Two Bowling Green veterans have been selected to be inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame.
Army veteran David Ridenour, and Navy veteran David Chilson were among the inductees announced Tuesday during Gov. Mike DeWine’s press conference.
The virtual ceremony can be viewed on Nov. 5 at OhioVets.gov.
Ridenour, a Vietnam veteran, served on the BGSU Veterans Memorial Committee and the BGSU Memorial Hall Fallen Heroes committee. He served on the Wood County Veterans Services Commission for 23 years and on the Ohio State Association of Veterans Services Commissioners.
Ridenour is active in Bowling Green American Legion Post 45, and the Paul C. Ladd VFW Post 1148 in Bowling Green. He has served as a member of the Army ROTC Alumni Society and the American Legion Buckeye Boys State Board of Trustees. He organized the first ever Veterans Art Show of Northwest Ohio in 2013 to display the talent and patriotism of local veterans.
Chilson, a captain in the Navy, died in 2017. He served in the Navy from 1971 to 1996. He was on the leadership team and board of directors for Honor Flight of Northwest Ohio.
Chilson also served as a U.S. Naval Academy Blue and Gold Information Officer. He worked with BGSU’s Army ROTC and Air Force ROTC, and he mentored student veterans. He was a member of the BGSU Veterans Memorial Committee and of Bowling Green American Legion Post 45.
From 1971-74, Chilson served on active duty in the U.S. Navy at Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island. He served at Naval Command Systems Support Activity in Washington D.C., at Commandant 14th Naval District in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and at Fleet Operations Control Center Pacific Fleet in Hawaii. He served another 22 years in the Naval Reserve Intelligence Program, and retired in 1996 at the rank of captain.
Ridenour nominated Chilson for the veterans hall of fame.
Greg Robinette nominated Ridenour.
The Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame was established by Gov. George Voinovich in 1992 to recognize Ohio veterans’ military service, as well as their service to Ohio and their communities after leaving the military. A total of 895 of Ohio’s veterans have been inducted into the Hall of Fame.
