Commissioners recognize Highland County Women's Hall of Fame class of 2015
By Rory Ryan
The Highland County Press
The Highland County Board of Commissioners honored the 2015 Highland County Women's Hall of Fame inductees during their July 22 board meeting.
Professional educators and community volunteers Lisa Barnhouse of Hillsboro, Cathy Griffith of Lynchburg and Sue Frizzell Zint of Greenfield will be inducted into the Highland County Women's Hall of Fame on Aug. 18 at the Southern State Community College atrium.
Sue Smith, of the Hall of Fame committee, congratulated this year's honorees.
"I am very proud of the three winners," Smith told commissioners Shane Wilkin, Tom Horst and Jeff Duncan.
"They all have done fantastic things in Highland County," Smith said.
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Commissioners congratulated the inductees and thanked them for their service to Highland County.
• Lisa Barnhouse served for 10 years as director of the Hopewell SERRC Region 14, which covers a five-county area. Prior to that, Barnhouse was the coordinator of school psychology at Hopewell, beginning in 1981. She holds a doctorate in school psychology from the University of Cincinnati.
"I have worked with Lisa since 1979 and regard her as an 'unsung' hero whose time for recognition is long past due, especially as this is the year of her retirement," said Pamela Nickell, who was among those who nominated Barnhouse for the Hall of Fame.
• Since 2007, Cathy Griffith has served as the executive director of the Southern Ohio Pregnancy Center. She has been an editor at Standard Publishing in Cincinnati, and the director of Christian education at the Pricetown Church of Christ. She also served on the SOPC Board of Directors.
"As a teacher, administrator, editor and consultant, Cathy has influenced tens of thousands of teachers, students, young mothers and fathers, board members and church staff," wrote Karen Faust in her letter of nomination. "A tireless leader, Cathy continues to wear more than one hat, as she works in and leads many ministries."
• Sue Frizzell Zint was the first female principal of Greenfield Elementary School and the first female superintendent of Greenfield Exempted Village Schools. She has volunteered on numerous projects related to preserving the history of Greenfield and renovating local landmarks. She also served as the co-chair of the Imagination Kingdom playground project in Greenfield. She and her husband, Mike Zint, help serve food for hundreds of Greenfield residents each Christmas morning.
"There is no way to quantify the impact Sue Frizzell Zint has had on the lives of citizens in Highland County," wrote Ann Gessner Pence. "The city of Greenfield and Highland County have been enriched by her generous spirit. Highland County is a better place today because of Sue and her life-long passion for education, students and her community."
All three inductees expressed appreciation for their respective nominations, saying they are "humbled and honored" to represent the class of 2015 in the Highland County Women's Hall of Fame.
Tickets for the Aug. 18 Hall of Fame ceremony are available at Community Savings Bank in Greenfield or Southern Hills Community Bank in Lynchburg and Leesburg or call Sue Smith at (937) 661-6148 for more information.