Greenfield philanthropist, entrepreneur George Waddell dies at 93

The Highland County Press

(This story is published through the cooperation of and with appreciation

to: Pat Hays, Cristy Hill, David King, Janny Brizius and Ron Coffey.)

Longtime Greenfield  philanthropist and businessman George Waddell passed away Sunday, Jan. 17 in Florida.

He was 93.

Mr. Waddell was the first – and so far, only – Greenfield Rotary Club member selected as district governor, according to Rotarian Pat Hays, general manager of WVNU. He also served as a chairman of the Greenfield Area Medical Center Board of Trustees and served on the Greenfield Historical Society board.

He was president of the Waddell Company, a family business in Greenfield.

   "Mr. Waddell led an exemplary life and was a true gentleman,

philanthropist and servant to our community," said Janice Brizius of Magic Waters Theater.   

   "George assisted his father in the chairmanship of the Greenfield

Sesquicentennial Celebration, and helped the city celebrate its bicentennial," said Cristy Hill.

   "He was a world traveler, a skilled mountain climber, modern-day

explorer and adventurer at heart. He was also a fabulous entertainer and storyteller, and a tremendous source of inspiration. He was a true

renaissance man," Hill said of Mr. Waddell during the bicentennial.

   Mr. Waddell was born in Greenfield and moved to Mount Dora, Fla. in

1995. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Mount Dora.

   David King, executive director of the Ohio-West Virginia YMCA, wrote of Mr. Waddell: "I have known George since I was a child. We’re from the same hometown, Greenfield. Growing up I always knew of George through his work with the Greenfield Historical Society, the local hospital, the Methodist Church, Rotary and so many other causes near to his vision of a better future for everyone.

   "I first formally met George when I was a student at McClain High

School. The Greenfield Rotary paired up a senior with a Rotary member for a morning prior to their luncheon meetings. My morning with George was an introduction to his brother and father and the family business, The Waddell Company. George then took me to my first Rotary meeting. That all occurred in 1961 or 1962. From that day on, we became friends and co-workers in the local historical society. When I returned home to teach (11th grade American history), I also became the adviser to the McClain HI-Y. George helped me with the local HI-Y. George had been a member of that HI-Y when he was a high school student.

   "I became director of the Ohio-West Virginia YMCA in 1972. This YMCA’s programs are focused on youth.  Our main programs are HI-Y in both states, Ohio and West Virginia Youth in Government, HI-Y Model United Nations and YMCA Camp Horseshoe in West Virginia. George was always interested in all these programs, supported them and continually encouraged me. His dream was for our Y to have a youth leadership camp in Ohio. Over the years our Ohio-West Virginia YMCA board became committed to establishing an Ohio youth leadership camp. Finally, in the mid-1990s, the board made the commitment and a search for property began. The 700-acre Cave Lake property in Pike County was brought to my attention in 1996. I asked George to go with me to see the property. ... What a property tour that was! The owners operated family camp so there were more than 300 camp sites. ...This property was one the Nature Conservancy wanted saved. The longer the tour went on, the more I became convinced this was the property for us.

   "What followed were three years of 'due diligence' studies. ...Finally,

decision time came in 1999.  George hosted our board at his family’s summer place, Beechcliff, near Cave Lake. This was the

meeting to decide. Lengthy discussions of money and a host of business

concerns dominated the day.  When our president asked if anyone had anything else to add, George asked to speak. 'I’m not a member of your board. However, I know the effective youth work you do. Your

programs are good, they help young people make good decisions and become good citizens. I know what you are talking about is important. However, the most important thing is not being discussed. The most important thing is our young people, what is happening to them, the world we’re in and how difficult it is for today’s youth to become the kind of citizens we need. The need is great. Our future is at stake. You must step up and do this. You can make such a difference in the lives of young people, our families, our communities and in our nation. You can change the future! I urge you to take all the good you do and do more.'

   "When George finished, the board did what he asked and with strong

emotion talked about youth, the state of their world and what we could do to make a difference. The board voted to acquire the property and move forward. A week later I received in the mail a hand-addressed envelope (a recycled envelope) from George. In it was a hand-written note saying, 'I would be honored to make the first contribution to acquiring Cave Lake.'

"George sent the $5,000 for the earnest money to purchase the property. ...

   "On his 90th birthday in 2006, George invited me to a meeting at Beechcliff with a representative of the Columbus Foundation. George explained he was establishing a $500,000 endowment at the Columbus Foundation to benefit the Ohio-West Virginia YMCA’s Cave Lake Center for Community Leadership.

"George did this not only to provide lasting support, but also as an example to encourage others to invest in Cave Lake – to invest in the future. ...

   "What this story is really about is how one person can make differences for good. That person was George Waddell. He spent his life quietly and deliberately making differences for good."

   Mr. Waddell is survived by his, brother, Dean Waddell of Mount Dora,

Fla. An online guestbook is listed available at the Harden Pauli Funeral

Home, www.hardenpauli.com.