Wright-Dunbar Blog

The Dayton Foundation announced the award of a grant to Wright Dunbar, Inc. for redevelopment efforts within the Wright Dunbar Business District.  The grant, to be utilized for the Allaman Carriage House Redevelopment Project, will facilitate the stablization and restoration of the historic Allaman Carriage House which is part of a larger restoration project for The Allaman Complex.  The restored Allaman Complex is the  proposed site for a large institutional tenant.

The Greater Dayton African American Chamber of Commerce awarded WDI President Idotha Bootsie Neal the Developer of the Year recognition on June 10, 2011 for her accomplishments as an outstanding African American Business and Community Leader and for her role as head of non-profit Wright Dunbar, Inc which is chartered with the redevelopment of the West Third Street business corridor in the City of Dayton.  The Board of Trustees and Staff of Wright Dunbar, Inc. commend Bootsie for this recognition!

The State Controlling Board recently approved use of Clean Ohio Funds to conduct environmental studies at the former West Side Chevy building located at 800 West Third Street.  Wright Dunbar Inc. looks to further develop this location once the studies are complete.

Five new honorees will take their place in history alongside the 120 Miami Valley greats honored on the Walk of Fame. The 2010 class of inductees are Annae Barney Gorman, Daniel Mikesell, Dr. David Ponitz, Betty Schmoll, and the Gem City Sweet Adelines. 

ANNAE BARNEY GORMAN (1862 — 1938) Ms. Gorman was a civic and business leader.  She was the founder of Barney Community Center, now known as Children’s Medical Center of Dayton.  She also helped to create the Dayton Woman’s Club.  

DANIEL W. MIKESELL (1883 — 1965) Mr. Mikesell was a business and community leader. He was the founder of the Mike-Sell’s Potato Chip Company, now the oldest potato chip manufacturer in the U.S., and is still headquartered in Dayton Ohio.   

DAVID PONITZ (1931) Dr. Ponitz is a leader in the field of higher education and provides outstanding service to the community. He is President Emeritus of Sinclair Community College, and is a founding member of Miami Valley Research Park. 

BETTY SCHMOLL (1936) is a humanitarian and highly successful leader who founded the Hospice of Dayton, one of the first in the U.S. Ms. Schmoll also served as its first president. 

GEM CITY SWEET ADELINES (1970) is an organization of over 120 women that sing barbershop harmony.  The Gem City Chorus has been crowned “Queens of Harmony”, has won five first place international titles at the World Competitions, and five second place titles in International Competitions. 

Congratulations to the class of 2010 Walk of Fame inductees!  Please join us at the public induction ceremony and luncheon honoring these inductees on September 23, 10 a.m. at the MVRPC Center for Regional Cooperation, Wright-Dunbar Business District.  Details regarding luncheon ticket purchase can be obtained after July 31, by calling 937.443.0249.

Since its inception in 1996 as a part of the City of Daytons bicentennial celebration, over 115 individuals have been recognized on the Miami Valley’s Walk of Fame for their outstanding and enduring personal or professional contributions to the community, nation and the world.

Five new honorees took their place in history alongside other Miami Valley greats, such as Orville and Wilbur Wright, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Charles Kettering, and James Cox on September 24, 2009. Wright Dunbar, Inc. proudly announced the 2009 Walk of Fame inductees as Vincent Apple Groby, Lucinda Williams Adams, Reverend DeSoto Bass, Carl Day, and Laverne Sci.