FREDERICKTOWN — There have been many changes over the years but the core of the Fredericktown Tomato Show has remained firm, thanks to all the volunteers who have given their time and efforts year round for 49 years.
Parade grand marshal Chris Well has been here for nearly all of it, too. Chris has spent most of her life in the Fredericktown area, graduating in 1967 from FHS.
Some of her best memories were growing up right across from Merrin Park. She still gets together with her high school friends.
Some of her high school activities were Fredericktown Teachers Association, cheerleader and GO Club member, marching and concert band, National Honor Society, student newspaper staff and yearbook staff.
After high school, Chris spent a year at Otterbein before transferring to Ohio University, where she earned a degree in elementary education. Her first job was teaching 4th grade in Centerburg for four years before moving on to teaching 3rd grade at Fredericktown.
Her time spent teaching in Centerburg also introduced her to people who would become lifelong friends. Together, they have traveled in and outside the country, celebrated every milestone and told their favorite stories over and over again.
Chris met her husband, Richard, in Centerburg and together they have three daughters: Amy Krownapple, Whitney (Troy) Ansel and Ashley (Dr. Jake) Overholt. All of their kids graduated from FHS too.
They have five grandsons: Rich and Taylor Cline, Graham, Reid and Dane Overholt; three granddaughters: Kali Krownapple, Addison and Emmerson Ansel. They also have three great-grandchildren: Briley, Roslyn and Wesley Cline.
Chris took a break from teaching to raise their daughters but also did some subbing. She returned to teach first grade in 1989. The majority of her teaching years were spent teaching reading/reading recovery until her retirement in 2012.
Chris has continued to support the Freddies, serving on school levy committees, the Fredericktown Alumni Scholarship Committee and the FHS Hall of Honor Committee.
She has also participated in “Christmas at Heart” for many years. That program, started by her friend Carolyn Thompson, provides a decorated Christmas tree for every resident in a Knox County rest home. At its peak, over 700 trees were delivered one Christmas.
It takes a great number of volunteers to make this come together. Chris has always been a member of Cornerstone Community Church. Her help with packing up Peacemeals as well as baking desserts to include in meals is another satisfying job.
Besides being on the board since !977, Chris has served as president 11 times, headed up many committees and swept the streets and moved garbage cans around too many times to count. She’s also a member of the Executive Committee.
Why has she stayed on the board so many years? She enjoys working with the other members.
It’s also nice to see so many “reunions” and people of all ages coming together. Many haven’t seen each other since the year before.
It’s a homecoming of sorts and Chris is happy to be a part of making that happen.
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