Saturday, September 14th at the 21st annual SEPL Foundation Reverse Raffle and Auction, the SEPL Foundation presented Kim Ohl with the Jett & Lillian Mohr Service Award. The SEPL Foundation established the award in 2014 to be presented annually at the reverse raffle and auction. Its purpose is to recognize an individual or group who has significantly supported the Seneca East Public Library or the SEPL Foundation. Learn more about the award HERE.
Kim has a long, dedicated history of serving the library. His first 7 year term started in 1981 and lasted for 21 years. At an organizational meeting in 1988 he was absent and was elected president for the next 13 years. He is currently serving another 7 year term as a trustee. Kim became a Foundation member in 2011 and served as its president until 2015.
Two events that stand out most for Kim are the fire on December 18, 1990 which destroyed the three buildings where the current library now stands and the purchase of the Behm building which now houses the children’s room and Historical center. Kim was very proud of the way the community came together to develop these two buildings and the services they provide today.For a small town Kim believes that we have one of the nicest facilities around due in part to the past and present board, foundation members and staff who work so hard to maintain the facility and develop a wide variety of programs for the public.
Kim was a Seneca East teacher for 30 years and spent his summers building houses and continues his passion for carpentry, building wood projects for the Reverse Raffle, serving the library and watching Ohio State football with his family. He finally retired from carpentry work in 2016.Kim has been married to to his wife Bonnie for 52 years and they have two children. Daughter Teresa is married to Mike Gantz and son Kevin is married to Heather. He enjoys his grandchildren Brooke, Jessica, Madelyn and Kate.
In closing Kim said that he has worked with some wonderful people over the years with regards to the library and would like to thank them for having the trust in him to do the job. Most are still with us, some are not, and Kim shares this award with them.