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Jerry
Bey III, Jerome F. Bey, wife Bonita
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Jerome
Bey, Jr, named Versailles Citizen of the Year
Jerome Bey, Jr. was recently awarded the 2017 Citizen of the
Year. Presenting the award on behalf of the Chamber was the
recipient’s son, Jerry Bey III.
“Thank you for teaching us the importance of having God in our
life. Thank you for teaching us the value of family. There
is no better example than your 46 years of marriage to Mom, who just
happens to be a pretty special person herself.”
“You truly believe that Versailles is the best town on the
planet. From Easter egg hunts to Poultry Days to Memorial Day
services you have had a hand in making all of these things
successful. On behalf of your family and your friends, the
citizens of Versailles and the Versailles Area Chamber of Commerce, I
would like to congratulate our 2017 Citizen of the Year, Jerome F.
Bey,” concluded Bey III.
Jerome F. Bey, Jr. addressed those in attendance expressing his
gratitude to the community of Versailles, his family and attributed his
accomplishments as a direct result of the support of his wife of 46
years, Bonita. Bey expressed his deep love and pride for the
community and its residents, He spoke of the importance of volunteering
and how it enriched his life. He also challenged everyone to involve
themselves with the community to the extent of their time and talent.
Bey, a lifelong resident of Versailles, served four years in the US
Navy and has devoted much of his community service through the
Versailles American Legion Post #435, having served as Commander, and a
present day Trustee. He is also a member of the Honor
Guard, the Memorial Day Master of Ceremonies and Coordinator of the
community’s annual Easter Egg Hunt.
Jerome also served ten years on the Poultry Days Committee and still
helps annually with the Poultry Days clean-up, was a Cub Scout Den
Leader, and an assistant Scoutmaster. He even served four
years on the Versailles Development Association which is now known as
the Versailles Area Chamber of Commerce--the organization presenting
him with the distinction of Citizen of the Year.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Bey assisted the Versailles Life Squad, volunteering
set and costume designing for high school musicals, and worked on
behalf of the Versailles Alumni Association.
The Beys have six children and their spouses: Jerry and Sundra, A.J.
and Cindy, Lisa and Chris Heid, Sandy and Mark Buynak, Benjamin and
Emily and Antony who is in the United States Navy, and eighteen
grandchildren.
Travis Faber on behalf of Ohio Senator Keith Faber presented Bey with a
Proclamation by saying “A man’s success is measured by his family and
his family’s success is the result of his example given.”
Prior to the Citizen of the Year presentation reports were given by
Aaron Moran as president of the Chamber and as School
Superintendent. Mayor Jeff A. Subler gave a village report the
Towne & Country Players were awarded the People, Pride and Progress
Award for extraordinary service and dedication to the Greater
Versailles Area Community.
The T&CP is a 501c3 non-profit community theater group dedicated to
keeping the arts alive and within the grasp of the community. The
group was first formed in 1972 under the name of the Versailles
Community Chorus and each year produces multiple performing arts
programs. Since its inception the group has won numerous awards
for costume designs and represented the US in Scotland in 1990.
The group is responsible for the summertime entertainment at the
fountain square, other venues have been musicals, murder mysteries,
comedies, dramas, dinner theater, children’s theater, library lawn
presentations, Easter and Christmas cantatas, even Halloween parades
and Christmas concerts.
The theater group established the Esther Pitsenbarger scholarship in
the mid 90’s and has awarded more than $10,000 in college tuition while
immortalizing Esther Pitsenbarger, who was a beloved teacher who knew
and utilized the power of music to ignite her student’s
development. The group also implemented a Lifetime Achievement
Award again bearing the Pitsenbarger name.
The award was presented by Chamber secretary Kathy Magoto, who spoke of
community endeavors performed beyond the stage. She praised the
member’s enthusiasm and dedication to the community, stating that
individually the members volunteer within their churches and throughout
the community. Magoto continued by saying, “An organization is
nothing without its members and it’s that individual devotion and
dedication that makes Towne & Country Players a living legacy and
most worthy of the People, Pride and Progress Award.”
The Towne & Country Players also received a Proclamation from Ohio
Senator Keith Faber, presented on his behalf by Travis Faber.
The evening also included the re-election of six board directors to new
2 year terms: Scott Langston, Fred Poeppelman, Rodd Hale, Leslie
Comer, Jackie Briscoe, and Aaron Moran. Other board directors
are: Dan Watren, Mitch Eiting, Brian Wagner, Jerry Bey III, Ron Mescher
and Kathy Magoto whose term expires in 2018.
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Jerome
F. & Bonita Bey, children and grandchildren
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Towne
& Country Players: (LR) Tammy Collins, Bonnie
Phlipot, Keith Rawlins, Angie DeMange,
James Kelch, Ron Asman, Kim
Borchers, Therese Pohlman, and Lynn Blakeley
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