Huron County Community Foundation 2022 Annual Report

DONOR SPOTL IGHT: GORDON ONEY For the Love of Home To Gordon Oney, Huron County is about roots. “It is where our grandparents came to find work and raise their children,” he said. “It is about our history and honoring that by giving back.” The Oney families came to Ohio from rural Kentucky nearly 100 years ago with a dream of making new homes and growing their families. In 1942, Fred and Wanda Oney purchased 131 acres in Greenwich Township and started a family farm. Their six boys attended Greenwich schools and received an education while learning the farming trade from their parents. After Gordon graduated from high school, he served in the Navy, returning home to work for R.R. Donnelley, a book manufacturer in Willard, until retiring 37 years later. During that time, he and his wife Kathy developed a passion for their community while raising their two sons. Kathy served on the library board for 16 years while Gordon served several terms on the village council and the school board. He also spear- headed efforts to bring functional bike paths to Huron County and was a founding member of Firelands Rails to Trails—where he still enjoys frequent walks. All six Oney boys served in the military and eventually returned to Huron County, purchasing land from their parents and others and becoming farmers themselves. Over time, these farms grew into large-scale operations, establishing a strong legacy of family farming that continues today. When Gordon’s wife of 56 years passed away in 2018, he decided to revisit a decision they had been mulling over together for some time. “Our community has always been good to us,” he said. “We wanted to give back in a lasting way.” As Gordon put the wheels in motion to establish a fund at the Huron County Community Foundation, his brothers were eager to offer their support as well. Together, Gordon, Gerald, and Alfred moved forward in establishing The Oney Families Scholarship Fund to assist graduating South Central High School seniors interested in pursuing a career in agriculture or other high-demand fields of study. To date, three students have been awarded the scholarship, which is renewable for four years of college. The family hopes to inspire future generations to help grow the fund so they can impact more students in the future. Gordon said, “We came from humble beginnings, and we are proud of our Kentucky heritage and the local education we received. This scholarship is our way of paying it forward, of providing greater opportunity for young people from our local schools to further their education.” THE ONEY FAMILY