Hall of Fame sports broadcaster Ernie B. Blankenship remembered by community

Hall of Fame sports broadcaster Ernie B. Blankenship passed away Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2013.

Funeral arrangements are pending at the Turner Funeral Home in Hillsboro.

He was 77.

Mr. Blankenship recently retired after more than 50 years of local sports broadcasting on WSRW/WCHO radio. He also stepped down recently as a vice president with NCB Bank.

"I never met a man with a bigger heart," said Highland County Health Commissioner and former radio announcer Dr. Jim Vanzant. "Ernie not only spoke a great life, he lived a great life. The people he influenced in a positive way … He's one of a kind. We were so blessed to have had Ernie as part of this community." 

"What a special, heroic and wonderful human being," said Loveland attorney and longtime family friend Tom Tepe. "My only regret is that I didn't know Ernie 20 years earlier."

Hillsboro City Schools Superintendent Rick Earley shared his thoughts on Mr. Blankenship's many contributions to the local schools.

"Ernie was always in it for the kids," Earley said. "He promoted all kids regardless of their background. He wanted each of them to learn from the experience they encountered in life.

"Ernie gave to so many who never knew he was the one behind the act of kindness. His contributions to this community will be greatly missed. He was truly one of a kind."

John Barney, general sales manager for Buckeye Country and also a longtime family friend, offered these thoughts: "Ernie helped me come back to Hillsboro. He called Tom Archibald and said, 'You need to hire this boy at the radio station.' Arch replied: 'If you think he is what we need, get him hired and tell him I will see him when I get back from Florida in three weeks.'

"I thought so much of Ernie and his opinion that he hired me without a face-to-face meeting. Outside of my family, he is the most influential person in my life. Not only did he help me with my career in sales, but how to relate with people of all walks of life. Someone said he was more than a community leader. I would disagree ... He just set a different standard – that you have a responsibility to your family, your schools, and your faith. 

"He will be missed in so many ways."

Former Hillsboro Mayor Dick Zink, who graduated with Mr. Blankenship in the HHS class of 1955, said: "When Ernie got into a position to help others, he did, because he knew what it was like for other people (to struggle). He was a good friend.

"Ernie also was instrumental in building the telethon through the years. He did a lot of things for a lot of people that very few even know about."

Mr. Blankenship was born in Neon, Ky. in the midst of the Great Depression.

His father, Stanley Blankenship, died in 1948, when Ernie was 11. His mother, Lulu Blankenship, then moved the family from Letcher County, Ky., to Columbus, Ohio.

In a previous interview, Mr. Blankenship explained: "Because of financial hardships, my mother was forced to place me and my brothers and sister in St. Vincent's Catholic Orphanage for four years. We were at St. Vincent's for four years, while my mother worked. I will always be very grateful for the education I received at the orphanage and for everything those people did for us."

Later, after his mother moved to Hillsboro to find employment and also to be close to relatives, the children were reunited with their mother.

Upon moving to Highland County, Mr. Blankenship entered Hillsboro High School in 1951. He played center on the Indians football team and, in 1955, was chosen as a third-team All-Ohio player.

After high school, and in spite of college scholarship offers, Mr. Blankenship entered military service "to help support the family."

Later, he served as the director of personnel at Rotary Forms Press, Inc. in Hillsboro for many years, prior to accepting a position at NCB.

"Ernie was a tremendous businessman and humanitarian," said Charles E. Snyder, president and CEO of NCB.

"He was chair of our local NCB,FSB Board since 1987. During his 25-year tenure with the bank, it grew from $12 million to $1.8 billion. He was also a man with tremendous compassion for others. He lived life by giving, and in return received so much from his family, community and everyone he met.

"My memory of Ernie will burn bright for many years to come because of the positive impact he has had on so many in Highland County."

"Ernie has a passion for high school sports like very few people I have ever met," said fellow sports announcer John Wend in a 2008 interview. "Although his heart was always with the Hillsboro Indians, he never displayed bias while broadcasting. He has always been very gracious in giving credit to the opponents. He never had a negative word to say about a student-athlete, or a team, or an official. 

"Nobody will ever know for sure how many young people's lives Ernie has touched – not only on the playing field or court, but also in the private sector. Ernie has influenced and helped so many young people from all over Highland and surrounding counties with college choices or jobs after high school graduation. 

"I just hope that the area coaches and student-athletes realize how fortunate they have been … to have had Ernie spend endless hours and drive all over the countryside to promote their teams and individual talents. Ernie has spoiled us, that's for sure."

Through all of his professional service in business and broadcasting, Mr. Blankenship maintained an active role in the Hillsboro and Greenfield Rotary Clubs' annual telethon for the Highland County Society for Children and Adults. The telethon added Mr. Blankenship's name to its official title a few years ago. In addition, he organized several trips to Washington, D.C. for local veterans to visit the World War II Memorial and was very active in his church.

"When I first came to St. Mary in 2005, the first thing I noticed was that every morning several green roof shingles would be laying in the yard," Father Mike Paraniuk of St. Mary Catholic Church in Hillsboro told The Highland County Press. 

"I discovered that about a quarter of the shingles had blown off the roof. No wonder water was pouring into the Church after a hard rain. I told Ernie that St. Mary needed $27,000 ASAP to re-shingle the roof or we will lose the building. 

"Ernie said, 'No problem.' He made a few calls, and within two weeks, brand-new shiny dimensional shingles adorned the roof. Whenever there was a problem or emergency, I could always count on Ernie to take care of God's House. I know he now dwells in a special house made just for him in Heaven."

Mr. Blankenship is survived by his wife, Rita; and sons, Todd, Ryan and Ernie.

Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11 at Hillsboro High School. Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 12 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Hillsboro.

For more information, go to www.turnerfuneralhomes.cc.