Ray Travaglini and his family have been tremendous supporters of
the Mahoning Valley community and Youngstown State University
athletics. The Travaglini's have also been important in making the
Penguin Club's annual Scholarship Ring Banquet such a success as
the events host each year at Mr. Anthony's.
For their efforts, Ray and his family are being honored tonight
as the 2004 Penguin of the Year along with former YSU women's
basketball coach Ed DiGregorio.
A former high school athlete, Travaglini started his first
business, Suburban Water Conditioning, in the early 1960's, after a
successful stint with the Kroger Company.
By 1964 his water conditioning business was thriving so he
expanded his scope of enterprises and founded Imperial Development
Corporation and later Sanray Corporation. His company built
apartment complexes, office buildings, gas stations and car washes.
In 1968, the first Perkins Restaurant was built. He currently
owns 30 Perkins Restaurants in Northeast Ohio, Western Pennsylvania
and one in New York. He also developed plazas, and in 1995 opened a
Holiday Inn Express in Meadville, Pa. He also developed the Holiday
Inn Express in the Niles/Warren area and in March 2004, a Holiday
Inn Express in West Middlesex, Pa., will open.
Sansalini's Bistro, another successful venture in Meadville,
Pa., has been recognized nationally for its expansion and
refurbishing as one of the finest restaurants in the country. The
Bistro was built in 1977 and 14 years later, doubled in size.
Currently, the company is known as Travaglini Express, Inc. and
employs more than 3,000 people.
The business success Travaglini has enjoyed has blossomed into
ways to help others. For all those efforts, he has received
numerous honors and awards.
He has been a consistent benefactor to Boys' Towns and Girls'
Towns of Italy. They voted him as Honorary Citizen. In 1979, he was
presented their Anniversary Award of "Man of the Year."
In 1984, he was honored as "Man of the Year" by the Italian
Scholarship League. He is a past President of this highly-respected
organization for assisting them in raising monies for scholarships.
A year later, Travaglini was named "Man of the Year" by the
Mahoning County Economic Development Corporation, for his
outstanding activities in the Valley.
In July 1990, he was honored as Grand Marshall of the Italian
American Heritage Festival Parade in Warren.
In 1992, he received the highest honor of the National Italian
American Sports Hall of Fame, Mahoning Valley Chapter, for his
tireless efforts in behalf of the youth of the Mahoning Valley.
Through his leadership, 70 scholarships at $1,000 have now been
awarded. The organization has established the Ray Travaglini Annual
Award Scholarship in his honor.
In 1992, he was named by the mayor of Niles to be Grand Marshall
of the Fourth of July Festival.
The next year, Travaglini was named to the Board of Directors of
the Mahoning Valley Economic Development Corporation. He was
awarded the Distinguished Citizen Award by YSU Alumni Association
and addressed the graduation class of Youngstown State while the
University bestowed him with a Honorary Degree of Doctorate of
Humane Letters.
In 1994, Travaglini was named a member of the Base Community
Council of the 901st Airlift Group and was named trustee by the
Butler Museum of American Art.
In 1996, he was "Man of the Year" of The Mahoning Valley
Columbus Day 100th Anniversary Board.
In 1997, he received the Carmen DeChristofaro Award of
Outstanding Citizen of Niles.
The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Digestive Disease Center
Leadership Board added him as a member in 2002.
In June 2003, Travaglini was the recipient of the Purple Aster
Business Award, which is the highest award given by The Grand Lodge
of Ohio, Sons of Italy Foundation.
Beyond these accomplishments, he has also assisted in raising
funds for the Boy Scouts of America, American Heart Association,
March of Dimes, cancer Crusade, St. Jude's Hospital, Hillside
Hospital, St. Joseph's Hospital, City of Hope, the YMCA and the
Easter Seal Society for crippled children and adults.
One of Mr. Travaglini's favorite charities in which he has been
involved for 15 years, and is considered a major contributor, is
Give Kids the World; a village based outside of Orlando, Fla.,
where terminally-ill children and their families can enjoy a week
at Disney World and the many attractions in the area.
He has been awarded citations by the Supreme Court of Ohio,
State of Ohio Senate, and the Ohio House of Representatives. The
Congress of the United States has written a resolution honoring his
achievements, he was awarded the Governor of Ohio's Special
Recognition Citation, and received a Resolution from the Mayor and
Councilmen of Warren, honoring his contribution to the Mahoning
Valley. He has been given the Key to the City of Niles, and is a
lifetime member of YSU's Alumni Association.
President Ronald Reagan sent Travaglini a special letter of
commendation for his help to orphans from all over the world.
Travaglini is known in the tri-state area for the Sandlini's
Sports Banquets that have given scholarships to deserving students
of Youngstown State University. This affair was heralded as
bringing in the greatest sports celebrities that have ever visited
this area.
Ray, a native of Greenville, Pa., enjoys big game hunting and is
an avid sports enthusiast. He lettered in football and basketball
before graduating from Penn High and starting his very successful
business career.
He resides in Warren, Ohio, with his wife Jan, and he has five
children and two step-daughters.
