Francesco Crescenzi di Camillo e Palma Scotolati

Francesco Crescenzi was born in Controguerra on 11 July 1865 to Camillo and Palma Scotolati, in the family palace in Piazza del Plebiscito (now Piazza Mazzini). Landowner, after completing his legal studies he became a lawyer of the Court of Teramo and vice-praetor of the District of Nereto. At the age of 24, in 1889, he was elected provincial councilor and held his position, being re-elected several times, until 1920. From 1892 to 1899 and from 1902 to 1920 he was a member of the provincial deputation and from 1926 to 1932 he was mayor of Controguerra. Disliked by fascism, he was forced to resign due to disagreements with local politicians who reproached him for not purging the socialist sharecroppers. Among his merits, he set up and directed the "Abruzzo" public transport company, improved the road system of the Val Vibrata and had a bridge built over the Tronto, he worked hard to stem the water emergency affecting the Teramo between Otto and twentieth century, he was among the first to send aid to the earthquake victims of Avezzano in 1915, he favored assistance to widows and orphans of the First World War, he was vice-president of the Cassa di Risparmio di Nereto and he was a councilor for the schools of the Province of Teramo.