City of Columbus

James “Buster” Douglas A 1978 graduate of Linden-McKinley High School and Heavyweight Champion of the world in 1990, James “Buster” Douglas brought honor and accolades to his hometown of Columbus, Ohio with his long-shot upset of then unbeaten Mike Tyson. Douglas’s victory is all the more remarkable because he was able to overcome personal difficulties – such as the death of his mother just three weeks before the fight – and persevere into triumph. James “Buster” Douglas began boxing at age 10, winning local Golden Gloves and Ohio State Fair awards as a teenager. His first professional fight, at the age of 21, was in 1981. - learn more

Golda M. Edmonston Golda M. Edmonston was a member of the Ohio House of Representatives for five terms in the 1940s and 1950s. She was an outspoken advocate of women in the workplace, particularly in government, and proposed legislation that would ensure women equal pay for equal work multiple times throughout her tenure - learn more

Colonel Donn F. Eisele Colonel Donn F. Eisele was born in Columbus, Ohio, on June 23, 1930. He graduated from West High School, Columbus, Ohio; received a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Naval Academy in 1952 and a Master of Science degree in Astronautics in 1960 from the Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

Eisele was one of the third group of astronauts selected by NASA in October 1963 and logged 260 hours in space.
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Frank Fetch Frank Fetch, founder of the German Village Society and instrumental in the development of the German Village commission, is known locally, nationally and internationally as the “Father of German Village.” By the 1950’s, the area that would someday be named German Village was designated by the City of Columbus as a “blighted” area, scheduled for demolition. Enter Frank Fetch, whose efforts led to formal recognition of German Village as a historic neighborhood deserving preservation and protection. The resultant rebirth and rehabilitation enabled German Village to become a viable economic community and an international tourist attraction for the City of Columbus. Thanks to the vision of Frank Fetch. - learn more

Mary Teresa Funk Mary Teresa Funk served the City of Columbus from 2000 to 2010, after many years of being a neighborhood advocate and President of the Harrison West Society. - learn more

John W. Galbreath   Real estate developer and sports entrepreneur, John W. Galbreath has brought Columbus worldwide recognition. His development company, John W. Galbreath and Company, has operated in Columbus and other cities since 1920 and has developed housing facilities and office buildings throughout the world. Mr. Galbreath operated Darby Dan Farms outside Columbus, where he raised horses and grain products, and he also owned Darby Dan Farms in Lexington, Kentucky, where he bred thoroughbred horses. His horses have won all three Triple Crown and England’s Epsom Derby. He was also chairman and principal owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team. A graduate of Ohio University in Athens, Mr. Galbreath annually gave scholarships to ten Columbus area students to help them attend his alma mater. His other philanthropic interests ranged from medical research, to the Arts, to equine research. While Mr. Galbreath’s contributions and honors are too numerous to mention, they distinguish him as a citizen, sportsman and entrepreneur. - learn more

Reverend Dr. Washington Gladden The Rev. Dr. Washington Gladden served as the Minister of the First Congregational Church of Columbus, Ohio from 1882 to 1918. - learn more

Horace “Hank” Gowdy Columbus native Hank Gowdy distinguished himself as an outstanding baseball player and coach. A member of professional teams in Dallas, Buffalo, Minneapolis, Rochester, Cincinnati, New York and Boston, Gowdy was a hero of the 1914 World Series, with a .535 batting average that sports writers and fans agreed had helped gain victory for the Boston Braves. He later coached the Boston club and eventually returned to Columbus to manage the Columbus Jets and become the organization’s director of youth activity. Gowdy began his baseball career sweeping out the Columbus stadium before school. He never forgot his humble beginning and accepted accolades with mild-spoken bashfulness. - learn more

Lynn Greer Lynn Greer is the epitome of what it means to be a public servant. From a very young age, Lynn’s parents instilled in her the need and duty to give of yourself to make the world a better place. She has spent her entire life doing just that with her “can do” spirit and fiery passion. - learn more

Archie Griffin As a junior at Ohio State University, Archie Griffin became the 40th winner of the coveted Heisman Trophy, emblematic of the premier college football player in America in 1974. As a senior in 1975, Griffin became the first player ever to receive a second Heisman Trophy. - learn more

Charles “Chic” Harley A gifted athlete, who helped Columbus attain the mythical title of “College Football Capital of the World,” Chic Harley’s sports heroics at Ohio State University are legendary. Know best for his performances on the football field, Harley also was outstanding at basketball, track and baseball, and was Ohio State’s First four-sport letterman. - learn more

W.W. “Woody” Hayes With a victory over Wisconsin in 1975, Ohio State University football coach Wayne Woodrow “Woody” Hayes became the fourth winningest coach in the history of college football with 208 victories, surpassed only by Amos Alonzo Stagg, Glenn “Pop” Warner and Paul “Bear” Bryant. Before the start of the 1975 season, Hayes’ 25^th at Ohio State, he had amassed a phenomenal 169 wins, 51 losses and eight ties as head coach of the Buckeyes, including three national championships, ten Big Ten titles and seven Rose Bowl appearances. Hayes has coached two Heisman Trophy winners and forty-five first team All Americans. He was named “College Coach of the Year” in 1957 and runner-up twice. Columbus is extremely proud of a man who has gained great honor as an outstanding coach, dedicated teacher and unselfish friend of past and present Ohio State players. - learn more

Wil Haygood  A native of Columbus, Ohio, Wil Haygood began his writing career at the Columbus Call and Post. He has been a Guggenheim and National Endowment for the Humanities Fellow. He has worked for both the Boston Globe - where, as a foreign correspondent he was taken hostage by Somali rebels - learn more

Maude Hill Ms. Hill joined Homeport in 1990 and has served as Senior Vice President of Community & Government Relations since 2016. - learn more

Chief James G. Jackson Chief Jackson was promoted to the position of Chief of Police on June 15, 1990, and has the distinction of being the only Civil Service Chief of Police of a city with a population of 500,000 or more in the United States. - learn more

Janet Jackson Janet E. Jackson spent 14 years as president and CEO of United Way of Central Ohio, one of the largest United Way organizations in the country. - learn more

Donna James Donna A. James is a trusted resource and advisor to leaders in the public and private sector, ranging from entrepreneurs to C‐suite executives of Fortune 500 companies. - learn more

Elsie Bierbower Janis A talented writer and actress, Elsie Bierbower Janis gained international recognition in the entertainment industry. Miss Bierbower wrote songs and books, and entertained American soldiers in France during World War I. She was later awarded the title of “Sweetheart of the American Expeditionary Forces.” A hit on the London stage, Miss Bierbower also performed at the White House during the McKinley presidency. One of her most successful plays was “The Vanderbilt Cup.” Born in Columbus in 1889, Elise Bierbower Janis was a credit to the entertainment industry and the city she called home. - learn more

Charles Y. Lazarus Family Tradition: “Loyalty to the family, loyalty to the business, loyalty to the community and the nation.” Charles Lazarus, a native of Columbus, began his career as a part time Lazarus associate. After graduation from Yale University, in 1936, he joined the store as a full time salesman. In 1941 he left the Lazarus store to serve his country as a member of the military. By the time of his discharge in 1945, he had attained the rank of lieutenant colonel, Air Force Transportation Command, and had been decorated with honors such as the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star, among others. - learn more

Mary Lazarus Mary Lazarus is a civic and philanthropic leader who has used her voice and philanthropy to further social justice in our community. Mary is exemplary of how women make their mark in a long term way. She has always recognized the needs in our community and worked to address them to make this community an even more incredible place. - learn more