MANSFIELD — Matt Barkett never met his great-uncle Warren Rupp, but Thursday at the Industry Hall of Fame, he brought his family’s industrial legacy to life with a heartfelt speech that left the room laughing and inspired.
He said his grandfather Mickey Rupp and Warren were very competitive.
“I think he was the only person my grandfather was jealous of,” Barkett said. “Because (Warren) was smarter than him and didn’t want to admit it.”
The remark drew a burst of laughter from the room.
The North Central Ohio Industrial Museum (NCOIM) celebrated past and present manufactures at its fifth annual ceremony inside the Ohio State Reformatory.
When asked how it felt to be celebrating his family, Barkett said he could not be more honored and grateful.
“It’s unbelievable, this is a true testament to talk about the amount of hyper-intelligence of these individuals,” Barkett said. “It’s a big torch to carry, but I am incredibly grateful.”
Showcasing innovators who shaped Ohio’s industry
Guests filled the main guard room for an eventful evening. Celebrations kicked off at 4 p.m., before the induction ceremony, with museum tours, a ribbon cutting for the Tribute to Women in Industry (TWIN), new hall of fame and ELEKTRO exhibits, a cash bar and dinner catered by MVP Sports Bar and Grill.
After guests had time to explore the museum and enjoy dinner, NCOIM President Jerry Miller shared the history of the museum and plans for the future.
Miller also welcomed engineering students from Ohio State University Mansfield campus and North Central State College, connecting the next generation with the Ohio’s industrial legacy.
Videos followed, highlighting each honoree’s life, contributions to the industry, and how their businesses evolved to continue shaping the community today.
Family members accepted the recognition on behalf of the inductees, offering short but heartfelt speeches.
Harry Ford Smith was the only honoree without a recipient, as Jerry Miller said they were unable to track down family.
Honoring Ohio’s industrial champions
This year’s Hall of Fame honors included several posthumous inductions:
- Harry F. Smith – Smith Gas Producer Co., DELCO – Dayton Engineering Lab. Co., Frigidaire, Mansfield Sanitary and Plumbing and Clear Fork Reservoir
- Aultman and Taylor Machinery – Cornelius Aultman and Henry Taylor, J.E. and Huntington Brown
- Warren Rupp Inc. – Warren E. Rupp and Charles E. Young Jr.
- TASCO – Thompson and Sons Co. – Fred Thompson
- Bud Harrington – Harrington Aviation, MAPCO – Mansfield Aircraft Products Co.
- Fate, Root and Heath Co. – Plymouth Locomotive
- Neer Manufacturing – Paul and Doris Neer
The ceremony was both a tribute to innovators who shaped the region’s industrial backbone and a reminder of the exciting future that is being paved.
Miller closed the ceremony with a few words honoring all the inductees and fellow workers who continue to make the industry what it is.
“There are doers and dreamers in this world,” Miller said. “All these companies have both, making them what they are.”
(Pictures from the fifth annual Industry Hall of Fame ceremony. Picture credit: Hannah Martin)
