Proposed bill would create Charles Swank Memorial Highway

BUTLER — Charles Swank was a leader in every realm of his life — a decorated military veteran, a mentor to younger firefighters, a deacon at his church and devoted father of five.

“He worked tirelessly to make everyone around him better that was through training, sharing knowledge and have tabletop discussions about tactics,” said James “Bo” Stambaugh, one of Swank’s colleagues from the Washington Township Fire Department in Dublin.

“He was just the kind of guy that you want on the end of the hose if your house catches on fire.”

Swank passed away unexpectedly in December 2022 during a firefighter training session in Pensacola, Florida. He was 39.

Now, his colleagues are working to ensure his legacy lives on. Swank is one of two Richland County residents that may soon be commemorated with a memorial highway.

Stambaugh said he decided to pursue the designation just after he left Swank’s funeral. He and his wife were driving and passed another memorial highway sign.

“I said to my wife, ‘That’s so cool.’ Because a memorial highway prompts people to find out who that person was and what they did, why they were worthy of recognition,” he recalled.

“About thirty seconds down the road, my wife turned to me and said ‘Why don’t you have a memorial highway named after Charles?”

Swank was a Clear Fork grad, Army veteran

Stambaugh contacted his state representative Beth Lear, who agreed to co-sponsor legislation with Swank’s state representative, Marilyn John.

Their legislation was later rolled into House Bill 380, which includes 29 proposed memorial road and bridge designations across the state.

The Ohio House of Representatives passed House Bill 380 last week. The bill was introduced in the Senate on Monday. It will need to pass through the Senate and obtain Gov. Mike DeWine’s signature in order to become law.

If enacted, the portion of State Route 97 between Butler and Bellville will be renamed Firefighter Charles D. Swank Memorial Highway.

While he’s optimistic about House Bill 380’s future, Stambaugh said seeing the road sign will be bittersweet.

“I’ll be sad to see (the sign) there because he’s no longer with us and that will be a constant reminder, but I will be very proud to see his name there,” he said.

“He’s the caliber of Ohioan and the caliber of American that deserves to be honored for as long as Ohio State Route 97 is there.”

Swank graduated from Clear Fork High School with academic honors and conference titles in football and baseball, according to his obituary.

He enlisted in the United States Army immediately following the attacks of September 11, 2001 and served for five years.

After his honorable discharge, Swank became a firefighter. He worked for the Washington Township Fire Department in Dublin at the time of his death.

Swank was a ‘Bellville guy through and through’

Swank also remained involved in the Valley. He formed a foundation focused on providing updated equipment for Clear Fork student athletes. He coached his children’s sports teams. He was a member of the Bellville AmVets Post 43 and American Legion Post 535. He served as Commander of the American Legion Honor Guard and as a post chaplain.

Swank’s widow Alaina said it would fill her heart with joy to see his name on the road joining the two towns her husband loved most.

“Charles was a Bellville guy through and through, but that changed when he married this girl who convinced him living on her family’s land in Butler wouldn’t be so bad,” she said.

“I love that Charles’ friends and coworkers took the initiative to make this request on his behalf. I hope that if it’s passed, people seeing his name as they drive by and it reminds them of the wonderful person that he was and the love he had for his hometown.”