Recordpub.com - Kent honors Ferrara: Earns highest award from chamber for service to hometown

RC Kent Chamber Of Commerce Dr. Emilio Ferrara, Kent Medal for Public Service photo by Robert J. Lucas

Robert J. Lucas/Record-Courier Those receiving awards from the Kent Area Chamber of Commerce included Immy recipients Dr. Albert Green of Kent Displays and Jenna Adams of Looking Glass Learning Center; Jack Crews, Small Business Person of the Year; and Immy recipients Michelle Hartman of Phoenix Properties/Acorn Alley and Doron Kutash of Go2Go Taxi.

Robert J. Lucas/Record-Courier The city of Kent presented community development awards at the Tree City Awards ceremony. Award recipients were, from left, Vinesh Patadia of Comfort Inn and Suites; Dr. Lester Lefton, president of Kent State University, representing KSU’s Centennial Research Park; Bob and Cass Mayfield of McKay Bricker Gallery and Framing; Sandra Reid and Pat Covey of the Davey Tree Expert Co.; and Tamas Kosa of Alpha Micron.

Robert J. Lucas/Record-Courier Dr. Emilio Ferrara received the Kent Medal for Public Service from the Kent Area Chamber of Commerce. The award is the chamber’s highest honor. From left are David Dix, first vice president of the chamber; Ferrara and Anne Moneypenny, president of the chamber.

By Diane Smith

Record-Courier staff writer

Dr. Emilio Ferrara, who served the Kent community as an oral surgeon until his recent retirement, received the Kent Area Chamber of Commerce’s highest honor Thursday.

Ferrara accepted the Kent Medal for Public Service at the chamber’s 99th annual Tree City Awards and Dinner, held at the Rusty Nail Banquet Center.

David Dix, first vice president of the chamber, presented the award, saying he had looked up to Ferrara for many years.

“When his name came up, several people who had nominated other people withdrew their names immediately,” he said.

Dix said Ferrara had served the community “with distinction” during his years as an oral surgeon, and maintained an affiliation with Robinson Memorial Hospital, serving as president of the medical staff at one point.

An alumnus of Theodore Roosevelt High School, he was a student athlete and was honored as a charter inductee of the Kent City Schools Hall of Fame. He also served 32 years on the Kent Board of Education and as a trustee for Kent State University, his alma mater. He also supported KSU athletics through his involvement in Varsity K and the Ferrara-Page Golf Teaching and Learning Facility.

“His devotion to his hometown and his alma mater, Kent State University, knows no bounds,” Dix said.

Ferrara had few words, but acknowledged Kent as the place where he grew up and reared his six children.

“It’s a great community,” he said. “I thank the chamber for this honor. I appreciate it very much.”

Also Thursday, Jack Crews was honored as Small Business Person of the Year.

Doug Fuller, who presented the honor, said many of the good things happening in Kent started in the 1990s when Crews worked for the city of Kent.

He said Crews was a founding member of the Kent Regional Business Alliance, serving as unpaid CEO of the center, and leased a building on Martinel Drive. Its first tenant, Alpha Micron, eventually occupied the entire structure and has since outgrown the building. Now, new businesses occupy that structure.

“I believe Jack Crews, more than any other person, as a volunteer, has put more businesses into this city and helped those businesses grow,” he said.

Crews said a “myriad” of people had helped the KRBA work with thousands of clients.

“We’re embarking on new and greater things,” he said. “We’re going to start working on creating jobs.”

The chamber presented Immy awards to Go2Go Taxi, Looking Glass Learning Center, Kent Displays and Phoenix Properties/Acorn Alley.

The city of Kent presented its community development awards to Alpha Micron/KSU Centennial Research Park, Davey Tree Expert Co., Comfort Inn and Suites and McKay Bricker Gallery and Framing.