2019 in Review: Several public figures remembered

While the area celebrated many crowning achievements in 2019, we also experienced grief with the loss of several prominent figures who served their respective communities with class, grace and dignity.

Emmett McCall

A lifelong resident of Carbon County and a fixture in the Democratic Party, Emmett P. McCall died on March 13.

Before his death, McCall, 80, of Lansford, served as the recorder of deeds in Carbon County since 1999, and had filed a petition seeking his sixth term in May’s primary election.

McCall held the post for the last 20 years and won the party’s nomination in the May primary.

The Democratic Party of Carbon County nominated William “Bill” Richards, of Nesquehoning, as the party’s nominee for Recorder of Deeds to replace McCall as the Democratic nominee for the November municipal election.

Richards lost in the election to newcomer Donna Gentile.

Franklin Ruch

The county lost another class act when Franklin Ruch, 54, of Lehighton, died in a crash the night of April 15 at the intersection of routes 865 and 61 in Schuylkill County.

Ruch served as chairman of the Mahoning Township board of supervisors and was a candidate for Lehighton School Board.

Members of the Carbon County Republican Committee Executive Board voted to nominate David Pollock to the ballot for the two-year township supervisor term in Mahoning Township to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Ruch.

Pollock is a 63-year-old lifelong township resident with previous experience as a township supervisor and fire chief, and he was appointed by the sitting board to replace Ruch until the November election.

Ruch’s name remained on the ballot for school board in the primary. The Democratic Party named Jack Finnegan to fill that vacancy while the Republican Party put Richard Beltz on its ballot, setting up that one-on-one matchup for the fifth seat on the board.

Jesse Mendez

This past spring brought both loss and change to the Lower Towamensing Township’s board of supervisors.

Lifelong resident and Supervisor Bernard Jesse Mendez died on March 26, after 32 years of service and dedication to the township.

In April, the board appointed John “Jay” Mullikin to the vacant seat. Mullikin will fulfill the remainder of Mendez’s term, which expires in 2022.

Other notable deaths

• Slatington Borough Councilman Russell Hallman passed away in late December 2018.

The council began January’s meeting with a tribute to Hallman by draping a black ribbon over his name plate and a red rose placed in his honor.

Hallman held different roles within his community including borough committees and the Northern Lehigh Events Committee, particularly the Northern Lehigh Halloween parade.

Ron Kratz, a member of the Zoning and Hearing Board, was appointed to fill Hallman’s seat on council.

• George Ashman, 93, died in February, and his passing brought great sadness to the area he loved.

In 1944, Ashman was pursuing an electrical engineering degree at Penn State University, but left after he was drafted in the U.S. Army to serve in World War II.

During wartime, he was notably one of the “Monuments Men” who worked to recover art work stolen by the Nazis.

As an advocate for education, Ashman often attended Palmerton Area School Board meetings and was an original member of the Carbon County Partners for Progress, which helped in the formation of the SHINE after-school program. He strived for children to earn the proper education they deserved.

In addition to his educational efforts, Ashman kept busy during his retirement years. He was the organizer of bloodmobiles in Palmerton, founding member of the Palmerton Area Historical Society, board of directors member of the Palmerton Memorial Park Association and an active volunteer of Meals on Wheels.

• George Barron of Nesquehoning died in July.

A 1963 graduate of Tamaqua Area High School, Barron was known for his athletic abilities in basketball, football and track and field.

His presence on the football field showed potential for the Philadelphia Eagles.

In 1963, Barron played semiprofessional football for the team.

• Former Superintendent of Tamaqua Area School District Dr. H. Bruce Geiger passed away in October.

After receiving his doctorate from Temple University, he pursed different roles including a chemistry and physics teacher for Jim Thorpe School District. Then, he returned to his alma mater, Tamaqua Area High School.

At Tamaqua, he was a chemistry and physics teacher, curriculum coordinator, assistant superintendent and finally, superintendent.

In 1993, Geiger retired after serving 16 years in the position.

• Former Rush Township Supervisor John Schickram died on Dec. 14.

Aside from his career in the Coast Guard and family-owned businesses, Schickram remained actively involved within his community and the efforts were acknowledged.

On March 5, 1997, he received a mayoral proclamation which declared John Schickram Day in Tamaqua for his support of the police department.

• Gus P. “Deano” Konstas, a fixture of the Tamaqua area died on Nov. 13.

Konstas served as a councilman in Tamaqua for 12 years and served as vice president for four years. He was actively involved in the community, but he also provided residents with delicious food as he was the owner of Texas Lunch.

In addition, he once played with Tamaqua Indians semi-pro football team.

• Former fire police captain and oldest member in the history of Lansford’s American Fire Co. No. 1 Mike Knies passed away in July at age 97.

Knies loved his hometown of Lansford and contributed his skills in helping the town.

He taught people his art of blacksmithing, provided vegetables from his garden and ensured traffic was stopped during times of fire.