He was the mayor of Youngstown when I was born and one of the political names I grew up hearing in Youngstown. He served as mayor during a time when Youngstown was still a developing community. The new Chaney High School, an addition to East High School, North High School, and Cardinal Mooney would all open during these years to serve the Baby Boom generation. A new Playhouse building was under construction as well as residential homes and urban housing projects. Market Street and Oak Street bridges were replaced. Exits from the Ohio Turnpike were opened and plans for Youngstown’s freeway system were underway. He was mayor during the time when population began to shift from the city to the suburban townships around Youngstown.

It was a time of rising organized crime activity in the Valley. Kryzan and his new police chief Paul Cress (who was later police chief at YSU during my student years) warned gambling interests not to set up in Youngstown. On one hand the Jungle Inn was fined for delinquent taxes. On the other, bombings related to organized crime were on the rise. It was a challenging time to be mayor and federal law enforcement in this era was not focused on organized crime.

Frank X. Kryzan was born on November 27, 1913 in Youngstown. He graduated with a law degree from Youngstown College. He served in World War II in the United States Army, receiving the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star and two Combat Stars for his service. He married Carolyn Siembieda of Campbell and they had two children, Carol and Alice.

Prior to winning the mayor’s office in November of 1953, he served as president of City Council. He won a hard fought race against three-term Republican mayor Charles P. Henderson, edging him out by 1796 votes. Henderson had become increasingly unpopular because of his police chief Edward J. Allen, who aroused controversy over his law enforcement efforts, including a campaign against pornography. One of Kryzan’s first decisions was to replace him with Paul Cress.

Kryzan served three terms as mayor, deciding to run (unsuccessfully) for a judgeship in 1959. His wife Carol passed away in 1970. In 1971, he married Tina Siembieda Zbell, to whom he was married until her passing in 2009. In 1972, Ohio Governor John Gilligan appointed Kryzan to a vacant position on the bench of the Youngstown Municipal Court. He served in this position until retirement in 1987.

Charles Bannon, a Mahoning County Common Pleas Court judge was long a friend of Kryzan’s and paid him this tribute in the Vindicator obituary: “I had a ton of respect for Frank Kryzan. I was always impressed with how he handled himself. When you saw him he commanded respect.”

In the last six years of his life, he moved to Crown Point, Indiana. He passed on March 13, 2010, at age 96, surviving his second wife, Tina, by a year. He was buried in Youngstown.

War hero. Popular mayor in the Baby Boom years. Respected judge. And mayor during my earliest years growing up in working class Youngstown as one of those Boomers. Seventy years ago.

To read other posts in the Growing Up in Working Class Youngstown series, just click “On Youngstown.” Enjoy!