Department of Veterans Services Class of 2005

On Wednesday November 3, 2005 at the Franklin County Veterans Memorial in Columbus, Ohio, Governor Bob Taft and Timothy A. Espich, Director of the Governor's Office of Veteran's Affairs, inducted 20 members of the Class of 2005 into the Hall of Fame. A bronze plaque is dedicated to every class memorializing those veterans inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame. These plaques, representing each of the classes inducted, are on displayed at the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame Museum located in the I.F. Mack Building on the grounds of the Ohio Veterans Home in Sandusky. The bronze plaque for this year's Class of 2005 is displayed in The Statehouse at the 3rd Street entrance. Cameron R. Agin Zanesville, Muskingum County World War II United States Army Dedicated his life to community service v Twenty-seven years with the Zanesville Police Department; retiring at the rank of Captain v Served two years on City Council v Elected Mayor of Zanesville v Active member in many civic organizations - Zanesville Jaycees, Charity Newsies, American Legion, Boy Scouts, Gotto, Shrine and Veterans of Foreign Wars v Life member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles and Fraternal Order of Police   James W. Anderson Medina, Medina County World War II United States Army A driving force in the establishment of the National Cemetery in Rittman, Ohio v Organized and supervised the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery Honor Guard; received Certificate of Service in 2003 v Served in many leadership positions with the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, AMVETS and the Disabled American Veterans v1990 Veteran of the Year DAV Chapter 72 and 1995 Veteran of the Year Medina County Commissioners v Member of the Medina County Veterans Service Commission v Received special recognition by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the Ohio General Assembly for his countless hours of service to community and fellow veterans   David A. Barker Portsmouth, Scioto County United States Navy Exemplary service to veterans while he was a Franklin County Veterans Service Officer v Current State Service Officer with AMVETS v Held many positions including Post Commander for AMVETS and VFW v Current Judge Advocate AMVETS Post 2352 v Four time recipient of Vietnam Veterans of America Service Officer of the Year Award v Noted author and publisher of the effects of Agent Orange and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, as recorded in the Library of Congress v Active in the United Pentecostal Church   William A. Boettcher Cincinnati, Hamilton County Vietnam United States Marine Corps Held many appointed and elected offices within AMVETS, most recently as their National Commander at the 60th National Convention in Spokane, Washington 2004 v Current Executive Director Hamilton County Veterans Service Commission v Serves on the Board of Trustees for the Friends of Fisher House at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center v Holds membership in the Scottish Rite, Free and Accepted Masons, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Marine Corps League, Vietnam Veterans of America and 40 ET 8   Alex A. Boudreaux Columbus, Franklin County World War II United States Army Air Corps First African American Air Traffic Controller with the Civil Aeronautics Administration in 1950 v Served at Port Columbus for thirty-four years v Staunch supporter of numerous veteran organizations, which he continues to support both by contributions of time and donations v Life member of the Tuskegee Airmen Association v Active charter member of the Motts Military Museum v Speaker at several public schools advocating the remembrance of the sacrifices by military service members v Member of the Columbus Urban League, YMCA, National Aerospace Education Group and Knights of Columbus v Founding member, with Foster Lane of Lane Aviation, in the creation of the Ohio Museum of Flight at Port Columbus International Airport   Dorothy M. Budacki Mogadore, Portage County World War II United States Navy Established and organized the first unit of Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) National in Ohio; attaining position of National President v Coordinates and participates in many local veteran events v Visits the Ohio Veterans Home-Sandusky and the Brecksville VA hospital thanking veterans for their service v Visits local schools to educate the youth on women in the military v Participated in the dedication ceremony of the Women In Military Service For America Memorial in Washington D.C. v Received numerous certificates of recognition for her lifetime service to her community   Marshall W. Busey Cleveland, Cuyahoga County World War II United States Army Unwavering dedication to serving the veterans of his community v Instrumental in raising money to purchase a converted 32-foot motor home for use by the VA patients v Past President of the Greater Cleveland Veterans’ Council and President of the Memorial Day Association of Cuyahoga County v Served as the Sergeant of the Memorial Day “Rough Riders Firing Squad” for thirty-nine years and the Memorial Day Color Guard Sergeant for the City of Cleveland for fourteen years v Active member of the American Legion serving in several leadership positions receiving Legionnaire of the Year for the 13th District in 1975 and 1996 v An active fundraiser for charitable organizations and staunch supporter in his community as noted by the numerous awards received   James Comedy (deceased) Akron, Summit County World War II United States Marine Corps Professional life included twenty-six years with the American Hard Rubber Company v Served twenty-two years as the bailiff for the Summit County Court System v Dedication to his community included fifteen years in the selection process of graduating high school students to serve our Nation’s military academies, coaching little league and assisting men and women released from incarceration with the 12 Step Program v Held multiple offices within many veteran organizations exemplifying his continued dedication to all veterans v Appointed as the Summit County Veterans Service Commission in 1988 v Founding member of the VFW Robert Combs Cancer Fund which was changed to the “Combs-Comedy Cancer Fund,” in 2004 and distributed over $1,000,000 to cancer research and hospice facilities   Edward W. Delaet Dayton, Montgomery County World War II United States Navy   Extensive involvement in the Boy Scouts of America v Honored at all levels of scouting including the “Silver Beaver” Award v Received the Bronze Pelican and the St. George Emblems presented by the Catholic Committee on Scouting v Served with distinction in the U.S. Navy and acquired education from ROTC programs at Miami University v Continuous dedication to his community by his holding numerous elected offices in multiple civic organizations v Active within AMVETS v Received the Exceptional Service Award from the National Security Agency in 1995 for service on project ULTRA during World War II v Executive Director and Trail Supervisor of the Buckeye Trail Association v Past Board Member of the Xenia Rotary Club     John W. Erby, Jr. Cincinnati Butler County Vietnam United States Army Life long veteran advocate v Held multiple leadership positions within numerous veteran organizations v Worked diligently with the JROTC and ROTC programs v Noted speaker on military history and patriotism v Current President of Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 10 v Chapter Adjutant for the Military Order of the Purple Heart v Americanism Officer for the Military Order of Purple Heart, Department of Ohio v First African American football coach in the PAC-8 conference at the University of California, Berkeley in 1968   Eugene M. Fellmeth Canal Fulton, Stark County World War II Prisoner of War United States Air Force A successful attorney for thirty-two years during that time he served as the Law Director for the Village of Canal Fulton and the Village of Navarre v Served as Mayor, Village of Canal Fulton for twelve years v Twice elected Judge of Massillon Municipal Court District v Active member of many professional, civic, and veteran organizations v Served on the Board of Directors for several professional and civic organizations v Elected Stark County Recorder v Continues to stay active by serving as a Retired Visiting Judge   Joseph B. Foraker (deceased) Cincinnati, Hamilton County Union Army Civil War Practiced law in Hamilton County v Served as Judge of the Superior Court of Cincinnati for three years v Elected Governor of Ohio in 1885 and served two terms v Elected to the U.S. Senate in 1896 v One of the foremost speakers of his time v Served in the 89th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry attaining the rank of brevet captain   Robert M. Galvin Port Clinton, Ottawa County World War II and Korean Conflict United States Marine Corps United States Army Noted for distinguished service in two wars v Elected to the Ohio House of Representatives, Lucas County in 1954; serving three terms v Current Director of Alcohol and Drug Center in Fostoria v Served as Chemical Dependency Counselor in Sandusky 1984 v Strong supporter of Veteran organizations v Co-founder and Board Member of Toledo Halfway House Incorporated and Comprehensive Addiction Service System “Compass”, Lucas County v Performed in many local community theatrical productions   John J. Nicastro, Sr. Independence, Cuyahoga County World War II United States Air Force Exemplary military service as one of the youngest Commissioned Combat Officers (Navigator) in the 8th Army Air Force; successfully completed thirty-five missions v Thirty-six year career with Ohio Bell and ATT rising to the position of Account Executive v Distinguished service as a member of the Independence City Council for sixteen years v Served as President of the Independence Board of Education v Held many leadership positions during extensive membership within professional, veteran and civic organizations v Received Legion of Honor Award for forty-five years of distinctive service to the Kiwanis International of Independence, Ohio   Joseph A. Peters Alliance, Stark County Vietnam Era United States Air Force Worked as an Aerospace Science Instructor to the JROTC for sixteen years v Community involvement with the Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts and Little League baseball programs v Chaplain for Alliance Community Hospital; volunteer Chaplain for the Hospice program and American Legion Post 166 v Served on many boards and commissions v Received many awards and recognition for his contributions to his community, state, and nation v Over thirty-six years as blood donor to the American Red Cross surpassing the 20-gallon mark   James D. Quisenberry Lakewood, Cuyahoga County Vietnam United States Army Highly decorated veteran v Active volunteer with the March of Dimes for over eighteen years v Served as a Boy Scout leader v Instrumental in establishment of the “Greater Cleveland Veterans Memorial” v Continuous dedication to his community by involvement in multiple veteran organizations and election to numerous leadership positions v An active sponsor and counselor with Alcoholics Anonymous v Current President of the Memorial Day Association of Greater Cleveland which organized placement of flags on graves of veterans at Holy Cross Cemetery     Robert B. Steele Xenia, Greene County Korean Conflict United States Marine Corps Honored in Washington D.C. with the “Parents of the Year” Award in 2003 by the National Parents’ Day Council v Received several awards and recognition for outstanding volunteer service to his community v Serves as Board Member to Greene County Council on Aging, Metropolitan Housing Authority and Greene County Coordinated Area Transportation System v Accomplished speaker traveling throughout Ohio speaking on Americanism and patriotism v Active member of many civic and veteran organizations v Past State Commander American Legion v Thirty-three years as Buckeye Boys’ State Chairman, American Legion Post 95 v Past President of the Ohio Association of County Veterans’ Service Commissioners   Betty Stagg Turner (Deceased) West Chester, Butler County World War II Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) Honored as one of the “Women’s Veteran of the Year” in 2003 by the Dayton VA Medical Center v Held the office of treasurer in the WASP organization v Member of the Air Force Museum in Dayton and Women in the Military Aviators, Inc. v As a professional clown, entertained children suffering with cancer at the local hospitals, visited incarcerated youth and entertained children at many schools and churches Maynard W. "Doc" Unger Lakewood, Cuyahoga County World War II Prisoner of War United States Air Force Distinguished military career while serving in World War II where he was held as a prisoner of war v Received the International Scouter’s Award from the National Office of the Boy Scouts of America for forty-five years of dedicated service v Lifelong involvement in several civic and veteran organizations v Thirteen years teaching the program “Growing Healthy Together” where students learned good eating habits, health care and safety v Past State Commander of the American Ex-Prisoners of War 1999-2001 and elected State Commander in 2005     Joseph Vance (Deceased) Urbana, Champaign County War of 1812 Ohio Militia An architect of his character, he overcame the obstacles of poverty v Formed a rifle company that became part of the Ohio Militia where he rose to the rank of Major General v Elected to the Ohio House of Representatives from 1812 to 1820 v Elected to the U.S. Congress, House of Representatives from 1821 to 1835 v Became the thirteenth Governor of Ohio from 1837 to 1839; Ohio Senate from 1840-1842; U.S. Congress, House of Representatives from 1843-1847 v Active in the anti-slavery movement of the time v Earned the respect and confidence of the people of his community, the State of Ohio and the nation with his many years of public service