Bob Emery, visionary who built Loyal Oak Lake Park in Summit County in 1955

In 1955, Bob Emery turned what seemed to be an unusable plot of land in the Norton area of Summit County, Ohio, into a popular recreation area called Loyal Oak Lake Park, where families could swim, play baseball, picnic and camp.



Thirty years later, Bob upgraded, redesigned and transformed the neglected Ridge Top Golf Course in Medina County, Ohio, into a state-of-the-art facility that continues to attract a faithful following of golfers.

He co-owned both recreation areas with his wife, Darlene, and another golf facility -- Oak Knolls Golf Club in Kent in Portage County, Ohio -- with friend Phil Baker.

The Dash Between Feb. 17, 1932, when the 12th of 16 siblings was born in Copley Township, Ohio, and July 1, 2010, when the Wadsworth, Ohio, grandfather died at age 78, was featured in the Sept. 7, 2010, edition of the Medina County Gazette.