Person:Paul Gillmor (2)

Paul Marshall Gillmor

Paul Marshall Gillmor, age 94, of Old Fort, passed away Wednesday, April 13, 2005, at his daughter's home in Powell. P.M. was born February 26, 1911, in Ballville Township, Sandusky CO, to the late Clarence and Gladys (Speller) Gillmor.

He was a 1929 graduate of Old Fort High School and attended The OH State University on an athletic scholarship for track. After marrying his childhood sweetheart, Lucy (Fry) Gillmor, they lived in Old Fort, where Lucy continued to work at the bank while P.M. established the Paul M. Gillmor Trucking Company, which he sold to Matlack, Inc. in 1956. Shortly thereafter P.M. and a small group of friends purchased Matlack, Inc., the largest hauler between the Mississippi River and the East Coast, and P.M. became chairman of the board until he was 75 years old. Then he turned his talents toward growing the Old Fort Banking Company on whose board he had served since 1942. As president, then Chairman of the Board, he expanded the bank into 7 towns and grew the assets of the bank by 200 times. P.M. also served on the board of Commercial National Bank.

P.M. served as President of the OH Contract Carriers Assn. and was founder of the OH Trucking Association. He served for many years on the Old Fort Mutual Telephone, the Old Fort Volunteer Fire Department, the Old Fort United Methodist Church, and as President of the Old Fort School Board. P.M. served on the boards of trustees of Heidelberg College and Tiffin University, from which he holds an honorary doctorate. He was a charter member and the first president of the Old Fort Lions Club, which recently celebrated its 60th anniversary. P.M. was a Boy Scout Leader and received the Honorary Order of the Eagle Award from the Black Swamp Council, B.S.A. He and his son were instrumental in turning a little league ball field in Fort Seneca into a modern park and recreation area, and he donated land for the athletic fields at Old Fort Schools. Devoted to strengthening the community, he brought the Church and Dwight Plant to Seneca CO, as well as helping farmers and new businesses get started.

Active in the Republican Party, both locally and nationally, he managed his son, Paul's, first campaign for the OH Senate, who became the youngest OH Senator elected at that time. He generously contributed to local civic endeavors such as the expansion of the Ritz Theatre, Mercy Hospital, Heidelberg College, Tiffin University, the United Way, Frost-Kalnow Stadium, and many others. Among his many honors were Seneca CO "Outstanding Citizen of the Year", the OH Trucking Association "Man of The Year", Seneca CO Young Farmers "Man of the Year", and his induction into the OH Senior Citizens Hall of Fame. Many facilities were named for him, including the Gillmor Student Center at Tiffin University, Old Fort Schools athletic field, the Old Fort Bridge on Seneca CO Road 51, and Old Fort Park.

Survived by his children, U.S. Congressman Paul E. Gillmor of Old Fort and L. Dianne (Gillmor) Krumsee of Powell; grandchildren, Linda (Gillmor) Gable, Julie (Gillmor) Horne, Daniel Brunk, Paul Michael Gillmor, Connor Gillmor and Adam Gillmor; great-grandchildren, Brenda Gable, Lucy Horne, and Natalie Horne; daughter-in-law, Dr. Karen L. Gillmor; son-in-law, Arthur Krumsee; brother, Ralph Gillmor; sisters, Margaret (Gillmor) Drown, Lola (Gillmor) Fry, and Beatrice (Gillmor) Joseph.

Preceded in death by his wife, Lucy (Fry) Gillmor; brothers, Robert and Ernest; sisters, Frances (Gillmor) Witter and Marian (Gillmor) Heilman.

Family and friends will be received Thursday, April 14, from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at Engle-Shook Funeral Home, 211 North Broadway, Green Springs, OH 44836, with the funeral service on Friday, April 15, at 10:00 a.m., at Camden Falls Center, 2460 South State Route 231 at U.S. 224, Tiffin, OH. Burial will be in the Pleasant Union Cemetery, Old Fort.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Paul M. and Lucy J. Gillmor Charitable Foundation, c/o The Old Fort Banking Company, Old Fort, OH 44861.