Published Thursday, October 28, 2004

Archbold to pay tribute to ex-mayor Rychener

ARCHBOLD - The late Chuck Rychener, a former Archbold mayor who loved this community and loved serving the people, will be honored during the Archbold Area Chamber of Commerce's annual meeting next week.

Friends, relatives, and others will gather to pay tribute to Mr. Rychener, the 2004 Citizen of the Year in this Fulton County community. He learned about the honor shortly before he died Oct. 14 in the Fulton County Health Center in Wauseon.

"He was a very fine person," said Fred Witte, co-director of the chamber of commerce. Mr. Witte said he was fortunate to have served on council when Mr. Rychener was mayor. Usually, the chamber sets aside 15 minutes for the Citizen of the Year portion of the annual program. "I expect it will take longer this time," Mr. Witte said, acknowledging the circumstances as well as the achievements of a life well lived.

Mr. Rychener was a leader in many ways. In addition to serving as village mayor and as a council member, he was instrumental in establishing the Character Council of Archbold that promotes character qualities, using signs, newsletters, and other means to get its message to the masses. When it was formed in 1999, Mr. Rychener, who was serving as chairman, said that committee members are "looking at ways we can get people to think about a particular character quality and how it applies to their life" on a monthly basis. The 16-member Character Council was formed after village council approved a resolution designating Archbold as a "city of character."

Mr. Rychener was mayor from 1992 to 1999. During that time, he was involved in several major projects, including the expansion of the Archbold Industrial Park, reconstruction of South Defiance Street, land purchase for the expansion of the Archbold reservoir system, and building the Clyde's Way underpass and the Archbold interchange of the Ohio Turnpike. He was a councilman in 1990 and 1991.

After Mr. Rychener, 55, died, there was some talk about whether to continue with plans for the chamber dinner's recognition of the Citizen of the Year, but Mr. Witte said that it quickly became clear that residents here were interested in paying tribute him.

The chamber event will be held Thursday beginning at 6 p.m. in Sauder Village's Founders Hall near Archbold.

Also during the meeting, the chamber will recognize achievements of businesses and other area individuals, including the Archbold Rotary Club that is marking its 50th anniversary.