Longtime SSCC professor Bill Horne dies

SSCC professor Bill Horne dies

Ken Shull: ‘I feel like I have lost a brother’

By RORY RYAN

The Highland County Press

Highland County and Southern State Community College lost a loyal friend this week, when Professor Bill Horne passed away early Thursday morning at Bethesda North Hospital in Cincinnati, after suffering a heart attack. He was 70.

   Professor Horne, a graduate of Whiteoak High School, had been an associate professor of economics at Southern State Community College for more than 25 years. He was a U.S. Army veteran and had owned and operated a small business in Highland County with his wife, Connie Horne, who survives.

   “Bill Horne was a problem solver. It was well known among the faculty, students and administration that if you had a problem, Bill was the go-to person,” said Ken Shull, a fellow SSCC faculty member. “Bill had a teaching style that I have always admired. Like Aesop, he illustrated everything by telling a story.

   “I feel like I have lost a brother.”

   Mr. Horne grew up in the Sugar Tree Ridge community on the Horne family farm off Millers Chapel Road in Concord Township. He was a member of the Highland County Democratic Party Central Committee and was a 2010 candidate for Ohio’s 86th House District.

   “I really want to see if one person can make a difference in Columbus,” Mr. Horne told The Highland County Press during the campaign. “I think I can be that person. I think our political parties are well-represented, but I don’t think every person in our district is represented. I’d like to see if I could make a difference.”

   Prior to entering the teaching profession and after leaving the Army, Mr. Horne had served as a plant manager at Corning Glass in Greenville.

   He belonged to many civic organizations, including the AmVets, the VFW, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He was involved in charitable work through the Southern State Community College Students in Action and had contributed to the Highland County Homeless Shelter and the Kenyan ministries of Douglas and Gladys Jiveti.

   Additionally, Mr. Horne had been a longtime newspaper columnist for The Highland County Press and other area publications, including The Sabina Advertiser and The Informer in West Union. His final column appears in the Dec. 5 Highland County Press. 

   Mr. Horne received his bachelor's degree in business management from Central State University, and earned his master's degree from the University of Dayton.

   “The entire Southern State family is deeply saddened by the sudden loss of our colleague Bill Horne,” said President Dr. Kevin Boys. “Bill was one of the first faculty members I met when I came to the college, and we worked well together from the start. We seemed to be able to work through issues before they became problems.

   “Bill was always a strong advocate for Southern State students and always challenged them to get involved in matters that affected them. I especially appreciated the opportunities that he provided to me to speak to his classes and hear directly from students about their experience at the college and what we could do to enhance that experience.

   “Mr. Horne is one of the faculty members that alumni often ask about...’Is he still there?’  followed by some positive memory about him or his class. We will all miss Bill and his impact on the college. Our most sincere sympathy is extended to his wife, Connie, and their family.”

   In addition to his wife, Connie, Mr. Horne is survived by their two children, Kathy and Benjamin; a grandson, Zach; his mother, Kathryn Horne; a sister, Mary Jane Williams; and brother, Jim Horne. He was preceded in death by his father, William R. Horne Sr., on Dec. 25, 2004.

   The Turner and Son Funeral Home is serving the family.

Highland County and Southern State Community College lost a loyal friend this week, when Professor Bill Horne passed away early Thursday morning at Bethesda North Hospital in Cincinnati, after suffering a heart attack. He was 70.

   Professor Horne, a graduate of Whiteoak High School, had been an associate professor of economics at Southern State Community College for more than 25 years. He was a U.S. Army veteran and had owned and operated a small business in Highland County with his wife, Connie Horne, who survives.

   “Bill Horne was a problem solver. It was well known among the faculty, students and administration that if you had a problem, Bill was the go-to person,” said Ken Shull, a fellow SSCC faculty member. “Bill had a teaching style that I have always admired. Like Aesop, he illustrated everything by telling a story.

   “I feel like I have lost a brother.”

   Mr. Horne grew up in the Sugar Tree Ridge community on the Horne family farm off Millers Chapel Road in Concord Township. He was a member of the Highland County Democratic Party Central Committee and was a 2010 candidate for Ohio’s 86th House District.

   “I really want to see if one person can make a difference in Columbus,” Mr. Horne told The Highland County Press during the campaign. “I think I can be that person. I think our political parties are well-represented, but I don’t think every person in our district is represented. I’d like to see if I could make a difference.”

   Prior to entering the teaching profession and after leaving the Army, Mr. Horne had served as a plant manager at Corning Glass in Greenville.

   He belonged to many civic organizations, including the AmVets, the VFW, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He was involved in charitable work through the Southern State Community College Students in Action and had contributed to the Highland County Homeless Shelter and the Kenyan ministries of Douglas and Gladys Jiveti.

   Additionally, Mr. Horne had been a longtime newspaper columnist for The Highland County Press and other area publications, including The Sabina Advertiser and The Informer in West Union. His final column appears in the Dec. 5 Highland County Press. 

   Mr. Horne received his bachelor's degree in business management from Central State University, and earned his master's degree from the University of Dayton.

   “The entire Southern State family is deeply saddened by the sudden loss of our colleague Bill Horne,” said President Dr. Kevin Boys. “Bill was one of the first faculty members I met when I came to the college, and we worked well together from the start. We seemed to be able to work through issues before they became problems.

   “Bill was always a strong advocate for Southern State students and always challenged them to get involved in matters that affected them. I especially appreciated the opportunities that he provided to me to speak to his classes and hear directly from students about their experience at the college and what we could do to enhance that experience.

   “Mr. Horne is one of the faculty members that alumni often ask about...’Is he still there?’  followed by some positive memory about him or his class. We will all miss Bill and his impact on the college. Our most sincere sympathy is extended to his wife, Connie, and their family.”

   In addition to his wife, Connie, Mr. Horne is survived by their two children, Kathy and Benjamin; a grandson, Zach; his mother, Kathryn Horne; a sister, Mary Jane Williams; and brother, Jim Horne. He was preceded in death by his father, William R. Horne Sr., on Dec. 25, 2004.
 Memorial services will be held 3 p.m. Saturday, December 4, 2010 at the Edward K. Daniels Auditorium at Southern State Community College in Hillsboro. The family will receive friends from noon until the time of service at 3 p.m. in the auditorium.  Memorial donations are directed to the humanitarian cause of the donor’s choice.  

   The Turner and Son Funeral Home is serving the family.