COLUMBUS -- This year's recipients of The Ohio State University's Everett D. Reese Medal and John B. Gerlach Sr. Development Volunteer Awards were honored at an October 12 celebration. The honorees are:

Reese Medal

Jeanne Bonnet & John G. McCoy, New Albany, Ohio

Gerlach Award

Sandra M. Hermanoff, Bingham Farms, Mich.

Ed Johnson, Delaware, Ohio (Awarded posthumously)

Dee & Bill Pritchard, Sanibel, Fla., & Cincinnati, Ohio

Jack Schrom, Worthington, Ohio

Frank Wobst, Bexley, Ohio

The Reese Medal, established in 1984 as the university's highest honor in recognition of exceptional service in private philanthropy, was named in honor of the late Everett D. "Ev" Reese, who exemplified the type of volunteer for whom this award was created. Ev, who earned a B.S. degree in business administration from Ohio State in 1919, was a founding member of The Presidents Club in 1963 and served as chair of its executive committee for 15 years. A banking executive, philanthropist, and former Ohio State instructor in commerce, he received an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Ohio State in 1971. A member of The Presidents Cabinet (now known as The Orton Society), he helped to create one of the university's first endowed faculty chairs, the Everett D. Reese Chair in Banking and Monetary Economics. Along with Seward D. Schooler, he initiated the Schooler-Reese University Lecture Series, which has brought a number of prominent national and international speakers to the university.

The Outstanding Development Volunteer Award was created in 1996 to recognize and reward those volunteers who show the utmost in dedicated involvement and personal investment in fund-raising efforts at Ohio State. In May 1997, The Ohio State University Foundation Board of Directors decided unanimously to name the award in honor of the late John B. "Bernie" Gerlach Sr. Gerlach, one of the most active and dedicated supporters of Ohio State throughout his lifetime, was chair of the Columbus Regional Campaign, a component of the 1985-90 University Campaign that raised $178 million from area donors. He was also co-chair of the recently concluded "Affirm Thy Friendship" fund-raising campaign; chair of The Ohio State University Foundation Board, of which he was a founding member; chair of the Fisher College of Business Campaign Committee; an active member of The Ohio State University Alumni Association, Inc.; and recognized by The Presidents Club. In 1982, he led efforts to establish the John J. Gerlach Chair in the Fisher College of Business, in memory of his father. In addition, he and his family provided generous support to a number of other areas, including human ecology, the arts, and athletics, as well as to countless civic and charitable causes throughout Central Ohio.

"Bernie and Ev set powerful precedents for volunteers at Ohio State and their legacies live on," said Jerry A. May, vice president for development and president of The Ohio State University Foundation. "I am delighted to have known this year's honorees, whose dedicated involvement and personal investment in fund-raising efforts on behalf of Ohio State are truly an inspiration."

2001 Reese Medal Recipients

Jeanne Bonnet & John G. McCoy

Sharing this year's Reese Medal are John G. and Jeanne Bonnet McCoy, whose support, leadership, and involvement span nearly 50 years of growth and change in the life of Ohio State. Mrs. McCoy (B.A., English, 1937) is an avid supporter of Ohio State's merit scholarship program, which attracts some of the nation's top scholars to Ohio State; she currently serves as honorary chair of the Merit Scholarship Campaign. In 1994, she endowed the Jeanne Bonnet McCoy Presidential Scholarships Fund, providing a full-ride four-year scholarship for one male and one female student. Those first two scholars graduated in 1998; she has since added six more scholar-ships, for a total of eight McCoy Scholars now studying at Ohio State. Recently, Mr. and Mrs. McCoy hosted a reunion of some 16 past and present McCoy Scholars. A graduate of Marietta College, where he has been a trustee since 1966, John G. McCoy earned his M.B.A. from Stanford University in 1937. He retired in 1984 as chief executive officer and chairman of Banc One Corporation after a distinguished 46-year career that brought the company to prominence as one of the nation's leading banking institutions. At Ohio State, Mr. McCoy is a founding member of both the university's Foundation Board and The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute Foundation Board. He has been a member of the National Campaign Executive Committee, the Columbus Regional Campaign Committee, and the Dean's Advisory Council and the Campaign Committee for the Fisher College of Business, and is Honorary Chair of the Heart Center Campaign. John received the University's Distinguished Service Award in 1993. Married in 1941, the McCoys have both received honorary degrees from Ohio State: Mrs. McCoy's in humane letters in 1995 and Mr. McCoy's in business administration in 1999. In addition, Mr. McCoy holds honorary degrees from Kenyon College, Marietta College, Ohio Dominican College, and the General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church. Lifetime members of The Presidents Club, they have supported a wide variety of programs at Ohio State in addition to merit scholarships, including the John G. and Jeanne McCoy Medical Research Fund endowment, the Fisher College of Business, the Moritz College of Law, the Department of Athletics, the College of Human Ecology's Historic Costume Collection, and WOSU Stations. They also funded The McCoy Suite, a dining room at The James that supports activities to benefit the facility, and have pledged support for an endowed chair in the Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute. In addition, Mr. McCoy was instrumental in the establishment of the Bank One Fund for Student Excellence and Leadership and the Bank One Chair for Excellence in Corporate Strategy in the Fisher College of Business. The McCoys' extraordinary personal commitment and involvement have benefited numerous civic, professional, and charitable organizations and community endeavors. In 1998, they were recognized with the Red Cross Humanitarian of the Year Award and the Jewish National Fund's Tree of Life Award, in honor of their leadership and humanitarian service. They reside in New Albany, Ohio.

Past recipients of the Reese Medal:

2001 Gerlach Award Recipients

Sandra M. Hermanoff, APR

Ed Johnson

An Ohio farm boy who worked during college delivering milk for the university dairy and later became known as the "voice of agriculture" across the state, G. Edwin "Ed" Johnson (B.S., agriculture, 1959) was a devoted ambassador for Ohio State, 4-H, and agricultural education until his death last February. Mr. Johnson was the founder, president, and CEO of Agri Communicators Inc., which includes Agri Broadcasting Network (ABN) and Ohio's Country Journal, a monthly farm magazine. His Saturday morning television program, Agri Country, is enjoyed on 11 television stations across Ohio and the Home and Garden Channel in Columbus. His morning radio show was broadcast from his farm in Delaware County. Mr. Johnson saw his farm programs as a "bridge between the farm gate and Main Street." At Ohio State, Mr. Johnson majored in agricultural economics and education and rural sociology. His first broadcasting experience was with the Ohio Farm Bureau and, in 1972, he started ABN. His famous twice-daily reports were eventually broadcast to 72 radio stations across Ohio. For more than 36 years, Mr. Johnson promoted Ohio's farms and agribusinesses, as well as 4-H. He devoted considerable expertise, leadership, and support to the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences and the Ohio 4-H Foundation, serving two terms on the Ohio 4-H Foundation Board and working on behalf of the Ohio 4-H Campaign for Excellence in 1990. He was part of the College Vice President's Advisory Council and the Environmental Sciences Academic Affairs Advisory Council and, last year, was named chair of the Campaign for the Ohio 4-H Center. Mr. Johnson also chaired the University Fund Campaign and served on the Alumni Association Board of Directors, as well as on the Presidents Club Advisory Board. He was a member of the Southwest Florida Alumni Club and helped to organize and participated in many events in that region. In 1996, he established the Ed Johnson Scholarship Fund for 4-H or FFA students, one qualification of which is "a record of leadership, citizenship and community service." Having lettered in basketball under then JV Coach Fred Taylor, he also created the Ed Johnson Family Athletic Scholarship Fund. He and his wife, Marilyn (B.S. 1960, education) also supported Longaberger Alumni House, the Ohio Stadium renovation project, the College of Education, and many other initiatives. Mr. Johnson received the Agriculture Distinguished Alumni Award in 1986 and the university's Distinguished Service Award in 2000. In 1997, Mr. Johnson was inducted into the Ohio Agricultural Hall of Fame. He often served as master of ceremonies at events such as the Ohio State Fair Sale of Champions, the Century Farm Awards, and the annual Farm Science Review. He was inducted into the latter's Hall of Fame in 1998 and the 2001 Farm Science Review was dedicated in his memory. 4-H and agriculture were a way of life for Ed and Marilyn, their two children, and their foster daughter, all of whom graduated from Ohio State. Marilyn still resides on the Delaware County farm they shared.

Dee & Bill Pritchard

Dr. William "Bill" Pritchard (B.S., biological sciences/bacteriology, 1958) and Dolores "Dee" Hardin Pritchard are devoted Buckeyes. The grandson of an Ohio State professor and the son of two Ohio State alumni, Dr. Pritchard is a founder and partner in Pritchard Brothers, a general contracting and apartment building operation firm. He and his wife, Dee, who is a graduate of Grant Hospital School of Nursing in Columbus, also own various other businesses and restaurants in Southwest Florida and Ohio. Equipped with his degree from Ohio State, Dr. Pritchard entered the United States Army and went to work in bacteriology research at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. He then joined the Army's Public Health Service in Cincinnati, conducted research on viruses and tuberculosis at the Robert Taft Center, and pursued his master's degree in civil and sanitary engineering from the University of Cincinnati (1965), as well as a Ph.D. in civil engineering (1970). While working for the Public Health Service, he published 22 research papers in scientific journals. In addition, he worked in environmental quality control for Sterling Drug and Hilton-Davis Chemical in Cincinnati before leaving to join his brother in forming Pritchard Brothers. As they travel between Florida and Cincinnati, Ohio, Dr. and Mrs. Pritchard are known in both regions as enthusiastic Buckeyes and dedicated volunteers who are active in identifying new partnerships and supporters for the university and always willing to put their efforts and resources to work for Ohio State. Dr. Pritchard is a member of the National Major Gift Council for Southwest Florida and he and Mrs. Pritchard have hosted or sponsored many events and gatherings for university officials, supporters, and alumni on behalf of Ohio State athletics and other programs. Dr. and Mrs. Pritchard are longtime supporters of programs across campus, including student athlete grant-in-aid and other athletics programs, scholarships, the Wayne Woodrow Hayes Chair in Security Studies, the marching band, and many others. Dr. Pritchard, who first entered Ohio Stadium as a 9-year-old accompanying his grandmother, has a special place in his heart for student athletes playing football. In 1998, he and Mrs. Pritchard endowed the William L. Pritchard Football Scholarship Fund, supporting undergraduate students on the varsity football team. In addition, Dr. Pritchard serves as an Athletics Committeeman, helping to identify potential new recruits among student athletes, some of whom have worked for him during summer breaks. A life member of The Ohio State University Alumni Association and a member of the Alumni Clubs of Hamilton County (Ohio) and Ft. Myers, Florida, he has participated since 1986 in Ohio State's Golf Pro-Am tournaments, which raise funds for golf programs, scholarships, and facilities. Through personal leadership and involvement, Dr. and Mrs. Pritchard strengthen and reaffirm connections with Ohio State alumni, staff, and supporters in Ohio and Florida, and they take special pleasure in helping Ohio State graduates in career networking. They have two children and reside in Sanibel, Florida, and Cincinnati.

Jack Schrom

Though not a graduate of Ohio State, John F. "Jack" Schrom is one of the university's most dedicated Buckeyes. He is president and owner of JFS Properties, a Columbus-based sports marketing, marketing consulting, and broadcast company that he founded in 1986. The company produces and syndicates the three Ohio State Coaches television programs-The Buckeye Football Weekly Show (with Head Coach Jim Tressel), The Jim O'Brien Show, and The Beth Burns Show-and provided marketing consulting services for the Ohio Stadium renovation project and the Jerome Schottenstein Center. In addition, Mr. Schrom has handled marketing and personal services representation for Coaches Tressel and O'Brien, as well as other client, including current Maryland basketball coach Gary Williams, former Ohio State coach Randy Ayers, and Assistant Athletic Director Archie Griffin. Before starting his own sports marketing company, Mr. Schrom was vice president of marketing and public relations for the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team (1979-85) and, in prior years, worked on projects for Major League Baseball Productions. He has also worked in sales for the Xerox Corporation and for Swink (now Fahlgren) Advertising Agency. At Ohio State, Mr. Schrom is recognized by The Presidents Club and is a member of the Buckeye Club. A tireless advocate for Ohio State's athletic programs, he cares deeply about the university and makes volunteer work on behalf of Ohio State a priority. He assisted in developing the fund-raising strategy for what is now the Jerome Schottenstein Center and his advocacy among the Columbus business and corporate communities resulted in multiple major corporate and individual gifts to support the center. In addition, Mr. Schrom recruited community leaders for a sales team that assisted the Department of Athletics in successfully selling all of the new facility's personal seat licenses. He has opened countless doors and forged new friendships for the Department of Athletics, hosting and contributing to many and varied events to benefit Ohio State and its student athletes. He has also given his personal support to the men's and women's basketball programs, the baseball program, the James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, and the new Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital. Mr. Schrom is a member of the Board of Directors of the Columbus Serum Company, a Columbus-based veterinary supply company, and is a trustee for the Ronald McDonald House Charities in Central Ohio. He and his wife, Jan, live in Worthington, Ohio.

Frank Wobst

A leading supporter of and ambassador for Ohio State, Frank Wobst is former chairman and CEO of Huntington Bancshares, Inc. Born in Dresden, Germany, shortly before World War ll, he graduated from the University of Erlangen in economics in 1956. Next came a law degree from the University of Goettingen, where he met American Fulbright Scholar Joan Firkins. They were married in 1958 and came to Lynchburg, Virginia, where Mr. Wobst worked his way up to become executive vice president at Fidelity National Bank. In 1974, he began a 27-year career at the helm of The Huntington National Bank in Columbus, first as president and later as chairman and CEO of the bank's holding company, Huntington Bancshares Incorporated. Mr. Wobst holds honorary degrees from Ohio State (humanities) and Capital University (law). At Ohio State, he is lifetime member of The Presidents Club and serves on the boards of The Ohio State University Foundation and the Wexner Center Foundation. In addition, he is chairman of the OSU Heart Center Campaign and serves on the Fisher College of Business Dean's Advisory Council. Formerly, he served on the Dean's Circle of Advisors for the College of Humanities. His personal support has helped to strengthen corporate partnerships on behalf of countless initiatives, including scholarships in the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures, the World Media and Culture Center Campaign, WOSU Stations, the Wexner Center for the Arts, and the Fisher College of Business. Mr. Wobst was instrumental in building Ohio State's partnership with The Huntington, resulting in more than $12 million in corporate gifts and pledges for programs such as the Manuel Tzagournis Medical Research Endowment Trust, the Fisher College of Business Building Campaign, the OSU Heart Center, and The Huntington Clubs at The Jerome Schottenstein Center and the newly renovated Ohio Stadium. Having witnessed as a child the effects of World War II and the destruction of Dresden during the Allied bombing raids in 1945, Mr. Wobst works hard to promote better understanding through the sharing of culture, languages, ideas, and commerce between his hometown and Columbus. He spearheaded the Sister City relationship between the two cities and led efforts to establish scholar and research exchange programs between the University of Dresden and both the Knowlton School of Architecture and the College of Humanities. Ohio State presented Mr. Wobst with its Distinguished Service Award in 1998. In 1999, he was named Red Cross Humanitarian of the Year and, along with The Huntington National Bank, received the Jewish National Fund's Tree of Life Award. A civic leader, Mr. Wobst has served as a trustee of Children's Hospital, the Columbus School for Girls, and The Columbus Foundation. He is past chairman of the Ohio Development Advisory Council and the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce. He and Joan, a painter and sculptor, have been involved on behalf of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra and the United Way, as well as the Leo Yassenoff Wing of Heritage House. They have three children and reside in Bexley, Ohio.

2000 Gerlach Award Recipients:

James O. Basford, Wooster, Ohio

Jane McCoy, Columbus, Ohio

John T. Mount, Dublin, Ohio

Shirley Marie Nault, Naples, Fla.

Tana & John Sandefur, Sarasota, Fla.

John Shepherd, Cincinnati, Ohio

Contact for more information:

Roger Addleman, director, Development Communications, The Ohio State University, (614) 292-3647.

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