Recollections over a 'Y' fish sandwich

“If you’re going to write about me, you’ll have to wait a while. I’m gonna live to be 100.” – Former Adams County Commissioner Bob Semple, Feb. 6, 2015

From 1972-77, I lived exactly one mile south of the famous Y Restaurant, so named from its location at the Y-shaped intersection of U.S. Route 62 and Ohio Route 321, three miles northeast of Mowrystown.

One of the things I always enjoy about having breakfast or – as was the case tonight – an early dinner at the Y is that you never know who you might bump into.

On this particular evening, we bumped into Bob Semple, a Winchester resident and a former Adams County commissioner. Bob and I have known one another since the 1998 Winchester Caramel Festival. (Of course, I knew who Bob was long before that first introduction.)

It had been about a dozen years since we last spoke. One of the first things that came to mind was the time Bob gave my family four box-seat tickets to a Reds/Indians baseball game (and a parking pass). This would have been around 2000, give or take a year. Bob left the tickets on the front seat of his truck and told me to come by and pick them up on my way to the game. That’s just how it was out in the country.

This evening, Bob and I picked up several names off the Y Restaurant floor. We had to pick them up. After all, we were the ones dropping them. He’d name-drop someone, then I’d counter by dropping someone else’s name.

“I got a card from Bob McEwen,” Bob told me. “He’ll be a great board member for the college (Southern State Community College).”

How’s Doug White (another former Adams County commissioner as well as Ohio Senate president) these days? I asked Bob.

“Doug’s good. Smooth as ever,” Bob said. “He’s a good man and he was a good commissioner.”

So were you, Bob, I said.

“Did you hear we lost Starley Gustin?” Bob asked. “He was another good one.”

Yes, I remember. I wrote about the passing of Starley (and Burton McFarland and George Greer, each of whom died in December) not long ago.

“Did I ever tell you about the time Starley punched me in my leg during a commissioners’ meeting?” Bob asked.

No, I don’t remember that one.

“Well, we had this controversial vote about something that had been going on before I got on the board,” Bob explained. “When it came my turn to vote, I abstained. Starley punched me about as hard as anyone ever hit me. I got pretty mad. I asked him why he did that and Starley said ‘The people of Adams County elected you to have a vote. It’s your duty to vote.’ Starley said he learned that lesson from his own father.”

The story reminded me of two instances during my six-year stint on the Southern State Community College Board of Trustees. The first occurred just prior to my November 2006 swearing in when, in the midst of a presidential search, I was told not to vote on the two finalists. After contacting Gov. Taft’s office, I was instructed that I had a duty to vote. (And I did vote.) The second similarity occurred when former SSCC Trustee Ernie McFarland (Burton’s brother) gave me a slight correction when I was on the verge of saying something best left for an executive session.

I asked Bob about Ernie and his lovely wife, Caryl.

“Ernie’s doing OK,” Bob said. “They’re great people.”

Yes, they are.

I then asked about longtime North Adams basketball official scorekeeper and former umpire and referee Ernie Butts. I believe Bob and Ernie are in-laws.

“Ernie’s still keeping the book at North Adams’ ballgames,” Bob replied.

My son and I were fortunate to be among those in attendance a few years ago when Coach Dave Young honored Ernie during a North Adams sports banquet. Ernie has many great sports stories. He has funny stories about coaches from all over southern Ohio. He also has a great story about the time he officiated a high school sporting event and was introduced as Ernie Blankenship instead of Ernie Butts because the announcer accidentally misspoke. “Any time I made a bad call that night, the fans just blamed Ernie Blankenship!”

After speaking with Bob Semple for several minutes, and while devouring a two-piece Y fish sandwich, onion rings and a tossed salad, I mentioned to Pam something about when we used to have breakfast or lunch at the Hickory House (now the Ponderosa Banquet Center) on South High Street in Hillsboro. I always enjoyed the Hickory House. You could count on great food and great people. Everybody knew everybody. Farmers, factory workers, contractors, lawyers, nurses, doctors, whatever. It didn’t matter. That’s where we ate.

Of course, moments after I mentioned the Hickory House, its former owner – and a former Highland County commissioner – Rich Graves, walked in to the Y Restaurant. Bob and Rich seemed to have a pleasant conversation. It was good to see the two former commissioners again.

And I do hope Bob Semple lives to be 100 – or more. He’s a fine gentleman and good friend.

As Pam, Colin and I finished our meals, it occurred to me that Highland County’s southernmost restaurant is still serving good food and making happy memories for a new generation. I’m glad. Jamie Hauke and his staff do a wonderful job. Thank you.

Now, if they’d just bring back the 3.2 beer and the bowling machine that were there when I was a kid … Just kidding!!

Rory Ryan is the publisher and owner of The Highland County Press.