Vicki Knauff, longtime educator and historical society executive director, to be enshrined in HCHS Hall of Fame

By Steve Roush

NOTE: This is Part 5 of a series leading up to the Highland County Historical Society inducting four more members into its Hall of Fame on Aug. 18. This week, we profile Vicki Ryan Knauff. 

Ladies and gentlemen, Vicki Knauff has served as Highland County Historical Society executive director since 2014. She served on the HCHS Board of Trustees before that and was a longtime educator.

Knauff, born and raised in Highland County, retired in 2013 after 32 years of experience as a history and government teacher. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Ohio University and a master’s degree from Xavier University.

Knauff is a member of the Highland County Women’s Hall of Fame and is a longtime member of the Highland County Historical Society. She has held leadership positions in a number of other committees and organizations, including the Ohio Council for the Social Studies, the Great Lakes Regional Social Studies Conference and the Ohio Bicentennial Commission.

Denny Kirk, a current member of the Highland County Historical Society and past Board of Trustees Member and Past Chair of the Board of Trustees said Knauff’s contributions not only to the HCHS, but to education and the community as well, have been invaluable.

“I first joined the Board of Trustees of the Society in 2015 and from 2017 to 2022 served as the chair of the Board of Trustees,” Kirk said. “During my tenure on the Board, I was able to observe firsthand the hard work and dedication Vicki has to the preservation and education of Highland County history. Vicki's background and experience as a longtime history teacher, as well as her educational and prior organizational contributions made Vicki a great fit as director. 

"As director, Vicki led the Society after a reorganization, through a major remodel of the back wall of the Highland House, the recent remodel and move into the Hodson House (of the offices and library), the acquisition and management of numerous exhibits, contributions to the Marching Mothers exhibit, setting up and managing numerous events, fielding many inquiries from members and the public, and many other duties and accomplishments. Vicki has put in countless hours toward the operation of the Society. 

"Vicki's hard work and dedication have been consistent the entire time she has served as director. It takes individuals like Vicki for an organization such as the Highland County Historical Society to thrive and to survive in today's world. Vicki's contributions to the preservation of Highland County History as both a member of the Society and as director deserve recognition.”

A partial list of Knauff’s accomplishments include: Community Chair of the Brush Creek All- American Festival; Ohio Valley Regional Development Council Rep.; HC Children Service Board; HC Chamber of Commerce; member of the Executive & Central Committee of the GOP; 4-H adviser for 10 years; First Families of HC; Ohio Bicentennial Commission; Daughters of the American Revolution; and a member of the Veteran Services Banner Committee.
 
She also has been awarded: two Ohio Senate resolutions; one Ohio House of Representatives resolution; HC Women’s Hall of Fame; Ohio Council for the Social Studies Teacher of the Year; Ohio Council for the Social Studies Excellence in Teaching Award; and Spirit of ’87 Award.
 
In addition to Vicki Knauff, the 2024 Highland County Historical Society Hall of Fame inductees are Dr. Larry Dukes, Steve Faris and the late Ernie Blankenship.

The recipients will be honored at an induction ceremony Sunday, Aug. 18 at 2 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church in Hillsboro, followed by a reception at Highland House directly across the street from the church. The public is cordially invited.

For more information on the society or the upcoming Hall of Fame ceremony, please call (937) 393-3392 or email the society at hchistoricalsociety@gmail.com.

Steve Roush is president of the Highland County Historical Society and served as chairman and vice chairman on the HCHS Board of Trustees for two terms, a board member of the Highland District Hospital Foundation, a vice president of an international media company and a columnist and contributing writer for The Highland County Press. He can be reached by email at roush_steve@msn.com.

Vicki Knauff, right, is shown at an event from 2019 when the Highland County Historical Society honored Bob and Dorothy Hodson by showing them a military banner of Bob that hangs on a utility pole outside the Highland House at the corner of East Main Street and South East Street. The banner was sponsored by the HCHS.