By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
Many surprises were in store for outgoing Bucyrus Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Deb Pinion at Tuesday’s annual dinner and awards program. This year’s event was held at The Loft at Pickwick Place.
Pinion, who has served with the Bucyrus Area Chamber of Commerce for the past 21 years, co-hosted the event with incoming director Tyler Jacobs. During the dinner Pinion reflected on numerous accomplishments of local businesses that occurred while she served as Executive Director for the Bucyrus Area Chamber of Commerce including Pickwick Place being restored, the growth of the Pelican House, and Cooper’s Mill.
Prior to the dinner Pinion spoke of her favorite accomplishments with the Chamber.
“Some of the things I am proudest of is of course the murals, and the work I did on getting Route 30 to a four lane across the corridor. When I was graduating from high school at Wynford in 1967, they were going to build that road any day, and we dedicated it in 2002,” Pinion said. “So I along with a couple other people, got the head of ODOT and Congressman (Mike) Oxley to drive it, and we stopped at every place where there was a fatal accident over the years, and read their names to them. And about eight months later they broke ground on the road. So that was a very rewarding thing because way too many people lost their lives out there.”
Before to going to the mic to share her memories, Jacobs sprung numerous surprises on Pinion. The surprises had Pinion crying tears of joy as her son, daughter-in-law and grandkids entered The Loft. Making their way to the front table, Pinion greeted them with hugs as they came to celebrate the evening with her.
After greeting her family, Jacobs sprung another surprise with a video of her family along with friend Todd Boyer of Ohio Mutual Insurance Group of Bucyrus. During Boyer’s pre-recorded comments to Deb, he recalled
his first time meeting Pinion, noting that her words laid the groundwork for what would become Crawford 2020 Vision. The video closed with Eric and Kathy Grohe recording their message from their home in Washington state. At the end of the video Eric looked at the clock and said, “We still have time,” at which point the video cut out and the Grohe’s entered The Loft to congratulate Pinion in person.
After the surprises were finished, Pinion gave her reflections. Then she noted that she had “reverted back to a little cowgirl surrounded by family and friends,” thanking her family and all in attendance.
President of the Bucyrus Area Chamber of Commerce and owner of U Be Dazzled Sue Logsdon reflected on the evening and Pinion.
“We want to congratulate her for all her years of service and a lot of the great things she has brought to our community, like the murals have been one of the things that have been near and dear to her heart along with Eric and Kathy Grohe,” Logsdon said. “We just wish her the best, and tonight is a celebration of her success with the chamber for 21 years.”
Jacobs remarked of the importance of the evening.
“This evening is especially special, because we are honoring Deb Pinion, who has spent the last 21 years serving the Bucyrus Area Chamber,” Jacobs said.
After awards were given and memories shared, Bucyrus City Council President Sis Love presented Pinion with a proclamation from Mayor Jeff Reser which decreed that October 28 would officially be Deb Pinion Day in the City of Bucyrus.