LEXINGTON — Dave Roberts sat at the front of a nearly-empty auditorium long after the final roll call vote.
With a pen in hand and agenda in front of him, Roberts smiled obligingly as his wife, Debbie, snapped a photo with her phone, angling the shot to prevent a glare on the desk name plate.
Their children and grandchildren lingered with them, munching on sugar cookies — a small token of appreciation offered by the Lexington Local School board.
School officials honored Roberts on Wednesday night during his final meeting as a member of the board of education, a seat he has filled for the last eight years.
He decided not to run for a third term in November. Thomas Dover, who ran unopposed, will take his place in January.
“Your experience has been wonderful to have around. I’ve appreciated it greatly,” board president Keith Stoner told Roberts. “I want to thank you for sharing your talent, energy and leadership with Lexington.”
Roberts began his career at Mansfield City Schools teaching special needs students. He worked a total of 41 years in education, 33 of them at Lexington.
His titles over the years included teacher, athletic director and assistant principal. He spent 11 years as the principal of Central Elementary and 13 years as the assistant superintendent.
But his involvement didn’t end there.
“What do you do after you retire after 41 years of education? You take out petitions and agree to serve on your school board for another eight years,” Stoner said.
As the board meeting ended, Roberts made it clear he was only a phone call away if his fellow board members or school administrators needed a hand.
While Roberts’ term on the board is coming to a close, he said he’s not going anywhere. He’ll remain involved in the Lexington Ohio Alumni Association.
“We’ve got some things planned that we’d like to be able to do over the next couple years. But we need people,” he said.
“Last year, we gave away $25,000 in scholarships to our students, and those students do not have to be just recent graduates. It’s open to any Lexington graduate, no matter what year you graduated.”
Roberts also thanked his wife for her decades of support during an often-demanding career.
“She raised the family… a lot of times on her own,” he said. “I could not have done what I’ve done without her and the rest of my family.”
Dave and Debbie were high school sweethearts. Both graduated from Lexington High School in 1967. Debbie worked as a substitute teacher in the district for more than a decade.
“When my parents moved here in 1959, I think God had a plan at that time. He kept bringing me back here,” Roberts said. “To a community that I love that has been so, so good to me.”
Several district officials became misty-eyed during the tribute, including Stoner.
“When my family was going through a very difficult time with my daughter’s visual impairment, Dave was the administrator here at Lexington who helped connect her to training for mobility and services that helped her regain confidence and a sense of self-worth and independence,” Stoner said.
After retiring from education, Roberts got a job as a celebrant at Snyder Funeral Home.
Supt. Jeremy Secrist said when his father died, there was only one person he trusted to handle the funeral.
“(Roberts) presided over my father’s funeral beautifully. I’ll always love him for that,” Secrist said. “We will miss him on the board.”
Treasurer Jason Whitesel said when his son got married, Roberts and his wife gave the newlyweds a poem and set of dishes meant for special occasions.
“Their thoughtfulness to each and every person that they come across just shines through,” Whitesel said. “He’ll definitely be missed.”
After a round of hugs and group photos, Roberts said the sense of camaraderie with fellow board members is what he’ll miss the most.
“It’s the goal of each board member and the administration that we’re making decisions that we feel are in the best interests for the kids, as well as for the community,” he said.