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Category Archives: Prominent Local Figures
Natalie Babbit
Natalie Babbitt (née Moore) was an American writer and illustrator of children’s books. She wrote Tuck Everlasting, which was adapted into two films and a musical on Broadway.
Natalie was born in Dayton on July 28, 1932, to personnel administrator Ralph Moore and former artist Genevieve Converse Moore. Natalie grew up with what she referred to as an “Ohio life view”, which she described as “the feeling that certain things are right, and that’s that.”
Since childhood, Natalie wanted to be an illustrator. She studied at Laurel School in Cleveland and Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. Later, she married Samuel Babbitt, and together they had three children, born between 1956 and 1960.
Together, the couple created The Forty-ninth Magician, written by Samuel and illustrated by Natalie. Eventually Samuel became too busy to continue with books and Natalie was encouraged to continue producing children’s books. She started with short books, then continued on to children’s novels.
Children’s novels was where Natalie succeeded. For her books, she won the following awards:
- Tuck Everlasting – named an ALA Notable Book and ranked among the “Top 100 Chapter Books” of all time by the School Library Journal. Adapted into a movie twice and a Broadway Musical
- The Eyes of Amaryllis – adapted into a movie in 1982.
- Received The Newbery Honor Award
- Received the Christopher Award
- U.S. Nominee for Hans Christian Andersen Award in 1982
- Finalist for Edgar Allan Poe Award
- Awarded the inaugural E.B. White Award for achievement in children’s literature by the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
Natalie’s writing career spanned four decades and produced 20 books she wrote and 10 she illustrated. She also illustrated five volumes in the Small Poems Series by Valerie Worth. She was a frequent contributor to The Times Book Review, continuing to write into her 70s.
Natalie died on October 31, 2016 at her home in Hamden Connecticut. She had lung cancer. She was survived by her husband Samuel, and her three children, Dr Christopher Converse Babbitt, Thomas Collier Babbitt, and Lucy Cullyford Babbitt.
Regarding the subject of immortality from Tuck Everlasting, Natalie echoed Angus Tuck. “I think that living forever would be a terrible thing,” she once said. “ It would be boring, sad and lonely.”
Local Author Stephen Grismer
Sgt. Stephen Grismer (ret.) is a 25-year veteran of the Dayton Police Department. He attended the police academy in 1976 and was later assigned to uniform patrol duties in the Fifth District of northwest Dayton. Grismer was promoted in 1986, Grismer and his career included investigations, staff, internal affairs, drug enforcement, intelligence, and training.
He was a 12-year member of the hostage negotiation team and the vice president of the Dayton Fraternal Order of Police. Grismer is a 1984 graduate of the University of Dayton with a degree concentration in journalism and a minor in criminal justice. In 2008 he helped produce the successful police exhibit at Carillon Historical Park, “Patrolling the Streets of Dayton.”
When the exhibit closed at Carillon, many people wished to keep the history of the Dayton Police Department alive. As one of the original architects of this Dayton Police History Exhibit, Stephen formed a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of Dayton police history. Dayton Police History Foundation, Inc. was chartered by the State of Ohio on January 1, 2010.
In addition to all of his service and contributions to the community, Stephen has written the following books:
- The Dean, Dillinger, and Dayton, Ohio
- Drenched Uniforms and Battered Badges: How Dayton Police Emerged from the 1913 Flood
Along with authors Judith Monseur and Dennis Murphy, Stephen Grismer also wrote:
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ALSO
Sara will have a table/space at this weekend’s Huber Haunts at Thomas Cloud Park on Saturday from 1-5! Come out and enjoy the fun and buy some books!
Mabel Creager Barnes & Dwight L. Barnes
A 1991 Dayton Daily News article titled “Looking back at ‘hay’ days” highlighted a brief history of schools in the Kettering/Dayton area and a retired teacher named Mabel Creager Barnes.
Comparing the ages of local schools is a difficult task because the creation of early schools was an informal and often undocumented process. Schools were often one-room buildings established by ministers on church grounds.
The first school in the West Carrollton area was established in 1802 in Alexandersville, which is roughly where Woody’s Market on Dixie Drive stood. Dayton had a school district established by 1831. Miami Township is likely next given its proximity to the Great Miami River and the fact that settlements normally began near bodies of water. Area settlements began at Riverside and moved inland. The oldest settlements would have had the earliest schools. Van Buren Township School District was established June 24, 1841, when the township separated from Dayton.
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Nancy Cartwright Donates to Rosewood Arts Center
Nancy Cartwright, Emmy Award winning voice of Bart Simpson and former Kettering resident, gave back to Kettering in a big way. She donated $100,000 to The Rosewood Arts Center Reinvention and Renovation campaign. Cartwright graduated from Fairmont West High School, now Fairmont High School. Cartwright’s voice talents are not limited to just Bart Simpson, she has also voiced Ralph Wiggum, Todd Flanders, Nelson Muntz, and Maggie. Among many of her other voice roles are: Chucky from Rugrats, Rufus from Kim Possible, and Mindy from Animaniacs.
In a statement, Cartwright commented, “I am thrilled and deeply honored to contribute to this incredible art facility. I truly believe that the expansion and survival of our culture depend on our unwavering support for both art and artists. The Rosewood Arts Center stands as a beacon for bringing hope and inspiring greatness in others.”
Cartwright will also have a permanent association with Rosewood as it introduces “The Nancy Cartwright Painting and Drawing Studio.”
Civil War Veteran John Deis
If you visit Calvary Cemetery, you will see the name John Deis carved into the base of a cannon in the soldiers’ section.
Deis was born in Baden, Germany on March 21, 1837, the oldest of five children to parents Philip and Franciska. They came to this country when John was 11. As soon as he was old enough to vote for president, John voted for Abraham Lincoln. Soon after that election, Lincoln called for volunteers for the Union Army. John immediately organized a company of men from the Dayton area then marched them to Fort Dennison, near Cincinnati. They enlisted and became Company M, First Ohio Volunteer Light Artillery with Deis as commander. He soon became 1st Sergeant and served until the end of 1864.
Deis’ military career included the battles of Pittsburgh Landing, Shiloh Corinth, Stone River, Atlanta, and Jonesboro, serving under Tecumseh, General Sherman, and William S. Rosecrans. John’s younger brother Philip had also joined but was unfortunately killed in Georgia during General Sherman’s March to the Sea.
When he returned to the war, he organized an officer’s club called the Old Grand Post #23, Grand Army of the Republic. He was Grand Marshall in many parades and took charge of Memorial Day. Deis helped to get the cannon erected in the soldier’s section of Calvary Cemetery. It was dedicated on May 30, 1901. His name was carved on the base as tribute.
John married Elizabeth Belm in 1861. Together they had 13 children with at least 6 living to adulthood. Deis was a member of The Knights of Columbus, St. John’s Society, and Holy Trinity Church. He also helped secure the site for St. Joseph’s Orphanage. John died in 1923 and is buried in Calvary Cemetery in a family plot along with his brother Philip.
Lieutenant Colonel Charity Adams Earley
Lieutenant Colonel Charity Adams Earley has received some recognition recently. The Lieutenant Colonel Charity Adams Earley Women’s Clinic was dedicated at the Dayton VA Campus on June 12. This will be her second namesake honor. On April 27, 2023, Fort Lee in Virginia was officially renamed Fort Gregg-Adams in honor of Lt. Gen. Arthur Gregg and Lt. Col. Charity Adams.
Charity Edna Adams was born in Kitrell, North Carolina in 1918. Her father was a minister, and her mother was a former teacher. When she was a young girl, her family moved to South Carolina, which she later considered home.
Charity was intellectually gifted and started school in second grade. By the end of elementary school, she was tested and scored ready to start high school. Her parents decided not to advance her any more grades since she was already a few grades ahead of her age group in school. Charity graduated school two years early as valedictorian. At Wilberforce College, Charity majored in Latin, Math, and Physics. She held a part-time job and was involved in many student activities before she graduated in 1938.
During WWII, Charity was the first African American female officer in the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC, later called WAC). She led the 3rd Training Regiment, made up of two white and one black platoon. At Fort Des Moines, she was promoted to Major, which made her the highest-ranking female officer at the fort and one of the highest-ranking WAC officers in the country. She then deployed to Europe and led the first Black WAC unit to serve overseas. For her work in Europe, Charity was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, the highest possible rank for WAC.
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Sara’s Ghost Tours
Teaming up with the Downtown Dayton Partnership, Sara is hosting two walking tours in downtown Dayton to highlight some haunted buildings! The tour will be approximately one mile and last for one hour.
When: May 11th at 2 and 4pm
To register for this event, visit this link
Dayton Animator Mark Henn – a 2024 Disney Legend
Mark Henn, A man from Dayton was named one of the fourteen 2024 Disney Legends Award Honorees
The Disney Legends Awards program is a 37 year old tradition and the highest honor the company can bestow, according to Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger.
“To be named a Disney Legend is the highest honor our company can bestow on anyone, reserved for those whose talent and achievement have earned them an enduring place in our history,” Iger said. “The fourteen individuals to be honored as Disney Legends this year have each made extraordinary creative contributions across the worlds of Disney.”
Henn joined Walt Disney Animation Studios in 1980 as an assistant animator on the Fox and the Hound. His first major assignment was animating Mickey Mouse in Mickey’s Christmas Carol, Mickey’s first big appearance in 30 years. Henn served as the supervising animator for Young Simba and five female leads, more than any artist in the history of the studio. He supervised the animation of Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Mulan, and Tiana. He animated Simba from The Lion King, the titular character in Pocahontas, and Giselle from Enchanted.
Henn has helped a new generation of Disney animators with character animation in CG features such as Ralph Breaks the Internet. He was the lead 2D animator on Big Hero 6 and Frozen and served as a 2D animator for “Mini Maui” in Moana. In 2013, Henn received ASIFA’s highest award in animation, the Winsor McCay Award for lifetime achievement. Henn was also commissioned to paint Mickey Mouse’s official portrait for the character’s 90th anniversary in 2018
Officer McCain to Detective McCain
Beavercreek Police department has the first female detective in their history. According to Police Chief Jeff Fiorita, “Officer McCain has consistently demonstrated exceptional professionalism and dedication throughout her career. Her assignment to detective is a testament to her exemplary service to the Beavercreek community and leadership qualities. We are proud to have her as the first female detective in our department’s history.”
Casey McCain obtained her Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission certification in November 2015 from Clark State. She started her career as a dispatcher at the Champaign County Communications Center from 2013 to 2016. She then went on to serve the city of Urbana in 2016, where she remained until 2022. She moved to Beavercreek Police in February 2022, as one of ten female officers sworn in to their roster of fifty, the highest number of women in Beavercreek Police history.
Dayton Unknown 