T-L Photo/GAGE VOTA Longtime Yorkville village council member Ronald Emerson smiles during his 95th surprise birthday party this past September at his home.

YORKVILLE — For the past 60 years, it would be very unlikely that you could think of the village of Yorkville without thinking of longtime council member Ronald Emerson.

Born on September 28, 1930, in Tiltonsville, to the late John and Irma (Kritz) Emerson, Emerson passed away at his home on Wednesday at the age of 95. He began serving on the village’s council in 1963 after filling an unexpired term. He then participated in and won 17 elections leading to him to serve over six decades on council until he stepped down from his seat this past April due to health issues. He was replaced by Linda Mayhugh, who will serve out the remaining two years left of his term.

In 2021, Emerson was honored for his longtime dedication to Yorkville in the Marquis “Who’s Who of America” book.

The book is a biographical dictionary that sheds light on notable men and women across the country. Emerson was nominated to be included in the 2021 edition by former U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Ohio — a Republican who now serves as president of Youngstown State University — for his continued commitment to the Yorkville community.

Through the connection he made with Johnson, Emerson was able to obtain the medals his brother George Emerson was awarded from being killed while serving in the United States Army in World War II. Emerson’s family never received any of the medals until Johnson helped.

Emerson said that Johnson was able to get him in contact with military historians who provided him with the records he needed to collect his brother’s medals from the Army.

Emerson is survived by his wife Sally (DiNapoli) Emerson, his son George “Buddy” (Amy) Emerson, his three daughters Angela Davis, Susan (Michael) Kovalick and Charlene (Scott) Kreitzer, as well as ten grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

In addition to serving 60-plus years on council, Emerson was also a member of the Yorkville Fire Department, Knights of Columbus, Holy Name Society, Jefferson County Democratic Party and Buckeye Boosters. He was a graduate of Warren Consolidated High School and belonged to the former St. Lucy Catholic Church and St. Joseph Catholic Church. He was an avid golfer and an equally avid Ohio State Buckeyes Fan.

Yorkville Mayor Sandy Reasbeck said that Emerson was a genuine man with an extensive amount of knowledge of the history of the village. She added that he was a great guy and will be missed by, not only her, but the village as a whole.

“He was very supportive of me being the mayor and a very generous man,” Reasbeck said. “He was very good to the village of Yorkville while he was on council. He was also a huge Ohio State fan and he was a really good golfer back in the day.”

Golf was Emerson’s biggest passion in life. He once won two golf tournaments in a single day by winning a tournament at Fairway River Links Golf Course and then driving to a tournament at Bec-Wood Hills Golf Course that he ended up winning as well.

Aside from his time in local government, Emerson also worked as a human resources supervisor at Cardinal Power Plant until he retired in 1992.

His calling, however, was public service.

“I always ran because I wanted to help the people in town,” Emerson said during an interview with the Times Leader this past September. “And I felt that way all through my years in council.”

On his last birthday, Emerson was surprised with his entire family showing up to his home for a party organized by his wife Sally.