The Summit Awards
The Summit Awards will honor those individuals from Akron and Summit County whose inspirational accomplishments touched the nation and the world. The honorary chair of the event is Dr. W. Gerald Austen.
The 2011 Recipients are as follows:
Shirley Fry Irvin - In the 1950’s, she was the #1 womens tennis player in the world and one of only twelve to win all five major Opens. Her father owned a shop on Exchange St. where he strung tennis rackets.
James Polshek - As an architect, Polshek is well known for designing the John S. Knight Center. National Inventors Hall of Fame, Clinton Presidential Center and most recently the Newseum, news museum in Washington, D.C. He grew up in Akron and was inspired from local influences.
Ara Parsegain - A native of Akron who is being recognized for his humanitarianism efforts in funding research on Neimann-Pic disease that has been the cause of death for three of his grandchildren. Others will know him as the coach of Northwestern University and head coach at Notre Dame.
Dolores Parker Morgan - She was one of Duke Ellington’s early vocalists. She performed in theaters across the United States. Her husband, Dr. Gates Morgan, became the medical director at Firestone Tire & Rubber Company. She still lives in Akron.
John S. and James L. Knight - The Knight brothers are being honored for their philanthropic efforts on a national scale. (Deceased)
Fritz Pollard - the first African American to be a head coach of a professional football team. He was a trailblazer earning a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. (Deceased)
Lewis Miller - this local inventor had a number of patents and businesses but he’s most well known as the father-in-law of Thomas Edison. Miller founded the Chautauqua Institution and the Akron Sunday School plan.