HCRTA History
Henry County Retired Teachers Association
ORTA Chapter Since 1968
On Monday, November 14, 1968, 28 retired teachers of Henry County met at the Napoleon Holiday Inn for the purpose of organizing a chapter of the Ohio Retired Teachers Association with the Northwest Ohio District Director of the Ohio Retired Teachers Association, O. J. Frederick. Mr. Frederick had successfully helped to organize nine chapters with Henry being the last. Thus all seventeen counties of the Northwest Ohio District had chapters.
Floyd Neiderhiser was elected the first president, along with Lawrence Johnson, vice-president; Cinda L. Hatcher as secretary; Celia Johnson, corresponding secretary and Lucille McComb, treasurer. The District Director suggested a constitution should be written and presented at the next meeting. Arleta Geist and Leona Groll were appointed to write the document.
The Silver Anniversary of Ohio Retired Teachers Association and National Retired Teachers Association was celebrated on October 10, 1972, at the Holiday Inn, Napoleon, Ohio.
Through the years the Henry County Chapter has not had a group project. Individual members have always participated in volunteer work for the communities in which they live and in countywide endeavors. Volunteer hours have been totaled each year and some years we have had over 12,000 volunteer hours.
In 1998 an Education Foundation was established to award a scholarship, called a book grant. Doris Ruby was the first president. Initially, the foundation provided one small grant. Over the years the foundation has grown due to bequests and donations. Additional book grants were established. Presently, we give four different book grants each year. In 2014 they were increased from $500 to $1,000 each. In 2018 we increased the amounts from $1,000 to $1,500 each.
ORTA Chapter Since 1968
On Monday, November 14, 1968, 28 retired teachers of Henry County met at the Napoleon Holiday Inn for the purpose of organizing a chapter of the Ohio Retired Teachers Association with the Northwest Ohio District Director of the Ohio Retired Teachers Association, O. J. Frederick. Mr. Frederick had successfully helped to organize nine chapters with Henry being the last. Thus all seventeen counties of the Northwest Ohio District had chapters.
Floyd Neiderhiser was elected the first president, along with Lawrence Johnson, vice-president; Cinda L. Hatcher as secretary; Celia Johnson, corresponding secretary and Lucille McComb, treasurer. The District Director suggested a constitution should be written and presented at the next meeting. Arleta Geist and Leona Groll were appointed to write the document.
The Silver Anniversary of Ohio Retired Teachers Association and National Retired Teachers Association was celebrated on October 10, 1972, at the Holiday Inn, Napoleon, Ohio.
Through the years the Henry County Chapter has not had a group project. Individual members have always participated in volunteer work for the communities in which they live and in countywide endeavors. Volunteer hours have been totaled each year and some years we have had over 12,000 volunteer hours.
In 1998 an Education Foundation was established to award a scholarship, called a book grant. Doris Ruby was the first president. Initially, the foundation provided one small grant. Over the years the foundation has grown due to bequests and donations. Additional book grants were established. Presently, we give four different book grants each year. In 2014 they were increased from $500 to $1,000 each. In 2018 we increased the amounts from $1,000 to $1,500 each.
Past Presidents
Henry County Retired Teachers Association (Calendar Year Term of Office) F. J. Neiderhiser--1968-69 Lorena Drewes--1970-72; 1976-77 Betty House--1973 Mary Tate--1974-75 Lillian Reiser--1978 Mary Mayer--1978-79;1980 Christine Riswold--1980 Luella Lighthill--1981-84 Margaret Sherman--1985-87; 1992 Myra Orthwein--1988-90 Jim Kieffer--1991 Doris Ruby--1993-95 Charlie Griffith--1996-97; 2001-03; 2009-10 J. Gene Grime--2003-05 Bonnie Eddy--2006-08 Charles Meyer--2011-13 |
Past Presidents
Henry County Retired Teachers Foundation (Elections in March each year) Doris Ruby 1009, 1999 Eleanor Engler 2000 Del Shinn 2000, 2001 Bonnie Eddy 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 Larry Siclair 2005, 2006, 2007 Becky Chamberlin 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 Tom Jenny 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 Jerri Osborne 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 Terry Witt 2016, 2017, 2018 Linda Wagner 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 Chuck Klamer 2021 Jamie Bostelman 2021, 2022 Patty Hill 2022 |