T-L Photo/ROBERT A. DEFRANK John Rataiczak, left, master of ceremonies at Barnesville Area Chamber of Commerce spring banquet, and chamber Director Jill Hissom, right, present awards to community members Thursday. Dr. Himalaya Patcha, next to Rataiczak, received the Humanitarian Award, and continuing from left, Bobbi Jo Johnson received the Citizen of the Year Award, Jeff Carpenter accepted the Community Service Achievement Award on behalf of his late mother Helen Carpenter, and Linda Chaney accepted the Lifetime Achievement Memorial Award on behalf of her late father Bill Chaney.

By ROBERT

A. DEFRANK

Times Leader Staff Writer

BARNESVILLE — The Barnesville Area Chamber of Commerce recognized four leading community members for their contributions to the village during its spring banquet Thursday evening.

John Rataiczak served as master of ceremonies.

The Humanitarian Award went to Dr. Himalaya Patcha, medical director of Ohio Hills Health Centers. Born in India, he has been providing local health care for 30 years, and Rataiczak said Patcha is known for the dedication, care and compassion he shows his patients, treating them as family.

“I’ve heard Dr. Patcha tell his patients or their families: ‘I look at you like my mother, my father, my brother, sister, daughter or son,” Rataiczak read from a recommendation letter. “His patients and his family are his life. He practices with empathy and compassion that are unmatched.”

Patcha was emotional when accepting the award, saying he credits his colleagues and staff.

He recalled coming from Chicago and falling in love with Barnesville.

He emphasized the importance of listening and learning.

“We learn from everyone. That is the way things are. The best lesson is listen to everyone, because nobody knows everything, but everyone knows something,” he said.

Bobbi Jo Johnson was named Citizen of the Year for her work in education and coaching.

“She has touched the lives of many children and families in the Barnesville and surrounding community because of her love of teaching,” Rataiczak said, adding she began teaching Barnesville’s kindergarteners in 1974. By the time of her retirement in 2011, she had taught 2,500 students. He said she has started village swim teams and passed on mastery of swimming techniques. “She has one of the most successful swim teams, both summer and high school, in our area.”

She currently works as a literacy consultant, teacher support and website creator for Title programs in Monroe County and Switzerland of Ohio School District, and is a teacher of phonics at the Ohio University Eastern campus.

In the summer of 2022, she arranged a visit by Olympian Hunter Armstrong to the Barnesville pool.

Johnson thanked the chamber and gave a demonstration of her trademark coach’s whistle.

“It is very moving,” she said of the honor. “I encourage anyone to come to the Barnesville pool to see our meets. I’m very proud to have this award.”

Two of the awards were given posthumously and accepted by children of the recipients. Rataiczak said both were humble as well as hard-working individuals.

The Lifetime Achievement Memorial Award went to Bill Chaney, who had earned the Citizen of the Year Award in the past but asked to decline it.

“That’s the kind of man he was. He never liked recognition, but he certainly deserved it,” Rataiczak said.

Chaney practiced law for 61 years and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was a director and trustee of Barnesville Hospital for 54 years and served on boards for Ohio Hills Health Centers, the First National Bank, WesBanco, the Hutton Memorial Library, the First United Methodist Church and the Barnesville Exempted Village School District Board of Education. He also worked with other entities toward the village’s improvement.

“Mr. Chaney at 89 passed away in his home, a lifelong resident of Barnesville,” Rataiczak noted and presented a resolution from the Ohio Senate recognizing Chaney’s commitment to health care services.

His daughter, Linda Chaney, accepted the award on his behalf.

“My dad was all about Barnesville, and I never realized as a child how much he gave to Barnesville,” she said. “For my dad, helping people was just what you did, and he did it because it made him smile. He was always smiling and always helping people.”

The Community Service Achievement Award went to Helen Carpenter, who died in November. Rataiczak said she was a previous member of the chamber of commerce board, as well as an officer with many community organizations such as the Monroe County Chamber of Commerce, the Barnesville Rotary Club and the Elks.

“She passed away too early, but she lives on in all of our hearts,” Rataiczak said, adding that she was proud of her employees as manager of Woodsfield Savings Bank. He recalled that she would greet people with a hug.

Her son Jeff accepted the award. He read the Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican from the Gospel of Luke, which teaches the importance of being humble.

“If she was standing here tonight, she would say she’s not deserving. She would say everyone else in this room was deserving. She knew that each of you being part of the team called Barnesville is what made Barnesville great,” he said.

He recalled her many acts of service, from bigger projects to the small details.

“Growing up, my mom always showed that deeds mattered more than words.”

Rataiczak and chamber Director Jill Hissom also related the work that is done to promote the village, noting there are 230 members of the chamber and that it has thousands of followers on Facebook. Area students are also competing at the state level and higher, they noted.

They reminded banquet attendees of the chamber’s motto: “Eat, Shop and Support Local.”