May 8, 2002 By Amy Karpinsky 3 min read

Uniontown City Council Tuesday heard a proposal that would honor 1961 Heisman trophy winner and Uniontown native Ernie Davis. Al Owens, who has frequently attended council meetings and urged council to enact a way to remember the outstanding athletes from Uniontown, presented a proposal to re-name a city park after Davis and declare a day after Davis.

Owens referred to an article published years ago in Sports Illustrated about Davis entitled “A Life Cut Short.” Owens said Davis spent the first 12 years of his life in the Fayette County. Davis went to Syracuse University and had planned to play for the Cleveland Browns.

He died of leukemia in 1963 before playing a down of professional football. Davis was the first African-American to win the Heisman trophy.

Owens said at other sites in the country, there are places named after Davis, such as a community center, a middle school and a campus.

He said in early July there will be a “black homecoming” in Uniontown and he would like to have a proclamation declaring it Ernie Davis Day in conjunction with the event. Owens said one of the places Davis played was very close to Grant Street Park and he would like the name of that park to be changed to Ernie Davis Memorial Park.

Mayor Jim Sileo said he would look into the matter. Council member Blair R. Jones Sr. said he believed the park is officially named after a former mayor and is “Sembower Park.” Jones said he would have not problem with changing the name, provided the park isn’t already named after someone else.

Council member Joe Giachetti, the head of the recreation department, said Davis was a great athlete, but there are other great athletes from Uniontown as well. However, when Owens asked how many Heisman trophy winners are from Uniontown, Sileo answered with “just one.”

In a split vote, council approved a motion to hold the June, July and August meetings beginning at noon on the first Tuesday of the month.

Gary Crozier voted against the motion, saying it was hard for him to make noon meetings. Giachetti was also against changing the meeting time from 7 p.m. The motion passed with a 3-2 vote with Sileo, Jones and Bob Cerjanec voting in favor of having the summer meetings at noon.

Fire chief Jim Wood announced that the department recently received a $1,500 grant that will be used to purchase a new computer.

Crozier spoke out about the possibility of moving the Downtown Business District Authority to the Main Street building that houses the city Redevelopment Authority. Both authorities were formerly housed in city hall before the redevelopment authority moved. Crozier said he believes the two offices should be together “working hand in hand.”

A motion was approved to accept and adopt the 2001 annual audit and financial report. Cerjanec, the director of accounts and finance, said there were no findings in the audit.

Council approved a motion to re-appoint Kenneth Minerd to the Zoning Hearing Board for a five-year term to expire June 1, 2007.

A motion was approved to advertise for the Redstone Creek Relief Interceptor Project. In the project, which is being funded by PENNVEST, 2,121 linear feet of 27-inch diameter and 2,428 feet of 30-inch diameter interceptor line, sanitary manholes and appurtenances will be constructed.