Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame to induct two from Mahoning County
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Two Mahoning County residents are among 20 people being honored on Thursday as they are inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame.
Air Force Veteran J. Lori Stone and United States Army and Marine Corps Veteran Richard T. Baldwin are in the Hall of Fame's Class of 2019.
The Ohio Department of Veterans Services, the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame Executive Committee, and the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame Foundation will honor the class during its annual Induction Ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 7, at 10 a.m. at the Radiant Life Church in Dublin, Ohio. The public is welcome to attend.
The 20-person class will be honored with medals by Gov. Mike DeWine and ODVS Director Deborah Ashenhurst.
The Class of 2019 was chosen from among 145 nominations. The inductees, which range in age from 49 to 98, span 14 different Ohio counties and four major branches of the United States Armed Forces - the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines. This year's class joins 875 Ohio veterans who have been inducted since inception and represent all eras, branches, and walks of life.
The complete list of 2019 Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame Inductees follows:
J. Lori Stone - Mahoning County - United States Air Force Veteran
Lori began volunteering at the Youngstown VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) in 2007. She was appointed AMVETS representative for the Youngstown VA in 2010 and 2013 was appointed volunteer liaison for the Youngstown VA by the Chief of Voluntary Services for Northeast Ohio VA Healthcare System. In this role, Lori developed memorandums for the coffee cart and food pantry to assure procedures for accountability. Currently, she oversees 130 volunteers. She developed the food pantry for the CBOC, which now distributes more than 6,200 food bags each year. Knowing the CBOC needed a new van to transport veterans from the Youngstown VA to the Cleveland VA, she spearheaded a fundraising drive in May 2017 that raised $40,000. Thanks to the military organizations in the Tri-County Area and a grant she wrote, a passenger van was purchased in September 2017. Lori is an Austintown Lioness and is a Life Member of the Air Force Association (AFA) Chapter 371 and AMVETS Post 112. She received the AFA Medal of Merit Award and the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award from the Lions. Lori also was selected 2018 Veteran of the Year by the United Veterans Council of Youngstown and Its Environs. In May 2019, she received the VA’s Superior Service Award for dedicating more than 17,500 volunteer hours to the VA from August 2007 to September 2018. Lori enters the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame at age 73.
Richard T. Baldwin - Mahoning County - United States Army & Marine Corps Veteran
As a Youngstown Police Officer for 33 years, Richard’s assignments included the Tactical Response Team, which deals with high-risk entries while serving arrest or search warrants, barricaded armed suspects, and hostage situations. He also served as a United States Marshal on the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Fugitive Violent Crime Task Force Unit and provided VIP protection detail for President Bill Clinton. As a law enforcement officer, Richard has taken pride in his work, displaying professionalism and dedication. He is highly motivated and serves as a role model for younger police officers and high school students. Richard is a Life Member of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 35, AMVETS Post 44, Veterans of Foreign War Post 9947, Disabled American Veterans Post 2, and the Ohio National Guard Enlisted Association. For more than ten years, Richard volunteered with Hospice, Todd’s Children’s Hospital, Area Council on Aging, the American Cancer Society Children’s Summer Camp, Mahoning County Special Olympics International, Meals on Wheels, and Chaney High School. Richard has received numerous awards, including the State of Ohio Distinguished Law Enforcement Achievement Award in 2009 and 2017, 2014 Officer of the Year presented by the Mahoning County Mental Health Board Crisis Intervention Team and Honorable Mention of the Prestigious “Top Cop” Award by the National Association of Police Organization. His American Police Hall of Fame Awards includes the 2016 Distinguished Police Service Award, the Law Enforcement Purple Heart and the Silver Star for Bravery. The Youngstown Police Department honored Richard with a Medal of Valor, four Life-Saving Awards, and four Excellent Police Duty Awards. Richard enters the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame at age 65.
- Joseph E. Benedict Jr., Navy, Cuyahoga County
- Jon C. Bennehoof, Navy, Delaware County
- Alvin E. Burzynski, Army, Franklin County
- John M. Dreska, Army, Franklin County
- Ronald P. Dzikowski, Navy, Butler County
- Samuel L. Felton Jr., Marine Corps, Lorain County
- Mary E. Hanna, Air Force, Wood County
- *Mark G. Hannan, Army, Stark County
- Richard A. Isbell, Air Force, Franklin County
- Howard F. "Bud" May, Air Force, Greene County
- James I. Moorman, Air Force, Shelby County
- John T. "Ted" Mosure, Navy, Franklin County
- Katherine T. Platoni, Army, Greene County
- Michael J. Pohorilla, Army, Franklin County
- Bertalan L. Szabo, Army, Summit County
- Donald L. Tedrick, Army, Guernsey County
- James W. Watercutter, Marine Corps, Licking County
- Merle F. Wilberding, Army, Montgomery County
*Awarded posthumously
The Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame was established in 1992 by former Gov. George Voinovich to recognize outstanding professional achievement, service to the community, and selfless acts of veterans following their military service. Charter members of the Hall's Class of 1992 included the six Ohio military veterans who were elected President of the United States and all Medal of Honor recipients from Ohio. Honorees include astronauts, volunteers, community leaders, safety officers, veteran advocates, and former government officials.
