Former Lexington school board member replaced by daughter

LEXINGTON – The longest-tenured school board member in Ohio history was replaced by his daughter.

Robert Whitney died on January 1 at the age of 88. He spent nearly 60 years on the Lexington Local Schools Board of Education, including more than 40 years as board chairman.

A few weeks after his death, the remaining board members elected Lore Whitney to replace her father.

The story debuts at No. 10 on the News Journal’s list of the top 10 stories of 2024.

Although Whitney was synonymous with Lexington Local Schools, his legal career began two years earlier, in 1962. Whitney spent all that time as a top lawyer, taking on some of the most high-profile cases in Richland and surrounding counties. Whitney’s ties to the Lexington school district and legal community ran deep. He began his term on the school board in 1964. “I don’t think it will ever be the same without him,” former Lexington Superintendent Mike Ziegelhofer told the News Journal in January. “That’s a unique man.” Whitney was born in Lexington in 1935 and lived there all his life, except for college and two years in the U.S. Army. Whitney never wanted to be anywhere else.

Whitney remembered by old colleague

Keith Stoner served on the school board with Whitney for more than twenty years. He has been vice president for much of that time.

“Bob especially loved connecting with community members, former classmates and friends who loved Lexington as much as he did,” Stoner said for a profile of the man. “He had an encyclopedic memory of our community and our students. He loved seeing our students grow and discover their gifts in academics, athletics and the arts.” The Robert H. Whitney Performing Arts Center in the new school building is a nod to his support of students.

“To say that Mr. Whitney was an important part of our board is the greatest understatement we could make,” Stoner said. “Bob’s passing leaves enormous shoes to fill, and we will do our best to move forward the important work of Lexington Local Schools, consistent with his example and desire to always consider what is best for our students and the families of our district.” Whitney married wife Carole in July 1956. They had four children, two of whom, Rolf and Lore, became lawyers, much to Whitney’s delight.

No fewer than 25 people showed interest in the vacancy for his school board.

In her letter of interest, Lore Whitney said nothing would make her prouder than continuing the excellence of Lexington Local Schools.

Lore Whitney was heavily involved in the school district

The 1980 Lexington graduate is the treasurer of the Lexington Athletic Booster Club.

“I am involved in all activities related to raising funds for the student athletes and athletic facilities,” she wrote to the board. “As you know, the booster club is currently paying for the asphalt renewal. I also file annual reports with the Ohio Attorney General’s office to maintain the nonprofit status for the athletic booster club.”

Whitney wrote that community service is her life. She guides Lexington students and students in surrounding counties in her work as a guardian ad litem through Richland County Domestic Relations Court and Richland County Juvenile Court.

She will serve the remainder of the term until 2025.

“I’m glad we were able to get that number of applicants,” Stoner said. “When push came to shove, Lore was a good choice, and she’s been so deeply involved in the community and the schools for so long. It became pretty clear.”

Her father was just as well known in the courtroom.

He and Bernie Davis were appointed co-counsel in many high-profile cases because they were two of the few county attorneys certified to handle murder and death penalty cases.

“There have been so many I can’t even remember,” Davis said in January. “It was an absolute pleasure working with him. I literally spent thousands of hours with Bob. He was like an older brother to me.”

Davis said the two have never had an argument in more than 50 years of friendship.

He even goes so far as to attribute much of his success to Whitney.

“One of the things he always said to me was make sure people could hear you,” Davis said. “Take charge of the courtroom. That’s something I’ve never forgotten, and I still use it to this day.”

Whitney firmly believed that everyone was not guilty until proven otherwise in a court of law.

“We talked a lot about what our role in society was,” Davis said. “Bob was a true advocate for poor people and those less fortunate. I’ve never seen him turn down a case because people didn’t have money.

‘That was Bob. Until the day he died, that was Bob.”

mcaudill@gannett.com

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This article originally appeared in Mansfield News Journal: Former Lexington school board member replaced by daughter