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 Staff photo/Katie Yantis: A truck dumps dirt along the Miami and Erie Canal towpath where it crosses Ohio 66. The project will make it easier for those using the towpath to cross Ohio 66.
By KATIE YANTIS
Staff Writer
ST. MARYS — Hiker, bikers and walkers in the region will notice a
difference in a few sections of the Miami and Erie Canal towpath trail
starting this week.
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Couple honored |
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Friday, 15 May 2009 |
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 Photo provided: Larry and Ronda Shelby, right, will be named Senior Citizens of The Year for 2009.
By KATIE YANTIS
Staff Writer
A local St. Marys couple who has logged more than 50 years of service to the community have been named Senior Citizens of The Year for 2009.
Ronda and Larry Shelby, both of whom have been named “Builder of Bridges,” have been immersed in the community, serving the school, Kiwanis Club, the Eagles, Chamber of Commerce and their church to name a few. The couple said they are humbled to be receiving the award.
The couple has four children, Sue, Steve, Scott and Sky and nine grandchildren.
Ronda Shelby, who taught English and reading at St. Marys for 44 years, continues to substitute teach at the school and she will be teaching the summer speech class this summer as she continues her involvement at the school.
“It is such a neat class,” Ronda Shelby said. “I take them to the toastmaster every year.”
During her time at St. Marys, Ronda Shelby has helped coach students through competitions such as the God, Flag and County Speech contest, the Power of the Pen writing contest and the Women Making History Essay contest.
She also helped the school outside of the classroom, helping to start the girls’ tennis and softball programs at St. Marys Memorial High School.
While discussing her involvement with the school, Ronda Shelby continued to turn the spotlight off her to give praise to the teachers around her.
“Our teachers are so diligent at what they do,” Ronda Shelby said.
Throughout the community, Ronda Shelby has helped expand the library and helped campaign for the construction of the Auglaize County Jail.
As a volunteer, Ronda Shelby reflected on one of her favorite memories, as she mentioned teaching bible studies at the church.
“I teach a lot of bible study, from ages 19 to 92, it is neat to see where God takes them as you teach them,” Ronda said. “To see where they were when you started and where they end is a great experience.”
She said while she taught the children and adults, she also learned things as well.
“I grow also, not just the students, you always grow,” Ronda Shelby said.
She also said speaking about the history of outhouses is one of her favorite memories as well.
“During the depression many families were saved from complete failure by their fathers or brothers building outhouses,” Ronda Shelby said. “It saved so many families and there is a lot of humor in it but also historical influence.”
As the Shelbys hugged visitors that were leaving their residence, Ronda Shelby gave her husband praise for all the work he has done during the course of his life, and continues to do despite being ill.
“He is still serving the community,” Ronda Shelby said. “He has helped many different people, and they have stopped to thank him for being a mentor and for his support. I didn’t even know some of the things he has done and given money to until people have stopped by. He is far more deserving than I, he treated everyone the same.”
Shelby has accomplished many things throughout the St. Marys community including the construction of the Diamond Savings and Loan office on Royal Oak Drive to accommodate handicap workers and customers, he designed and coordinated the construction of the Auglaize County Council on Aging parking lot expansion and coordinated the bikeway project that connected St. Marys to Celina on Ohio 703.
Commenting on the bikeway, Shelby said he had a strong sense of obligation to the project.
“(Ohio) 703 was called the busiest road and I thought there ought to be something done about it,” Shelby said. “It is a two lane road, that was an important project.”
One of the organizations that Shelby also said is important to him is the St. Marys Community Foundation.
“Now people have a place to leave their money, people who outlive their family can leave it in a trust fund,” Shelby said. “They know that money will draw interest. It has just been such a blessing.”
A major project Shelby said he had on his list was drawing up the plans and executing the expansion of the parking lot at the Auglaize County Council on Aging. He explained the process of expanding the parking lot.
“I said we can’t expand our services without have parking, we need to expand,” Shelby said.
He said a major player in the project was Bob Klosterman, who sold his house on a land contract without a mortgage.
“That was a key factor,” Shelby said.
After gaining the land, Shelby said the next issue was the money and he said there was no government money so he started raising the money on his own.
“I said we’ll do it ourselves, so we did, it can be done and eventually we received government money,” Shelby said. “That was a real experience.”
Ronda Shelby said the parking lot contributed many things to the council.
“It added to the value of services they offer,” she said.
Other contributions Shelby has made to community include his work at the paper mill and the Union Savings Loan. He also delivered groceries at Christmas for the Goodfellows.
As he looked back on his years, Shelby said he fondly remembers showing his appreciation to the community.
“The citizens of St. Marys have been good to me and I hopefully have repaid them with my voluntary work for the last 50 years,” Shelby said.
The couple sat and thought about the last 50 years and all that has been accomplished. While appreciative, both agreed the recognition is unnecessary.
“Too much is given (and) much is expected,” Ronda Shelby said. “We have to serve our citizens.”
Shelby agreed with his wife as he commented on receiving the honor.
“It’s not necessary,” he said. “You don’t do things to be recognized, you do them because they need to be done. I saw a saying once, I wondered why someone didn’t do something, then I realized I was someone.”
He also said there are many other people deserving of the recognition.
“There are a lot of Larry Shelbys out there that you don’t know about,” Shelby said.
Ronda Shelby said despite being ill, her husband is determined to continue progressing with the work he has done with the Boy Scouts. Shelby helps out by teaching them shooting, which allows them to receive their shooting badges.
“That is his last bit of service,” Ronda Shelby said. “He got it started and he is not going to get it all completed but it will get done.”
Amazed by his tenacity, Ronda Shelby complimented her husband with a smile on her face.
“I do know when God welcomes you, he will say well done faithful servant,” she said.
The Shelbys will be honored at the Auglaize County Council on Aging, celebrating National Senior Center Month, Sept. 15 - a fitting venue to honor the Shelbys with their contributions to the building. |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 19 May 2009 )
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