Interview and photos by Emily Ulrey
Living in a small town enables one to know and interact with lots of people, directly or indirectly.
Although I always felt I knew a lot of people here, I’ve come to appreciate the history of this town and realize that I have more to learn about Bluffton’s history.
My most recent interview took me to the Diller Law Office, where I met local attorney and long-time Bluffton resident, Sam Diller. He is a man of many stories and a vast knowledge of Bluffton, so I was glad to get the chance to meet with him.
He’s tall, and as he stood to greet me, I realized just how short I felt in comparison. Mr. Diller is one of the most genuine, friendly person I’ve ever met. He seemed happy to sit down and discuss his life and his memories of Bluffton.
He was born in and raised in Bluffton and had two sisters, with whom he was quite close. His family lived on the corner of Vance and Cherry streets before the existence of the grocery store or the Vance Street Apartments, back when it was just a field.
At age 8, while playing with some other children on some machinery he got his fingers crushed in a road grader, and lost four fingers on his left hand.
Sam held his hand up to me. “Back then, Dr. Steiner did surgery on my hand. It cost $25!” I could see that the memory of the event was still very vivid for him.
I was amazed at his ability to recall countless stories of times gone by, including the days of Prohibition, a pipe tomahawk made by Scott Murray, and his memories of the Triplett baseball team, just to name a few.
He talked about the old rodeo held at Harmon Field, which closed around 1953.
He attended school at Bluffton, where he was active in choir and often took part in plays, as well as several Gilbert and Sullivan operettas.
When he was 18, he worked for the village. He later attended Bluffton College where he majored in history, and although he felt he should have been a math major instead, he graduated with his degree in 1956.
I asked if he had favorite teachers at Bluffton who had an effect on him. He listed several including Earl Lehman and Theresa (Teddy) Slusser, and two of his favorites, Wilfred Geiger and Theola Steiner.
What made them great? “They treated us like adults” he said, smiling. He recalled how former students would later visit those teachers, and often hug them, their impact profound.
When the draft came in 1958, Sam was summoned to Columbus, where, due to trouble with his vision, he was graded a “4F” on his physical, was turned down for military service and returned home.
He and his wife, Joan, were married in 1959 and by 1960 he was enrolled at ONU where he obtained his law degree. Despite moving away a few years later, they would return to Bluffton in 1971. They have four children, 11 grand-children, and one great-grandchild.
As we talked, I glanced around the room, noting all of the books lining the shelves. “This building used to be the Star Theatre, then later it was a bar,” he said.
He and a few others purchased the building in 1982 and restored it to what it is today.
I asked him what his favorite thing was about being a lawyer. His reply: “Just coming into work and dealing with whatever the day would bring.”
“What’s your favorite thing about Bluffton?” “Well, someone once told me that ‘Bluffton is a different place’ and it’s true. Stuff gets done here!” he said smiling.
“It fascinates me. Bluffton College produced lots of successful people, and the town has always had great accomplishments.”
He continued by describing various businesses in town, and the people who made them successful.
If you were to ask Sam for any wise words of advice, he might offer you: “Hang in there and use your head. Keep on plugging away.”
If persistence is one of his mottos, I’d say it has been fruitful for him.
After years of working as an attorney, he’s retiring, although he still has plans to do some consulting, reading and enjoying his wife’s cooking (his favorite is her meatloaf).
If you’re ever looking for some interesting stories about Bluffton be sure to talk to Sam. You’ll be glad you did.
