Ohio Senior Citizens Cover design: Award winning “World Peace” quilt created by 2000 Hall of Fame Inductee, Lois K. Ide of Bucyrus, Ohio HallHall ofof FameFame InductionInduction Ceremony 50 West Broad Street/9th Floor Ceremony Columbus, OH 43215-3363 General: 614-466-5500 TTY: 614-466-6191 Visit us @ www.ohio.gov/age/ The Ohio Department of Aging is an equal opportunity employer. Governor Bob Taft Director Joan W. Lawrence May 8, 2001 HistoryHistory HonoringHonoring ofof thethe OhioOhio SeniorSenior CitizensCitizens OurOur HallHall ofof FameFame This recognition honors outstanding HeritageHeritage older Ohioans each year for their achievements and contributions to others: for the role played by older men and women in their communities, state and nation; and to promote productive and enjoyable retirement years. InductionInduction This year, 10 individuals join the distinguished ranks of the Ohio Senior Ceremony Citizens Hall of Fame. They were Ceremony selected for contributions they have made for the benefit of humankind after age 60, or for a continuation of efforts begun before that age. MayMay 8,8, 20012001 The induction ceremony features a video about each inductee. Each inductee receives a lapel pin with the Hall of Fame symbol and a plaque with his or her portrait and a brief biography. An identical plaque is Welcome displayed at the Martin Janis Senior Joan W. Lawrence Center on the Ohio State Fairgrounds Director, in Columbus. Ohio Department of Aging Since 1977, more than 200 older Recognition of Past Inductees individuals have been inducted into the Senior Citizens Hall of Fame. Presentation of Inductees & Awards Dorothy Dexter Alexander Add a warm, caring personality to intelligence and talent and you have Dorothy D. Alexander, who at age twelve started accompanying choirs then later taught music in West Virginia and Ohio public schools for 38 years. Dorothy won national recognition by being included in Who’s Who Among African Americans in 1993, and in 1998 was awarded a Human Service Award from Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) Sorority, Inc., America’s first Greek letter organization established by and for black women. In keeping with AKA goals, she was honored for “cultivating and encouraging high scholastic and ethical standards” by the 93-year old sorority. As a music teacher, she influenced many young people and touches the lives of adults as a church musician, teacher and choir director. She is described as “vibrantly active” in church and community activities and currently provides the music for senior residents of Lutheran Village of Columbus. She is director/pianist for the Chime/Children’s Choir at Shiloh Baptist Church, and pianist for the Male Chorus, musician for AKA Sorority and Heroines of Jericho and directed the Fourth District Choir of the Order of the Eastern Star. She was director of the Youth Department of the West Virginia Baptist Music Convention after graduating from West Virginia State Inductees Inductees College. Dorothy suffered the loss of her husband, parents and mother and father-in-law within a span of seven years and “the faith her parents had instilled in her” sustained her to raise two children, Robert and Doncella and to inspire her grandson, Brandon Alexander. 1927 1996 Erma Bombeck Robert T. Fox Wife and Mother. Homemaker. Author. A star basketball player and pitcher who Humorist. Humanitarian. Erma Bombeck filled took the Brookville baseball team to a state all of these roles and is loved by generations of championship, Robert T. Fox went on to Americans. Her clever wit, compassion, and play semi-pro and minor league baseball. He wisdom always struck the right chord with practiced with Babe Ruth and played against readers and never failed to leave them smiling St. Louis baseball great Jesse Haines. or laughing. The writer’s insightful editorials reflected what millions of suburban housewives A World War II veteran, Fox was a were going through with the daily trials of businessman before a thirteen-year stint life. Erma started as a reporter for the Dayton as columnist for the weekly Brookville Star. Journal-Herald and her column on domesticity He was dubbed “The Old Bluebird” - a nod was eventually syndicated in more than 600 to when the local team was known as the newspapers. The celebrated author wrote 12 Brookville Bluebirds. books including best sellers: The Grass Is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank, If Life Is a Bowl of His columns chronicled everyday life in Cherries - What Am I Doing in the Pits?, and When “Our Little Corner of the World.” His poem You Look Like Your Passport Photo, It’s Time to Go “Just a Little Boy” has become widely known Home. among baseball fans. It has been featured a number of times in Ann Landers’ nationally A true Good Samaritan, Erma lent her time and syndicated column. Fox’s poem describes the talent to various organizations including the pressure felt by a young boy at bat with bases Arizona Kidney Foundation and the American loaded during a baseball game: “a moment Red Cross, where she and husband Bill received like this a man you can make.” the highest philanthropic award bestowed upon American Red Cross Volunteers, The Philos His weekly column was about “the everyday Award. Some of her other honors include: being life of his community.” Brookville Star editor appointed by President Carter to serve on the and publisher Jim Hoffman said “he was President’s Advisory Committee for Women, widely read” and chuckled about Fox not being named one of the 25 Most Influential using a computer but writing his column Women in America, receiving the American on a number of manual typewriters some of Cancer Society’s 1990 Medal of Honor and which he’d picked up at garage sales. holding 16 honorary doctorates. Fox was a community activist busy in tasks She says it best: “I always had a dream that when I ranging from helping pass a levy, to cleaning am asked to give an accounting of my life to a higher a pond at Golden Gate Park, to visiting court, it will go like this: ‘So, empty your pockets. veterans at Brookhaven Nursing Home. What have you got left of your life? Any dreams that were unfulfilled? Any unused talent that we gave He served in the Navy during World War you when you were born that you still have left? Any II and as Chaplain for Veterans of Foreign unsaid compliments or bits of love that you haven’t Wars (VFW) Post 3288, he also helped raise spread around?’ And I will answer, ‘I’ve nothing many flags and bury many veterans. Elizabeth Harper Rev. Phale D. Hale “She is very friendly, outgoing and willing to Reverend Phale D. Hale, a Baptist minister do her part for the success of any organization for more than 60 years has given more than 61 with which she is involved,” people say about years of public service. He is nationally-known . True as that is, it’s only Elizabeth Harper as a leader who at age 86, continues to fight for half her story. In 1956, she was a true pioneer equality and justice. as the first African-American to obtain a real estate license in Allen County. She later added He was Columbus president of the Vanguard an insurance license and retired in 1982 after a successful business career. League, which joined the struggles of the NAACP. As president of NAACP’s Columbus Harper “opened doors in a field that was organization, Hale and his colleagues led efforts traditionally dominated by white males” and for The Ohio State University to hire its first more than a quarter century of work as a real black professor and created conditions leading estate agent testifies to her determination, to Ohio’s hiring the first African-American business sense and integrity. Her work has Highway Patrolman and Ohio National Bank’s made her one of the most respected citizens first black teller. in Allen County and she remains active on a number of boards. Hale led many boycotts and demonstrations calling for desegregation of public dining In addition to her highly visible role as a realtor, rooms, government buildings and private and in spite of her own health problems, Harper sector businesses, leading to the hiring of black cared for her ill husband. A Past Matron of the teachers, bus drivers, and department stores Order of Eastern Star, she served on the boards clerks and managers. of Church Women United, the YWCA and the HY-HO Club. With more than 20 years service she is a lifetime member of Lima Memorial He spent his early years in Greenwood, Hospital Auxiliary. Mississippi, before “hoboing” to Buffalo, N.Y. His drive led him to Morehouse College and She was President of the Triangle Club; he graduated from the Interdenominational spent six years on the Senior Citizen’s Board; Theological Seminary in Atlanta with a Masters volunteers at Bradfield Senior Center and PSA3 in Divinity. Area Agency on Aging as a trustee; and is an advisory council member. Active with St. Paul’s Reverend Hale received more than 100 awards, AME Church, and board member at Cheryl served on numerous boards and in the Ohio Allen Community Center, she has won respect House of Representatives as Chair of the House for her professional career, her volunteerism, Human Resource Committee, (1975-1980), and community leadership, energy and drive. has been honored with honorary degrees. 1907 1996 Ben N. Groh Donald R. James As if twenty-eight years of service to the city of As co-founder of Kent State University’s Fairfield wasn’t enough,Ben N. Groh was also Cooperative Senior Volunteer Program, a volunteer fireman for eight years.