PAINESVILLE, Ohio — The Lake County Fair Board will enshrine John “Doc” Kroh, Robert Nichols and Richard Parker into its Hall of Fame at this year’s Lake County Fair.
The honorees will be inducted Aug. 13, the opening day of the 2013 Lake County Fair. The induction ceremony will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Belcher Gazebo on the fairgrounds.
Nichols
Robert “Bob” Nichols has been active in the Lake County Fair since the 1950s as an animal exhibitor, volunteer and most recently as chairman of the antique tractor display.
He has spent his entire life involved with mechanical engines and tractors and has been considered a tractor specialist since his early years spent at Lake County (Ford) Tractor, then Hine and Schaub Tractor, followed by a long career as an engine expert with the Lubrizol Corporation.
He has used his skills to teach 4-H youth about tractor safety and tractor mechanics.
Kroh. John L. “Doc” Kroh has made a lifetime of contributions to the livestock, equine and fair industries. After graduating from The Ohio State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 1966, Doc went directly into general practice. Since then, he has been directly involved with most all species of animal life.
For 35 years, he served as veterinarian for the Lake County Agricultural Society and the Lake County Fair. He serves on the advisory board for equine issues of The Ohio Farm Bureau, and on the sub-committee for equine affairs of the newly formed State Ohio Livestock Care Standard Board.
Kroh has served as a fair board director for the past 22 years, and has been the board’s vice president, and chairman of entertainment.
Parker
Dick Parker first ran and won a position as Lake County Fair Board director in 1977 and he has served on the Lake County Fair Board for 37 consecutive years.
Parker has served on more committees during his tenure, than any other board member in the fair’s history. He is best known for his leadership as chairman of the grounds committee where he served for 25 years and is credited with accomplishing an unprecedented number of major capital improvements to the fairgrounds.
In 2007, Parker served as the general contractor and excavator for the construction of a new fairgrounds office and safety center, and he and his wife Judy financed the construction of the office project with their personal funds.
The purpose of the Lake County Fair Hall of Fame is to recognize individuals who have made special contributions to the success of the Lake County Fair. Nominations are accepted at the fair office on an annual basis until June 1 each year.
