By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Wood County recognized local citizens who are building an agricultural legacy, who brought industrial development to Bowling Green, and who feed the hungry and clothe the poor.
The seven people recognized Sunday during a ceremony in the courthouse atrium were Gary Harrison of Montgomery Township, Jonathan Jakubowski of Bowling Green, Suzanne Clark of Bowling Green, Timothy J. Brown, James Nevel of Millbury, Shannon Fisher of Grand Rapids Township, and Jean Scott of Washington Township.
The Spirit of Wood County Awards are presented in recognition of outstanding service to communities and Wood County. The county commissioners have been honoring outstanding citizens since 1987. Nominations are accepted throughout the year.
The categories of the awards are agricultural leadership, education for civic responsibility, industrial/economic development, liberty through law/human freedom, religion and liberty, self-government, and the Lyle R. Fletcher Good Citizenship Award.
Agricultural leadership: Gary Harrison
Harrison is an avid agricultural supporter, industry professional and community volunteer, said Stacie Anderson, who nominated him for the award.
“Gary is relentless in his pursuit of business and economic development through his many family businesses, and has built a legacy in Wood County agriculture over his lifetime,” Anderson said.
He has served the Wood County Farm Bureau, the Ohio Farm Bureau, and has been a mentor to agriculturalists early in their careers.
Harrison hosted the recent AgVenture tour, showing his family’s businesses of Harrison Farms, Harrison Truck and Body, Tri-County Tarp and the Country Farm House.
“Gary was quickly on board, knowing the importance of sharing agriculture’s story while also investing in our community and showcasing his businesses,” Anderson said.
Harrison is always working to improve his family farm, she added.
“He is all in when it comes to progressive agricultural practices, seeking out the best and brightest in the industry for partnerships, and works tirelessly to ensure a successful farming operation for generations of Harrisons to come.”
Education for Civic Responsibility: Jonathan Jakubowski
Jakubowski was nominated by Mark Hanson and Paul Tyson for his founding of the 1776 Initiative in Wood County.
“This was launched to educate people about the true founding principles of our great nation,” Tyson wrote. “The hope is attendees of the meetings will be able to go out and confront lies attempting to rewrite our nation’s history with truth that can help restore us.”
Hanson echoed those sentiments.
“Jonathan is a true American patriot and has taken action locally recruiting, educating and mobilizing others to help preserve and strengthen our country through its foundation, the local educational system,” Hanson wrote.
Jakubowski, who serves as chairman of the executive committee of the Wood County Republican Party, also authored the book “Bellwether Blues,” a guide for mentoring millennials in conservative values. He also coaches youth sports, notably the Upward system which teaches Christian values through sports, Tyson said.
Industrial/Economic Development: Suzanne Clark
Clark served as executive director of the Bowling Green Community Development Foundation from 1991 until her retirement in 2020. She worked with property owners, government leaders, university officials and others to identify, develop and market industrial property.
During her nearly 30 years in the position, she worked on 32 enterprise zone agreements, 102 community reinvestment area agreements, and had a hand in the creation of more than 3,776 new positions, as well as the retention of existing jobs.
“There is not one person in this room that hasn’t been touched in some way by Sue Clark’s work,” said Sue Clanton, who nominated Clark for the award.
“Sue did an exceptional job shepherding businesses” into the city, then working to retain them year after year, Clanton said.
Clark worked to create the city’s electric rebate incentive program, and its job creation and retention program. She worked on the city’s revolving loan funds to aid small businesses.
“Many of the past and existing retail businesses in the city of Bowling Green owe their existence to this program and the small business counseling offered by Sue,” Clanton said.
Clark also served with the Ohio Economic Development Association, Regional Growth Partnership, Workforce Development Task Force, and the Welcome BG Initiative.
Liberty Through Law/Human Freedom: Timothy J. Brown
Brown has spent his entire career supporting government, communities and families at nearly every level through his legal skills and community engagement, said Wood County Juvenile Court Judge Dave Woessner, who nominated Brown for the award.
Brown began in the civil division of the county prosecuting attorney’s office, then went into private practice before being named executive director of the Wood County Juvenile Court, where he has served for nearly 20 years.
He was instrumental in establishing and monitoring family-oriented programming, met regularly with families and service providers, and managed the complex operations of the juvenile court and juvenile detention center, Woessner said.
Brown also has an ongoing interest in assisting those with developmental disabilities, and he serves on the Wood County Board of Developmental Disabilities. He also served on statewide committees addressing human trafficking.
Woessner noted that Brown has spent the majority of his career “under the radar.”
“Tim is much more comfortable being someone making a difference behind the scenes than someone receiving ongoing accolades,” Woessner said.
Religion and Liberty: Pastor James Nevel
Nevel, the pastor of Unity United Methodist Church in Northwood, stresses the need for outreach to the poverty stricken and homeless people in surrounding areas, said Carol Trehan, who nominated Nevel.
During the pandemic, Nevel worked with the STARS program and has continued to feed the hungry – serving nearly 9,000 meals that he has cooked, Trehan said.
“He goes out onto the streets and ministers to the young and the homeless to help them see that there is a better life and how to use the tools to reach this,” she said.
Nevel has also reached out to those experiencing poverty, to help them obtain their GED, driver’s license, Social Security cards, and if necessary help them contact legal aid.
“Pastor Jim has shown us through his actions, that we now adopt families to help with school needs such as the cost of the material they need to be successful in school. Also we have now started to adopt families for the holidays,” Trehan said.
He has helped people enroll in the church’s food assistance program, and has started a veterans food pantry program.
“If someone calls in the middle of the night, weekends or holidays, he will go find them and help them in any way he may,” Trehan said. “In his words, ‘No one is to be left to go hungry, cold or unclothed.’”
Self-Government: Shannon Fisher
Fisher, the employment support services supervisor at Wood County Job and Family Services, has spent 20 years reaching out to citizens.
“Shannon has worked tirelessly to make sure all under-privileged Wood County residents have access to all available programs and services,” said Mary DeWitt, who along with Jennifer Genson, nominated Fisher for the award.
For the past six years, Fisher has chaired Project Connect, an annual event that in one location brings together health, employment, housing, food and other resources to serve Wood County’s underprivileged and underserved residents.
Fisher also serves on the Bowling Green Transportation Board and the Continuum of Care Coalition of Wood County.
“Shannon has a caring heart. She cares for every resident of Wood County,” DeWitt said.
Fisher has worked to create new programs, such as the K-12 Fitted for Success program, which provides backpacks filled with school supplies, hygiene kits, winter coats and shoe vouchers for income eligible families in Wood County. The program has provided up to 600 backpacks for children before the start of the school year.
“She is thoughtful of others that are in need, and is always trying to find a way to help bridge the gap between a person’s need and meeting the need,” Genson said.
Lyle R. Fletcher Good Citizenship Award: Jean Scott
Scott was recognized for being selfless, creative and adventurous – much to the benefit of her community, neighbors, school district, church and family.
Scott and her husband, Bernie, who nominated her for the award, came to the Tontogany area when he was first hired as head of the Otsego FFA program. She took on the role of her husband’s “right hand man” and “jack of all trades” for his 38 years of teaching agricultural education.
Scott held countless volunteer roles at her church and school district – all while raising a large family.
For nearly 20 years, she counted parking lot fees for the FFA at the National Tractor Pulling Championships. She assisted Bernie in his 21 years on the Wood County Soil and Water District, including helping conduct the Ohio Envirothon Contest.
For 11 years, Scott helped prepare and operate five parking lots at the Grand Rapids Apple Butter Fest. And for the past 13 years, she has volunteered alongside her husband with the Wood County Committee on Aging’s home delivered meals program.
Scott creates treasured memory bears out of the clothing of deceased family members to help comfort those left behind. She has made more than 700 bears over the last 15 years.
Never one to say “no,” Scott, who is 81 years old and still adventurous, went zip lining with her granddaughters in 2021.
