UT grad donates $3-million to school

By Times Staff Writer
Published January 26, 2008

TAMPA 

University of Tampa officials are celebrating a $3-million gift from alumnus Frank P. Urso, a retired pathologist and Ybor City native whose name will now grace one of the private college's newer residence halls.

Urso, a 1957 graduate, said he is giving the donation because "UT changed my life." In return, UT will rename its 11-story, 182-bed Kennedy Place residence hall as the Frank P. Urso, M.D. Hall.

After he graduated, Urso went to the University of Miami medical school, where he graduated with honors. Urso served as the director of pathology and clinical laboratories at three major hospitals, and worked as professor of pathology at Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine. After retiring, he published a 2005 memoir, A Stranger in the Barrio: Memoir of a Tampa Sicilian, that describes his life growing up here.

Each student in the residence hall will receive a copy of Urso's book. UT will hold a dedication ceremony Feb. 22 in the dorm lobby.

ST. PETERSBURG

Gibbs students win county's History Fair

The students from Gibbs High School who were featured in a Times story on Friday's front page won first place in the Pinellas County History Fair.

The students - juniors James Ham, Jo Scotti, Delores Milton, David Washington and senior Ryan Shuck - won the group documentary category Friday for their eight-minute video, which traced the history and social significance of the N-word.

The theme of the competition was "Conflict and Compromise."

The win qualifies the group for the state competition in Tallahassee May 1-3.

ST. PETERSBURG

City talks to homeless about new rules

After changing the laws to make it easier to get rid of the homeless encampments on sidewalks, St. Petersburg officials began asking homeless people to comply Friday, or risk losing their belongings.

City officials began a "public education effort" by telling homeless people that new ordinances that take effect Friday will prohibit people from sleeping on public land during the day or leaving personal items along the public right of way, including sidewalks.

Downtown business owners and residents had pushed for the ordinances.

[Last modified January 26, 2008, 00:47:23]