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Department of Veterans Services Class of 1995
Class of 1995 - Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame
| On Thursday November 2, 1995, the Hall of Fame welcomed 27 new members during an induction ceremony held at Veterans Memorial in Columbus, Ohio. Governor George Voinovich and Debra Bowland, administrator for the Ohio Bureau of Employment Services (co-sponsor for the Hall of Fame program) presented the awards.
The first Enshrinement Ceremony was held on Wednesday May 22, 1996 at the Ohio Veterans Home. The Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame Museum was dedicated on this day. The walls of the museum display large bronze plaques with the names and years of those inducted, and memorabilia for the most current class of inductees.
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All-State and All-American Commander of Post 9693. Selected in 1976 as Chevalier in the Royal Order of Piast for volunteer work in the Polish-American Community. Professional photographer who won dozens of awards from various press associations and guilds. Nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in Photography with the Cleveland Press in 1959.
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Member, Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, 1929 – 1931. Ohio Attorney General, 1932 – 1938. Governor of Ohio, 1939 – 1945. U.S. Senator from Ohio, 1946 – 1958. Senior partner in Bricker and Eckler.Trustee of the Ohio State University for two decades. Inducted in the Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame, 1978.
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As a Navy Seabee, at the age of 51, he shared a foxhole with his son, Garrett, Jr. at Iwo Jima. As a mechanic and inventor, he patented a loading device in 1929 that led to the development of the front end loader. In 1972, his farm produced an Ohio record wheat crop. He was Grand Marshall of Big Springs’ Bicentennial Celebration Parade.
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Founder and President of the Ohio Baseball Hall of Fame. Recipient of both the Cleveland “Mayor’s Award for Volunteerism” (1991) and the “Ohio Governor’s Award” (1978). Inducted into the Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame in 1995. Started the Target/Reach Youth (TRY) program which has raised millions of dollars to help underprivileged youth.
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Don S. Gentile
Miami County
U.S. Army Air Corps- WWII
On April 8, 1944 he surpassed fellow Ohioan Eddie Rickenbacker to become “Ace of Aces” among American pilots in Europe. During World War II, he completed 188 missions and is credited with destroying 32 enemy aircraft and damaging six. His military decorations include: Two Distinguished Service Crosses, the Silver Star Medal, Eight Distinguished Flying Crosses and Four Air Medals. He was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 1955.
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Received his Ph.D. in Astronomy from the University of Michigan. A world-renowned astronomer, he discovered some 2,000 stars in the Southern skies. Professor of Astronomy at Northwestern University, 1959 – 1967. Scientist – Astronaut, NASA Johnson Space Center, 1967 – 1986. Mission Specialist on Spacelab 2, launched July 29, 1985.
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Graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, class of 1901. Received the Navy Cross during World War I. Appointed Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet in February, 1941. From shortly after Pearl Harbor until late 1945 , he served as Commander-in- Chief, U.S. Navy and Chief of Naval operations. He was promoted to Fleet Admiral (five stars) in 1944. His hometown of Lorain now has an “Admiral King High School” named in his honor; its students are referred to as “the Admirals.”
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Only Ohioan of the eight women listed on the Vietnam Veterans memorial (the Wall). Graduated from Aultman Hospital (Canton) School of Nursing in 1965. Commissioned, U.S. Army Nurse Corps, 1968. Arrived at 312th Evacuation Hospital at Chu Lai, Vietnam, on April 29, 1969, where she died in a mortar attack 41 days later. November 11, 1969, her first duty Hospital – Fitzimmons General hospital – dedicated the Lane Recovery Suite in her memory.Canton’s Aultman Hospital opened the Sharon Lane Women’s Center in 1986 in her honor.In 1986, Vietnam Veterans of America’s Chapter 199 in Canton was named for her.
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Cleveland Municipal Court Judge, 1932 – 1936. Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge, 1937 – 1940. Mayor of Cleveland, 1941 – 1944. Governor of Ohio, 1945 – 1947; 1949 – 1957. Chairman, National Governor’s Conference, 1950. U.S. Senator from Ohio, 1957 – 1968. Life member of numerous veterans organizations.
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Glenn E. Lyons
Fairfield County
U.S. Army Air Corps- WWII
U.S. Air Force
Prisoner of War from April 1942 to August 1945 in the Philippines and Japan. Commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 10523. Past Commander, Department of Ohio, American Ex-Prisoners of War (Ex–POWs). Well-known speaker at schools throughout central Ohio. Board of Directors, Motts Military Museum.
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Commander, Ohio Department, Grand Army of the Republic. Treasurer, Ohio State Association, Ex-Union Prisoners of War. Trustee and Chair, Ohio Veterans Home, Sandusky. Editor and Publisher of the Sandusky Register from 1869-1909. President of the Ohio Editorial Association. Founder, and President for six years of the Western Associated Press (WAP) which later became the famous Associated Press (AP) news agency.
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In 1977, she was the first woman veteran appointed to the Erie County Veterans Service Commission and remains a member today.In 1990, she became the first woman veteran appointed to the Board of Trustees of the Ohio Veterans Home in Sandusky.Columnist with the Sandusky Register for 22 years. First woman elected President of the National Agricultural Journalists Association.
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One of only three women to receive the Distinguished Service Cross, our nation’s second highest combat award. Graduate of the Pennsylvania Hospital School of Nursing I Philadelphia and a staff member there from 1919 to 1956. She was Director of nursing for 23 years. Inducted into the Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame in 1978 and the Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of fame in 1980.
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Chair of the Toledo Area Salvation Army Advisory Board. Executive Director for the Toledo Building Owners and Managers Association. Selected as Lucas County Veteran of the year, 1995. President, Toledo Council of the Navy League. Co-chair for the commissioning of the U.S.S. Toledo. Spokesperson for the Red Cross Veteran’s Blood Drive. Inducted into the Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame in 1994.
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Commissioned a Major, Advanced to Brigadier General. His left leg was amputated due to a wound received on July 4th, 1864. Cincinnati City Solicitor, 1865 – 1866. Hamilton County Probate Judge, 1867 – 1871. Governor of Ohio, 1872 – 1876. U.S. Minister to France, 1877 – 1881.
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In 1919, helped form the Wright Aeronautical Corporation. In 1925, Helped establish the Pratt and Whitney Aircraft Company. Spearheaded formation, in 1931, of United Airlines as the first transcontinental airline. In 1934, he became Chairman and CEO of United Aircraft Corporation which produced aircraft vital to U.S. victory in World War II and became United Technologies Corporation.Inducted into the national Aviation Hall of Fame, 1982.
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All-State Commander of VFW Post 3124. All-American Commander of VFW District 6. All-American VFW State Commander, 1991 – 1992. Past Chairman of United Veterans of Massillon. Organized groups that built a Vietnam Veterans memorial and a korean War Memorial in Massillon. President of the Ohio Society of Military History.
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Clermont County 2001 Leadership Award, 1995. Started Stay in School Fund for needy University of Cincinnati Clermont College Students in 1990. Helped fund and build the Batavia Township Salvation Army Homeless Shelter which is named in his honor. Provided equipment, material and labor for the Veterans Memorial in Union Township of Clermont County.
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Received his law degree from the Ohio State University (OSU) in 1948. Ohio House of Representatives, 1947 – 1954. Ohio Attorney General, 1956 – 1957 and 1963 – 1968. U.S. Senator from Ohio, 1969 – 1974. U.S. Attorney General, 1974 – 1975. U.S. Ambassador to India, 1975 – 1977. Counsel to the firm of Chester, Wilcox and Saxbe, Columbus, Ohio.
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Past Commander, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 1598. Immediate Past Commander, Franklin County VFW. Member of the Governor’s Advisory Board for Veterans Affairs. VFW 100th Anniversary Commemoration Chairman for Ohio. Chairman since 1987 of the Ohio VFW Founder’s Day observance. Has led a national effort to have Columbus, Ohio, recognized as the home of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) organization.
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All-State Commander Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 2529. Commander Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Chapter 16. VFW National Membership Awards 1970 – 1971. VFW National Life Membership Award 1992. DAV National Membership Silver Star Awards 1989 – 1995.Ohio Veterans Home Most Valuable Player Award 1993. Sandusky Memorial Day Parade Grand Marshal 1995.
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Executive and Service Director for AMVETS Department of Ohio for 22 years. AMVETS National Membership Director for three years. A founder of Veterans Association of State Commanders and Adjutants (VASCA). Ohio AMVET of the Year 1972. Honored in 1994 with the Silver helmet, the highest honor the AMVETS can bestow.
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A graduate of Baldwin and Wallace, she was the first woman to serve as a trustee of that university from 1934 – 1946. Her Ph. D. in Home Economics was from New York University, she organized and chaired the Home Economics Department there. She served in the reserves until retiring as a major in 1966. President, Cleveland Branch, American association of University Women (AAUW) 1975 – 1978. Inducted into the Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame 1982.
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Received a Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart while serving with the 7th Infantry Division. Received a BA in Education from Baldwin Wallace under the GI Bill and taught school until retiring in 1982. First Ohioan to receive the American Educators Medal from the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge in 1981. For eighteen years, he has been appearing at schools and civic groups costumed as famous historical characters.
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Awarded a Silver Star Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Combat Medical Badge and Purple Heart. Columbus City Attorney 1953 – 1956. Ohio Municipal League President 1956. Ohio House of Representatives 1961 – 1966. U.S. Congress, 1967 – 1992. National recipient of AMVETS Silver Helmet Award, VFW Distinguished Service to Veterans Award, DAV and military Order of the Purple Heart Distinguished Service Awards.
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Awarded a Bronze Star Medal and two Purple Hearts. Veteran of Foreign Wars (VFW) Regional Service Officer, Cleveland Veterans Administration Medical Center (VAMC), 1946-1965. American Legion Service Officer, Cleveland VAMC, 1965- 1990. Cuyahoga County 1991 Veteran of the Year.
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