A Sense of Centerville and Washington Township: Recent Episodes
Centerville-Washington History
Stories about ordinary and extraordinary residents and places in Centerville and Washington Township, Ohio. This podcast explores local history from the perspective of current and past residents.
For 33 years, The Castle has supported the mental health of Montgomery County by providing a place of gathering for those dealing with severe and persistent mental illness. The Castle offers meals and group activities including field trips. Lisa Hansford has served as the executive director since 2016. She has an undergraduate degree in Social Work and a Masters in Conflict Analysis and Engagement. She is a Licensed Social Worker.
Wayne Davis was appointed City Manager in the Fall of 2017. He is responsible for the City’s overall operations. Previously Davis worked as a city manager in Montgomery, Ohio. Davis has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Vermont and a master’s degree in public administration from Wright State University.
Jesse Gaither is the Executive Director of the Centerville-Washington Township Americana Festival. He is also owner of Minuteman Press in Centerville, a local print marketing company that designs and prints promotional products.
Originally from Millersburg, Ohio, Jason and his family adopted Centerville and Washington Township as their permanent home in January 2021 following his retirement from a 25-year career in the U.S. Army. The Army took Jason and his family across the U.S., Korea and Germany, including multiple deployments to Afghanistan and Qatar. Jason holds a B.A. from the University of Akron and master’s degrees from the U.S. Army War College and the Naval Postgraduate School. A disabled veteran, Jason is a local diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility advocate.
Hylda has been a conservator of historic homes since 1985. Hylda worked as a teacher’s aid in Centerville City Schools. In 2004 Hylda and her husband Jerry purchased the Aaron Nutt Jr house, an 1833 stone cottage on Alex Bell in Centerville. The couple also own a historic home in Ripley, Ohio and are active in two communities. Hylda is involved in many local boards and has been involved in Centerville Womne’s Civic club. Besides managing gardens in her two homes she also volunteers to make the Aaron Nutt Research Cottage garden a beautiful place to visit.
Bob and Berneta Daley met in New York when Bob was with the Army, stationed in Staten Island. Bob worked as a journalist and an assistant to Governor Jack Gilligan in the 1970s. In later years, Bob was with the Kettering Foundation with a focus on public affairs and communication. Berneta, an avid gardener, focused her career on nursing, both at Good Samaritan and Kettering hospitals. Berneta and Bob, honored in 2015 by Centerville-Washington Foundation, have been involved in many local organizations, giving hundreds of hours of service to the community.
Dale Ewing grew up in the town of Centerville, graduating in 1951 at Town Hall. The youngest child of Earl and Catherine Ewing, Dale was senior class president and played both baseball and football. He also played in the marching band and performed in the musical Operetta. He went to school in Centerville when there was only one school; the building currently called Magsig. He married his wife Doris in 1956. He keeps in contact with other long-time graduates of Centerville by organizing reunions.
Chris and Lisa Meyer met while they were both working at Phil and Jerry’s Foodarama, an independent grocery store that was in business 1957 -1989. Chris’ father Phil and his uncle Jerry were the business owners. After being in business for over 30 years on Whipp Road, Foodarama was purchased in 1989 by the owners of Dorothy Lane Market.
Greg Horn is a native of Wooster, Ohio and has been married to Cathy for 49 years. They raised three sons who were all CHS graduates and are now married. He enjoys being a grandfather to six wonderful grandchildren. Greg Horn was the Centerville City Manager from 1992 to 2017. Before coming to Centerville, he served as the city manager for Tipp City for seven years, village manager in Minerva, Ohio, for 5 years and as city administrator in Hermann, Missouri. Horn received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Bowling Green State University and then a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Missouri.
Emily Albright has been active at Centerville High School with volleyball, dance, and tutoring. She has been the Varsity Captain for volleyball and received awards for the Most Improved and Best Offensive Player, while balancing her dance career. After school, Emily tutored three times a week while creating an individual lesson plan. She is a member of the National Honor Society, Early Childhood Education Program, and Spanish Honor Society. Emily has spent time volunteering at church and coaching club volleyball. Emily plans to attend the University of Dayton in the fall and major in Early Childhood Education and minor in Spanish.
Kevin O’Brien is one of Centerville-Washington History’s scholarship winners for 2025. He has volunteered with Centerville-Washington History over 40 hours since 2021. In addition to volunteering with CWH, Kevin volunteers with the Miami Valley Down Syndrome Association, Incarnation Parish, and the Special Olympics Track Team. Kevin has been involved at Centerville High School as a member of the Investment Club, Circle of Friends (a club that spends time with children with disabilities), and the Interact Club performing community service. Kevin is a member of the National Honor Society, the French Honor Society, and the Golf Team. He was awarded the Sportsmanship Award for the Golf Team. Kevin plans to study business at The Ohio State University this fall with aspirations to operate one of the country’s best amusement parks.
Mike Thonnerieux has been the Washington Township administrator since February 2023. Prior to serving as administrator, Mike served as Director of Public Administrative Services for the City of Beavercreek. Growing up, he lived in Washington Township and graduated from Centerville High School in 1995.
Lee Snyder owns Snyder Concrete Products, a fifth-generation family business that began in 1949 by Milton Snyder. The business continues to expand and has multiple locations around the area. Lee’s father was a volunteer firefighter in Kettering and Lee followed that example through 35 years of service as a volunteer firefighter. He served our community as a zoning commissioner for 18 years and a trustee for 12 years. He has lived in Washington Township since 1961 and in the historic John Harris home since 1976.
Tom Ovington was born in the country of Rhodesia which is present day Zimbabwe. He became an architect and got a master’s degree from Yale. He eventually moved to Centerville where he was employed as an architect. Now retired, Tom spends much of his free time volunteering. He is a 2019 Winner of the Mayor’s Award for Community Service and has completed over 4,000 hours of service at The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.
Toniya Singh was born in India and immigrated from Bombay before settling in Ohio. Toniya is a public speaker, consultant, trainer and coach for schools and Fortune 500 companies. In her public speaking she often shares the perspective of immigrants. She is a Certified Master and Professional Coach and has an MBA from Antioch University. She is fluent in five languages.
Jenell Ross is the daughter of Robert Paul Ross, Sr and Norma J. Ross. Her father, Bob, became the first black automobile dealer in the state of Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and West Viginia. Bob became the first black Mercedes-Benz Dealer in the world. When Bob passed away unexpectedly, Norma successfully ran the business. Jenell has taken over the role since her mother’s passing in 2010. Jenell was recognized in 2022 by the Centerville-Washington Foundation for the business’s contribution to the community. She has served on numerous boards of several foundations and community service. She is the only second-generation African American Woman Automobile Dealer in the USA.
Dr. Thomas Connair owned the Centerville Animal Hospital on Franklin Street. The business opened in the early 1960s, and he began caring for cattle from the surrounding farms. He retired and closed his practice in 2001 after serving the community for almost 40 years. Dr. Connair started studying mechanical engineering at the University of Dayton but transferred to Ohio State University to complete his degree in animal science.
Al Price, a retired engineer, uses his hobby as a metal detector to find historical artifacts. Metal detecting has been an interest for over 20 years. He has created many educational display cases from his local finds which he has donated to Centerville-Washington History. He does extensive research to discover the significance of the artifacts. Beyond metal detecting, Al is also interested in researching the history of his family.
Honorable Mayor Brooks Compton has lived in Centerville with his wife Ruth since 1979. They raised their two sons in Centerville. He has been an attorney for over 40 years and has been involved in local government for over 40 years. His parents were both active in politics with his father serving on the Kettering City council. He became Mayor in 2016.
Carol Kennard was with the Centerville-Washington Park district for almost 33 years with the last 17 years as director. She started in 1982 as the first program director and introduced popular programs such as Hidden Meadows and Winter Woods Day Camps. During her tenure many new parks were acquired and features such as the Nature Nook, skate park, dog park, and an all-access playground. The Nature Nook on McEwan is named after Carol due to her contributions to the park district. John also has been involved in the community as a GM retiree, Centerville School Bus Driver, and regular volunteer both for the park district and Centerville-Washington History.
Alex and Jane Pearl have been residents of Centerville for 37 years. Growing up in New York, they came to the area when Alex had a job opportunity. The area became their permanent home as they became involved in the community. Alex currently serves as one of the Centerville Washington Park District commissioners. Jane is an avid genealogist. Jane and Alex both volunteer with Dayton History at Carillon Park and they recently became members of Centerville-Washington History.
Janet Treadway and Stephanie Wilson are the daughters of Frank and Inez Treadway who started Treadway Gardens in Washington Township. Frank worked at NCR for over 30 years. He gardened to help pay for his children’s college education beginning in 1969. While Frank worked in the fields, Inez worked mostly behind the scenes. Stephanie owns the family business now and has helped run the market operations since 1987. Janet also grows a large garden and cans 70 pints of salsa in the fall. This land once belonged the Ethel Winterhalter who was the first female trustee of Washington Township.
Jim McCutcheon is well known throughout the region as the Guitar Man. He plays various fretted instruments and hosts a local radio program featuring guitar music. He holds a B.S. in Physics and a master’s degree in music education. Jim has an extensive resume of contributions to the world of music throughout the Dayton area. In 2017 he received the Governor’s Award for the Arts. Jim is the co-owner of McCutcheon Music Studios in Centerville.
Brady Kress is the President and CEO at Dayton History. Dayton History owns the 65-acre Carillon Park and several other buildings and historical attractions in the Dayton area. Kress holds a BA in Political Science from Wright State University. As a teen, he worked at Carillon Park as a seasonal guide for 5 years. In 2023, the Centerville-Washington Foundation recognized him for his contributions to the local community. He and his family live in Centerville.
Lauren Miller is the 2024 CWH scholarship winner. An excellent student, Lauren also participated in many extracurricular activities, including Key Club, American Sign Language Club, Band, and the Circle of Friends. She is co-founder and President of the Psychology Club. Lauren has also been an active volunteer throughout her high school years, volunteering at the hospital, at church, and with Centerville-Washington History as a teen volunteer. In her free time, she likes to read, write, crochet, and play guitar. She is attending Ohio State University in the fall majoring in molecular genetics.
Sande Heck was a police officer in Centerville for 30 years. For the past 18 years, he has served the city as zoning and code enforcement inspector. Officer Edward Skinner is the community relations officer for the Centerville Police Department.
Berry was a Washington Township Trustee from 2008 through 2023. A real-estate professional, Berry used that training in his role as a member of the zoning commission. Berry, also represented Washington Township serving on the board at Centerville-Washington History for over a decade. Before retiring, he was the teacher coordinator of Kettering Fairmont High School’s vocational program. He has been a township resident since 1973. He earned a business administration degree from Miami University.
Megan Sparks has been a school board member for Centerville City Schools since January 2018. She has a master’s degree in education and a bachelor’s degree in human ecology from the Ohio State University. As a second-generation Elk and a mother to 5 children, Megan has learned to work hard and stand up for her values and beliefs. On the board, she serves as the Legislative Liaison. She advocates for families with special needs and serves in numerous volunteer roles.
Steve is in his 34th year of teaching in the Centerville City Schools. For the last 11 years, he has been a 4th grade teacher at Stingley but before that, he served as the director of the Grant Nature Center. Besides being parents to four children, Steve and his wife Nancy have been foster parents to 45 others over the past ten years. Spending time outside has always been important to Steve and his family; they have wonderful memories of hiking, camping, fishing, and exploring together. In 2022 he received the OUTstanding Teacher Award from Five Rivers MetroParks for his efforts to connect students to nature.
Ed Ross is a retired businessman and is the current president of Centerville-Washington History. He has served as the Chairman of the Centerville Board of Architectural Review and is the current owner of the historic Ida Weller estate.
Liz Fultz is the Director of the Washington-Centerville Public Library. She began her career at the library in 1996 in the Reference Department and held various roles before becoming the Director in 2019. Liz has a Master of Library Science degree from the University of Kentucky and a Bachelor of Business degree from Morehead State University. She is a member of the Centerville Noon Optimists and resides in Washington Township with her husband and two children.
David Warren McDaniel was born December 7, 1938, in Portland, Indiana, a small Midwestern community. He helped with chores in his family’s grocery store and was interested in biology and sports. Dave played football in college where he chose teaching as his profession. After he got married he moved to the area and met Hadley Watts, superintendent of Centerville City Schools. He began as one of the coaches for the Centerville High School football team. Later Dave became the principal of Centerville High School from 1973-2001, the longest tenure as a principal. After his retirement, he joined the staff of Sinclair Community College. He and his wife Jane are the parents of three children. His recent passion is restoring antique tractors.
Mark grew up in Wooster, Ohio and came to Dayton to attend Wright State University to study Theatre Directing and Management. This led to employment in 1996 to provide programming to the newly renovated Washington Township Town Hall Theatre. In 2016, Mark became the recreation director for the Township, where he oversees Town Hall Theatre along with a wide variety of activities, programs and facilities that make up the RecPlex. He and his wife Annie and three boys moved to Washington Township recently to be closer to Incarnation Elementary and the RecPlex. Mark serves as president of the Americana Festival Committee and is a member of the Centerville Noon Optimist.
Anna Weller is a recent graduate of Centerville High School and also the 2023 scholarship winner for Centerville-Washington History. While in high school, Anna participated in National Honor Society, Elk Connectors, varsity soccer, Lunch Buddies and the Swim and dive team. Anna is attending The University of Dayton in the fall and majoring in Education.
Joellen Ulliman has been the Curator for Centerville-Washington History for over 6 years. Prior to that, she was a language arts teacher for 23 years in Waynesville. Joellen has lived in Centerville for over 25 years. She loves spending time with her husband, two grown children, and three grandchildren. In her free time, Joellen loves to hike, read and stay fit.
Kristen Marks is the Executive Director for the Centerville-Washington Park District. She has been with CWPD since 2002 where she began as the Park’s naturalist. In addition, she is the president of the Ohio Park and Recreation Association and a member of the Centerville Noon Optimist Club. Founded in 1959 as the Washington Township Park District, the Centerville-Washington Park District now operates eight community parks, nine nature parks, and 34 neighborhood parks. In addition to maintaining the parks, CWPD also offers outdoor recreational programming for the community. Their primary focus is to connect residents with the outdoors and the natural environment
Wayne Markworth was Director of Bands at Centerville High School for 35 years. He developed the marching band, known nationally as "The Centerville Jazz Band", into a unique and entertaining ensemble that performed an all-jazz format on the field. In 1992 they were the Grand National Champions. Wayne is an active clinician, adjudicator, arranger and trumpet performer and president of the music & consulting business Shadow Lake Music. He is currently adjunct faculty at Wright State University.
Vickie was Executive Director of Centerville-Washington History for over 14 years. She began as a volunteer and joined the staff as a museum assistant and later becoming Walton House Site Manager and administrative coordinator. To help promote local history, Vickie built collaborations within the community. In 2016 Vickie guided a rebranding of the organization by changing the name from Centerville Washington Township Historical Society to Centerville-Washington History. She retired in 2019, after 24 years with the organization, to spend more time with her grandchildren.
Rajeev Goel is a local Technology entrepreneur who co-founded AccuFit Solutions, Inc. Through his business he helps to provide software applications and tools to help metal manufacturers manage their raw material more effectively. He has been involved in the community through Science Olympiad and more recently, The Centerville Education Foundation. Rajeev is a Centerville High School graduate and son of Surender Goel originally from New Delhi, India. Surender moved to the United States to attend graduate school at UC Berkley in Industrial Engineering. He moved to the Dayton area in 1969 and to Centerville in 1979.
Dr David Meyer was raised in a large family on a farm in Northern Ohio. A Vietnam War-Era Air Force veteran, he is an accomplished public servant who has greatly impacted the Dayton area as a Professional Engineer. Dave, along with his wife Kathleen, became a member of Centerville-Washington History in 2015, and he joined the Board of Trustees in 2017. He has taught at The Ohio State University, The University of Dayton, and is a Professor Emeritus of Sinclair Community College. In 2020 Dave was honored as an inductee into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame.
Brian was the co-founder and first executive director of St. Leonard Center and subsequently President of Mercy Senior Health and Housing Services. He is a fourth generation Daytonian and married to wife, Joyce for 50 years. Brian has a PhD from OSU and is an author, photographer and runner. Today Brian shares the history of St Leonard’s.
Terry Obrien grew up in Centerville, Ohio. He is a local entrepreneur who owns Trilevel Records and Video. Terry helps local Dayton artists write and produce music. Through collaborations with the City of Centerville and Centerville-Washington History, he has produced award-winning projects. He helps to promote local history through his Facebook page, Centerville, Ohio Nostalgia. His recent interviews with past Centerville High school graduates also took a look at school experiences through many decades. He serves on the board of Centerville-Washington History.
Sam, a senior at Centerville High School is the current Student Council President. He is a three-time state qualifier in debate, attending Northwestern University in the fall majoring in political science. In addition, Sam is president of the STAGE club, the theatre club for CHS as well as a regular on the stage. He sings for FORTE, Centerville’s premier Accapella group. As an Elk connector, he helps with freshman orientation and CHS acclimation. Through the student to student suicide prevention network, Hope Squad, Sam contributes to the supportive environment at CHS. He is a commended National Merit Scholar and was selected by the student body as Homecoming King in the fall.
Bill and Faye Elam founded bills donuts in 1960 but the original shop was in downtown Dayton. In the 1970s there were several locations throughout the Dayton area with stores in Vandalia, Wilmington, Kettering, and Huber Heights. In Centerville, the original shop location was closer to the intersection of Franklin and Main but the parking was limited, necessitating a move to the current location at Bradstreet and Far Hills. Initially, the shop wasn’t open 24 hours a day but as more Centerville residents were working the third shift at NCR the store evolved to the shifting demand. In 1995 Bill and Faye sold the business to their children Lisa and Jim.
Richard Diaz works as a Community Coordinator at Miami Valley Communications Council (MVCC), Founded in 1975, MVCC is a municipal communications and technology organization representing eight communities in the area including Centerville. MVCC was formed to monitor, regulate and administer common cable television franchise agreements, manage the operation of the council’s cable access television channels, and develop and implement intergovernmental projects designed to strengthen communications between member cities and their citizens.
Bill Gaul moved to Centerville in middle school, attending Tower Heights Middle school. He graduated from Centerville High School during a time of growth and change. Bill joined the Washington Township Fire department as a volunteer firefighter in May 1979. After nearly 40 years of service to the department, including 11 years as chief, Bill retired in 2018. Retirement is still busy for Bill, who is on the board at Centerville-Washington History and helps to care for his grandchildren.
Laura is the Centerville-Washington History 2022 scholarship winner. This extraordinary young lady has demonstrated her athletic talents and leadership abilities as Varsity Captain of the Centerville High School Swim Team, President of the National Honor Society, and Unit Representative of the East Unit Assembly. Her club memberships include Students Against Destructive Decisions, Key Club and French Club. Laura is very active in the community working at Dunsinane Swim Club and encouraging young swimmers. During high school, she volunteered at SICSA and tutored other students. Laura plans to major in Secondary Education at Miami University in the fall.
Janet Watkins Black is a 6th-generation Washington Township resident. She grew up with her parents and grandparents on a 180-acre farm near Sheehan and Nutt Road. Janet taught 3rd grade for the Centerville School district and then worked at St Leonard Senior Living Community as an activity coordinator. She has been active in the community through Centerville-Washington History, Centerville Women’s Civic Club, and Normandy United Methodist Church.”
Seventeen-year-old Charlotte shares her experience living through the pandemic, growing up in Centerville, and her memories of Centerville-Washington History's Summer Youth Programs. This episode also discusses the Centerville High School Band and favorite places and programs in the Centerville and Washington Township area.
In this episode, Martha tells about her interest in the early stone buildings of Centerville and the process of discovering the stories that we read about in her book, "A Sense of Place." She talks about learning how to do research and how her curiosity helped her to do hard things. Her passion for the buildings helped to preserve them for future generations to enjoy and learn about history!
The Turtons graduated from Centerville High School in 1953 and raised their family on a little plot of land near Rooks Road. They have had three generations of Centerville High School graduates in their family. In this episode, Roy and Sue Turton share stories about many people and places that have shaped this area.
Robert Thobaben, a long-time Centerville resident recalls the start of World War II and describes his role in the 111th Infantry in the Pacific Theater. He talks about his career as a professor at Wright State University and his opportunity to travel throughout the world. Staying active and engaged throughout his 98 years of life, Robert shares some of the wisdom he has learned over the years.
Susan talks to Jerry Strange, Trustee of Centerville-Washington History about his move to Centerville in the early 1960s and what life was like during that time. Jerry was a professor at the University of Dayton for 40 years. In this interview, he reminisces about his time with Centerville Diversity Council, Normandy Church, and Centerville-Washington History. Jerry reflects upon living in a pluralistic society and the benefits of diversity in the Centerville and Washington Township area.