Remembering Mayor Sandy Harsha
Strength
One morning many years ago, I met with Sandy outside the Hillsboro Elks Lodge. He was working on a sign or an outdoor planter just off the Route 138 highway.
He had a concrete monument in the back of his truck that had to be moved out of the way. It easily weighed 100 pounds, maybe more. I offered to help move it.
Sandy said something like "That's OK." Then he grabbed the monument by its top and moved it off to the side. With one hand.
I made an immediate mental note that I would never agree to arm wrestle with Sandy, should the opportunity present itself.
Accessibility
During Sandy's two terms as mayor of Hillsboro, he was always one of the more accessible public officeholders.
Regardless of what was written, good or bad, we always knew we could call Sandy or walk over to his office or walk out behind our office and over to the Harsha Monument Company on West Walnut Street.
If a question was along the lines of something Sandy wasn't familiar, he would call one of his safety and service directors, first Ralph Vanzant, and later, Mark Van Den Berg, and then get back to us.
[[In-content Ad]]KindnessWithout going through all my files, I can't say with certainty the year, but somewhere around 1996 or '97, I was asked to host a group of newspaper journalists from Kazakhstan and maybe one or two from Uzbekistan.
Through some sort of professional journalism international exchange program, I was told that these reporters wanted to visit a small-town newspaper while they were in Ohio. And they did.
The Central Asian journalists spoke Kazakh, Uzbek and Russian. I spoke – and still do – southern Ohio "American English."
The nice lady from Cincinnati – I've long forgotten her name – who coordinated the journalists' visit to Hillsboro suggested that I contact a few local public officials for a reception. My first call was to Mayor Harsha.
Sandy, as I recall, thought about it for a few moments. Then, he or perhaps Ralph Vanzant, suggested that I call Deana Blackwood, a Hillsboro resident and scholar who had traveled to Russia.
Deana graciously agreed to host a reception for six or seven non-English-speaking journalists and their interpreter. She opened her Hillsboro home to all of us.
When I asked Deana what I should bring, she told me: "You take care of the drinks and I'll take care of the food."
Deana's hors d'oeuvres were excellent.
As for the drinks?
I brought two fifths of Stolichnaya vodka, two fifths of Maker's Mark bourbon and a case of Budweiser.
"What, no wine?" Deana asked.
Well, I told her, I don't come from a long line of wine drinkers.
No problem. Deana brought out some red and some white. (But at the end of the evening, the Maker's Mark and the Bud were mostly depleted.)
I remember Sandy and Ralph asking the foreign correspondents about Russian agriculture and industry. (And I thought to myself: Why didn't I ask that?)
During that weekend visit, several people gave much of their time and cooperation. I still have photos – taken by Creed Culbreath almost 20 years ago – of the Kazakhstan journalists with former Highland County Chamber of Commerce President Tom Wyatt, with Ralph Vanzant, at Richards Memorial Field for a Friday night football game, and with Mayor Sandy Harsha.
Sandy helped organize all of it. He did it without any fanfare or publicity. He just helped to make it happen and to represent the city of Hillsboro with class and hospitality.
Former Hillsboro Safety and Service Director Mark Van Den Berg said this morning that he remembers Sandy as a true community leader and public servant.
"Sandy's thing was always 'How can we help?' Be it a business in town or a resident, Sandy always put others' needs first, without worrying about the cost or benefit to himself," Mark said.
"Hillsboro lost a piece of its heart with Sandy's passing. This city is better for having had Sandy as a member and leader of the community, and I am better for having had the privilege and honor of calling him my friend."
We all are.
Thanks, Sandy, for all you did for Hillsboro. May you rest in peace with the knowledge and comfort that your family continues your legacy of community service.
Rory Ryan is publisher and owner of The Highland County Press.