William J. Martin was nominated by John Michael Hoopes with additional information by Vern Wadsworth. In his nomination of Martin, Hoopes said, “William Martin is worthy for recognition in the Minerva High School Alumni Hall of Fame for his long and distinguished legal career beginning in 1973 in Carroll County and for his 24 years of service as Judge, Carroll County Common Pleas Court, General and Domestic Relations Divisions.”
While a high school student Martin's activities included student council, Hi-Y, National Honor Society, golf team and head manager for varsity football and basketball. He was the editor of the 1965 MHS CRESCENT.
In 1969 he graduated from The Ohio State University with a bachelor of arts degree. He continued his studies graduating from Case Western Reserve Law School in 1972. He was admitted to the bar in the state of Ohio in 1972 and also to the U. S. District Court (N.D., OH) and the U. S. Supreme court.
His many offices and appointments include:
Carroll County General Law Practice (1973-82) Carroll County Assistant Prosecutor (1973-80) Village Solicitor, Dellroy, OH (1981-82) Carroll County Reserve Deputy Sheriff (1975-82) Member Carroll City Airport Authority (1980-82 Judge, Carroll County Common Pleas Court-General and Domestic Relations Division (1983-2006) Judge, Muskingum Watershed Conservancy Court (1985-2006) Visiting Assigned Appellate Judge (1986-93) Visiting Assigned Common Pleas Judge (1983-2006) Visiting Retired Assigned Judge (2007-12) Adjunct Professor, Akron University Law School (1985-93) Lecturer, Ohio Judicial College, Ohio Peace Officer Training Council
Martin's community service included his work with the Ohio Bar Association, the Carroll County Civic Club and the Lions Club. Among his awards were, in 2007, the award for Honorable, Dedicated and Distinguished Service from the Carroll County Republican Party; The Golden Gavel Award from the Ohio Common Pleas Judge's Association in 2006; and a Certificate of Appreciation from the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy Court.
In his letter of support about Martin, Vern Wadsworth wrote, "Bill has spent a lifetime in study, service, and the law. Judge Martin's strength, fairness and wisdom were fixtures in Carroll County courtrooms for many years.”
Martin and his wife, Barbara J. (Dennis) Martin live in Carrollton. They are the parents of four adult children.
Joseph Mazzaferro, Class of 1946, was nominated for the Minerva High School Alumni Hall of Fame by Thomas Shaffer. Joe excelled in sports, served in the armed forces, and held positions with B. F. Goodrich from 1956 until his retirement in 1990.
He and Joanne, his wife of 46 years, live in Akron and are the parents of two daughters, Lynda Miller of Fairlawn and Lisa Wainwright of Akron.
While in high school, Mazzaferro was awarded three varsity letters in each sport of football, basketball and baseball. He was captain of the football team his junior and senior years, an all Tri-County Guard his junior and senior years and was awarded the title of All Stark County Guard his senior year. He was the youngest of the four Mazzaferro brothers to play football for Minerva High. After graduation, he enrolled at Akron University.
As a member of the Akron Zips' football team, he played both offense and defense as a guard-linebacker. Although he played on three losing teams for the Zips, he became their first football player to be named to the All-Ohio or All-Ohio Conference football teams for three seasons. He was named All-OC in 1950 and 1951 and was named to the All-Ohio honor squads in both 1951 and 1952. During his junior and senior years, he served as co-captain of the football team and was voted the Touchdown Club Trophy as most outstanding lineman both seasons. As a member of the Zips' football team, he set a record of 21 tackles in one game and 93 tackles in nine games. This last record held until 1975. Mazzaferro was also a three-year letterman in baseball for the Zips as catcher. He hit .370 his senior year and had a college career average of .349.
Mazzaferro played two years for the Minerva Merchants semi-pro football team and has also played on a variety of baseball teams, including the Carrollton Eagles semi-pro team. He played softball for B. F. Goodrich and American Electric Switch. In 1954 he coached the Akron University freshman football team. He was a registered football official from 1960 through 1970, lifetime member of Akron U. Varsity "A" Association, a charter member of the Cleveland Browns' Boosters, Akron Chapter and was inducted into the Akron University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1976. In 1990, he was inducted into the Summit County Sports Hall of Fame.
Mazzaferro received his Bachelor's Degree from Akron University in Industrial Management. During his junior year he was inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa, a national leadership and academic fraternity, and he graduated as a distinguished military graduate in ROTC. He received a Master's Degree in Personnel Management from Kent State.
Mazzaferro served in the military as a 1st Lieutenant in the USAF-Northeast Air Command and was stationed primarily in Newfoundland as Air Direction Officer.
He joined B. F. Goodrich in 1956 as cost analyst in the tire division, and became manager for new systems development for that division in 1964 and project manager in 1966. In 1967 he became manager of inventory and distribution methods and manager of products and materials in 1969. In the corporate division he served as Director of Management Information Services, Director of Distribution Services and ended his career with B.F. Goodrich as Director, MIS/Telecommunications.
He was a member of the National Association of Accountants and of the American Production and Inventory Control Society.
Today Mazzaferro lives in Akron spending time with his four grandchildren, his children, his family and enjoys vacations in Myrtle Beach.
Janette Henry McAvoy McClave, Class of 1924, was nominated by her daughter Marylee Thompson of Minerva. McClave obtained a bachelor's and master's degree in Education from Kent State University. She also attended the Universities of Colorado and South Carolina. She is now retired from the Minerva Local Schools where she taught at Mary Irene Day Elementary School.
McClave's community service is outstanding. She has done volunteer work for the Carroll County Heart Association and Cancer Society fund drives, she is a board member of the Minerva Chapter of the Red Cross, she was secretary for the village bicentennial committee and early Lost French Gold festivals, and she is past president of the Minerva Senior Women's Club. She has also served as secretary of the Carroll County Retired Teachers Association and is one of the founders of the Minerva Historical Society in 1967, where she served as president, secretary and curator.
She is volunteer cook for Community Meals and a volunteer resource person for M.I. Day Elementary School. McClave served on the Minerva Board of Education for eight years, worked with the Girl Scouts for twenty years and in the children's department of the Minerva Methodist Church for twenty years. She is past vice president and president of the Minerva Education Foundation and Alumni Association. She was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award for 1989 at the Inter Service Club Banquet--the first woman to receive this award.
In the nomination of her mother, Thompson wrote, "She is not content to sit idly by but will go out of her way to help others. In between the times she is involved in the community projects, she still finds time to quilt and has taught quilting classes as well as organizing the annual quilt show that is held by the Minerva Area Historical Society. My mother was a single parent during the time my sister and I grew up, my father died when we were very small. She raised us to respect ourselves as well as others. She has been not only as an inspiration to my sister and me, but also to my daughters and now to her great-granddaughter. She has always tried to put 110% into every phase of her life, whether it be teaching, community service, professional organizations or everyday living, and it truly shows in her accomplishments."
Robert S. McClester, Class of 1931, was nominated by Maxine K. Keenan, also a member of the Class of 1931. She said that her fellow classmates are pleased that she submitted his nomination to the Minerva High School Alumni Hall of Fame.
"I was always interested in Agriculture," stated Robert McClester, "and that has made a difference in my life." He was ready for high school at age 13, having skipped the eighth grade at his one-room school. When he learned that Augusta High School did not offer Vocational Agriculture, he decided to attend Minerva High School where he enrolled in the agriculture program under O. D. Barker. This decision made it necessary to ride to school with another student who had a car. At that time, in 1927, not one school bus transported students to Minerva Schools. By 1929, he had a car but the roads were so bad he usually left it at a neighbor’s whose road was paved. He hiked the two miles to his car before the nine-mile drive to Minerva. Having his own car enabled him to engage in sports.
In high school he lettered in track and football, playing every minute of every football game his senior year, he served as both President and Vice President of the Class of 1931, was active in Hi-Y, yearbook staff and Future Farmers of America. He was valedictorian of his graduating class.
Robert never forgot his MHS roots and served as chairman for several class reunions. In 2001, ten class members were present for their 70th anniversary class reunion, which was organized by the McClesters.
Robert was awarded a scholarship to the Ohio State University College of Agriculture. This was at the time of the Great Depression and additional funds for college seemed remote, but Robert met the requirements of the scholarship program. During his college career, he worked at many jobs to help meet expenses. Among other occupations he summarized farm account books for the Department of Rural Sociology. At Ohio State he was active in Grange, achieving the 7th degree, the University 4-H Club, and was elected to Alpha Zeta an agriculture honorary fraternity. He supports his alma mater and is a life member of the OSU Alumni Association.
In 1983 Robert retired from the United States Department of Agriculture. Over the years he worked in several agencies: The Farm Security Administration, Farmer's Home Administration, the Soil and Water Conservation District, the Agriculture Stabilization Conservation Service, and taught agriculture to returning veterans of World War II. In 1943 he moved to Kenwood Farms, the family farm since 1920, where he initiated many innovative ideas such as strip farming, spring development, no-till corn and pond development.
Over the years the McClesters have been very active in the community. In 2000, they were the first family in Ohio to donate the development rights of their farm to the State of Ohio, ensuring that the land will remain a productive farm for the future.
Robert was a long time Sunday school teacher for the adult class and served as Chairman of the Board for Herrington Bethel United Methodist Church. After retirement, he went on thirteen work crusades with World Gospel Missions. Countries he worked in included Honduras, Chile, Kenya, Spain, Tanzania, Barbados, Argentina, Bolivia, Japan, Hungary, and Russia.
He was twice named "Goodyear Farmer of the Year." He has served as board member and president of the Carroll County Farm Bureau, Carroll County District Library and the Carroll County Board of Health. For the past nine years, the McClesters have hosted Country Living Field Day sponsored by the OSU Extension. About 5,000 people attended the 2002 event.
Robert and his wife Bernice, who taught Home Economics at Minerva High School for twenty years, celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary January 1, 2003. The McClesters have four children: Jean Swartz, Reid, Scott, and Neil.
William R. Mease, Class of 1966, was nominated by Lynn Molen and Robert Gallina. Mease achieved success in high school as an athlete, leader and scholar. While maintaining a high grade point average, he played on the basketball and baseball teams, and as a senior served as student-body president.
In 1970 Mease graduated from Kent State University with honors, then began his career in public education as a math and physics teacher at Oakwood High School. He earned a Master’s of Education degree from the University of Akron. During the next several years, he served as Curriculum Coordinator for Plain Local Schools and Curriculum Director for Louisville Schools.
In 1984 he became assistant superintendent of Plain Local and in 1995 was named Plain Local's superintendent where he served until 2001. After that Mease became the assistant superintendent of Stark County Schools and served in this capacity until his death in 2003.
During his thirty-three year career in public education, Mease gained a reputation for his strong convictions, unsurpassable work ethic, and his courage as a leader throughout the county and the state. While at Plain Local, he was instrumental in creating, designing and implementing many innovative programs for students. Some of those included: the first area magnet school, discipline-based art education and a district vocational compact.
An example of the respect and recognition from fellow educators and community members is evidenced by the R. G. Drage Vocational School's Math and Science wing being named in Bill's honor. He was known for his remarkable, untiring commitment to "do what's best for kids."
Bill's community service was extensive. Some of his work included: Plain Township Rotary, Mount Union College of Education Advisory Board, and Habitat for Humanity Board.
Mease was married to the former Cynthia Kibler. He is survived by children Allison and David.
Patricia Lutz Miller, Class of 1960, and Ronald C. Miller, Sr., Class of 1958 were nominated by William Palmer. Pat and Ron have worked together to build a business and have given tirelessly to their community, especially its youth.
Ron, who was affectionately called R.C. by his mother, moved to the Minerva area in 1952 with his mother, step-father, and five siblings. His mother died from leukemia five years later. At the age of 16, Ron began his career in the trash-hauling business as a way to help provide for his family. He also found time for sports playing football, being a captain of the Minerva Lions his senior year, and playing Hi-Y basketball. After graduation from high school, Ron worked for the Minerva Waxed Paper company in the afternoon while continuing to form the customer base for his trash-hauling business mornings and weekends.
Pat and Ron met in high school in 1956. In high school Pat excelled academically and musically, becoming a member of the National Honor Society, the Minerva High Band, Y-teens, and Crescent staff. She graduated as salutatorian of her class. She also shared Ron's love of sports, supporting Ron and her five older brothers in sporting events. After Pat graduated in 1960, she and Ron were married and raised three sons, Ronald, Jr., Timothy, and Richard.
As the trash hauling business grew, Pat and Ron became partners in this venture as well as in marriage. Ron was able to devote full time efforts to the operations side of the business while Pat maintained an office, initially out of their home. From the beginning, it was clear that they were an effective team complementing each other's strengths and weaknesses. Pat was conservative with an excellent mind for the accounting aspects of the business. Ron was an innovative, risk-taker with a keen sense of what was needed to expand the business.
Together they accomplished many firsts in the solid waste industry. In 1962 R.C. Miller Refuse Service was the first hauler in the area to invest in a compaction type truck. Other notable achievements were the entrance into automated collection systems and the construction of a recycling center. The automated collection system is something that Ron is particularly proud of. It afforded his drivers to do their work from the comfort of the cab of the truck and eliminated much of the back-breaking labor associated with the job.
R. C. Miller Refuse Service was rated in the top 100 waste-hauling companies in the United States for four consecutive years, reaching all the way to number 42 prior to the sale of the company in 1998. At the time of the sale, the company employed 215 workers, many of who were Minerva area residents, serviced 40,000 residential accounts, 350 industrial accounts and 2,500 commercial accounts. The recycling facility was among the top in the country in retrieving usable products from the waste stream. To further conserve landfill space and enhance the recycling process, R.C. committed much time and effort towards developing fuel pellets from the waste. Although this effort never came to fruition, it demonstrates R. C.'s desire to be a good steward of the earth's resources.
R. C. Miller Refuse Service, Inc. was featured in several trade magazines, including Waste Age and Recycling Today. In 1994 the company received the SCOPE award from the Canton Chamber of Commerce, which honors Stark County Owned Private Enterprises "In Recognition of Outstanding Business Achievement in Stark County." Ron served as Ohio Chapter Chairman of the National Solid Waste Management Association for many years and received the Association's prestigious Distinguished Service Award in 1996.
In 1996 Ron and Pat along with approximately seventy employees, family members and friends worked several weekends to paint the entire interior of the three story Belden Grade School in Canton. Among their many saved mementos are letters from the children of the school expressing their appreciation. Ron and Pat are active supporters of the Habitat for Humanity program. Until the sale of the company, R.C. Miller Refuse Service worked closely with the Habitat for Humanity of Greater Canton by supplying the organization with refuse removal services at no charge. For this the company was awarded the "Golden Hammer Award" in 1996 and had a Habitat home built on 25th Street in Canton in honor of the company. Ron and Pat continue to support the Habitat movement by participating in home building, donating land for homes, mentoring homeowners and serving on committees.
Throughout their lives Ron and Pat have unselfishly given back to the community in countless ways. Ron coached little league baseball and football, helped build a football field at Bicentennial Park, helped build the high school football practice field, now the band practice field, and has been a member of Rotary for thirty-three years, serving as president in 1978-79. Pat was instrumental in organizing and building the YMCA in Minerva. In recognition of her efforts, Pat was honored with the YMCA Red Triangle Award. When her boys were in school, she headed a parent-teacher group aimed at eliminating drug activity, and she was a member of the football mothers club. Both Ron and Pat are strong supporters of the Minerva schools.
Pat and Ron have both been active members of the Minerva United Methodist Church for many years. Ron served as chairman of the church trustees. Pat has taught both youth and adult Sunday school classes most of her adult life and is a member of the church's community outreach program, the Worship Committee and the Shepherd's Staff.
In retirement Pat and Ron, besides enjoying their five grandchildren, continue to give of their time and resources. Ron recently completed two years as President of Alliance Country Club and currently serves on the board of the Tri-County Area Habitat for Humanity, the SPR Committee of his church, and is a member of the Alexis de Tocqueville Society of Central Stark County. Pat is a member of the Entre Nous, the YMCA of Central Stark County Board of Trustees, as well as working part time in her son’s business in Canton. Both Pat and Ron continue to give resources to their church, the YMCA, Habitat for Humanity, the Minerva Public Library, the J. R. Coleman Center in Canton and the Kent State University Stark Campus.
Lynn Molen was nominated by Richard Mikes, who wrote of Molen's many honors during his 42 year teaching career as well as his coaching ability with five AP state-ranked teams and his 32 game winning streak from 1986-1989.
While in high school, Molen was an honors student, class president, Buckeye Boys State delegate, student council president, and was listed in Who's Who in High School Leaders of America. After high school he attended Kent State where he received a 4.0 in his major, Education, and graduated cum laude in 1968. Later he received certification from the Exemplary Center for Reading Instruction in Utah.
The late Carl Vandegrift wrote of Molen, “He points with pride at being an educator of young people first, then a coach. I worked for the school many years and can appreciate the dedication Mr. Molen has for the children. Many times as I passed his room I would see his lights on late at night on Saturday or Sunday. He would be preparing lesson plans. He is always available to young people who need help or a confidential ear for listening.”
During his teaching career Molen has received many honors. A few of these are: National Science Foundation Grant in 1979, Jennings Scholar in 1981-82, Phi Delta Pi Educator of the year in 1984. He is a member of Kappa Delta Pi, a national education honorary, and was chosen the Minerva service clubs' Man of the Year in 1990. Both the Minerva High School Alumni Hall of Fame and the Minerva High School Athletic Hall of Fame have chosen Molen to be the presenter of their inductees each year.
He has received many awards for his coaching ability which is underlined by his induction into the Minerva High School Athletic Hall of Fame. He was Minerva's head football coach for 12 years and assistant coach for 19 years. During that time he had 93 wins, the most in Minerva history. His teams were the AP State Poll Champions in 1987 and 1997; AP State Poll Runner Up in 1989; AP ranked number 4 in 1988; and AP ranked number 6 in 1998. His teams were undefeated in 1987, 1988, 1989, and 1997. Among his numerous awards was the Victory Award from the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association. His freshman teams had 35 wins and only one loss, and his varsity teams' winning streak of 32 speaks for itself.
During Molen's 42 years of teaching and coaching, his greatest supporter has been his mother Mabel Molen. Carl Vandegrift once referred to her as the “First Lady of Minerva Football' and Mr. Lynn Molen as “Minerva's Greatest Winning Coach.”