Oakwood icon garners golf gold

Gene Folkerth (OHS Class of 1950) won the Gold Medal for Golf in the Florida Senior Games held last month in Cape Coral, Florida. Now he is eligible to compete in the National Senior Games in Louisville, KY in June.

When Gene Played for Oakwood (with teammates Jim Solarek, Bud McCune and Jerry Seiler) they were runners-up in the State Championship. Many people say that was the best golf team Oakwood ever had because there were no divisions – so they were competing against all the big schools. Gene won “All-State” honors as a junior and Oakwood selected him “Best All-Around Athlete” for football and golf his senior year.

Gene and his wife, Anne (nee Bippus), OHS ’61, moved to The Villages in Florida in 2005. “With 300 activities, there’s no way you can be bored here. Also, it’s the entertainment capital of central Florida. Live music every night of the year at the two town squares, a performing arts center that produces and brings in all types of entertainment. To hear us talk, you would think we were on the Chamber of Commerce payroll,” Folkerth said. Gene’s brother John and his wife Carolyn were sold on the place as they just moved to The Villages last year.

Anne’s parents both attended OHS. Gene’s and Ann’s eight children all graduated from Oakwood and three of their grandchildren are at Harman school.

Couch named ONLA Grassroots Volunteer of the Year

ONLA President Karl Losely, left, present the 2007 ONLA Grassroots Volunteer of the Year Award to Bob Couch

The Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association (ONLA) announced Bob Couch as the 2007 Grassroots Volunteer of the Year recipient during the Central Environmental Nursery Trade Show held in January at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus.
Couch began his career with Dayton Bag & Burlap in 1979. Still with the same company, he now serves as the sales representative for the Southeast United States.

Mr. Couch has been active in both the Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association where he served as president last year and the American Nursery and Landscape Association (ANLA). He served on several ANLA  committees, including the Convention and Learning Retreat Committee, of which he became chair in 1990.

Couch actively participates in the ANLA’s legislative conferences, as well as the ONLA Advocacy Days.  He faithfully attends the annual ONLA PAC Golf Tournament, and flew to Washington D.C. in March 2006 to lobby the Congressional Delegation on behalf of the Ag jobs bill.

Bob and his wife, Ann, have four daughters and reside in Oakwood.

Presidential Portrait

Oakwood resident and presidential historian Tom Cecil examines a Lincoln print from 1863 at Park Avenue Antiques with owner Ellen Brannigan. Mr. Cecil gives speeches on two U.S. Presidents – George Washington and Abraham Lincoln – during President’s Month (February) as well as other times of the year on a request basis. Speeches are to service clubs, schools, churches, retirement homes, etc… Cecil also collects presidential memorabilia for a hobby. Any school or group that would like invite Mr. Cecil to speak can contact him directly at 293-9993.

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