Timing for this virtual event is still in the works. Watch the Icon for details as they develop.

Dan Bowden joins a long list of Bluffton switch hitters on Saturday.

In a Saturday, Dec. 5, virtual event, the former fire chief and soon-to-be retiring village employee will turn on the Ream folk art holiday lights.

Bowden has worked for the village of Bluffton for 45 years, where he has served most of those years as Bluffton's water plant operator.

During his village tenure he served as a member of the fire department for 31, including 20 of those years as fire chief.

He is a 1975 Ohio Northern University graduate, with a degree in biology. Originally from Lima, he is a graduate of Bath High School.

Among his outside-of-work interests includes memberships in the Indian Lake and Cairo gun clubs.

He and his wife, Melinda, are parents of one son, Matthew.

The virtual lights program
Kevin Gratz assumes the role of the town crier and will introduce and talk with Bowden prior to switch-hit light event.

The Bluffton High School show choir, directed by Kara Zink, will perform on the program and Gratz will recite the Christmas story from Luke 2.

The program will be aired on the chamber’s Facebook and YouTube.

Derek Dukes is the mastermind behind the Dec. 5 video production of the event.

Switch hitters
2020 – Dan Bowden
2019 – Josh Kauffman
2018 – Dr. Jane Wood
2017 – Dennis Morrison
2016 – Paul Dyck
2015 – Everett Collier
2014 - Anna Ruth Reichenbach
2008-13 – not available
2007 – Rick Skilliter
2006 – Harold Balmer
2005 – Bertie Swank
2004 – Kathy Bogart and daughter, Kim Donaldson
2003 – Irene Althaus
2002 – Larry Badertscher and Terry Mullenhour
2001 – Bill Watkins
2000 – Wayne Matter
1999 – Harry Ream
1998 – Pat and Fred Rodabaugh
1997 – Nelson Steiner
1996 – Nancy King
1995 – Dr. Elmer Neufeld
1994 – Jean Triplett
1993 – Roger Mullenhour
1992 – Lori Taber
1991 – Tom Summers, WKXA radio
1990 – Judge David Kinworthy
1989 – Congressman Mike Oxley
1986-87-88 – No official switch hitter