Commencement

2011 Commencement Speaker

Mr. Jim Petro, Chancellor, Ohio Board of Regents

 

Service -- to the public and to the higher education system -- has been a cornerstone of Jim Petro's life.  His March 14, 2011 appointment as Chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents capped nearly three decades of service to the state of Ohio, during which he was the first Ohio Attorney General to ague a case in front of the United States Supreme Court in more than 40 years.

As Chancellor, Petro leads the University System of Ohio, which is one of the largest comprehensive systems of public higher education in the nation.  The University System of Ohio bears primary responsibility for raising Ohioans' educational attainment.

A native of Brooklyn, Ohio, Petro served as Ohio Auditor from 1995 to 2003, providing financial and performance oversight to Ohio's universities as well as other state agencies.  He was then elected Ohio Attorney General, an office he held from 2003 to 2007, where his responsibilities included those of chief legal officer to the sate's universities. 

In Petro's 28 years as an elected official, he also served as State Representative, Cuyahoga County Commissioner, and Rocky River City Councilman.  Petro also served Rocky River as the city's Director of Law.  In 2010, Petro and wife Nancy co-authored the book, "False Justice," which addresses eight myths that lead to wrongful convictions in the American criminal justice system.  "False Justice" serves as a call to action, following true stories and outlining the need to overhaul a system that, Petro believes, places thousands of innocent people in prison. 

Petro was named the 2011 recipient of the Champion of Justice Award for Public Service by the Innocence Network, the coordinating body for 56 member organizations serving the wrongfully convicted and their families in the United States.  In 2010, Petro was recognized with the Ohio Government Finance Officers Association Timothy I. Murphy Excellence in Government Awards, honoring his record of integrity, achievement and leadership in decades of public service. 

Additional achievements include selection as an "Ohio Super Lawyer" by Law & Politics magazine and Cincinnati Magazine in 2006; recipient of a Legacy Award and Visionary Leadership Award from the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police in 2005 and 2006; and recipient of a national March Fong Eu Achievement Award from the National Notary Association in 2005.

Mr. Petro earned a law degree from Case Western Reserve University and a bachelor's degree in history from Denison University.  He also received an honorary doctorate from The University of Toledo in 2000. 

Rhodes State College

  • 2010 Dr. Martha Kanter, Under Secretary for the Department of Education
  • 2009 Dr. Barbara Gellman-Danley, Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs & System Integrations
  • 2008 Donna Alvarado, Chair, Ohio Board of Regents
  • 2007 Eric Fingerhut, Chancellor, Ohio Board of Regents
  • 2006 Steve Johnson, Editor, The Lima News
  • 2005 Roger P. Jones, Ohio Ready Mixed Concrete Association
  • 2004 Walter L. Kinsey, Manager, Lazarus/Macy’s, Lima
  • 2003 Christine Nathe, RDH, MS, Assoc. Professor/Clinical Manager, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center (2003 Outstanding Alumna)
  • 2002 Mr. Terry M. Thomas, Executive Director, OACC, Columbus

Lima Technical College

  • 2001 Dr. Paul J. Otte, President of Franklin University, Columbus
  • 2000 Dr. William Hussey, formerly Assistant to the President at LTC
  • 1999 Robert Cupp, Ohio Senate
  • 1998 Dr. David Ponitz, President Emeritus, Sinclair Community College
  • 1997 Kathleen Vuchetich, former LTC Trustee, formerly head of West Ohio Gas, Lima
  • 1996 Bob Taft, Ohio Secretary of State
  • 1995 Sam Bassitt, Recipient of Honorary Degree, VP for Instruction, LTC
  • 1994 Paul Edwards, Plant Manager, Ford Lima Engine Plant
  • 1993 Wilfred Ellis, M.D.
  • 1992 Cathleen Oxner, Plant Manager, Proctor & Gamble
  • 1991 Lou Nobile, President, Bank One
  • 1990 David Berger, Mayor of Lima
  • 1989 Carol Klosterman, Supervisor of hourly personnel & labor relations, Ford Motor
  • 1988 Furl Williams, President, Lima City Council
  • 1987 Michael G. Oxley, U.S. Congressman
  • 1986 Robert Cupp, State Senator
  • 1985 William W. Grimes, Plant Manager, Lima Refinery, Standard Oil
  • 1984 Gregory W. Turner, President, Lima Memorial Hospital
  • 1983 John T. Mount, Vice President, Regional Campuses, OSU Columbus
  • 12/1982 None
  • 1982 Richard H. Riggs, WCIT/WLSR Radio, former LTC Trustee
  • 1981 Msgr. E.C. Herr, Lima Central Catholic High School
  • 1980 None
  • 1979 James Heins, Westinghouse, Lima
  • 1978 John P. Timmerman, President, John P. Timmerman Co.
  • 1977 Kenneth M. Clemens, D.D.S., LTC Trustee
  • 1976 J. McLean Reed, former director, OSU Lima
  • 1975 W. Ben Rose, State Representative
  • 1974 James S. Biddle
  • 1973 James S. Biddle
  • 1972 James S. Biddle