Lorain County’s submission for the Ohio Statehouse Museum Photo Project July 2008
1)
Leonard P. Reichlin – Elyria – former mayor, county commissioner and funeral director
Leonard P. Reichlin was born in 1918 and passed at age 90 in 2008. A Lorain, Ohio native, he attended St. Joseph's Academy, in Collegeville, IN. During World War II, he served in the Army with the 102nd Evacuation Hospital in Europe. He graduated from Cleveland College of Mortuary Science, served his apprenticeship at the Kaufmann Funeral Home in Cleveland. He and his wife, Peggy, opened the Reichlin Funeral Home in Elyria in 1948, now a family business named Reichlin-Roberts. Mr. Reichlin ran for First Ward seat on Elyria City Council in 1961 before becoming Mayor in 1966. He petitioned state officials to have Ohio 301 shifted from Gulf Rd to North Abbe Rd and got N. Abbe developed into a 4 lane highway to accommodate students attending the newly opened Lorain County Community College. He was the Lorain County Director of Comprehensive Employment and Training Act programs from 1976 until he was appointed to an unexpired term in 1983 on the Board of County Commissioners. He was later elected and served as a commissioner through 1988.
2)
Gregory A. White – US Attorney for Northern District – former Lorain County Prosecutor
Gregory A. White was appointed by President George W. Bush on March 24, 2003 as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. Mr. White serves as the district's chief federal law enforcement official. Under his leadership, the office was recognized nationally in 2004 for having an outstanding comprehensive strategic plan for reducing gun violence in the city of Youngstown. Appointed by the Attorney General to the Attorney General's Advisory Committee and currently serves as Chairperson of the LECC/Victim/Community Issues Subcommittee. Elected to office 6-times, serving for 22 years as the Prosecuting Attorney for Lorain County. Served as President of Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Assoc., Ohio Criminal Sentencing Commission participated in revising Ohio's criminal code, Chairman of the Victims of Crime Task Force, and the Attorney General's Ohio Victims of Crime Advisory Board and served a term on the Ohio Supreme Court Rules Advisory Committee. Honored as Outstanding Prosecuting Attorney in 1995. Served in the United States Marine Corp. Received his undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice and Police Administration from Kent State University in 1973 and received his law degree with high honors from Cleveland Marshall College of Law in 1977. A resident of North Ridgeville, Ohio, Mr. White is married and the father of two daughters.
3)
Lynett McGough – 1st female county judge
Lynett McGough was the first female county judge elected in 1989 in the General Division of the Court of Common Pleas, retiring in 2006. Received undergraduate degree from Baldwin Wallace College and law degree from ClevelandMarshall College of Law and admitted to practice in 1981. Served as Law Director and Chief City Prosecutor for the City of North Ridgeville. Board Members on the following; Erie Shores Girl Scout Council, Safe, Sober and Alive project, 317 (Drug/Alcohol) and Ohio Judicial Conference Committee on Substance Abuse and Chair of both the Judicial Corrections Board in Lorain County, Community Corrections Act Board and past president of the Amherst Business and Professional Women’s Club Developed a Mock Trial project for students in grades 3 thru 6, which is captioned “State of Ohio v. Goldilocks.” Published and lectured throughout Ohio on the topic of the drug addicted (or substance abusing) offender. Initiated the first Settlement Week in 1989. Developed a continuum of sanctions in Lorain County which is the envy of her colleagues in the other 87 counties in Ohio, expanding the probation services to include the Lorain /Medina Community Based Correctional Facility, which is a residential program with 56 beds for men and 16 beds for women; the Court Supervised Released and Intensive Supervised Misdemeanant Unit, all are grant funded. Senate Bill 2 was enacted, Lorain County had in place a wide variety of community control sanctions which allowed the offender access to the services which offered a real chance for rehabilitation. Her home in Amherst has been classified as a National Wildlife Backyard Habitat. Judge McGough and her husband, Larry, are the parents of ten adult children and twelve grandchildren.
4)
Mary Jo Vasi – Elyria – 1st female county commissioner
Mary Jo Vasi was the first female commissioner elected in 1989. Life long resident of Lorain County and past owner of Mary Jo's Enterprises, over 30 years Instructor of Adult Education (J.V.S.), Paralegal and Author of instruction books and videotapes on Confectionery Art. • Served on many county, state and local Boards and Commissions. • 1989-1990 Lorain County Women of the Year • Recognized by NOACA for dedication to the development of the community, county and state as well as tireless efforts in advocating regional cooperation among Northeast Ohio's family of communities and counties and effective leadership as a commissioner. • Founder of Teen Echo • Initiated the "Turn in a Pusher" Program • Court appointed special advocate to represent the best interests of abused and neglected children in the juvenile court systems. • 1996 Golden Heart Award - presented by Association for Children for Enforcement of Support • Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Communications Award. • 1996 Recognized for Pledging to promote a Drug and Alcohol free Prom and Graduation • Honored by the Historic Society with first campaign items on display.
5) Jarvis Babcock – Rochester Township – 1st Lorain County farm to be preserved for future agricultural use
Joan and Jarvis Babcock stand in front of their Civil War era home.
From l to r, Andrew McDowell, Western Reserve Land Conservancy; Director Boggs; Mr. & Mrs. Jarvis Babcock
Jarvis Babcock’s family's farm is the first in Lorain County to be preserved for future agricultural use. The 175-year tradition of the family farm was done through the Ohio Department of Agriculture Easement program through the Clean Ohio Fund. Jarvis Babcock, 76, is the fifth generation of the Meaches and Babcocks who journeyed from Massachusetts in the 1830s to find a better life in the Western Reserve. He is married 54 years to his high school sweetheart Joan, earned bachelor's degree in botany from Oberlin College in 1953. Babcock and his two sisters, Alice Louise Bradley and Catherine Babcock Leary, co-own the 1,018-acre farm, along with two Civil War-era farmhouses and a 1910 slate-roof barn. A cast-iron dinner bell still stands tall on a post where it was rung. The property is run by Babcock's son Steve, who raises corn, soybeans, wheat and hay, with a small herd of Hereford and Angus beef cattle. A rare orchid that is native to Ohio was found in a wooded valley along the Charlemont creek when the land conservancy conducted field surveys of the Babcock farm, which is called Galearis spectabilis, commonly known as a showy orchid.
6)
Eric T. Nord, Amherst - Entrepreneur, Inventor, Industrialist and Philanthropist
Eric T. Nord was born in 1917, son of Walter and Virginia Nord. He started his career as an engineer at the U.S. Automatic Corporation in 1939 In 1954, with his brother Evan and father, they organized Nordson Corporation as a subsidiary of U.S. Automatic Corporation. Eric served as President of Nordson from 1954-1974, which grew from a small, local business with less than $1 million in annual sales to a publicly traded, multinational corporation with sales of $121 million and operations in 8 countries. Today, Nordson has sales of over $1 billion with direct operations in 33 countries. In 1974, he was elected Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, retiring from position of CEO in 1983, continued as Chair of the Board of Directors until October 31, 1997 but remained as Chairman Emeritus until his death. His business acumen was paralleled by a lifetime of personal philanthropy involving multiple non-profit organizations and causes. He and his family, were catalytic in creating four remarkable philanthropic resources: the Nord Family Foundation, Nordson Corporation and its Foundation, the Eric and Jane Nord Foundation, and the Community Foundation of Greater Lorain County. The philanthropic vision was behind more than $100 million of support for charitable and educational causes, particularly in northern Ohio. Throughout his lifetime, Mr. Nord was an active member of the community; serving as a member of the Nord Family Foundation, honorary trustee of Oberlin College, Past board and community service affiliations include; Oberlin Board of Education, Oberlin City Council, Firelands Association for the Visual Arts, Lorain County Joint Vocational School, Lorain County United Way, Allen Memorial Hospital, Greater Cleveland Growth Association and Community Foundation of Greater Lorain County. Eric attended Amherst High School (Class of 1935), earned a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Case Institute of Technology (now Case Western Reserve University). In 1989, Oberlin College honored his support and encouragement by awarding him an honorary Doctor of Science Degree. He was recipient of the Case Alumni Association Gold Medal Award in recognition of outstanding technical innovation, successful business management and dedicated public service. His creativity was reflected in the award of 25 U.S. patents. Mr. Nord is survived by his wife Jane, and his children Virginia Barbato (Randall) of New York City, Emily McClintock (T.K.) and Carlotte Berk (Sam) of Cambridge, Massachusetts, Richard Nord (Kathleen) of Vermilion, Ohio, and twelve grandchildren. He was predeceased by his son Eric.
7)
John Howard – Elyria – 1st African American judge
John A. Howard was born in Elyria, graduated from Elyria High School in 1941 and was an allconference athlete in basketball, football and track. Attended college on a football scholarship, earned his law degree in 1949 and opened a law practice in Elyria. He also served as an Elyria prosecutor and chief county probation officer. Howard was a founder and the first president of Elyria's first NAACP chapter. Early in his career, blacks were still barred from eating in some Elyria restaurants, and Howard used his skills as an attorney to end that discriminatory practice. Naming Elyria's new municipal court building for the late Judge John A. Howard is the best and most-natural course for city officials to take. There is no more-appropriate name for that facility than that of the longtime municipal court judge, local civil rights pioneer and distinguished son of Elyria. Judge Howard died in 2002 at the age of 78, having left this community a better place through his gracious manner, his caring and his considerable achievements. A civil rights trailblazer, Howard became the first black lawyer to serve as statewide president of the Ohio Bar Association in 1981. In 1985, John Howard became Judge Howard, the first black judge in Lorain County, when Gov. Richard Celeste appointed him to a vacancy on the Elyria Municipal Court bench. Voters kept returning him to that post until he retired in 1998. Mr. Howard served as an Elyria Municipal Court judge from 1984 to 1999. He served on the OSBA Board of Governors from 1978 to 1980 and in 1981 became president of the association.
8)
Roy Church – President Lorain County Community College
Dr. Church has 29 years as a leader in comprehensive community colleges and has led the transformation of Lorain County Community College since 1987. Among the most significant achievements are the following: • Creation of comprehensive community higher education centers for local communities to access education from the K-12 level through graduate studies. • Building collaborative initiatives with business, organized labor and government to enhance workforce education and economic development. • Improving the articulation of programs and the transfer of students between secondary schools, community colleges and universities. • • • • • • • •
Specific initiatives and accomplishments under his leadership in the last sixteen years include: Recognition by the community that LCCC is one of Lorain County’s best assets. College has distinction of achieving the State of Ohio’s highest quality rating for educational institutions by achieving Tier 3-Achievement of Excellence through the Ohio award for Excellence. More than 9,000 students are enrolled in more than 30 credit programs at the Associate Degree level. LCCC has served more than 250,000 Lorain Countians since 1963, and is Ohio’s fastest growing college with a 43% enrollment increase during the past four years. Innovative University Partnership Program—the first of its kind in Ohio—offers more than 30 baccalaureate and master’s degrees from 8 universities on the campus, enabling more than 2,000 adult learners to continue their education beyond the Associate Degree. Patsie C. Campana, Sr. Engineering and Development Center, home to the LCCC/University of Toledo Bachelor’s Degree Program in Computer Science and Engineering demonstrates the educational partnerships that are enhancing Lorain County’s economic competitiveness. Vision 21, developed in collaboration with business, labor, community and civic leaders to chart the College’s future directions provides the guiding mission and goals for the College’s future development. GLIDE (The Great Lakes Innovation and Development Enterprise) one of Lorain County’s most entrepreneurial endeavors. GLIDE is a regional innovation center whose mission is to assist digital start-up businesses as well as assisting new and existing businesses, in any industry, that are looking to develop and grow.
9)
C. Paul Stocker – Electrical Engineer & Inventor
Mr. C. Paul Stocker was an inventive genius and an astute electrical engineer and businessman. His devices were patented in 26 foreign countries. Graduated from Ohio University in 1926 with a B.S. in electrical engineering and worked for Bell Laboratories in New York City. He lost his job during the depression and invented many things but was best know for the Sub Cycle static frequency converter, which was a revolutionary design for the telephone industry. To market his invention, he started his own research and development company in 1936; Lorain Products, Lorain, Ohio. The company developed and manufactured hundreds of products for communications and industry and grew to over 1,000 employees and numerous plants in northern Ohio, Canada and Mexico. To this day, the Sub-Cycle remains the longest continuously manufactured part in the telephone industry. Company experienced several mergers and acquisitions since first being sold in 1973 to Reliance Electric, but still maintains an engineering division in Lorain Paul Stocker served on many boards including; Lorain Library, Mayor’s Committee on Civic Improvement, Lorain National Bank, Ohio University Trustees from 1958-1972, and served as Chairman and Alumni Medal of Merit in 1978, original member of the College Board of Visitors in 1965, was named Lorain Man of the Year. Paul and his wife Beth were the first couple to be named Alumni of the Year and passed in 1978. In 1985 Russ College of Engineering & Technology at OU was named in honor of the Stockers. Created the performing arts center at Lorain County Community College, the state’s first performing arts venue located on a community college campus, named C. Paul Stocker Fine Arts and Humanities Center.
10)
Beth K. Stocker – The Stocker Foundation
Mrs. Beth K. Stocker made an incredible impact during her lifetime - on people, the community and institutions. Through a generous bequest of $5 million to Lorain County Community College Foundation, Elyria her impact will continue in perpetuity at the C. Paul Stocker Fine Arts and Humanities Center, LCCC’s University Partnership Program and LCCC Foundation’s general endowment fund. Mrs. Stocker and her husband Paul were part of the original visionary citizens group that helped create Lorain County Community College. Served on the Foundation Board and supported scholarships for students in need. Beth and her husband Paul were entrepreneurs in both industry and community. In 1980, they created a performing arts center at Lorain County Community College as the state’s first performing arts venue located on a community college campus. Serving over 1 million patrons and is among the leading providers of children’s programs in the state. Beth, from Paul’s estate, established The Stocker Foundation, a private grant making foundation to ensure ongoing community support in the areas of arts, education, youth, and self-help for the disadvantaged and disabled. Served as president of the board of Stocker Foundation from 1979 to 2003 Mrs. Stocker passed away in 2005 at the age of 97.
11)
Tom Batiuk – Creator of Funky Winkerbean, comic
Tom Batiuk spent several years as a high school teacher before creating Funky Winkerbean, the celebrated comic strip distributed by King Features Syndicate to more than 400 newspapers nationwide. In 1972 as a laugh-a-day look at high school life and has matured into a series of real-life stories, highlighting such sensitive social issues as alcoholism, cancer, teen-dating abuse, teen suicide, guns in the school and teen pregnancy. • Born in i Akron, Ohio, in 1947 • First cartoons were published in his elementary-school newspaper in Elyria. • Graduated from Kent State University and taught arts and crafts at Eastern Heights Junior High, Elyria. • Began drawing a panel for the teen page of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram in 1970. • Creation of "Funky Winkerbean" in 1972 and his students in his art class helped him come up with the name. • Won accolades and awards from his peers as well as from educators and professional and civic organizations across the country for his outstanding treatment of serious social issues * 2002 Friend of Education" Award from the Ohio Education Association * 2001 Ohioana Citation in the Field of Art by the Ohioana Library Association * 1999, the Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center with the "Jonquil," award presented to distinguished individuals & organizations making significant contributions in fight against breast cancer * Ohio Governor's Award in 1996 * 1995 Media Citation Award from the Journalism in Education Association * 1988 honorary member of several state music educators associations * 1986 distinguished service award from the Music Educators National Council * 1988, the Band Directors of America Medal of Honor. * 1989, the "Funky" characters became the first comic-strip stars to march in the most spectacular parade of them all: the 100th Rose Bowl Parade. * 1979, he launched into syndication "John Darling," the adventures of a fictional talkshow host featuring celebrity caricatures. Co-created the strip with Tom Armstrong. * 1987 created third comic strip, "Crankshaft Resides in Ohio with his wife Cathy and son Brian and enjoys reading, listening to music and playing tennis.
12)
Tianna Madison – 2005 World Champion in the long jump & 2008 Olympic Trial Finals
Tianna Madison, born August 30, 1985 in Elyria, Ohio, is an American athlete competing in the long jump. She had attended Elyria High School before University of Tennessee. August 2005, won a gold medal at the 2005 World Championships in Athletics with a new personal best of 6.89 m. Ran track at the University of Tennessee from 2004 to 2006, winning SEC and NCAA indoor and outdoor long jump titles in 2005. Career Highlights: 2006 USA Outdoor runner-up; 2005 World Outdoor champion; 2006 World Indoor silver medalist; 2005 NCAA Indoor & Outdoor champion and 2004 USA Junior champion In 2007, Madison moved to Los Angeles and is working with Coach Bobby Kersee • Silver medal in long jump at 2006 IAAF World Indoor with best of 6.80m/22-3.75 • 2005 NCAA indoor and outdoor championship victories before placing second at the 2005 USA • Gold medal in the World Outdoor Championships in June - personal best leap of 6.89m/22-7.25 • 2004 Freshman at the University of Tennessee earned indoor All-America honors and scored in multiple events at SEC Indoors • Landed 5th place long jump of 6.22m/20-5 at the NCAA Championships earning 1st All-America • Selected the SEC Freshman Outdoor Field Events Athlete of the Year • Academic All-SEC, along with being a member of the Lady Vol Academic Honor Roll • 2003 member of USA Today All-USA High School Girls Track Team • 2003 Gatorade Ohio High School Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year • 9 career state championships, including 7 individual events and became only 3rd athlete in Ohio history to win 4 events at state championship in 2002 and 2003. • Joined former Zanesville Rosecrans star Susan Nash (1983-84) and Cleveland East Tech/U.S. Olympic legend Jesse Owens (1932-33) on that list. • 2nd American woman in history to win a world title in the long jump (joining Jackie Joyner-Kersee) and first active Lady Vol to strike gold at the World Championships. • #1 ranked American woman in the long jump during the entire 2005 NCAA season. • 2005 NCAA Outdoor long jump champion and All-American, helping Tennessee finish fourth in Sacramento and chart its best outdoor result nationally since 1987. • Won 2005 NCAA Indoor long jump championship, she helped spur Tennessee to win it’s first-ever NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championship. • 2005 SEC Outdoor and Indoor long jump champion and named the SEC Indoor Field Events Athlete of the Year. • Earned NCAA All-American status and was on the SEC and Lady Vol Academic Honor Rolls for the second straight season
13)
Don Pease – Congressman, Oberlin
Don Pease was born in Toledo, Ohio. He attended Ohio University, graduating in 1953 with a Bachelor’s Degree in journalism and earned a Masters Degree in government from OU in 1955 and completed gradated work as a Fulbright Scholar in England. After serving two years in the U.S. Army from 1955 to 1957, Pease moved to Oberlin, Ohio. Pease became editor and co-publisher of the weekly local newspaper, Oberlin News-Tribune. Member of the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors (ISWNE), winning ISWNE's Golden Quill Award for editorial writing in 1962 and serving as president of the Society in 1965. His political career began with his election to the Oberlin City Council in 1961, served in the Ohio Senate from 1965 to 1967. Redistricting contributed to his defeat in the 1966 election, but in 1968 he was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives, where he served from 1969 to 1975 and in 1974, he was elected to the Ohio Senate, serving from 1975 to 1977. He was a member of the Democratic Party and was regarded as a liberal (supporting workers' rights, emphasizing education, and other liberal causes), but he was well respected as a reasonable and ethical individual, even by his conservative colleagues, who saw him as a "straight arrow." In 1976, Pease was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives (95th Congress). Served 8 terms in Congress, easily winning all eight elections in the heavily Democratic Ohio 13th district. He taught as Visiting Distinguished Professor of Politics at Oberlin College and was also appointed by President Clinton to the Amtrak Board of Directors, where he served five years. Pease married Jeanne Camille Wendt August 29, 1953. One daughter, Jennifer, was born August 30, 1964 and passed July 28, 2002 in Oberlin.
14)
Charles Martin Hall – Oberlin, Invented process to commercially produce aluminum
Charles Martin Hall was born December 6, 1863 in Thompson, Ohio, son of Rev. Heman Bassett Hall and Sophronia H. Brooks Hall. In 1873 the Hall family moved to Oberlin, Ohio. He took preparatory work at Oberlin High School and was supplemented by one year in the Oberlin Academy including lessons in the Conservatory of Music. Graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1885 and 8 months later he invented an inexpensive method for the production of aluminum. On February 23, 1886 in the woodshed behind his family's home, he produced globules of aluminum metal by the electrolysis of aluminum oxide dissolved in a cryolite-aluminum fluoride mixture and repeated this experiment the next day for his sister Julia to witness. Achievement was the culmination of several years of intensive work on this problem. Hall was granted patent #400,655 for his process (1889). In the same year, Hall found a financial backer in Alfred E. Hunt, and the two of them founded the Pittsburgh Reduction Company and in 1907 was renamed the Aluminum Company of America (ALCOA). In 1890, he became its vice president. By 1914, his process had brought the cost of aluminum from twelve dollars per pound down to 18 cents a pound. He was a generous benefactor to Oberlin College, bequeathing more than $5 million. Filed several new patents for improvements in the production of aluminum, including one registered 4 years after his death. In 1911 he was awarded the prestigious Perkin Medal for outstanding achievement in applied chemistry. December 27, 1914 he passed in Daytona Beach, Fla.
15)
Toni Morrison – Lorain, Writer & 1st African American to receive Nobel Prize
Born Chloe Anthony Wofford, in 1931 in Lorain (Ohio), the second of four children in a black working-class family. Displayed an early interest in literature. Studied humanities at Howard, receiving a BA in 1953; and a Master of Arts Degree also in English in 1955 from Cornell Universities, followed by an academic career at Texas Southern University, Howard University, Yale, since 1989, a chair at Princeton University. Editor for Random House, a critic, and given numerous public lectures, specializing in African-American literature. She made her debut as a novelist in 1970, soon gaining the attention of both critics and a wider audience for her epic power, unerring ear for dialogue, and her poetically-charged and richly-expressive depictions of Black America. A member since 1981 of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, she has been awarded a number of literary distinctions, among them the Pulitzer Prize in 1988, first black women to win. In 1958 she married Harold Morrison. They had two children, Harold and Slade, and divorced in 1964, moving to Syracuse, New York, working as a textbook editor and became editor at the New York City headquarters of Random House. She began writing fiction as part of an informal group of poets and writers at Howard University • First novel, The Bluest Eye (1970), and in 2000 was chosen as for Oprah's Book Club. • 1973 her novel Sula was nominated for the National Book Award • 1988 third novel, Song of Solomon won the National Book Critics Circle Award. • 1988 novel Beloved became a critical success and won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. Adapted into the 1998 film of the same name starring Oprah Winfrey and Danny Glover. The New York Times Book Review named Beloved the best American novel published in the previous twenty five years. • Morrison has also co-written books for children with her youngest son, Slade Morrison, who works as a painter and musician. • Appointed to an Albert Schweitzer chair at the University at Albany, The State University of New York. From 1989 until her retirement in 2006, Morrison held the Robert F. Goheen Chair in the Humanities at Princeton University. • 1979 Barnard College awarded her its highest honor, the Barnard Medal of Distinction. Oxford University awarded her an honorary Doctor of Letters degree in June 2005. • Currently holds a place on the editorial board of The Nation magazine.
16)
Helen Steiner Rice – Poetry Writer – Lorain
Helen Steiner Rice, often referred to as the "poet laureate of inspirational verse", was born Helen Elaine Steiner on May 19, 1900. Even as a little girl, the older daughter of Anna and John Steiner of Lorain, Ohio loved to write rhyming couplets and to preach about God's love to her family. Pretty, pert and precocious, young Helen became a conscientious and outstanding high school student. Her teachers, some of whom were suffragists supporting women's right to vote, encouraged the teenager to set high goals. She dreamed of attending college - her high school yearbook noted that she hoped to become a Congress Woman - but her plans changed unexpectedly when her father died in the flu epidemic of 1918, the same year she graduated from high school. Instead of attending college, Helen became the family breadwinner and supported her mother and sister. Initially she was employed at the Lorain Electric Light and Power Company where she demonstrated how to create attractive lamp shades. Energetic and enterprising, Helen asked to be trained as a bookkeeper. Having mastered those skills, she started designing eye-catching display windows and, having proved that her insights in marketing were sound, she became the company's advertising manager. In time she was invited to be a spokeswoman for the Ohio Public Service Company and, in her twenties, crisscrossed the country giving speeches. In addition to promoting the advantages of the electric lighting industry, she also spoke about the importance of the opinions of women as consumers and about the value of women's talents in the workplace.
17) Edgar Allen – Founder of Easter Seals – Established First Hospital in Elyria, Ohio for children with disabilities
Edgar Fiske Allen was born in Newton, Mass., directly descended from Revolutionary war hero, Ethan Allen. The Allen family left New England in 1876 and settled in Cleveland, Ohio in 1876. Employed at the age of 16 by the Bingham Hardware Company, by age 26 he invested all his savings to form the Cleveland Cedar Company. Made his fortune by supplying telephone poles to AT&T and railroad ties for the growing railroad industry. By 1907, now married and the father of two sons, he moved to Elyria. Member of the Chamber of Commerce, there was a meeting to discuss need for adequate medical facilities in Elyria staffed by a single nurse on May 28, 1907. On May 30, Allen's 18-year-old son, Homer, was killed in a streetcar accident which claimed 9 lives, both of his legs were amputated and his father was told that if Elyria had emergency medical care, the boy could have been saved. He took a leadership role, sold his business to raise funds for a medical facility, October 30, 1908 Elyria Memorial Hospital opened with 36 beds. He was a volunteer treasurer at the hospital, meeting 8 year old Jimmy Bodak, brought to the hospital in an effort to help straighten his legs. Allen became aware of the magnitude of the need for a facility for crippled children. Through his fund raising efforts, the Gates Hospital for Crippled Children was opened on April 15, 1915. It was the first facility of its kind in the nation. In 1919, the Ohio Society for Crippled Children was formed, the predecessor to the Easter Seals. Allen was chosen President. Two bills were passed with his help to develop an agency, that revolutionized the way children with disabilities were cared for. The success of Ohio's efforts became the catalyst for other states and countries to become involved. Easter Seals has grown into an organization which now serves over one million clients a year in every state and the country of Puerto Rico. In 1921 the National Society for Crippled Children was formed, Allen was elected first president, 1922 it was the International Society for Crippled Children. By 1929, 23 affiliated state societies had been founded. In February of 1933 Allen suffered a heart attack from which he never fully recovered and resigned in 1934. In September of 1937 Allen was laid to rest in Elyria's Ridgelawn Cemetery. His marker reads simply, "Edgar Fiske Allen, known as 'Daddy' to all friends of the crippled." “We have but one life. We get nothing out of that life except by putting something into it. To relieve suffering, to help the unfortunate, to do kind acts and deeds is, after all, the one sure way to secure happiness or to achieve real success. Your life and mine shall be valued not by what we take... but by what we give.”
18)
Matt Wilhelm - Pro Football Player from Lorain
Matt Wilhelm was born February 2, 1981 in Oberlin, Ohio, is an American football player who currently plays Inside Linebacker in the NFL for the San Diego Chargers. Wilhelm attended Elyria Catholic High School in Elyria, Ohio. He amassed 100 tackles, 26 for loss, and 11 sacks as a senior and was named a 1st Team All-Ohio selection. Wilhelm also played tight end and running back.[ In 2002, he had his #34 jersey retired at Elyria. Matt Wilhelm played for the Ohio State University football team from 1999 to 2002. Earned the coveted Randy Gradishar Award as the team’s top linebacker and made all of the defensive calls. As a senior, Wilhelm helped his team to a national championship with a team-leading 11 tackles and ended the year with a career high 121 tackles and ended his career with the 6th most career tackles for loss for Ohio State all-time. He was drafted by the Chargers 112th overall in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL Draft. On December 25, 2006, AJ Smith rewarded Wilhelm with his first big contract, a 5yr extension paying about $6.5 million the first two years. The contract runs through the 2011 season. He and his wife Vanessa are currently expecting their first child, a boy, due in March
19)
Arthur Garford – Industrialist, Inventor – padded bicycle seat & Politician
Arthur Lovett Garford was born in Elyria, Ohio on August 4, 1858 and graduated from Elyria High School in 1875. By his early twenties, Garford had found employment as a cashier and bookkeeper. By the 1890s, he had become a bank executive, and in 1892, Garford purchased the Fay Manufacturing Company, producing bicycles and equipment to improve roads for bicycle use. In 1892, Garford renamed the business the Garford Manufacturing Company, 1st company to produce padded bicycle seat in the entire world, known as the Garford Saddle, and it manufactured more than 1 million seats per year. In 1893, Garford formed the Automobile & Cycle Parts Company and renamed it Federal Manufacturing Company and then formed the Garford Company, selling it in the early 1900’s to George Worthington Company. The Studebaker Company became interested in Garford's automobile parts company and together they formed a partnership in 1904 and production ceased in 1911, manufacturing 2,481 studebaker-garford cars. Garford engaged to become president or founder of several manufacturing firms including the American Lace Manufacturing Company, the Republican Printing Company and the Cleveland Automatic Machine Company. He helped found the first Chamber of Commerce in Elyria. In 1896 and again in 1908, Garford served as an Ohio delegate to the Republican National Convention. He ran and lost a bid for Ohio Governor in 1912 and the U.S. Senate under the Progressive Party. Mr. Garford, died January 23, 1933 and today, his home in Elyria serves as the Hickories Museum and home of the Lorain County Historical Society
20)
Terry Andersen – Longest held hostage
Terry A. Anderson, born, October 27, 1947, Lorain, Ohio, is the best known, and longest held, hostage of a group of Americans believed to be captured by Shiite Hezbollah militants in an attempt to drive U.S. military forces from Lebanon during the Lebanese Civil War. Anderson was raised in Batavia, New York. A professional journalist, he was in the U.S. Marines during the Vietnam War, where he was a combat correspondent (1969-70). After his discharge he enrolled at Iowa State University, studying broadcast journalism and graduating in 1974. Then he joined the Associated Press, serving in Asia and Africa before being assigned to Lebanon as the chief Mideast correspondent in 1983. On March 16, 1985, Anderson had just finished a tennis game when he was abducted from the street in Beirut, placed in the trunk of a car and taken to a secret location where he was imprisoned. For the next six years and nine months he was held captive, being moved periodically to new sites. He was released December 4, 1991. Since his release Anderson has been actively involved in freedom of the press issues. He has taught courses at the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism and at the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University. Also a frequent talk show guest, a columnist, a radio talk-show host and an activist for charitable causes. He wrote a memoir entitled Den of Lions. He filed suit against the Iranian government for his captivity, and in 2002 was awarded a multimillion dollar settlement from frozen Iranian assets. Retired, he now lives on a farm in Athens County, Ohio. He is divorced and remarried. His older daughter lives in Tokyo; his younger daughter, Sulome, lives in Manhattan. With some of his settlement, Anderson and actress Kieu Chinh co-founded the Vietnam Children's Fund, which has built schools in Vietnam, created the Father Lawrence Jenco Foundation with a $100,000 endowment to honor and support people who do charitable and community service projects in Appalachia. He also opened the Blue Gator, a blues bar in Athens, Ohio. In December 2003, he announced his candidacy on the Democratic ticket to represent the 20th District in the Ohio Senate. Anderson's opponent was Republican candidate Joy Padgett and received 46% of the vote in a district that leans Republican; the seat has been held by Republicans since 1977.
21)
Martha Piper – former Chancellor and President of the University of British Columbia
Martha C. Piper, D.Sc (honoris causa), LL.D (honoris causa) was the President and ViceChancellor of the University of British Columbia. She held the position since 1997 and was the 11th person and the first woman to do so. Having been born in Lorain, Ohio, she is also the first person born outside of Canada to have held the position, although she has Canadian citizenship and was made an officer of the Order of Canada in 2002. Her contract with UBC stipulated a salary of $350,000 plus incentive payments of up to $50,000 per year upon meeting the performance goals set by the Board of Governors. Stephen Toope replaced Piper as president of the University of British Columbia on July 1, 2006. Piper holds a B.Sc. in Physical Therapy from the University of Michigan, M.A. in Child Development from the University of Connecticut, Ph.D. in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from McGill University. Director of McGill's School of Physical and Occupational Therapy until 1985 when she became the dean of the University of Alberta's Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine. In 1993 vice president of Research, and also External Affairs starting in 1995. Upon becoming President of UBC in 1997, Piper inherited a strong record of external fundraising and research development and cashed in on significant federal government reinvestment in research and innovation, effectively using UBC's position as the largest university in British Columbia (and Western Canada) to attract large amounts of government and private sector funding. She become a member of the Trilateral Commission, an organization of influential private citizens founded in 1973 at the initiative of banker David Rockefeller and joins current members Richard Perle, former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, and former Mexican president Ernesto Zedillo. Past members include Dick Cheney, Paul Wolfowitz, Bill Graham. Piper's association with the Commission has garnered significant controversy
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Charles J. Berry – Medal of Honor WWII
Charles Joseph Berry was a Corporal in the Marine Corps who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his actions during World War II. Charles Joseph Berry was born in Lorain, Ohio, on 10 July 1923, graduating from Clearview High School in 1941, and then went to work as a truck driver. He enlisted in the Marine Corps, October 1, 1941 and in 1943, he landed at Bougainville, and during that campaign, took part in the raid at Koairi Beach and in the Empress Augusta Bay action. Prior to returning to the United States in February 1944, he spent a short time at Guadalcanal. He became corporal on July 22, 1944. He landed on Iwo Jima on D-Day, 19 February 1945, and was killed in action on 3 March 1945, during the action which earned him the Medal of Honor. Initially buried in the 5th Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima, he was reinterred in Elmwood Cemetery, Lorain, Ohio, in 1948. In addition to the Medal of Honor, Cpl Berry was also posthumously awarded the Purple Heart; Presidential Unit Citation; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal; American Defense Service Medal; American Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. The Erie Avenue Bridge in Lorain, Ohio was renamed in 1988 to the Charles Berry Bridge in honor of Cpl Berry; a native son of the city.
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John Mercer Langston – 1st African American elected to public office from Oberlin
John Mercer Langston was the first African American elected to public office. He was born on the plantation of Captain Ralph Quarles in Louisa County, Virginia. He had two brothers, Gideon and Charles, and a sister, Maria. In 1834 both his parents died of unrelated illnesses, and Langston and his siblings became orphans. At the age of 14 he enrolled in Oberlin College, earning a Bachelor’s degree, and then a Master’s degree in theology. He became involved in politics, organizing political groups for African Americans to advance the causes of abolition of slavery and civil rights for Black people. Langston applied to several law schools but was denied entry because of his race. A president of a law school recommended he pretend to be French or Spanish, anything except African American. Langston, quite insulted, declined, and instead found a position working for a judge, Philemon Bliss, who trained him until he passed the bar exam in 1854. Langston became a successful and prominent attorney. Langston became an opponent of the American Colonization Society. He married Caroline Wall, another Oberlin alumnus, moving to Brownhelm, Ohio, served on the City Council in 1855 for 5 years. Elected to the position of Town Clerk, becoming the first African American to be elected to a public office and active in the Republican Party being instrumental in steering the party toward its strong anti-slavery position. Organized the first Black regiment in the history of the United States, the Massachusetts 54th, and two other regiments made up of African American soldiers. Langston held many offices, including president of the National Equal Rights League and member of the Board of Education in Oberlin; in 1868-1869, he was Education Inspector for the Freedmen’s Bureau, working to provide educational opportunities for newly freed slaves; from 18691876, he was the dean of Howard University’s law school. He was forced out because of his political views and the entire Law Department resigned in protest. After leaving Howard, Langston was appointed to the diplomatic corps and served as U.S. Consul General to Haiti for seven years. Upon his return, he became president of Virginia Normal College Institute. In 1889, Langston was elected to the United States Congress, representing the State of Virginia. He spent the rest of his life in Washington, D.C., as a political leader and activist, although he was not re-elected to Congress. He retired in 1894 and wrote his autobiography, From the Virginia Plantation to the National Capital. Oklahoma's Langston University is named in his honor, as is the John Mercer Langston Bar Association in Columbus, Ohio, Langston Middle School in Oberlin, Ohio, the former John Mercer Langston High School in Danville, Virginia, and John M. Langston High School Continuation Program in Arlington, Virginia. He was a member of the board of trustees of Saint Paul's College in Lawrenceville, Virginia , founded in 1888 as the St Paul Normal and Industrial School, and incorporated by the General Assembly on March 4, 1890. His house in Oberlin is a National Historic Landmark. Langston was the great-uncle of poet Langston Hughes and died November 15, 1897.
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Norton Townshend – 1st Professor of Agriculture & Mechanical College and founder
Norton Townshend arrived in Avon Ohio on May 1, 1830. Purchased 25 acres in April 11, 1834 adjoining the land of his father by Section 22. The Townshends installed tile drains under all their fields, first farmers and continued to buy land until they had over 300 acres. * November 16, 1836 became a naturalized citizen of US with father, Joel. * 1837 he began the Study of Medicine with Dr. Richard Howard in Elyria, Ohio and returned to Avon in 1841 to begin his practice. * 1843 he married Harriet N. Wood, his long time neighbor and had 3 children. * 1844 he took over the practice of Dr. Howard in Elyria, kept his farm but moved to Elyria. * 1845 - age 29 was appointed a trustee of Oberlin College and established a school of agriculture * 1848 won a seat in the Ohio House of Representatives, a member of the Free Soil Party. * 1850 became a U. S. Congressman in the 32nd Congress. Fought against slavery, asked Congress to repeal Fugitive Slave Act. * 1853 lost his seat due to "gerry mandering" of his district, ran and won Ohio Senate, Free Soil * 1854, his wife, Harriet, died from tuberculosis, he later married Margaret Bailey and had 3 kids In the Senate he opposed extension of slavery, opposed capital punishment. Supported prohibitory liquor laws, proposed amending the Ohio Constitution to give women equal rights with men in holding property and disposing of same. He supported granting of elective franchise to "colored citizens." He proposed an "asylum" devoted to training imbecile youth. This was finally acted upon by the General Assembly in 1857. He was appointed to the first board of trustees and held post until 1878 He began a series of lectures and published a bulletin announcing plans for the Ohio Agricultural College at Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio. * 1858 Elected to the State Board of Agriculture and president in 1859. * 1863 Civil War – Accepted commission as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Union Army, as a medical inspector and served until October, 1865. * 1868 elected to serve on the Ohio State Board of Agriculture * 1870 Gov. Rutherford Hayes appointed Townshend to serve from the 14th district on the first board of trustees. 6 yr term and became chair of the Executive Committee of the College. * 1873 First Professor of Agriculture at the Ohio Agriculture and Mechanical College. * 1878 May -- General Assembly of Ohio voted to change the name of the school to OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY; thus Norton S. Townshend, M.D. is also a founder of The Ohio State University. * 1884 Sent to England by the University to study veterinary and agricultural schools there. * 1892 First faculty member to be elected Professor Emeritus. * 1895 – July 13 he passed and is buried Avon's Mound Cemetery [corner of SR-83 and SR-254]. * 1898 January 12, 1898 -- new ag building on Ohio State's campus, is named to Honor Dr. Townshend, and remains today but is home to School of Psychology.
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Elizabeth C. Blair –1st women elected to Board of Director of Ohio Township Association
E.C. "Betty" Blair is serving her 40th year in public office, and her 5th consecutive term as Commissioner. A lifelong resident of the county, she has 6 children and 14 grandchildren with her husband Charles L. Blair. Betty is the recipient of the following distinguished awards; 2006 Elyria Catholic High School Distinguish Alumni Award; 2005, 2nd annual Mike Whitmore memorial Award for Vision in government, presented by Lorain County Community Alliance for continuing to pursue regional collaboration on multiple levels and 2004, 1st annual Walter F. Ehrnfelt Award presented by NOACA for leadership, cooperation and dedication by a public sector individual for her efforts in support of regionalism. Her current visions are to complete the transformation of the former Elyria Train Depot into a county service transportation hub and to initiate Commuter Rail service across the North Coast community along Lake Erie. In 1980 Betty was the first woman elected the Board of Directors of the Ohio Township Association and also the first woman to serve as a line officer that statewide group. She has also served in the following capacity; • Lorain County Community Alliance, Interim Chair 1996 - 1999; Chair, Membership Committee • NOACA: Asst. Treas. 1998; Asst. Vice Pres. 1999, Exe. Committee 1997; Member, 208 Water Quality Development Task Force 1997 - 1999; NOACA President 1996; Vice President 1995; Chair - Planning Advisory Committee 1995 • Jail Grant Advisory Board - 1994 - 1999. • Black River Remedial Action Plan Board member. • Board of Trustees, Lorain County Visitors Bureau. • Obtained Grant from Nord Family Foundation ($39,000.00) to fund the Blue Ribbon Committee study of Lorain County's general condition -1992. • Association of Township Trustees & Clerks: President 1983 - 1984; Vice President 1980 - 1982. • Carlisle Township, Elected Clerk, 23 years (1968 - 1990). • Assistant to two former Elyria Mayors, to Elyria City Council and Planning Commission. • Founding Trustee and Officer, Dr. James L. Kolopus Memorial Scholarship Fund, Inc. 1972 to present (awarded over 45 college scholarships). • Carlisle Township Fire Ladies Auxiliary: President 1979 - 1980; 1975 - 1976. • United Polish Club Auxiliary. • Advisory Committee, Public Services Institute, Lorain County Community College 1994 -1998. • 1988 Lorain County Chair - 72nd District former State Representative Kate Walsh Committee. • 1986 Democrat Woman of the year, awarded by CODE • Amherst Democrat Women's Club; Eleanor Roosevelt Democrat Women's Club of Wellington; Elyria Democrat Women's Club, Lorain Democrat Women's Club; North Ridgeville Democrat Women's Club; Lorain County Federation of Democrat Women - Treasurer 1995 - 1996. • WEDO - Women Elected Democrats of Ohio. • WELCOME - We Elected Ladies & Company Organized Mentor Experience.