Women's hall of fame welcomes new inductees
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After lifetimes of dedication in service to others, and to the betterment of their communities, four area women were lauded for their work with their inductions into the Highland County Women's Hall of Fame.
The induction banquet was held Tuesday at the Patriot Center on the Southern State Community College Campus in Hillsboro.
The Hall of Fame celebrated its 30th year in 2010, and this years' inductees - Thelma L. Coffey, Rose Fisher Merkowitz, Virginia Milner Purdy and Louise Fenner Sprinkle - brought the number of hall of fame inductees to 91.
• Thelma L. Coffey, of Greenfield, is an educator and leader in community service, “Has distinguished herself by a lifetime of service to others,” according to her nomination letter. Devotion to family, a 30-year career in education, and an active community volunteer, describes her very busy and fulfilling life.
• Rose Fisher Merkowitz, a Family and Consumer Sciences Educator and County Extension Director for The Ohio State University in Highland County, has held that post for the past 23 years. She also oversees all the 4-H Family and Consumer Science projects in the county, advises the 4-H Family and Consumer Sciences Board, the Highland County Junior Fairboard, and assists with the 4-H Camping program, and works to further community development. She is very community-minded and works with several local organizations including the Highland County Commissioners, Highland County Job and Family Services, Highland County Children Services and the Highland County Community Action Organization. She has provided leadership to several county needs assessments which assist community leaders in gathering data for community improvements and for grants.
• Louise Fenner Sprinkle can be described through the phrase “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” The educator and leader in community service and public affairs was stricken with TB as a teen.
She grew up in Samantha and was an athlete and academic scholar. She was told she could not pursue her dream of a career in either teaching or nursing. Therefore, following graduation from Hillsboro High School, she attended Columbus Office Training School, living on $5 per week and working part-time.
• Virginia Milner Purdy, a businesswomen, was born in Leesburg to a teacher mother and legislator father, so public service and leadership come naturally to her. Following graduation from Ohio State University, she taught home economics at Jones Junior High in Upper Arlington, was co-owner of a general store in Georgetown, and then in 1981 she became president and general manager of WRAC radio in West Union. Selling the station in 1997, Purdy returned home to Leesburg to assist her aging father. For full stories on each of the inductees, see
After lifetimes of dedication in service to others, and to the betterment of their communities, four area women were lauded for their work with their inductions into the Highland County Women's Hall of Fame.
The induction banquet was held Tuesday at the Patriot Center on the Southern State Community College Campus in Hillsboro.
The Hall of Fame celebrated its 30th year in 2010, and this years' inductees - Thelma L. Coffey, Rose Fisher Merkowitz, Virginia Milner Purdy and Louise Fenner Sprinkle - brought the number of hall of fame inductees to 91.
• Thelma L. Coffey, of Greenfield, is an educator and leader in community service, “Has distinguished herself by a lifetime of service to others,” according to her nomination letter. Devotion to family, a 30-year career in education, and an active community volunteer, describes her very busy and fulfilling life.
• Rose Fisher Merkowitz, a Family and Consumer Sciences Educator and County Extension Director for The Ohio State University in Highland County, has held that post for the past 23 years. She also oversees all the 4-H Family and Consumer Science projects in the county, advises the 4-H Family and Consumer Sciences Board, the Highland County Junior Fairboard, and assists with the 4-H Camping program, and works to further community development. She is very community-minded and works with several local organizations including the Highland County Commissioners, Highland County Job and Family Services, Highland County Children Services and the Highland County Community Action Organization. She has provided leadership to several county needs assessments which assist community leaders in gathering data for community improvements and for grants.
• Louise Fenner Sprinkle can be described through the phrase “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” The educator and leader in community service and public affairs was stricken with TB as a teen.
She grew up in Samantha and was an athlete and academic scholar. She was told she could not pursue her dream of a career in either teaching or nursing. Therefore, following graduation from Hillsboro High School, she attended Columbus Office Training School, living on $5 per week and working part-time.
• Virginia Milner Purdy, a businesswomen, was born in Leesburg to a teacher mother and legislator father, so public service and leadership come naturally to her. Following graduation from Ohio State University, she taught home economics at Jones Junior High in Upper Arlington, was co-owner of a general store in Georgetown, and then in 1981 she became president and general manager of WRAC radio in West Union. Selling the station in 1997, Purdy returned home to Leesburg to assist her aging father. For full stories on each of the inductees, see
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