The Akron History Center

Oct 31, 2023 12:00 PM

David Lieberth

Dave Lieberth joined the Summit County Historical Society as a high school senior 58 years ago.

Akron’s history has been his avocation ever since. He is Chairman Emeritus of the Historical Society.

Over a span of 32 years - he was a broadcast journalist, a lawyer, and an ardent civic activist.

From 2002 to 2012, he was Deputy Mayor of Akron.

Mayor Horrigan selected Dave to oversee the planning for Akron’s 2025 Bicentennial celebration.

Currently, Dave is creating The Akron History Center in downtown Akron, scheduled to open by January 2024, which will assemble 200 years of Akron history in one place. He is president of the Akron History Center, Inc., a non-profit organization.

He has written and produced two, hour-long historical documentaries about Akron for PBS.

Dave chaired Akron’s successful efforts in 1995 and 2008 to be named an “All-America City” by the National Civic League.

Dave was the founding president of the National Inventors Hall of Fame board in 1987.

He has been part of LeBron James’ philanthropy since producing the first Bikeathon in 2005 and is a charter member of the LeBron James Family Foundation Community Advisory Board.

Akron Community Foundation selected him as the 52nd recipient of the Bert M. Polsky Humanitarian Award in 2019, for volunteering thousands of hours and raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for Akron civic, cultural, and charitable organizations.