Ashville couple makes Hall of Fame
By CRAIG ALLISON
STAFF WRITER
Together, the
Ashville couple has
made a life of
leaving things
better than they
found them, from
building wheelchair
ramps for peoples’
homes to helping
build a library for
their community.Still active in community involvement, the couple will be installed in the Central Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame in ceremonies to be held May 19 at 1 p.m. at the Martin Janis Center on the Ohio State Fairgrounds.
The Southwards
were nominated for
their honor by Don
and Ula Jean Metzler
of Circleville.
“Rodger and Pat
are great examples
of what service to
people and service
to your community
means,” said Ula
Jean.
“They are there
whenever and
wherever they are
asked to be, whether
it is church,
school, or civic
organizations. Don
and I were thrilled
to nominate them. We
though they were
more than
deserving.” she
said.
Both are
graduates of the
Ohio State
University College
of Education, and
they met as
beginning teachers
at Teays Valley
Schools.
The Southwards
married, became
members of the
Community United
Methodist Church ion
Circleville, and
began to pursue
their Master’s
degrees. The couple
had three daughters
over the years and
today they also have
two grand daughters
After obtaining
their Master’s
degrees the
Southwards moved
their careers to
South-Western City
School District
where Rodger was
math department head
and later served 10
years as a school
administrator,
retiring in 1993 as
a middle school
principal.
Pat served as
school psychologist,
retiring in 1995.
Rodger serves on
the boards of the
Pickaway County
Community Foundation
and the Scioto
Society, which is
responsible for the
annual production of
the outdoor drama
“Tecumseh!”
He also served
on the steering
committee for for
the formation of the
Teays Valley
Educational
Foundation.
Pat also serves
on the Board of
Education for the
Pickaway County
Educational Service
Center, and as
president of the the
board for Louise
Terrace in Ashville.
Over the years
the Southwards have
driven people to
medical
appointments, cooked
meals for persons in
need, and helped to
build wheelchair
ramps on homes to
make them more
accessible.
They have been
active members of
Ashville Kiwanis,
with Rodger serving
a term as Lieutenant
Governor of District
10S. He has been
active in the
Community Men’s
Club, and Pat in the
Women’s Civic Club.
The couple has
worked to establish
scholarships in
their church,
Ashville Kiwanis,
and the Ashville
alumni Association.
The couple has
never been far from
their educational
roots, volunteering
countless hours to
tutor Teays Valley
students in a
variety of subjects.
When a
bookmobile from the
Pickaway County
Library was the only
regular book service
to the Ashville
community, the
Southwards became
committed with
several others in
the community and
worked to establish
the Younkin Branch
of the library in
1999.
End of Article
HONORING HERB SEYMOUR
