Over the years...
... we've met lots of folks along the trail. Some of them have walked or ridden with us since we started this group, others came later, but these folks left the path way too early and left Fairfield County better off than they found it. They gave the most valuable asset they had to their community - their Time. We're honored to have called them our friends, and are using this space to remember them.
We want you to know their stories, too.
... we've met lots of folks along the trail. Some of them have walked or ridden with us since we started this group, others came later, but these folks left the path way too early and left Fairfield County better off than they found it. They gave the most valuable asset they had to their community - their Time. We're honored to have called them our friends, and are using this space to remember them.
We want you to know their stories, too.
Claude Ford (1940-2011)
Claude was a founding member of the Fairfield Heritage Trail Association and the first Chair of the group. Claude was always quick with a joke, and was a source of ideas and inspiration when many of us thought we'd NEVER lay down the first square foot of asphalt.
Funny story... one of our members was talking to a neighbor around the time FHTA started. He told the neighbor that he was going to a "bike trail meeting at Claude's house in Amanda." The neighbor said, "Claude's house? In Amanda? Are you talking about Claude Ford?" "Yep." The neighbor said, "I grew up a couple of blocks from Claude in the South End of Columbus and went from kindergarten to high school with him! I've known him all my life." Small world, eh?
Claude was a 1959 graduate of Columbus South High School and worked in the printing industry for over 50 years in the Central Ohio area. He was a member and elder of Emanuel Lutheran Church, German Village Kiwanis, former board member of Pregnancy Decision Health Center, former member of the Amanda Village Council, Leader of the Men's Bible study and co-owner of the Dum-Ford House Bed & Breakfast in Amanda.
Claude was a founding member of the Fairfield Heritage Trail Association and the first Chair of the group. Claude was always quick with a joke, and was a source of ideas and inspiration when many of us thought we'd NEVER lay down the first square foot of asphalt.
Funny story... one of our members was talking to a neighbor around the time FHTA started. He told the neighbor that he was going to a "bike trail meeting at Claude's house in Amanda." The neighbor said, "Claude's house? In Amanda? Are you talking about Claude Ford?" "Yep." The neighbor said, "I grew up a couple of blocks from Claude in the South End of Columbus and went from kindergarten to high school with him! I've known him all my life." Small world, eh?
Claude was a 1959 graduate of Columbus South High School and worked in the printing industry for over 50 years in the Central Ohio area. He was a member and elder of Emanuel Lutheran Church, German Village Kiwanis, former board member of Pregnancy Decision Health Center, former member of the Amanda Village Council, Leader of the Men's Bible study and co-owner of the Dum-Ford House Bed & Breakfast in Amanda.
Pat Navin (1953-2011)
Pat was one of those folks who seemed to be able to fit 48 hours into a 24 hour day. How she had time to help build our organization and do everything else she did is a mystery to us all. Pat was Director of Community Health Development at the Fairfield County Department of Health; past president Ohio Chapter of Society for Professional Health Educators; past chairman Safe Routes to School; past board member of United Way Review Board FairHOPE Hospice; Safe Communities/Safe Kids; Action for Healthy Kids; Governor's Office for Women's initiatives and Outreach; The Lancaster Cause (Tour de Cause); West After School Center-Healthy Living for Kids. Member of Prevention Works for a Drug Free Fairfield County, Fairfield County Colorectal Committee, Fairfield Heritage Trail Association, Tobacco Prevention Coalition, Safe and Drug Free Schools Consortium, Prevention Works, Teen Institute, Lancaster Community Church. Pat led classes on women's health, yoga, pilates, and fitness, Laughter the Best Medicine in the Workplace, a Cancer Support Group at Lancaster Community Church, Bible studies, and more. She was involved in many other community organization and groups.
Pat was one of those folks who seemed to be able to fit 48 hours into a 24 hour day. How she had time to help build our organization and do everything else she did is a mystery to us all. Pat was Director of Community Health Development at the Fairfield County Department of Health; past president Ohio Chapter of Society for Professional Health Educators; past chairman Safe Routes to School; past board member of United Way Review Board FairHOPE Hospice; Safe Communities/Safe Kids; Action for Healthy Kids; Governor's Office for Women's initiatives and Outreach; The Lancaster Cause (Tour de Cause); West After School Center-Healthy Living for Kids. Member of Prevention Works for a Drug Free Fairfield County, Fairfield County Colorectal Committee, Fairfield Heritage Trail Association, Tobacco Prevention Coalition, Safe and Drug Free Schools Consortium, Prevention Works, Teen Institute, Lancaster Community Church. Pat led classes on women's health, yoga, pilates, and fitness, Laughter the Best Medicine in the Workplace, a Cancer Support Group at Lancaster Community Church, Bible studies, and more. She was involved in many other community organization and groups.
Dan Peters (1972-2013)
Dan was a past Vice President of FHTA, and, like Pat, managed to cram more hours into a day than seemed humanly possible. He was the owner of Lancaster Bicycle. Dan was a founding member of Tour de Cause, the group that set up an annual ride to raise money and awareness for drug rehabilitation in Fairfield County. The rides uses the Lancaster Heritage Trail for some of its stages, and has raised tens of thousands of dollars for "de Cause" from thousands of riders.
Dan was awarded the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette's Orchid Award for providing free maintenance to the Fairfield County Sheriff's Office and Lancaster Police Department's bicycle patrol units and for collaborating with a Boy Scout troop to recondition 10 bicycles for Fairfield County Job & Family Services. He assisted with Safe Routes to School and taught Bicycle Safety classes for Lancaster City Schools. Dan was the Tour de Cause Collaborative Volunteer for Operation Street Smart, participated in the Dirty Thirty fundraiser for Lancaster City Schools and volunteered at Medill Elementary. He volunteered for numerous Bicycle Rally events, and participated in Pelotonia from 2009-2011. He was active with Lancaster Chamber of Commerce, volunteered in Honduras with fire fighting and GIS mapping of flood plains. He assisted the U.S. Forestry Service with forest fires in Utah, active with the Fourth of July Committee and Fairfield Heritage Trail Association.
Dan was a past Vice President of FHTA, and, like Pat, managed to cram more hours into a day than seemed humanly possible. He was the owner of Lancaster Bicycle. Dan was a founding member of Tour de Cause, the group that set up an annual ride to raise money and awareness for drug rehabilitation in Fairfield County. The rides uses the Lancaster Heritage Trail for some of its stages, and has raised tens of thousands of dollars for "de Cause" from thousands of riders.
Dan was awarded the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette's Orchid Award for providing free maintenance to the Fairfield County Sheriff's Office and Lancaster Police Department's bicycle patrol units and for collaborating with a Boy Scout troop to recondition 10 bicycles for Fairfield County Job & Family Services. He assisted with Safe Routes to School and taught Bicycle Safety classes for Lancaster City Schools. Dan was the Tour de Cause Collaborative Volunteer for Operation Street Smart, participated in the Dirty Thirty fundraiser for Lancaster City Schools and volunteered at Medill Elementary. He volunteered for numerous Bicycle Rally events, and participated in Pelotonia from 2009-2011. He was active with Lancaster Chamber of Commerce, volunteered in Honduras with fire fighting and GIS mapping of flood plains. He assisted the U.S. Forestry Service with forest fires in Utah, active with the Fourth of July Committee and Fairfield Heritage Trail Association.