All of this bicentennial hullabaloo has got me thinking...
Do you think local officials ever feel slighted?
The reason I ask is because the city never seems to name buildings after local officials.
I mean picture it now, the Ric Abel City Hall. That could be a really amazing way to honor these dedicated politicians and civil servants for their years of blood, sweat and tears.
(I know, I know, maybe naming a building after anyone for their contributions recently might be a bit of a stretch. The Athens skate park is a wonderful achievement in city government. But is it building-worthy? That I'm not so sure about.)
But seriously, despite all of their achievements, local leaders never seem to get that kind of recognition.
Picture Ohio University for a second. How many buildings on this campus are named after past presidents, trustees and notable students? Probably too many to count on all your fingers and toes.
But the truly amazing thing about all these buildings is that you don't have to be that great of a president, trustee or student to have a building named after you.
Take for example McGuffey hall, which sits proudly next to Cutler Hall at the top of College Green. This hall is named after OU President William Holmes McGuffey, who served OU from 1839-41.
But McGuffey's term as president was riddled with debt and conflict, which ultimately led to closing OU for three years in 1845. With a background in education, McGuffey seemed like a great fit for the fledgling university. But soon after his arrival student enrollment numbers dropped because of McGuffey's strict code of conduct and intensified study program.
(Students were expected to begin study and prayers at 6 a.m. and were forbidden some of the necessities of student life - namely alcohol.)
It was also during McGuffey's rule that the university was sued over the land contracts it had with most of the residents. After the lawsuits were settled, the university was left with an astronomical debt, which ultimately caused McGuffey to resign from his presidency.
But President William Holmes McGuffey has a building named after him. (And not just any building; the twin edifices of Wilson and McGuffey halls flank
Cutler Hall on much of the letter head sent from the university.)
Maybe Ric Abel's term as mayor hasn't been marked with phenomenal successes that have changed life in Athens for the better forever, but he hasn't bankrupted and shut down the city either.
At the next city council meeting, I propose a new ordinance - an ordinance to rename the Athens City Hall to the Ric Abel Memorial Hall.
So pat yourself on the back Mr. Mayor. You deserve it.
Send her an e-mail at lauren.mcdowell@ohiou.edu
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Lauren McDowell
