MANSFIELD, Ohio–The Kenneth E. McCartney St. Patrick’s Day Memorial Luncheon drew a packed house Saturday at the K.E. McCartney Memorial Building in downtown Mansfield.
Approximately 140 people attended the event, including several elected officials, community leaders, and local professionals.
While sharing opening comments, Joe Mudra, chairman of the Richland County Democratic Party, said, “I want to thank Brian McCartney and the entire McCartney family for their never-ending support of this building and the democratic party. It’s been 21 years since the man who is memorialized by this building and the tremendous democratic party chairman, Kenneth McCartney, passed. It’s an honor to walk in his footsteps and I hope that I am worthy.”
The event featured two special presentations for the K.E. McCartney “Spirit of Democracy” Award and the John McCune, Sr. OSU Scholarship.
The Spirit of Democracy Award was presented to Mark Cockley by the 2014 award recipient, Jim Mawhorr.
“The Spirit of Democracy Award is presented each year to the person who represents the same unwavering commitment to friends and family as demonstrated by Ken McCartney…It is not based on a single achievement or a ‘what have you done lately’ mantra; it is a culmination of typically behind the scenes, doing whatever needs to be done to move the party forward,” said Mawhorr.
“This year’s award, he continued, “goes to a person who fits this bill perfectly. He’s a been a friend of the party and in particular, a friend of this building since the inception.”
“Mark, the work you do for the party is often unnoticed and behind the scenes, which is exactly what this award epitomizes.”
Cockley accepted the award, saying, “There are so many in this room as I look around that are, to me, more deserving than I.”
The John McCune, Sr. OSU Scholarship was presented to OSU-Mansfield student Aaron Hartman. Hartman is slated to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in history this May.
This year’s speaker was Stan Jefferson from the Ohio State University Football Program. As Jefferson approached the podium to give his keynote address, he greeted people with the quintessential Ohio State University chant, “O-H,” to which people responded in exclamation, “I-O.”
“It is so good to be back,” he said. “I love Mansfield.”
Jefferson talked about his work history at Mansfield City Schools and how he transitioned to the Ohio State Football Program. He joined the Buckeye football staff in July 2004 as the associate director of football operations. After two years in that capacity, he was named director of player development.
He said it was hard to leave Mansfield City Schools. He spent nearly 30 years as a high school coach and administrator in Mansfield and was one of the most respected educators in the state. While serving as the head football coach at Mansfield Senior High School, Jefferson’s teams posted a combined record of 65-39, captured four league titles and made four playoff appearances between 1993 and 2002.
Twenty times the Coach of the Year for track or football in the Ohio Heartland, Northwest District and Cardinal Conference, he was a finalist for the National Football League High School Coach of the Year award in 1999.
“Reluctantly, I put in my resignation at Mansfield City Schools, which I had given my heart and soul to,” he said.
“That brings me to this point,” he continued. “You cannot lead a group of people if you don’t love them…so my precedent now for 40 years almost of work, has been loving and serving–loving and serving in the Mansfield community with Mansfield City Schools and now for the last 11 years loving and serving here at The Ohio State University.”
He encouraged others to love and to serve, saying, “When I look at my life here in Mansfield, my life when I was at Ashland, my life at The Ohio State University, it’s to love and to serve. Why be an educator if you’re not doing that? It doesn’t make any difference what school district you’re teaching in–Clear Fork, Lexington, Ontario, Mansfield, Ashland, Madison–you should be loving and serving, and that’s what I do. I love and serve.”
The luncheon is held annually in honor of the late Kenneth E. McCartney, former Richland County Democratic Party Chairman and longtime party activist. It’s also meant to honor all those who helped make the memorial building a reality.
Brian McCartney, president of K.E. McCartney and Associates, Inc. and son of Kenneth McCartney, said the luncheon isn’t intended to serve as a political event; rather, “It’s a friends and family event,” he said.
McCartney said that though his father’s name is displayed on the building’s awning, “This really represents more than one person. This represents all of the people who have had the courage to believe in this cause.”
He said they welcome different speakers to the event each year. In the past, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown and former Governor of Ohio Ted Strickland have spoken at the event.
Proceeds from the event go toward maintenance and operation costs of the memorial building, which serves as the headquarters of the Richland County Democratic Party.
“When I look at my life here in Mansfield, my life when I was at Ashland, my life at The Ohio State University, it’s to love and to serve. Why be an educator if you’re not doing that?” said Stan Jefferson.
