Highland County Women's Hall of Fame dinner Aug. 28

Highland County Women’s Hall of Fame committee members Sue Smith, Debbie Rhude and Cathy Jones have announced that the 2012 Hall of Fame inductees are: Jeannie Snapp, Kathy Levo, Margaret Victoria Moomaw-Cooper-Dieringer (dec.) and Sue Ludwick Smith.

This year's Hall of Fame dinner will be Tuesday evening, Aug. 28 at the Ponderosa Banquet Center.

Following are excerpts from the biographies of the Hall of Fame class of 2012.

Jeannie Snapp

Jeannette “Jeannie” Snapp was born in Highland County, one of seven children of Charles and Rose Marie Wilkin. She learned to share, care and be involved in the community at a young age. She has selflessly devoted her life to others, especially children.

For more than 37 years, Jeannie was a school bus driver for Hillsboro City Schools. She not only knew the students, but their families and home situations. She felt like they were her kids.

She cut hair, doctored poison ivy, supplied clothing, taught them how to drive in her own car, helped them get enrolled in college, worked with their families with weddings and funerals.

Her work with the Hillsboro Lions Club, as Leo Club adviser, continues to keep Jeannie engaged with the youth of Hillsboro.

Jeannie was a 4-H adviser for 22 years, has been active as a Sunday School teacher and involved in community performing arts.

It is that love of performance and her own art of storytelling that led Jeannie to establish the Appalachian Highlands Storytelling Coalition in 1995. Through AHSC, Jeannie arranged for thousands of Appalachian children to have free storytelling programs at area schools in five counties for nine years.

The National Story Telling Coalition was featured during the Highland County Fair promoting storytelling and storytellers from all over the US. Storytelling “concerts” were provided for Southern State Community College, churches and area campgrounds. Jeannie successfully co-wrote seven grants a year to help fund the National Storytelling Competition and Storytellers Celebration.

Jeannie has two children and three grandchildren. She is busy planning her upcoming wedding later in August.

• • •

Kathy Levo

Kathleen B. Levo, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania with a master's of Science in Foods and Nutrition from Pennsylvania State University, came to Highland County from Bedford, Pa. in 1970, taking a position in Hillsboro as the Ohio State Cooperative Extension Agent in Home Economics.

She quickly became involved in the community, joining the board of the Highland County Senior Citizens and sharing her education and passion for dietary awareness by establishing the Expanded Nutrition Education Program in Highland County.

Kathy married John Levo in 1972, and together they have two children, David and Jennifer. She spent 33 years as an educator in the Hillsboro City Schools. During that time she was very involved with Odyssey of the Mind, Junior Fair Board, Future Homemakers of America; served as Junior Class Prom Adviser for 11 years; and established the Hillsboro High School Women’s Soccer Team in the early 1990s.

Additionally, Kathy’s community involvement includes leadership positions in the Hillsboro Jaycee-ettes, Cub Scouts, Hillsboro First United Methodist Church, American Association of University Women, 4-H, Highland County Retired Teachers, and the Highland Amateur Radio Association.

Over the years, Kathy and John opened their home to three exchange students, sharing the way of life here in Highland County with each. They still maintain contact with each, and have visited each in their home countries.

Yvonne Puck, of Germany writes, “I became kind of an ambassador for the U.S. people, here in Germany, who see Americans in the news, have all different kinds of stereotypes (like superficial and self-centered). When they talk to me, they get to hear a totally different opinion because of all the kindness and hospitality I experienced.”

Currently, Kathy and John are developing a blueberry operation on their family farm. They hope to have either “pick your own” or sell at the farmer’s market.

• • •

Margaret Victoria Moomaw Cooper Dieringer

Margaret Victoria Moomaw Cooper Dieringer is being recognized for her dedication to and passion for living and sharing the history of Highland County. Nominated by N. Charleene Tarr and Marianna Morgan of the National Society – Daughters of the American Revolution, Margaret’s recognition is in the area of Community Service.

Born in the South Salem area of Ross County in 1916, Margaret attended Greenfield schools, graduating McClain High School in 1936. She taught in this same school system before marrying. After the birth of her son, Ben, and the subsequent death of her husband, Robert Benjamin Cooper, Margaret returned to Ohio State University to earn her degree as an occupational therapist.

Margaret returned to Greenfield in 1973.

She began building her community legacy as president of the Greenfield Historical Society and served on the boards of both the Highland and Clark County Genealogical Societies.

She published many genealogical articles newsletters and frequently spoke at gatherings and forums, sharing her deep knowledge of the history of Highland County. She was a long time active member of both the 20th Century Club and the First Presbyterian Church of Greenfield. In 2008, she was awarded the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution Excellence in Community Service certificate for her many contributions to that organization and to her community.

Her passion for history and love of sewing made Margaret a popular part of many History Days and special events. She could be found weaving on her loom, sharing (and often wearing) her historic clothing collection and sitting at her spinning wheel – even at age 91 – so our community members could understand more about history and the way life used to be.

Margaret Victoria Moomaw Cooper Dieringer died in 2010. She lived a rich and full life sharing her home, her talents, and her many hard working experiences of the 20th century. She left footprints for the next generations of Highland County women to follow.

• • •

Sue Ludwick Smith

Sue Ludwick Smith was born in Greenfield and graduated from Fairfield High School in Leesburg. After making a home in the Dayton area with her husband Tom and three children, through the years Sue has followed her calling of love, compassion and dedication to others.

Sue’s return to Highland County came in 2004 after suddenly losing her husband of 42 years – a healthy, vital man, died of the serious and rare disease, Amyloidosis.

She felt the pain of losing her soul mate and dealing with three children and six grandchildren who had just lost their father and grandfather. Sue persevered through the grieving process only to find comfort in helping others. In August 2004, she organized a fundraiser for Amyloidosis Research in the memory of her husband. The fundraiser exceeded its goal by raising $5,000 for Amyloidosis research.

Little did Sue know that this fundraiser would change her life as during the fundraiser organization process, she met a woman from Chicago, who had also lost a family member to Amyloidosis. Together, they were instrumental in expanding Amyloidosis support groups.

Today, the Amyloidosis president from Chicago and Sue work with the facilitators from around the United States whose families are devastated by Amyloidosis to conduct face to face support groups. They provide educational materials and awareness information to the medical community who conduct research and treatment of Amyloidosis. When Sue first joined Amyloidosis support groups, there were two support groups in existence; one in Dallas, TX and the other in Chicago.

Today, the support system spans to thirty two support groups around the United States for patients and their caregivers.

Drugs and alcohol abuse is an indisputable problem in today’s society and it has no barriers, economic or social, in choosing which family it will infiltrate next.

In 2011, drug and alcohol abuse invaded Sue’s family as her 16-year-old grandson, who lives with her, was the target. Sue researched for a support group in Hillsboro to help her understand the how’s and whys of the dependency. She traveled to Portsmouth, seeking answers to her questions.

In Portsmouth, she attended a seminar, “Loved Ones,” and discovered a book “Baffled by Addiction” by author Ed Hughes.

She decided to conduct a first of its kind “Loved Ones” series in Hillsboro. An average of 20 people attended each night during the seven-week series. Hillsboro needed a support group on drug abuse and Sue filled the need by providing the planning, marketing, materials, support and refreshments.

In addition to these two passions, Sue is also actively involved in Highland County through her membership and leadership in Hillsboro Rotary Club, Highland County Chamber of Commerce, American Association of University Women, Habitat for Humanity and the American Red Cross.

Through her own life’s tragedies, Sue has not only accepted them, but has uncovered community needs by organizing educational and support groups for people in similar situations. She has been an inspiration to people from Chicago and Michigan, to New York, Phoenix and Australia.