Honorees for
Ohio
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| Name |
Hometown |
Branch |
Rank |
Yrs. |
Contributor |
| Christian D. Gurtner |
Ohio City |
Marines |
PFC |
10 mo. |
Van Wert WBA |
| Christian lost his life on April 2, 2003 while serving in Iraq, in his words, "so kids over here can have the freedoms we know in America."Christian was very active in the youth bowling programs. He always helped anyone that would ask and was always very upbeat and happy in everything he did. |
| Joseph DeJonghe |
Danville, IL |
USAF |
Colonel |
|
Columbus Women's Bowling Association, Columbus, OH |
| Additional contributors for Joseph DeJonghe: |
| Joe & Joni Halpin Willow Run Ladies Tuesday Golf League Leah Sperry Shirley Thomas Wednesday Bridge Club Mr. & Mrs. John RutledgeBuckeye Women Bowling Writers Robert & Ann Phelps Robert J. KeckThe Rainbow LeagueThe Rainbow League (second contribution) |
Allen, TXJohnstown, OHFithian, ILWesterville, OHWesterville, OH Westerville, OHMontpelier, OHWesterville, OHWesterville, OHColumbus, OHColumbus, OH |
| After 4 years of ROTC at the University of Illinois, Joseph was commissioned 2nd Lt. in U.S. Army Signal Corps and studied radar at Harvard and MIT for 4 mos. before deployment to New Guinea and the Philippines on a Radar Maintenance Team. He was part of the invasion of Luzon in WWII. Two years later he transferred to USAF Reserve and worked at Wright Patterson AFB in Flight Test Div. for 5 years when he was recalled to active duty during the Korean War. He served a tour of duty in Flight Test at Muroc AFB, CA, 1951-52, another assignment at Wright Patterson, 1953-59, becoming a charter member of "The Wright Stuff" organization. He helped develop the Minuteman Missile at Patrick AFB, FL, 1959-64, Engineer in R&D at Pentagon, 1964-68, and Andrews AFB, MD, 1968-72. |
| Linda Gilmore |
Dayton |
|
|
|
Billy's Trip League,
Beavercreek, Ohio |
| |
| Jesse Dotson |
Dayton |
|
|
|
Billy's Trip League,
Beavercreek, Ohio |
| |
| David Caskey |
Xenia |
Army |
INF SP 5 |
4 |
Wayne and Diane Remner, Mentor, OH |
| David served during the Vietnam War and received the Bronze Star, Vietnam Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal and National Defense Service Medal. He received an honorable discharge. He suffered from Agent Orange and was on dialysis. He always came to watch me bowl when I was in the area of Beavercreek. He owned and operated his own upholstery business and made special chair coverings for the elderly in his hometown. He was a very loving and caring husband and father of two. He was my cousin and he went to heaven on December 18, 2006. |
| Robert (Bob) H. Caskey |
Eaton
|
Navy
|
|
4
|
Diane Remner, Mentor, OH |
| Bob was a U.S. Navy Vietnam War veteran and served his country well. He used to live in Xenia, Ohio and when Diane was bowling in the state tournament in Beavercreek, Bob always came to watch. He and his brother, David, did this for many years and Diane says she will never forget it. Notes Diane, “I will miss his smile, kindness and generosity to his friends and family, that being the love he had for everyone.” |
| William Pontius, Sr. |
Van Wert |
Army |
Sgt. 1st Class |
10 |
Van Wert USBC WBA |
| Helped with the flood of 1959. Sharp shooter in the National Guard. Bill bowled for at least 45 years. Father of six children, he and his sons, Mike, Bill, Jr., and Dean bowled together in the Tuesday Night Industrial League. |
| Calvin Rhodes |
Van Wert |
Army |
Ohio Nat'l Guard/
E6 SSG |
16 |
Van Wert USBC WBA |
Calvin began his military career in 1992 as a combat cannon crewmember. He served in the Army until the fall of 1995.
In 1996, he joined the Army Ohio National Guard with which he still serves today. His career has included a tour in Iraq and serving as an instructor in several different capacities. In 2008, he left for a tour in Egypt where he currently serves with the Multi National Force Organization. Calvin started bowling at age 7. During his military career, he has bowled in Germany, Italy, Egypt, Kuwait and Iraq. |
| William Kerr |
Toledo |
Navy |
|
|
Greater Toledo USBC Youth |
| Bill was born in Toledo on March 19, 1924. He was a Navy submarine veteran of WWI and the Korean War. He was employed at Ohio Bell, from where he retired after 36 years. He was an active member of the Holland community, serving as a volunteer firefighter, treasurer of the original Strawberry Festival, council member, and Springfield school bus driver. He was also a 50-year member of the Northern Light Masonic Lodge #40 and the Telephone Pioneers of America. Bill passed away on July 15, 2009. |
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