic’s Church, Hispanic Church Community, Cafe Augustine at Newport Library, St. Columba Cathedral, East Side Community Block Watch & Community Group and Lazarus Housing Project.
      He supported Boardman sports (soccer and softball) teams, Canfield Little Cardinals, Austintown Football, Poland Rotary, Holy Family Parish, the popular Chili Open Golf Classic, Struthers and St. Patrick’s Day Parade celebrations while always honoring all veterans and their requests.
      Nemenez also support to the Struthers Gridiron Club, City schools and sports, Early Childhood Development initiatives, St. Nicholas fundraisers. Struthers Police and Fire and the Struthers Rotary.
      A member and past-president of the Poland Rotary Club, he was past chairman of their annual Chili Open Golf Classic and was honored as a prestigious Paul Harris Fellow.
      He was past chairman of the American Cancer Society, past co-chairman of the Celebrity Celebration for the Heart Association, past member of the board of the Mill Creek Learning Center, Hospice of the Valley, First Federal Savings Bank of Youngstown, the Mahoning Chapter of the American Red Cross and Youngstown State University Penguin Club.
      For his many contributions he was honored as “Small Business Person of the Year Award” (1987), was named “Citizen of the Year” in 1989, was honored as “Outstanding Individual Philanthropist” in 1992, Mahoning Valley Fabulous 20 Award in 1994, Channel 33 Entrepreneur Award in 2004, Shenango Valley Chamber of Commerce, Chamber “Person of the Year” in 2008, received the “H.O.P.E. Award” in 2014 and the St. Vincent DePaul “President’s Award” for Outstanding Service in 2015.
      Henry is the father of three daughters, Judy (Don) Gabriele of Poland, Elaine (John) Kawecki of Salem and Joyce (Chris) Herubin of Salem, and son, Henry P. (Sheree) of Poland.
      Further information on the Curbstone HOF can be obtained by calling 330-519-6819 or by visiting www.curbstonecoaches.org.