Dash Between: Henry Schriver, 96, the "Farmer Philosopher"

Henry Schriver, Farmer Philosopher

Henry Schriver, who died March 27, 2011, gave presentations on farming and the benefits of cooperatives with the zeal of an evangelist and the humor of a stand-up comedian to farmers, youth groups and community organizations across the United States as well as in Canada, Taiwan and Russia.

One of his talks was filmed and shown to farming communities around the world by the State Department.

Schriver, who delivered his speeches in rhyme and injected amusing phrases and anecdotes that one would expect from a lifelong farmer, served in the Ohio House of Representatives for one term and on the former Belden School Board for many years.

He and his wife, Dot, raised strawberries, Holstein cattle and 11 children on their dairy and fruit farm.

"One of my favorite things that Dad did in his later years, at Mom's encouragement, was write down notes of things that interested him during his life," said his daughter Carol Schriver Carpenter. "One day in the summer of 2005, he gave me a thick (3/4"-1") stack of papers and said, 'You'll know what to do with this.' "

She organized the material, put it in booklet form and distributed it to the family.

"I'd like to encourage anyone who has vivid memories of their past to do as he did--even if it requires pretending to have a nagging spouse to keep one on target!" his daughter said. "Write down those precious memories!"

As a result of Schriver's diligence, his family had no problem sharing stories from his life for "The Dash Between" obituary feature that was published in the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram on April 24, 2001.

Due to a technical glitch, the many photos his family provided were not posted with his story online. Click here to view the photos and read the captions, which are loaded with even more information about Schriver.

Henry Schriver and his wife, Dot

Dash Between: Damon Hill, 82, delivered mail in Oberlin during a bygone era

Damon Hill, Oberlin postman

Damon Hill began delivering mail on foot in Oberlin, Ohio, in the mid-1950s, when the price of a postage stamp was 3 cents and zip codes did not exist.

He took a disability retirement in 1983, shortly before 5-digits-plus-4 zips were introduced.

Click here to read his Dash Between in the April 10, 2011, edition of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram.

Dash Between: Martha Thiele Pierce, 96, philanthropist, showgirl

Martha Pierce and her sister Hilda Thiele

Martha Pierce and her late sister, Hilda Thiele, established a scholarship fund in memory of their late parents many years ago. Over the years, they awarded thousands of dollars in scholarship funds to students at Buckeye High School.

Martha also contributed generously toward the school's Thiele-Pierce Track and Soccer Field House.

When I wrote Martha's Dash Between for the April 4, 2011, edition of the Medina County Gazette, I shared more about her life as a showgirl in the 1930s and '40s.

Martha Thiele and Johnny Weismuller

Martha worked with Johnny Weismuller, a multiple Olympic Gold Medal winner and star of a dozen Tarzan movies.

She met Cecil B. DeMille, the famous movie producer whose credits include The Ten Commandments.

The showgirl also met several Big Band leaders - like Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey - and even mobster Al Capone, whom she described as "a little short guy."

Click here to read all about it.