Hathaway receives Coshoctonian award at chamber dinner
Chuck Hathaway (center) was the recipient of the 2019 Coshoctonian award. He is pictured with his wife Paula and daughter Emily. The award was presented during the annual Coshocton County Chamber of Commerce Dinner held April 12, at Lake Park Pavilion. Kristi Timmons | Beacon
COSHOCTON – According to Kirby Hasseman, Chuck Hathaway is a builder in more ways than one.
Hasseman had the pleasure of delivering the speech naming Hathaway the recipient of the 2019 Coshoctonian award, which was presented to him at the Coshocton County Chamber of Commerce Dinner held April 12 at Lake Park Pavilion.
“This award (the Coshoctonian) is for a person’s long-term commitment to the well-being and economic climate of our community,” Hasseman said. “Coshocton is a different and better place because they were and are here.”
He shared that through Hathaway Inc., Chuck hasn’t just built buildings. He built a team culture where men can grow and thrive and support their families.
Chuck also has been involved with the arts for most of his adult life by being active with the Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum, the Pomerene Center for the Arts, and with the Footlight Players at the Triple Locks Theater. He has been in 23 productions at the theater and served in numerous other roles including set construction. Chuck also has been active with the Boys Scouts and United Way.
“Not only is he a builder of buildings, but he is a builder of youth, arts and the community,” Hasseman said.
Hathaway was very humbled by the award.
“I’m almost speechless,” he said. “I can remember when Seward Schooler won this award and he talked about tending the garden of Coshocton to make it a great community. I took that message to heart and I’ve done my best to tend that garden. I couldn’t have done that without my wife Paula of 38 years and my daughter Emily has given me a lot of support too. Thank you very much for this.”
Chuck also thanked all the people who work for him.
“I’m not a builder without the people who do the hammering,” he said. “I have to give them a lot of credit.”
Chuck added that he has a lot of respect for the people who nominated him.
“Coshocton is my home,” he said. “I moved here when I was 4-years-old. I left and went to college on the east coast and could have gone anywhere, but I chose to come back here to live.”
Several others also were honored at the dinner including Mike Bechtol and Seth Dotson. They both received employee of the year awards, which are sponsored by the Coshocton Rotary Club and were handed out by Rotary President Shelly Lillibridge.
Bechtol, who works for WTNS Radio, was nominated for his professionalism and ability to communicate with others. His nominators also complimented him for his ability to keep the radio station’s talk show lighthearted and to cut off gossip.
“Thank you very much,” Bechtol said. “This is totally unexpected and I’m humbled.”
Dotson, who works in information technology at Coshocton Regional Medical Center, was honored for his kindness and respect and understanding how important his role is to proper patient care. When he’s not working at the hospital, he is actively involved with the senior fair board and with the FFA program at Ridgewood High School. Dotson even saves his vacation time so he can work every day at the fair.
“Thank you very much,” Dotson said. “This really is a very big honor.”
Coshocton County Commissioner Curtis Lee presented the first responder of the year award on behalf of the board of commissioners.
“This is the third year we’ve done this and the first two years it went to firefighters,” Lee said. “This year we wanted to go a different route.”
The 2019 first responder of the year award went to Royce Emerson from the Coshocton County Sheriff’s Office auxiliary department. Emerson has served 60 continuous years in law enforcement. Lee said to their knowledge no one else in the state of Ohio has done that and only one other person in the United States has more years with someone in Texas serving 70.
“He (Royce) answers the call day or night and does an excellent job of representing Coshocton County,” Lee said.
The honor was very much appreciated by Emerson.
“Lt. Crawford asked me to do security over here but I found out about the award from a little mouse,” Emerson said. “I love being a deputy. I’ll jump out of bed at 2 a.m. and be there. Thank you all and God bless you.”
Tiffany Swigert was the recipient of the young leader of the year award sponsored by COTC.
“She leads by example and sets her ego aside for the mission’s success,” said John M. Berry Ph.D., COTC President.
In addition to serving as Executive Director of the Coshocton Port Authority, Swigert also is involved with Coshocton High School athletics and active with her church.
“I am tremendously overwhelmed,” she said. “Thank you all so much. I am honored and humbled. I couldn’t do any of this without each and every one of you here in this room. You make my job easy. I get to go to work every day and do what I love – working with people like you to make Coshocton the best place it can be. I think this evening’s message is that we can do anything here in Coshocton.”
Mike Finton from the chamber’s executive committee wrapped up the evening by thanking Chamber Executive Director Amy Stockdale for all she does.
“She is our fearless leader,” he said. “She will run circles around you. You can’t keep up with her no matter what you try.”
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- Chuck Hathaway (center) was the recipient of the 2019 Coshoctonian award. He is pictured with his wife Paula and daughter Emily. The award was presented during the annual Coshocton County Chamber of Commerce Dinner held April 12, at Lake Park Pavilion. Kristi Timmons | Beacon
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