Those Among Us... Noted Local Historian Weldon Carpenter, Receives Ohio State Fair Fifty-Year Club Award

Weldon Carpenter, with his Ohio State Fair Giant Step and Hall of Fame awards. Photo by Gary Rice

Lakewood Resident Weldon Carpenter recently received the Ohio State Fair Fifty Year Club's 2010 Giant Step Award for his "substantial and significant" contributions to the fair over the years. Presently holding the office of historian for that group, Weldon has attended the Ohio State Fair for sixty consecutive years, and has exhibited numerous historic displays for the club, and for the All-Ohio State Fair Band during that time. Weldon is also an active member of the All-Ohio State Fair Alumni Band.

In 2003, Weldon was inducted into the Ohio State Fair Hall of Fame.

A 1954 graduate of Ashland High School, Weldon went on to Ohio State, where he served the OSU band as Drum Major, graduating in 1959.

Though he originally trained as a teacher, Weldon has also had an avid interest in the theater and in the culinary arts. Weldon reports that he has served for many years as the historian for Cleveland's Playhouse Square, and was a part of the original group that tried to save those theaters. He also tells us that he has prepared meals for many famous people over the years, having served both Judy Garland and John Kenley, among many, many others.