Senior servants honored by Area Agency on Aging

MANSFIELD - The importance of service to others was highlighted Thursday during the Ohio District 5 Area Agency on Aging awards ceremony.

Nine counties in North Central Ohio had outstanding senior citizens honored during the event. County commissioners and mayors from the respective areas took a few moments during the program to thank the public servants for the positive impact they've made on their communities.

Thomas Kranz was Richland County's award recipient. Kranz has lived in Shiloh his entire life. He graduated from the city's old high school in 1956. He still farms corn and beans, remains active at Mount Hope Lutheran Church, and volunteers for numerous civic organizations around the area.

"You are a man of actions and not words," Tony Vero, commissioner of Richland County, told Kranz. "I can't think of a more deserving choice. Congratulations."

Kranz said he has been surrounded by good people his entire life.

"I was privileged to be born into the family that I was," Kranz said.

In addition to his biological family, Kranz said he has three more families: his church family, the local FFA community and all of his friends who volunteer at the Plymouth-Shiloh Food Pantry.

The credit for his ability to help so many, Kranz said, belongs to the Lord.

"It has not always been a life that is without challenge," Kranz said. "But I am so thankful that it is my life."

Crawford County was represented by Dave Bush, who has spent most of his life as an educator, business owner and host of a local radio program.

Bush's lifelong accomplishments have made the county a better place, Jeff Reser, mayor of Bucyrus, told the audience. Reser has known Bush since they both were children.

"Do you remember what we were doing 59 years ago this month?" Reser asked. "We were heading off to first grade together."

Bush said he's known many of the county's leaders for most of his life. Although he was glad they attended the banquet to support the county's senior citizens, he decided to still have a little fun with them.

"When I saw all of these politicians," Bush told the audience, "I thought, 'Man, I've got to keep my hand on my wallet.'"

Sitting idly throughout his tenure was not something Bush wanted to do after being appointed to the board of trustees for the Crawford County Council on Aging. He said he wanted to shake things up for the good of the county.

"I think we've done a good job with that," Bush said. "I take it very seriously."

He encouraged everyone to continue devoting their best to their communities.

"There's a lot of love in this group of people," Bush said. "We're going to move forward."

Also honored Thursday were Ronald and Mary Ann Dull of Ashland County; Elizabeth Feliciano of Marion County; Patricia Maxwell of Morrow County; Dorothy Thompson of Knox County; Larry McGlinchy of Huron County; Mary Lee Creeger of Seneca County, and Clara Ekleberry of Wyandot County.

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