The annual Notable Nineties salute
Well, we’ve made it through another year — pandemic and all.
If you’re a regular reader of this column, you know what comes next. This is when I recognize all our Notable Nineties by printing the entire list.
If you’re not a regular reader, an explanation is in order.
When Jerry Snyder was writing her column for the Times several years ago, she noticed this county had an abundance of people in their 90s. Because Jerry thought anyone who managed to reach their ninth decade deserved some kind of special recognition, she created the Notable Nineties list.
After Jerry passed away, I kept the list going.
You don’t have to do anything special to be a Notable Ninety. ANY Hamilton County resident 90 years-old — or older — is eligible. (We currently have four “Sensational Centenarians” who’ve celebrated their 100th birthday!)
The only catch is, I ask that someone — anyone, even the person in question — requests a name be added to the list. I don’t just add people when I learn they’re over 90. That way I have some assurance I’m not violating the privacy of those who don’t want the world to know their age.
Most new Notable Nineties get added in January after the entire list runs, but I recognize individuals in the column all year long, whenever someone sends me a name.
The current list of Notable Nineties follows. If you see any corrections that need to be made, please let me know. I’d also like to know when someone becomes a Sensational Centenarian, so I can acknowledge that.
Here’s to a healthier, happier New Year for all of us!
Frank Blasser
Catharine Lavon Brown
Evelyn Chance
Eunice Collins
Eileen (Hunter) Conaway
Kathryn Mildred Dierdorf
Clifford Eckles
Gwen Galbreath
Betty Gerrard (Betsy Birdwhistle) (100+!)
Rosemary Godby
Bettie Hammack
Billie Jo Harger
Edna Hecht
Bernice (Reel) Heiny
Glen Heiny
Beverly Howard
Frances Hughes
Mary Johnson
Ernest Kitterman
June Landis
Helen LeCount
Joan Love
Eileen McClellan (100+!)
Earl E. McMahon
Ruby Sanders Randall Mendell
Phyllis Mendenhall (100+!)
Peggy Randall Merrill
Virginia Miller
Winona Moss
Helen Nelson
Pat (Guilkey) Paskins
Melford Pearson
Mency Ponton
Nola Pyle
Rex Randall
Donald G. Reddick
Albert Rees
Jim “Tex” Ritter
Cathy Rodgers
Jane Roudebush
Ivan “Sonny” Sherman
Lorena Shively
Phyllis Stackhouse
Ruth (Guilkey) Stoops
Katheryn Thompson (100+!)
“Jo” Esther Waltz
Bernard Weiner
Anna Whittaker
Betty Williams
James Williams
Harriet Wise
Paula Dunn’s From Time to Thyme column appears on Wednesdays in The Times. Contact her at [email protected]