Ernie and Rita Blankenship to serve as parade grand marshals
The Highland County Press
Ernie and Rita Blankenship have been selected as grand marshals of the 2012 Hillsboro Uptown Business Association Holiday Parade.
The parade, “A Hometown Hero’s Christmas,” will be 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24 in uptown Hillsboro.
Ernie and Rita Blankenship are longtime community leaders and philanthropists. Ernie has been well-known for more than half a century as the “Radio Voice of Hillsboro and Highland County” and also as the dean of Ohio High School Sports Broadcasters.
Rita, in addition to a long career of public service at Highland District Hospital and through local civic organizations, also volunteers with Ernie at the annual Highland County Society for Children and Adults Telethon, which has raised close to $3 million over the past 40 years.
In addition to his more than 50 years in broadcasting, Ernie serves as an executive with NCB – where two annual scholarships are presented in his name – and he is a former director of personnel at Rotary Forms Press, Inc.
He is a longtime member of the Hillsboro Rotary Club, which is a sponsor of the annual Children and Adults Telethon.
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“Ernie Blankenship’s service to his community is part of what makes Highland County such a great place,” said Congressman Mike Turner.
“Whenever Ernie sees that someone in his community is in need, his first reaction is to provide assistance. Ernie is a remarkable individual who has provided great service to his community.”
Ernie and Rita celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary earlier this year.
They are the parents of three sons: Todd, Ryan (“Smoke”) and Ernie.