CENTERBURG – A well-known Centerburg-area man will be honored next week for nearly a half century of service to public education in Knox County.
Richard “Dick” “Jess” McLarnan, who will turn 90 in May, will retire Dec. 31 after 48 years on the Knox Educational Service Center (ESC) board of governors and 46 years on the Knox County Career Center board of education.
He has served lengthy tenures as president of both boards.
McLarnan will be the guest of honor on Wednesday, Dec. 13, at a public reception in the McLarnan Seminar Room (yes, it’s named in his honor) at the Knox Technical Center, 308 Martinsburg Road.
He will convene his final meeting of the ESC board at noon. The session is expected to be brief, followed by the reception until 1:30 p.m.
While McLarnan is widely known as “Dick,” many also know him as “Jess.”
A friend who also grew up in Centerburg said McLarnan picked up the lasting nickname as a child when he enjoyed playing that he was Jesse James.
ESC Superintendent Dr. Timm Mackley has worked with McLarnan for 12 years.
“Dick McLarnan has been presiding over ESC functions for so long that it truly will not be the same without him. His leadership as board president has been a critical stabilizing influence on the Knox ESC,” Mackley said.
“On a personal level, Dick is humble, kind, friendly and sensible. He has been a valued colleague and a good friend to me and to dozens of other ESC employees past and present.
“I have never known a better board president or a more agreeable person. We will miss him greatly.”
Kathy Greenich recalled that McLarnan was her first board president when she took over as KCCC superintendent nearly a decade ago.
“It has been my pleasure to serve with Richard since 2014,” she said. “ His love for the career center is always evident. He attended any event he could, including serving meals to students each Thanksgiving and Christmas.
“He loved hearing students share about their career tech experiences during board meetings. I will always appreciate his faith in me and his encouraging visits to see how things were going.”
Last year the Ohio School Boards Association honored McLarnan for his “continued dedication and commitment t the craft of being a model board member.”
In a subsequent interview he recalled that his service to public education began when he filled a vacancy on the ESC board.
“When Lee Dill announced that he was gong to resign as the representative from the Centerburg area, my dad said, ‘Why don’t you apply?’ said McLarnan, a 1952 Centerburg High School graduate.
“I thought about it, then decided to try it. When I got started on the board, the main thing for me was that I had kids in school. I wanted to make a contribution to the schools.
“A couple of years after I was appointed to the ESC board, I also joined the career center board,” McLarnan said. “I was on the committee when the Knox County Career Center and the Knox Technical Center were built.
“I spent a lot of time in the schools and enjoyed it very much. It has been an enjoyable situation for me. There have been ups and downs, but I have always enjoyed serving on both boards.
“I think it has kept me younger.”