Bluffton resident Ron Lora is a retired history professor, past president of the Swiss Community Historical Society and member of the Bluffton University Sports Hall of Fame. We are pleased to begin providing his monthly guest column in the Bluffton and Ada Icons.
By Ron Lora
F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway, two of the best American authors of the twentieth century, engaged in an intriguing exchange on rich people: “Let me tell you about the very rich. The rich are different from you and me,” wrote Fitzgerald. “Yes,” Hemingway replied, “They have more money.” That repartee didn’t actually occur face-to-face, but grew out of words they had written. Both had a point, but Hemingway is thought to have won the exchange.
When I was chaplain at Mennonite Memorial Home, I met many amazing residents. One of the most memorable was my friend, Marvel Hilty. A graduate of Bluffton High School, she worked for 30 years at Triplett Corporation. “We didn’t make much,” she said, “but we had fun.”
She told me her happiest times were when her kids were small. She had three children, Jerry Hilty, Diana Marshall and Joy (Leigh) Shoemaker. Included in her family were two stepchildren, eight grandchildren, six step-grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She talked about them often, and when asked what lifted her spirits when feeling sad, she said, “being thankful for what I have.”
If you live long enough, you will someday meet a person who lives life to the fullest, and then some. I met several residents at Mennonite Memorial Home (MMH) like that when I was chaplain there.
One of them was Harold Lehman. During his short time as a resident, he made a deep impression on me and on all the members of staff and the other residents.
The theme of love finds its way into many songs over the years. In 1955, the popular hit "Love is a Many Splendored Thing" was first recorded by the group The Four Aces. Later, it became even more loved when recorded by Nat King Cole and Andy Williams. The first lyrics are as follows:
Love is a many splendored thing,
It's the April rose that only grows in the early spring,
Love is nature's way of giving a reason to be living.
When Valentine's Day approaches, love comes to mind in many men's thoughts. They take a long time browsing over Valentine's cards in stores, looking to find the perfect expression of their love for the recipient.
Bluffton High School has had many outstanding teachers. One taught there for only four years, but coached a team that won an Ohio State Championship. He was Mr. Paul Stauffer. He taught forensics (Debate), drama and speech. He was very knowledgeable in all three because he had actively participated in them at Blufton College. Stauffer also directed class plays, both at the high school and at Bluffton College.
Bluffton High School students used to have interclass debates. In 1931, Mr. Stauffer's first year teaching at Bluffton, a girl qualified for individual debate in the National Tournament. Mr. Stauffer took the girl and her mother to Racine, Wisconsin, where the tournament took place. She didn't win, but in Mr. Stauffer's words, "We learned what to do and what not to do."
