Haswell honored with Distinguished Citizens Award

Ronald “Nick” Haswell was honored with a Distinguished Citizens Award during the second annual Strasburg Summer Festival July 25-26 at Franklin Park.

Haswell, 83, a lifelong Strasburg resident, was recognized for his volunteer work beautifying the village. He plants and tends bubblegum petunias between the traffic lights and maintains the flowers and shrubs at the entrance to Franklin Park. As part of the award, he received a plaque and a wooden tiger paw.

Each spring Haswell purchases petunias and nurtures them until they are ready to be planted in containers along Wooster Avenue. He waters and fertilizes the flowers daily. He offered special thanks to Jeremy Dreher of Village Garden Bulk Store, who provides him with 20 gallons of water daily from the store’s outdoor spigot.

At the park entrance, Haswell maintains a display of marigolds and trimmed shrubs surrounding the welcome sign.

Festival organizer Brent Metzger praised Haswell’s dedication.

“Once a Tiger, always a Tiger,” Metzger said. “Thank you for volunteering and being a strong Strasburg supporter.”

“I felt so honored to receive this award,” Haswell said.

Haswell is the youngest of 16 children born to the late Arthur and Ethel Haswell. He graduated from Strasburg High School in 1959, earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Ohio State University in 1963 and completed a master’s degree at the University of Akron in 1969. He taught math for five years in the Fairless Local School District and for 36 years in New Philadelphia City Schools.

An active member of St. John United Church of Christ in Strasburg, Haswell has served on the church council and the Strasburg Board of Education. He married the late Glenna Black Haswell in 1965. The couple has two daughters and five grandchildren.