Samuel Weir - 1986
MHS 1926 Graduate
Dr. Samuel L. Weir, Class of 1926, was nominated by Ruth Richardson, a member of his office staff. He grew up on a farm near Mechanicstown. He walked two and one-half miles to the New York Central Railroad and rode the train into Minerva to attend high school. Passable roads were non-existent in the winter in those days. If you could get there, you could go there. There were no boundaries of school districting to worry about.
After high school graduation, he attended The Ohio State University. After one quarter, an attack of appendicitis sent him home, and then in August of 1927, he and his brother developed polio. He suffered on paralysis, but his brother was left paralyzed in the right arm and leg. He returned to Ohio State the fall quarter of 1928 and knew what he wanted o do with his life--become a doctor. In 1935 he received his doctor of medicine degree and began is internship at Mercy Hospital in Canton.
On July 14, 1936, he married his wife Irene, and on July 20 of that year, he set up his first practice in Minerva. A short time later, he moved a few houses down the street where he stayed until 1941. In 1941 he built a home and office at 500 N. Market Street, and stayed there for nine years. In 1950 Dr. Robert Hines joined him in his practice, and Dr. Weir had a new clinic built at 625 N. Market Street. After 36 years at that location, he retired at the age of 77.
Dr. Weir was on the Aultman Hospital Medical Staff for 41 years and a member of the Alliance Hospital Staff from 1950 until his retirement in 1986. He is a charter fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians as well as the Carroll and Stark County Medical Societies, the Ohio Medical Society and the American Medical Association.
He is a charter member of the Minerva Lion's Club. He served as club president in 1947 and 1948. He and his wife adopted and raised her sister's son, Joe Weir, a local businessman.
Dr. Weir is known for his medical charisma, as many patients say that all Dr. Weir needs to do is come into the room and they feel better.
Richardson said that her nominee has truly lived up to his high school class motto, "Give the world the best you have and the best will come back to you."