Ohio Farm Bureau Honors Gillmor

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COLUMBUS, OH - A crowded room of over 800 people watched Thursday night as the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF) honored the late Congressman Paul Gillmor (R-Tiffin) for his commitment to agriculture in the state. Gillmor was honored with four additional agricultural leaders who received the OFBF’s Distinguished Service Award at its annual meeting in Columbus. Accepting his award was the late Congressman’s wife, Dr. Karen Gillmor, a former two-term Ohio State Senator.

Congressman Gillmor was serving in his tenth term as a member of the United States House of Representatives when he passed away in September. During his long career in Congress, Gillmor held numerous leadership roles including serving as the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials and as Vice President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. Prior to his election to Congress, Gillmor served in the Ohio Senate for twenty-two years. As a State Senator, he was unanimously elected Republican leader five times, and he served as President of the Senate for three General Assemblies.

The Paul and Karen Gillmor family has been a member of Seneca County Farm Bureau since 1973. The Gillmor family farms more than 800 acres in Seneca and Sandusky counties. Among the many initiatives Congressman Gillmor championed in the House, he was recently successful as the only Ohioan named to the Energy Conference which created the first comprehensive energy policy in more than 30 years. The Energy Bill which Gillmor helped craft increased energy exploration and production, improved efficiency; and, most importantly, developed renewable fuels. Prior to the 2005 bill Congressman Gillmor passed, there were no ethanol plants operating in the State of Ohio. Today, there are eight planned in the Fifth District alone, some of which have already broken ground.

“Farming was always at the heart of Paul’s Congressional district. But it is more than just an important industry to so many of our family, friends, and neighbors; it is in fact a way of life,” said Karen Gillmor. “Elections are about connecting with people and Paul would not have been as successful for four decades if he did not share in the hopes and dreams of his friends and neighbors. Paul truly believed in the values of people of Northwest Ohio and the people of Northwest Ohio believed in Paul’s values. My husband would have been proud to accept this award today because the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation stands for our way of life and the hopes and dreams of so many across Northwest Ohio.”

“Ohio Farm Bureau is pleased to recognize these five individuals for their passion and commitment. Their contributions to Ohio agriculture are admirable,” said John C. (Jack) Fisher, executive vice president of OFBF.