Former State Rep. Cliff Rosenberger, who represented Highland County in the Ohio House of Representatives, read his final proclamation in the 129th General Assembly, written in Betty Bishop's honor. “If there was a Hall of Fame for public officials in Highland County, Betty would be the first person inducted,” Rosenberger said. “There is no harder worker or better advocate for the city of Greenfield. To Betty, it’s not about numbers, it’s about putting food on people’s plates; it’s about educating children; and it’s about finding jobs for the people."

Former State Rep. Cliff Rosenberger, who represented Highland County in the Ohio House of Representatives, read his final proclamation in the 129th General Assembly, written in Betty Bishop's honor. “If there was a Hall of Fame for public officials in Highland County, Betty would be the first person inducted,” Rosenberger said. “There is no harder worker or better advocate for the city of Greenfield. To Betty, it’s not about numbers, it’s about putting food on people’s plates; it’s about educating children; and it’s about finding jobs for the people."

Ladies and gentlemen, as we discussed in our last offering, the Highland County Historical Society is honoring John Mills Barrere (1800-1888) on a banner that is hanging at the corner of East Main Street and South East Street in Hillsboro near the Highland House Museum.

Each year, the Highland County Historical Society sponsors a banner that hangs at the corner of East Main Street and South East Street near the Highland House Museum. Over the past few years, the society has honored Raymond Stout (the first Highland County soldier killed in World War I), Bob Hodson, Gov. Joseph Foraker and Gov. Allen Trimble. This year, the HCHS is honoring the late John Mills Barrere.

Ladies and gentlemen, as many of you know, Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day. From 1868 to 1970, it was observed on May 30. Since that time, it’s been observed on the last Monday in May. Math has never been my strong suit, but my calculator tells me the first Decoration Day was observed 154 years ago.

Ladies and gentlemen, John Gossett, a pioneer of Ohio and Highland County, was born in 1769 and settled near New Market in 1799 – roughly 222 years ago. As we discussed earlier, he built the first gristmill in Highland County, was the first state representative from Highland County, and was a farmer.

Ladies and gentlemen, Highland County pioneer John Gossett was elected Ohio state representative in the county’s first election in November 1805, while fellow pioneer George Washington Barrere was elected to the state Senate.

Ladies and gentlemen, depending on when you peruse this festive offering, Christmas will be almost here, or here, or even past. If you still have some last-minute shopping to do, I suggest we hop in the way-back machine (i.e., the good ol’ Studebaker) and cruise back 50 years to uptown Hillsboro.

Ladies and gentlemen, depending on when you peruse this festive offering, Christmas will be almost here, or here, or even past. If you still have some last-minute shopping to do, I suggest we hop in the way-back machine (i.e., the good ol’ Studebaker) and cruise back 50 years to uptown Hillsboro.

Ladies and gentlemen, depending on when you peruse this festive offering, Christmas will be almost here, or here, or even past. If you still have some last-minute shopping to do, I suggest we hop in the way-back machine (i.e., the good ol’ Studebaker) and cruise back 50 years to uptown Hillsboro.

Ladies and gentlemen, over the last couple of offerings, we examined the life and times of John Wayne Richards (1878-1957), who left nearly $43,000 after he died to Hillsboro City Schools, which used the money to improve recreational facilities and to build Richards Memorial Field. After first-year head football coach Bill Atsalis, just 27 years old when he was hired, led a young and largely inexperienced Hillsboro team in 1959 to a 2-7 record while playing home games in what was often dubbed “the dust bowl” behind the high school, work began to construct the new field.

Ladies and gentlemen, in last week’s offering, we talked about the life and times of Highland County native John Wayne Richards, who left Hillsboro City Schools more than $40,000 to build what is known as Richards Memorial Field – home of the Hillsboro Indians since the 1960s.

The estate of John Wayne Richards left $42,995.02 to Hillsboro City Schools for a John Richards Memorial and Athletic Fund. Other donations boosted it to $44,751.02. The bulk of the money was expended for improvement of recreational facilities, chiefly for the development of a new high school athletic field – later named Richards Memorial Field.

Ladies and gentlemen, after playing what first-year head football coach Bill Atsalis described as their best game of the season in a 28-0 loss against undefeated McClain, the 2-6 Hillsboro Indians would conclude their season the following Friday with against Franklin Heights.

Ladies and gentlemen, homecoming night in 1959 was a memorable one for the Hillsboro varsity football team as the Indians took down Pleasant View, 20-6. Roger Mullenix, who had been alternating as a quarterback and running back, had an outstanding night for the Tribe as he ran for touchdowns of 54, 8 and 28 yards as Hillsboro improved to 2-4 under first-year head coach Bill Atsalis.