The OSU Alumni Club of Muskingum County (OSUACMC) announces the selection of the recipients of its annual awards to recognize individuals who have provided significant contribution and support to the causes of the local alumni group, as well as to The Ohio State University and/or The OSU Alumni Association. Richard E. “Dick” Dittmar and Joyce Dittmar have been selected to receive the 2013 OSUACMC Outstanding Alumni Award. Mr. Dittmar passed away March 6 of this year and will be recognized posthumously. John Ridenour has been named to receive the 2013 Outstanding Friend of OSUACMC Award. The awards will be presented during the alumni club’s 14th Annual Scholarship Auction, which will be held Thursday, June 20, at 5:30pm at the VFW Post 1058 in Zanesville.
In addition to the annual awards presentation, the scholarship auction will include both live and silent auctions for a variety of sports memorabilia and other valuable merchandise donated by area businesses, organizations, and individuals, and will also feature Jonathan Waters, Director of The Ohio State University Marching Band, as the guest speaker of the evening. All proceeds will benefit OSUACMC’s Scholarship Fund to provide scholarships for Muskingum County students to attend the campuses of The Ohio State University.
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Dick and Joyce Dittmar
2013 OSUACMC Outstanding Alumni Award
Dick and Joyce Dittmar – “Ultimate Buckeye Fans”
Recipients of the OSUACMC Outstanding Alumni Award must be graduates of The Ohio State University and are selected on the basis of submitted written nominations which present information in support of the candidates, giving consideration to criteria which emphasize distinguished professional or work experience and public service, and service and support to The Ohio State University, The OSU Alumni Association (OSUAA) and/or The OSU Alumni Club of Muskingum County (OSUACMC).
Joyce Dittmar has been quoted as saying “Ohio State was the most important aspect of my life. It gave me my education and career, my husband, my lifelong friends and a great amount of our social activities.” She and her husband Richard E. “Dick” Dittmar were part of the original group of Ohio State graduates who founded The OSU Alumni Club of Muskingum County in 1988, and were both actively involved in the club’s development and emergence as a community organization throughout its existence. Dick served as a member of the board of directors for over 20 years, and he and Joyce represented OSUACMC for several years at the annual Alumni Leaders Conference, which brought Ohio State alums from all over the world to Columbus for leadership and fellowship activities.
Dick Dittmar was born in Niles, Ohio in 1928. He was a graduate of Niles McKinley High School and attended The Ohio State University before a one year call in the Army. He then returned to the OSU School of Architecture to complete his degree. Joyce was born in 1930 and raised on a farm in Crawford County. She graduated from Shelby High School in 1948 and entered The Ohio State University that same year. She fast-tracked her education and graduated in 1951. She met fellow Ohio State student Dick Dittmar on a blind date through her roommate and his fraternity brother (later his best man and lifelong best friends Ruth and Dick Webber). Dick and Joyce married and moved to Cleveland in 1952 where he worked for two different architectural firms and she taught in Elyria and Berea prior to their move to Zanesville, where Dick began his own firm in 1956. In Zanesville, Joyce taught kindergarten for 33 ½ years at Madison, Norval Park and Pleasant Grove Elementary schools. Throughout her career she attended Ohio University for continuing education classes. Joyce retired from teaching in 1990 and is a member of the Muskingum County Retired Teacher Association.
Upon arriving in Zanesville, the Dittmars became active in the community. Joyce joined Welcome Wagon and worked with the March of Dimes. She held the offices of President of the Bethesda Guild, Secretary of the Bethesda Senior League, President of the YMCA, and has been an Elder at First Christian Church as well as a member of their Visitation Team. Joyce and Dick both became very active in the Zanesville Salvation Army and Joyce was instrumental in re-activating the Women’s Auxiliary. She has now been on the Salvation Army board for over 15 years. She continues to be an active member of the Zanesville Downtown Association as well.
Dick was a partner in the firm Dittmar and Stubbs for many years. He designed buildings of all types, including 26 banks, 5 vocational schools, the gyms at the old Grover Cleveland, Roosevelt and Zanesville High school buildings, the Salvation Army building, and restaurants such as Hall’s Brown Cow and Adornetto’s Pizzeria. One of the best-known of his designs is the Tecumseh! Outdoor Drama Amphitheater near Chillicothe. Dick’s loyalty ran deep into his favorite pastime of watching sports, as he and Joyce held season tickets for 50+ years for OSU football and basketball, as well as for ZHS basketball and football for many seasons. He was a regular attendee at the ZHS Tip Off and Quarterback Clubs. Beyond sports, he was a strong and active supporter of the Salvation Army, Kiwanis, and Jaycees, and a long-time member of First Christian Church. Dick Dittmar passed away at The Ohio State University Medical Center on March 6, 2013 at the age of 85.
The Dittmars found Zanesville to be a great town to raise their family. Joyce and Dick raised 4 children, Taffy, Rand, Caprice and Holli. There are now four grandchildren and a step granddaughter, two great grandchildren and four step grandchildren. Dick and Joyce were always involved when their children and grandchildren played sports and joined in school and club activities.
Dick and Joyce Dittmar certainly have earned the distinction of “Ultimate Buckeye Fans,” and The OSU Alumni Club of Muskingum County is honored to select them as the recipients of the 2013 OSUACMC Outstanding Alumni Award.
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John Ridenour
2013 Outstanding Friend of OSUACMC Award
John Ridenour – “Auctioneer”
The recipient of the Outstanding Friend of OSUACMC Award is not required to be a graduate of Ohio State and is selected on the basis of submitted written nominations which present information in support of the candidate, giving consideration to criteria which emphasize participation in events and activities of The OSU Alumni Club of Muskingum County, distinguished professional or work experience and public service, and service and support to The Ohio State University. Award recipient John Ridenour is an independent businessman and auctioneer who lives on a farm in Perry County. He is also part owner of Zane Feed and Supply in Zanesville. John has established a very positive and productive relationship with The OSU Alumni Club of Muskingum County and has voluntarily served as the Auctioneer for every Scholarship Auction, the group’s largest annual fundraiser, which is this year being held for the 14th time. His skills and sense of humor make the auction a fun event! John does have another connection to The Ohio State University by having been an employee some 30+ years ago.
John has donated his time and talents as an auctioneer to numerous other community events such as the Power of the Purse, Art in the Garden, and fundraisers for the Community Foundation and the Animal Shelter, just to mention a few. John says that he offers his support because he feels that they are all good causes. The members of The OSU Alumni Club of Muskingum County greatly appreciate John Ridenour’s contributions to our club and to the community and are proud to name him the recipient of the 2013 Outstanding Friend of OSUACMC Award.