Orrville names Citizen of the Year
Dr. Donald “Doc” Rhoads is the 2018 Paul L. Powell Citizen of the Year. A dentist by vocation, Rhoads has made a life by simply doing what needs done. The Paul L. Powell Citizen of the Year award honors those citizens who continue to make Orrville the “Promised Land.”
“Putting other people’s needs over your own is harder and harder to find,” Kent Smith said. “That is not the case with Doc. He is always looking for ways to make a situation better.”
Rhoads grew up in Circleville, Ohio. He graduated from Circleville High School and The Ohio State University. Upon graduating from Ohio State School of Dentistry in 1961, Rhoads was recruited by the late Dr. Robert Williams to join him in a family dental practice in Orrville.
Rhoads practiced dentistry in Orrville for 35 years. When he retired in 1996, his very last patient also had been his first patient when he started the practice in 1961.
“One trait that stands out for me has been his willingness to step up and participate when and where there has been a need,” Dave Yonto said.
Over the years Rhoads coached Little League and Junior High basketball teams, long after his children were grown. He even filled a vacant seat on Orrville City Council when a need arose.
“Doc always made time for those who needed a helping hand and never expected anything in return,” Richard Smucker said. “His reward was helping others succeed. His commitment to the community has been steady and quietly profound.”
“It’s not the public acts that Dick has been admired the most for, but the acts of kindness unseen by many,” Mike Guster said. “He always believed in pro bono dental work for many that could not afford the procedures that were needed.”
Rhoads has volunteered for Orrville Area United Way’s Citizen Review Committee, the Orrville Salvation Army and the Orrville Rotary Club and has travelled to Honduras with Central American Medical Outreach.
Rhoads will be the 54th Citizen of the Year, an award that was first presented in 1969 to honor the legacy of Paul L. Powell, owner of The Orrville Courier-Crescent newspaper from 1930 to the mid-1960s. The Dix family established the Paul L. Powell Citizen of the Year award to recognize him for his community leadership, his journalistic talents and his deep affection for Orrville, his promised land.
“Doc is a blessing to our community and has helped so many,” Frances Marks said. “Being selected as Citizen of the Year is a fitting way to honor his life in this community.”
Rhoads learned of his selection as COY surrounded by his wife, Marge, and church family at the First Presbyterian on March 3.
The Paul L. Powell Citizen of the Year award will be formally presented to Rhoads at the Orrville Area Chamber of Commerce annual dinner and awards on March 28. A limited number of tickets for the dinner are still available and may be purchased by calling the Orrville Area Chamber of Commerce at 330-682-8881.
