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The Ohio State Alumni Club of Van Wert/Paulding Counties held its annual Buckeye Bash on Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at JEHMMS Banquet Facility in
Van Wert.
Two-time Heisman Trophy winner, Archie Griffin was the guest speaker of the event. Archie is now the President and CEO of the Ohio State Alumni
Association. He is the only person to speak 4 different times at the Buckeye Bash. The bash was packed with 280 people attending and ready to root for the
Buckeyes against the Wolverines in the greatest rivalry in college football.
During his remarks, Archie said that he is most proud of the fact that he never lost a football game to the University of Michigan. His football record against
Michigan is 3 wins and 1 tie. He stated that the most valuable lesson that he learned from his football coach, the legendary Woody Hayes, was to always “pay
it forward”...meaning that you can never pay back what has been given to you, however, you can help as many people as possible in your lifetime.
As an example, Archie recalled going to visit the Children’s Hospital every Thursday night with his team. Coach Hayes purposely had the team go through a back
door in order to keep the visits out of the press because he wanted the trips to be about the kids and not PR for the team.
At the conclusion of his talk, Archie was presented with a basketful of gifts from Van Wert and Paulding counties.
Other events during the bash included a silent auction, regular auction, Buckeye Bingo, door prize drawing, 50/50 drawing, announcement of the club's popcorn
fundraiser, and music by the Van Wert High School Pep Band under the direction of Robert Sloan.
Last year the Alumni Club of Van Wert/Paulding Counties gave over $9,000 in scholarships and grants to local students enrolled at the Ohio State University and
its branches.
Several large boxes of food items were collected for distribution to Van Wert and Paulding food pantries.
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