Tiger Foundation honors distinguished alumni
STRASBURG – The Tiger Foundation has selected three Strasburg Franklin local high school distinguished alumni to be honored during graduation at 2 p.m. May 22 in the high school gym.
Those to receive the 2022 distinguished alumni award are Edward Yackey, (1967), Robert Haas (1946) and James Rowe, (1969).
Yackey graduated from Akron University with a degree in mechanical engineering. He continued his education to obtain his professional engineers license. He was co-owner and vice president of Commercial Honing Inc., at Dover, the third largest honing company in the United States. Yackey served on the board of education for 24 years and was instrumental in procuring the land and subsequently construction of the new school.
He was honored by the Ohio School Boards Association as a Master Board member, is a charter member and served as the first president of the Tiger Foundation. He has served on the board and in the community through the First Lutheran Church at Strasburg.
Haas, attended the University of Akron with ROTC. He graduated with a bachelor of science degree in education and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant at Camp A.B. Hill in Virginia. He commanded a combat platoon in Korea, earning six medals for his leadership. The medals include the Bronze Star and a Combat Infantryman’s badge. He then received a master’s degree in education from Kent State University. He taught and coached at Strasburg and assisted coaching football, basketball and baseball. He continued to teach at Massillon City schools and was promoted to principal, then assistant superintendent. Haas joined the Army reserves and the Ohio Military Reserves, being promoted to the rank of Major General.
He volunteered as a Liaison Officer for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, had a total military career of 50 years, which spanned World War II, Korean War and Persian Gulf War, and in 2008 was inducted into Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame, located in Columbus. He was active in leadership at the AMVETS, American Legion, VFW, Korean War veterans, Ohio Military Reserve Officer’s Association, Ohio Society of Military History, and the Wester Reserve National Cemetery.
Rowe graduated from The Ohio State University in 1973 with a degree in dairy science and returned to the family farm outside of Strasburg. He expanded the dairy operation from 200 acres and 40 cows to 500 acres and 200 cows with an annual milk production of over 600,000 gallons of milk. He converted the farm to a no-till crop program with extensive use of cover crops. He was elected to leadership positions at the county, district, and state level of the Ohio Holstein Association.
Rowe has served on the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District Advisory board, and the Tuscarawas County Soil and Water Association. He has opened the farm for tours and educational programs, including many for the students of the Strasburg Franklin Local School District. During his leadership the County Farm Bureau projects received national recognition. Projects included Harvest for Hospice, Cows 4 Kids, and Back-to-Back. He served Strasburg students by helping to purchase and serve refreshments at sporting events.
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Tiger Foundation honors distinguished alumni
