Myron H. Cherry.
Columbus, Ohio. Co-Owner and founder of Cherryhill Aquatics, Inc.
Attended the Ohio State University and has worked in areas of horticulture
for over 40 years. He worked as a landscape contractor and designer
for many years. He was the Superintendent of Grounds for Capital
University, Columbus Ohio, then a greenhouse supply salesman for 16 years,
and in 1987 formed Cherryhill Acquatics, specializing in all types of water
plants including water lilies and bog plants. His company has 11
ponds and 5 greenhouses and carries a full line of pond accessories,
fish, snails and tadpoles.
Daniel Merrill
Davis. Music Educator, Jackson County. Mr.
Davis is a third-generation American, born in 1911 in Jackson County to
Dan T.and Jennie Evans Davis. Raised on the the ancestral farm on
Hewitt's Fork. Graduated Oak Hill H.S. Received B.S. from Ohio
U. and began teaching English and Social Studies in the Jackson City Schools
in 1935. He left teaching for one year in 1937 and worked in the
clay industry, returning to the school in 1938 as supervisor of music.
During this time he had completed a music major and his masters degree
from OU. His "music for everyone" philosophy led to the the annual
Carol Sing and the school Eisteddfod, the only one in America. In
1962, Mr Davis became general supervisor of Jackson City Schools, relinquishing
the music program in 1973, and retired in 1974 after almost 39 years in
the educational field. In addition to the school music programs,
he directed the Cavalcade Choristers, a male voice choir, consisting of
former members of his high school choirs. He directed the Christ
United Methodist Church choir for over 50 years. His services as
an adjudicator, music workshop consultant gained national recognition.
He has conducted the singing for the National 4H Club Congress in Chicago
for the past 30 years. No matter where he traveled, he always insisted
that credits listing his name also included his hometown of Jackson, Ohio.
His community service has gone beyond music. He is a longtime master
of ceremonies of the Apple Festival, announcer for home football games,
Rotary Club Member and twice President, and the First National Bank board
of directors.
Evan and
Elizabeth Davis. Oak Hill, Ohio. Mr Davis is a banker,
owning several banks and savings and loan offices. Mrs Davis is a
native of Aberayon , Wales. They have five children and live on a
farm southeast of Oak Hill. Evan has been active in the Gymanfa Ganu
Association of Southeast Ohio for many years. In 1975, he accepted
the position of Moderator upon the death of Ben R. Evans. Before
that, he was a trustee. In 1995 he relinquished the Moderator position
and passed the gavel to Rev. Gomer Jenkins. He still serves as assistant
Moderator and Trustee. In the 50's and 60's, Evan provided financial
backing for the organization and personally brought in Welsh ministers
and singers. He hosted the visitors in his home and provided transportation
and food. If it has not been for Evan and Elizabeth, it is doubtful
that the Gymanfa would have survived. Evan's support and leadership
have placed the Gymanfa on a sound footing. The Evans' also helped
establish the Welsh American Heritage Museum at 412 East Main St, in Oak
Hill, Ohio. He provided funds, helped to negotiate the purchase of
the property, helped in setting up a trust fund for the upkeep and provided
personnel from his offices in the planning stages. He has served
on the Museum Committees and as a trustee since its beginning. Elizabeth
volunteered her time and resources to teach the Welsh language to all those
who were interested. The Evans had a storage building and a shelterhouse
added to the Museum and have served many hours as volunteers during the
hours of operation. They support and attend the Welsh gatherings
every June at Rio Grande University and for some years have underwritten
Welsh scholarships, allowing Welsh students to attend the University of
Rio Grande. They have played an active role in the forming of the
Welsh Studies program and Rio Grande.
Nelson Lewis
Llewellyn. Warren Ohio. Past Secretary of the Welsh National
Gymanfa Ganu Association (WNGGA). The Gymanfa has always been an
important part of Nelson's life. At an early age, his parents, Lewis
William and Mary Christine Llewellyn recognized his talent and love for
music. He studied violin, cello, trumpet and saxophone, but his primary
interest was vocal music. From an early age, his vocal talent, and
rich baritone voice included winning performances in the Trumbull County
annual Eisteddfod. Nelson was educated in Warren and attended Kent
State U., where he majored in Secondary Education and Industrial Arts.
His vocal training was provided by the Rev. William Frederick Miller of
Youngstown State U., and Mr. Harold Haugh, and outstanding American concert
and oratorial tenor and professor at Hiram and Oberlin Colleges in Ohio
and the University of Michigan. Nelson was employed as an industrial
engineer at Peerless Electric in Warren and the Goodyear Aircraft Corporation
in Akron, and left his employment to enter the U.S. Army Air Corps in WWII.
He was honorably discharged in 1946. He then became a supervising
industrial engineer at Repulic Steel and retired in 1982. Nelson
has devoted a big partof his life to singing in churches and has a special
interest and performs in the great oratorios such as St Matthew Passion,
St John Passion, the Messiah, and Judas Maccabeus. He is known in
Warren as the dean of Oratorio Soloists. He has performed in many
choral groups and gymanfaoedd in the Warren, Canton, Cleveland, Pittsburgh
and Youngstown areas. He was President of the Niles Gymanfa Ganu
Association for many years. He was an officer in the St David's Society
of Youngstown and was the Societies Welsh Man of the Year in 1990.
He was a soloist at the 1976 Bi-Centennial National Gymanfa Ganu in Philadelphia.
He organized the Cor Bach Cymreig (Small Welsh Choir), a quartet which
is in great demand in Ohio. He arranged the American Tours of the
Dowlis Male Voice Choir in 1982 and the North Wales Masonic Choir in 1989.
In 1978, he was elected Assistant Secretary of the WNGGA, and its Secretary
in 1983. He retired from that position in 1998. During that
time, his close work with the Board and his absolute dedication to the
WNGGA was a major factor in the continued success of the organization.
In 1997, Nelson lost his wife, Elizabeth (Betty) Jones Llewellyn.
She will long be remembered as a National President of the Women's
Welsh Clubs of America. The Llewellyn's ahve been blessed with three
children, and numerous grand and great-grandchildren.
Robert Wayne
Penry. Educator, Galloway, Ohio. Mr.
Penry was born in Marion, Ohio in 1941, the son of Paul David and Doris
L. Thomas Penry. The Penry's were part of the original settlers of
the Welsh town of Radnor, and the Thomas family came from Blacksville,
W.V. Mr. Penry's Great Grandfather John Price Penry was a Civil War
Veteran, and his 4th GG-Father, William Thomas was a veteran of the American
Revolution who was massacred by Indians on the family farm while splitting
rails in 1789.
Mr. Penry graduated from Richwood H.S. in 1959
and entered the U.S. Marine Corps. After four years, he switched
to the U.S. Air Force and retired in 1980. He is a Vietnam Veteran.
During his 20 years in the military, he earned his B.S. in education with
majors in history and business education. In 1981, he received his M.S.
in education from Bowling Green State U., Ohio and began teaching in 1981
at Tolles Technical Center in Madison County, Ohio. In 1986, he took
a position as Deputy Comptroller for the Ohio Department of Education.
His life-long passion has been genealogy. He is a licensed researchist
with the National Archives and has done research at the Welsh National
Library in Aberystwyth, Wales. He is a frequent genealogical
lecturer. He is also a celtic folk singer, plays the guitar and has
appeared in clubs and festivals around the world. He has been a member
of the Council Committee for Campfire, a Scoutmaster and Commissioner for
the Boy Scouts of America, a member of Kiwanis, where he has been president
and is currently treasurer, and is the clerk for his local church congregation.
He is currently the auditor for the National Gymanfa Ganu Association,
and membership chairman for the Welsh Society of Central Ohio, and registration
chairman for the 1998 National Gymanfa Ganu
