O.J. AND GEORGIA HUFFMAN: Hancock County Born, Hancock County Raised, Hancock County Proud

BY BRANDEN FERGUSON

O.J. Huffman was born on November 19, 1917, in Van Buren, Ohio. In July 1938, he married Georgia St. Clair, and the two continued their life in Hancock County. O.J. farmed 800 acres while wearing many hats over the years. He was a member of the McComb Rotary Club, a charter member of the Liberty Township Fire Department, former CEO and Chairman of the Board of People’s Bank in McComb, and a Hancock County Commissioner.

The Huffmans were invested in Hancock County and wanted to see it thrive. In 1966 O.J. was elected a county commissioner, where he served one term until 1970. When the McComb bank was on the verge of closing in the late 1970s due to legal problems, O.J. pulled in and said “We’re going to fix this,” his daughter Jayne Dahlgren recalls. “He managed to do just that.” O.J. was the majority stockholder when he became the CEO. When the bank was bought by Rurban Financial Corp., he became a director.

Outside of their passion for making Hancock County better, the Huffmans were passionate about education. Avid supporters of the University of Findlay, the two set up the O.J. and Georgia Huffman Scholarship Endowment Fund. Scholarship assistance is awarded through the fund annually, and first preference is given to graduates of any Hancock County high school. The scholarship goes to help those who are not receiving additional assistance from athletics, and can be awarded multiple years to the same students if they maintain a 3.00 or better G.P.A.

One of those students is Riley Metzker, who is currently studying psychology, but plans to continue her education at UF and transition to the occupational therapy graduate program after she completes her undergraduate degree. “Growing up in a less privileged community has not only offered financial and academic challenges, but has also helped me realize the importance of a college education,” Riley said. “Receiving the O.J. and Georgia Huffman Scholarship motivates me to maintain my GPA and complete my degree. I look forward to being able to give back to my community as a future occupational therapist,” she wrote in her thank you letter to the family.

Courtney Grace Fox is also a recipient of a scholarship from the Huffman family. She’s finishing up her pharmacy degree and hopes to stay in the area and serve the Findlay community. She holds multiple jobs to help pay for schooling, and thanks the Huffman family for easing the stress. “I have been working to pay off my college tuition and books, and it is a lot to juggle. Your generosity means a lot and has already helped me so much. Thank you for investing in my future. I trust that God has a plan for my life, and I am very excited to see where he takes me,” she wrote to the family.

The O.J. and Georgia Huffman Scholarship Endowment Fund is currently awarded to 23 UF students.

The O.J. and Georgia Huffman Scholarship Endowment Fund