Pair named to Civil War panel
By BETTY J. POKAS, Times Leader Area EditorA MARTINS FERRY native, who co-founded and publishes an award-winning magazine, and the Ohio Valley Civil War Roundtable president, who teaches in Steubenville, have been appointed to Ohio's Civil War 150 Advisory Committee.
David E. Roth, formerly of Martins Ferry, and Roger Micker, president of the Ohio Valley Civil War Roundtable, are among the 15 persons named by the Ohio Historical Society to the committee formed as a result of Gov. Ted Strickland's directive to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the Civil War in Ohio.
Jim Strider, acting executive director of the historical society, explained in a press release that the committee will provide guidance to the historical society on programs and activities to ensure a successful commemoration effort at both the state and local levels. Members will serve until the end of 2015.
Roth, a 1970 graduate of Martins Ferry High School, was graduated summa cum laude from Ohio University. He worked as a certified public accountant for eight years and then he and his wife decided to publish the magazine in 1982.
The result, Blue & Gray magazine, has won several awards and, according to its Web site, "offers its readers a modern and colorful adventure back in time. Each issue features a battle or significant Civil War site with modern color photographs, period photos, battle maps and a self-guiding tour."
Micker, a Wheeling resident who is a social studies teacher at Steubenville High School, not only is president of the Ohio Valley Civil War Roundtable, but is a reenactor, a member of the Ohio Historical Society Teacher Advisory Committee and a Teaching American History program participant.
The Ohio Valley Civil War Roundtable, which includes many Eastern Ohio residents, is responsible for many projects related to the Civil War.
One of the Roundtable's major projects was restoration of Martins Ferry's Walnut Grove Cemetery and rehabilitating the Confederate Napoleon cannon, which was with Gen. Braxton Bragg's forces at Lookout Mountain. The cannon barrel is genuine, and the carriage is a replica of the original used in that long-ago war.
In an interview with The Times Leader several years ago, Roth revealed that he wasn't interested in the Civil War during his first visit to Gettysburg when he was a teenager. His only interest in that historic site was the statue of Abner Doubleday of baseball fame.
Noting he went to Gettysburg with his parents, Bob and Eileen Roth of Martins Ferry, Roth said he "couldn't wait to get home. The only thing I wanted to see was Abner Doubleday's statue. I saw it and that's the only time I perked up."
Doubleday, a Union general whose heroic efforts earned him a bronze statue at Gettysburg, gained additional fame in 1907 for reputedly inventing baseball but this later was discredited.
That, however, didn't diminish Roth's interest in the Civil War hero.
The former Ferrian doesn't recall when he really became excited about the Civil War, but added he was hooked after reading a book on Gettysburg.
Commenting how his accounting background had helped in starting the magazine, he added, "It's better to get into history by way of business than to get into business by way of history."
Roth indicated he felt blessed by being able to turn "a hobby into a living."
The magazine has surpassed 25 years of operation and 150 issues.
Affiliated with the magazine is The General's Books, which has reprinted books related to the Civil War. Included among the reprints several years ago was "Bonnie Belmont," written by Judge John S. Cochran and revealing antebellum life in Belmont County.
Added to that book reprinted in 1998 was an introduction by Martins Ferry historian Annie Tanks, now deceased, and Cathy Nelson, founder and president of the Friends of Freedom Society Inc., a non-profit group dedicated to the preservation of the underground railroad movement in Ohio.
Roth, who resides in Columbus, and Micker will serve with other committee members chosen from around Ohio.
Another committee member who may be familiar to East Ohioans is John Switzer of the Columbus Dispatch. Previously a weather columnist, he now writes a Sunday Metro column, often revealing his interest in historical topics sometimes associated with East Ohio.
Also on the committee are James Bissland, associate professor of journalism emeritus, Bowling Green State University; Tom Brinkman Jr., a former Ohio legislator from Cincinnati; Andrew Cayton, a Distinguished Professor of History at Miami University, Oxford; Bob Davis, commander of the Department of Ohio, Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War; and Gainor Davis, president and chief executive officer of the Western Reserve Historical Society.
The committee also includes Paul LaRue, social studies teacher and a resident of Washington Court House; Bob Minton, colonel of the Army of the Ohio Reenacting Battalion and involved in Friends and Descendants of Johnson's Island; Don Murphy, CEO of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Cincinnati; Rep. Mark Okey, whose House District 61 includes the McCook House, Carrollton; Diana Thompson, executive director of the Miami County Visitors & Convention Bureau; Catherine Wilson, executive director of the Greene County Historical Society; and Eric Wittenberg, an attorney who has written more than 10 books about the Civil War.
"These individuals represent men and women who have a deep interest in Ohio history, particularly its Civil War heritage," Strider said. "Advisory committee members also will contribute their professional expertise in history, education, state government, historical organizations, media and tourism."
Pokas can be reached at timesleader@timesleaderonline.com.
