Ruth Hurtt married Harry Hurtt on September 2, 1939. Ruth graduated from Montpelier High School in 1926. Ruth was a homemaker and a member of the Women’s Relief Corps, Pythian Sisters, Fireman Ladies Auxiliary, Ladies Historical Society, and past matron of Lillian Chapter #41 Order of the Eastern Star. She was a member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church and a charter member of the Montpelier Area Foundation. Ruth died April 6, 2007, with no immediate family members surviving.

This scholarship is to be given to a Montpelier High School senior who has received a varsity track award. Pete Dreher served as varsity track coach and athletic director at Montpelier High School for 28 years. He was honored by being inducted into the Ohio High School Track Coaches Hall of Fame and also the Ohio High School Athletic Directors Hall of Fame. Pete married the former Marian Rosenberry, and they have two sons, Todd and Dean. Marian taught in the Montpelier Primary School for twenty years.

John Ferarro was born in 1903 in the town of Marcianese, Italy, (approximately 30 miles north of Naples, Italy) and immigrated to the United States through New York Harbor’s Ellis Island in 1923. John married Mary Marra of Niagara Falls, NY in 1927 and later moved to the Midwest United States, finally settling in Montpelier, Ohio while employed as a welder for the railroad and then eventually as a long-time employee of Richmond Machine.

While John and Mary are no longer with us today, their progeny continues to live and work in the Montpelier area and beyond. Not unlike current American immigrants today, John Ferarro came to this country looking for a better life and greater opportunity for both himself and his posterity. John’s story is the story of every American immigrant who has come, and who will come, to this great land, and is a lasting reminder to all us who aspire to be “American.”

“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…”

Mr. Richard E. Fiser graduated from Tri-State University, Angola, Indiana with a degree in mechanical engineering. He retired from a very successful career. He is the father of Daniel Fiser, Sara Fiser Wanamacher and Amy Fiser Bowman.

Dr. Carole J. Brigham completed a diploma program at Parkview-Methodist School of Nursing, Fort Wayne, Indiana. She completed baccalaureate and master’s degrees in nursing and a Doctorate of Education at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. She retired from Ball State University as a Professor of Nursing. Carole’s husband, John F. Brigham, retired from consumer finance and banking.

Mr. Richard E. Fiser graduated from Tri-State University, Angola, Indiana with a degree in mechanical engineering. He retired from a very successful career. He is the father of Daniel Fiser, Sara Fiser Wanamacher and Amy Fiser Bowman.

Dr. Carole J. Brigham completed a diploma program at Parkview-Methodist School of Nursing, Fort Wayne, Indiana. She completed baccalaureate and master’s degrees in nursing and a Doctorate of Education at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. She retired from Ball State University as a Professor of Nursing. Carole’s husband, John F. Brigham, retired from consumer finance and banking.

This scholarship was established in 2003 and is awarded to a Montpelier student with preference given to a student pursuing a career in the nursing field.

Dorothy Merritt Gardner (1918-1996), born and raised near Sheridan, New York, graduated from Michigan State University in 1939 and began her teaching career in Ovid and Owosso, Michigan.

The courtship, which followed their introduction by mutual college friends, led to Warren and Dorothy’s marriage in 1943.

During World War II, Warren served with the Weather Service of the US Army Air Corps. While stationed in Egypt, Warren toured the Holy Land during the 1944 Christmas Season, a lifelong memory.

After World War II, Warren and Dorothy settled in Milan, Michigan where Warren was employed by the US Department of Justice Bureau of Prisons. In 1947, they relocated to Montpelier when Warren accepted the position as Williams County Veterans Service Officer, a position he held through 1958. Warren served as US Postmaster in Montpelier from 1959 until his retirement in 1975.

Dorothy resumed her teaching career in the Montpelier schools in 1954. She taught sixth and seventh grade Social Studies before moving to the High School where she taught French and Public speaking. Dorothy retired in 1975. After her retirement, Dorothy helped newly arrived Laotian immigrants master the English language.

Dorothy and Warren were active members of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Montpelier serving on various committees and teaching various Sunday school classes. They were also active in the preservation of the Hay Jay School through the Williams County Historical Society.

Warren was an active member of various Williams County Veterans organizations including the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, and Forty & Eight. Warren grew prolific vegetable gardens year after year. Warren enjoyed golf and bicycling. He bicycled over 3,000 miles per year well into his nineties.

Dorothy and Warren have two children, John (Therese) of Mishawaka, Indiana and Peggy (Scott) Vanderhide of Mesa, Arizona.

Following graduation from Van Wert High School, William (Bill) graduated from the Fort Wayne International Business College in 1956. Bill was the financial manager of Winzeler Stamping from 1969-1976 and he also enjoyed farming. Bill was a U.S. Army veteran.

Deanna graduated from Convoy-Union School in Van Wert County and from the Fort Wayne International Business College in 1956. She worked at Robinair until her retirement in 1998.

Bill and Deanna were members of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Montpelier. Both were very active in many various organizations. Bill was a member of the Williams County Planning Commission, the Glenview, Inc. Board of Directors, the Loyal Order of Moose, Van Wert County Farm Bureau, the American Legion Post 109, and also served as the President of the Montpelier Area Foundation. Deanna was a past president of the Montpelier Hospital Auxiliary, a member of the Williams County Fair Foundation, Montpelier Friends of the Library, and the Loyal Order of the Moose in Montpelier.

In 2007, Deanna established this scholarship in Bill’s memory for Montpelier students who are pursuing a degree in business or a business-related field of study. Deanna passed away in 2015.

Chris Perkins Athletic Scholarship Fund

Christopher Shane Perkins was born October 10, 1973 in Montpelier, Ohio. He was the eldest of three sons born to Deborah (Hoage) Perkins and Paul Perkins, Jr. He was a member of the Church of Christ in Montpelier. He attended his elementary school years mostly in West Unity and Pioneer, and his junior high years in Morenci, Michigan. He graduated in 1992 from Montpelier High School. He was a proud member of the Montpelier Varsity Basketball Team. His hobbies were basketball, golf and other sports and he was a serious ball card collector. After graduation he joined the Air Force. He took his Basic Training at Lackland Air Force Base. After receiving training in Computer Systems in Biloxi, Mississippi, he was assigned as a Personnel Systems Manager at Edwards Air Force Base in California, where he was stationed until his death on December 19, 1993 at the age of 20. He was killed in an automobile accident along with his cousin Scott Hillard and Fred Laforett while home on leave for Christmas

Chester Wasilowski Scholarship Fund

Chester, better known as “Wasi”, was a junior and senior high school college-prep English teacher at Montpelier Schools for 25 years. “Wasi” was born July 1, 1921 in Canton, Ohio. He was orphaned at the age of four and lived in Father Baker’s Home for Boys in Lachawana, New York. As a teenager, he lived at the Fairmont Children’s Home in Alliance, Ohio where he graduated from Alliance High School in 1939. He served in the Air Force during World War II. “Wasi” graduated from BGSU cum laude in 1954, where he majored in French and minored in English. In addition to teaching English at Montpelier, he taught speech and drama, directing many plays and musicals. He was in charge of the detention hall and was the public address announcer for all Montpelier High School home games for more than 20 years. “Wasi” served as the Master of Ceremonies for many high school assemblies. “Wasi”, his wife, Florence, and their son, Chester II, lived on East Main Street in Montpelier. “Wasi” was elected to the Outstanding Educators of America in 1970 and the Leaders of American Elementary and Secondary Education in 1971. He was a member of the Loyal Order of Moose in Bryan and of the Maumee Valley Legion of Moose. “Wasi” died in August 1981.

Their family tree started in Williams County as Keith’s grandparents were early settlers. Following Keith’s death in 1994, The Owen Family Scholarship Fund was established. The fund has provided scholarships for high school graduates who are interested in the technical field.

Because they were grateful for the nursing care they received during their lifetime, Glen and Marcena designated the Montpelier Area Foundation in their will to establish a scholarship fund to be awarded to a student pursuing a career in nursing.

Ralph began his lifelong career in teaching and school administration as a teacher in 1947 at Convoy, Ohio. In 1949, he began serving as superintendent of Ridge, Van Del, and Lincoln View Schools in Van Wert County. He moved to Montpelier, Ohio in 1962, where he served as the high school principal. He later taught at the Montpelier Middle School, retiring in 1979.

After his retirement from education, Ralph served over 10 years as executive secretary of the Montpelier Area Chamber of Commerce. For many years, he also served as the executive secretary and administrator of the Montpelier Area United Fund.

Ralph Sawmiller was a member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church and he was a Sunday school teacher for many years. He was active in the Williams county Gideon’s and served in many offices in this group.

Ralph was involved in Montpelier Lions Club, served on the Park Board, on the Sunnyside School Board, the Board of the Montpelier See and Do Club, and he was a founding member of the Montpelier Area Foundation. He was a member of the Williams County DAV (Disabled American Veterans) and the Montpelier American Legion Post #109.

Ralph died after a two-day illness in the Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on April 11, 1997. Upon Ralph’s death, the Ralph Sawmiller Scholarship Fund was established. This scholarship provides financial assistance to a senior from the Montpelier High School, pursuing a career in the educational field.