Dear Editor,

It is with much respect and gratitude that I would like to congratulate a true Belmont County treasure, the eastern campus of Ohio University, which is located approximately five miles west of St. Clairsville off Exit 213 of Interstate 70 and U.S. 40 (National Road) for 65 outstanding years of service.

Ohio University Eastern, which was established in 1957, sits on a 358-acre campus that has been its location for over the previous five decades, is one of five branch campuses of Ohio Universtiy, with its main campus in Athens, Ohio, founded in 1803, the year the state of Ohio was established.

In addition to the main academic facility on campus, Shannon Hall, which was named after Wilson Shannon, who was Ohio’s first state-born governor, there also exists on campus the Health and Physical Education Center, which was constructed in 1997.

Over the decades OUE has educated a large number of students, which an estimated 60 percent being residents of Belmont County, with others residing in approximately 20 other Ohio counties, as well as students residing in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia, Southwestern Pennsylvania and elsewhere.

Personally, I began my post-secondary educational career at OUE, then more commonly referred to as OU-Belmont in 1969, following my high school graduation where I attended prior to my transferring to the main campus in Athens to complete my undergraduate studies.

I affectionately recall my tenure at OUE as being well-taught by truly dedicated professionals, in traditionally smaller classrooms, who were quite willing to provide individual encouragement and guidance as needed, and were highly committed to helping their students succeed to the best of their requisite academic abilities.

Also, while a student at OUE I was fortunate to befriend many other students, four of whom I became suitemates with while attending the main campus, with whom I have remained lifelong friends.

I am extremely grateful for my wonderful, and very rewarding, experiences at OUE, as it played a major role in my becoming the professional and adult that I have over the years, and, thankfully, continue to be.

I wish OUE much continued success for many years into the future.

Richard Hord

Martins Ferry