WEST ALEXANDRIA — Curtis Early, Daniel James Freshour Jr., Kent McIntire and Nancy Baker Ross were inducted into the Twin Valley South Hall of Fame for their service to the community.

In total, 11 new members were inducted into the West Alexandria/Lanier/Twin Valley South Hall of Fame on Friday, Jan. 19. Four for Athletic achievements, three for academic achievements, and four for community service.

The inductees range from the West Alexandria High class of 1946 to the TVS Class of 2012.

Early, a 1955 graduate of West Alexandria High School, participated in sports while a student at West Alexandria High.

He joined the U. S. Army in 1956 and served two years in Germany. He became a serious blood donor while he served in the Army. He continued donating blood in his civilian life. To date he has donated a total of 380 times. He has donated both whole blood and apheresis. An apheresis machine can collect either red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, or plasma.

According to the presentation, most of the time Early drives to Dayton to make his donations and has over his lifetime driven approximately 11,000 miles to donate blood.

Early has been an active member of the West Alexandria Lions Club for 48 years, an active member of the Rod and Gun Club for 35 years, and was a West Alexandria Alumni Treasurer for 10 years. He has been a member of the Salem Lutheran Church for 50 years, and has been a part of many committees there.

“In all the organizations he has been a part of he has always been a very active member, donating his time to whatever needed to be done,” the presentation noted.

Outside of those organizations, Early has been a volunteer in other activities as well. He has been a timer for home Twin Valley track meets for 15 years. He was a coach and officer for the West Alexandria Little League organization, was involved in the building of the press box at the TVS football field, and in building the dugouts at the baseball and softball fields.

Early and his wife Dorothy have been married for 50 years. They have six kids — Pam Early, Kent Early, Steve Early, Mike Ehler, Dan Ehler and Tom Ehler. They have 13 grandkids, and 13 great-grandkids.

Freshour Jr. is a 1966 graduate of Twin Valley South who played four years of high school baseball, three years of basketball (sophomore-senior years), two years of cross country (junior and senior years), and one year of football his sophomore year.

Freshour Jr.’s basketball team was the Preble County varsity boys basketball champion, going 5-0 in county play. The team’s season record was 16-4. He averaged 10.7 ppg and drew an impressive 32 offensive fouls from the opposition.

He has been a volunteer firefighter for the West Alexandria Fire Department for 53 years and has held the ranks of fireman, lieutenant, captain, assistant chief, and currently active fire safety officer. He has received a certificate of appreciation from West Alexandria Mayor Jeff Hickey for 50 years of service and a certificate of recognition for 50 years of selfless giving and dedication to fire and emergency services from the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of the State Fire Marshal.

“Dan is a rare one of two firefighters in all 88 Ohio counties to reach 50 years of service,” the presentation noted. “He has received recognition from the State of Ohio, Governor Mike DeWine, and Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted for 50 years of service with the WAFD. The WAFD, along with Chief John Glander and Assistant Chief Tom Smith presented a mounted gold-plated fire axe in recognition of his years of service and dedication.”

He has also volunteered time at the firehouse attending monthly meetings, helping with bingo, cornhole tournament fundraisers, and being Santa Claus for the kids during Christmas.

Freshour Jr. has in the past worked maintenance, and as a bus mechanic for seven years at Twin Valley South School. He has also worked as a substitute school bus driver for several years, and retired from General Motors with 32 years of service as a machine repairman. He worked for the West Alexandria Street department and for the Preble County Lumber company for years, and helped with the building of Community Christian Church in West Alexandria.

He helped coach and umpire youth baseball in West Alexandria for several years. He also volunteered to be on the “chain gang” during home football games at Twin Valley South school for many years.

He, like Early, has also been a blood donor for multiple years, with 98 liters lifetime given of rare O negative blood type.

He has been married to his wife Naomi (Wysong) for 55 years. They have three children — Angie, Jennifer, and Daniel and four grandchildren — Jessica, Chelsea, Lillian and Emersyn.

McIntire is a 1972 graduate of Twin Valley South.

In high school, McIntire earned three varsity letters in football, and three in baseball, and he was also two-year letter winner in basketball. He went on to Miami University where he earned his bachelor’s degree in education in 1977. He earned a Master of Education from Miami in 1983 and in 1987 he completed his Principal/Assistant Superintendent Certification from the University of Dayton.

McIntire worked 27 years in the Twin Valley School District. He started out as Physical Education teacher at Lanier and West Alexandria Elementary schools. He was a coach at the junior high level in football, basketball and track. He also was an assistant football coach in the high school program.

He progressed his way through the school system as a guidance counselor at both Lanier and TVS High School, high school principal and elementary principal. He was part of the committee, including then-superintendent Paul Erslan and community leaders, responsible for promoting and planning the new school building project in the early 1990s.

McIntire finished his educational career with 11 years in the Northmont City School District as an elementary principal and high school counselor.

He has been active in many community groups including the Preble County Youth Foundation Committee, Twin Valley Recreation Board, Twin Valley Athletic Association and the Sons of the American Legion Post 322.

“He has always been willing to help others with any task or need,” the presentation noted.

He and his wife Dalene Bellar McIntire have been married for 50 years. They are the parents of two children, Josa and Brandon. They have three grandchildren, Jolie, Jack and Atley.

Ross was a 1946 graduate of West Alexandria High School who died in 2018 at the age of 90. She was represented at the ceremony by Bob Beneke.

She was a cheerleader for the West Alexandria Bulldogs and worked at Rexarc Manufacturing for many years, starting part-time while still in high school. She eventually became a welder and worked in that capacity until her retirement.

She was one of the members of the West Alexandria Ladies Auxiliary and continued her membership for 65 years. “She was one of the most active members to participate and volunteer for anything that needed to be done,” the presentation noted. “She marched in Legion parades, chaired bake sales to raise money for the veterans, made the curtains for the Legion moved to its current location in 1959. She was always one of the first to volunteer for the many children’s parties the Auxiliary hosted. Helping the veterans of this country was important to Nancy.”

Ross was a member of the St John Church of West Alexandria and was an active member of the church, involved with the women’s fellowship, community meals and various other committees.

“The West Alexandria/Twin Valley South Alumni banquet was a very important part of her life,” the presentation noted. “Being with friends from school and making new friends. Nancy only missed one alumni banquet from the time of her graduation until her passing.”

It continued, “Nancy was a generous friend of the community especially of the Twin Valley School District, her church, and the American Legion. This community and community involvement was important to Nancy. She was one who was always there when there was a need that she could fill either through her time, her talents, or other resources. The sense of community and its importance in one’s life was part of Nancy’s life story.”

Ross had many nieces and nephews. She was married to Dr. Augustus L. Ross, for many years, and has three stepchildren, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Reach Eddie Mowen Jr. at 937-683-4061 and follow on X @emowenjr.