Findlay, Ohio, Feb. 12, 2001 — The University of Findlay Board of Trustees named James R. Baron, Dennis E. Bishop and E.T. Smith Jr. to serve as trustees during their board meeting on Feb. 9-10.
James R. Baron is senior vice president, service quality manager, for Bank One Corporation in Columbus, a position he has held since 1999.
Previous positions with Bank One include market manager, Columbus Metro Markets, from 1997-99; area manager, Dayton-Cincinnati-Lima, from 1996-97; and executive vice president of Bank One Lima from 1992-96. From 1978-92, Baron was senior vice president, retail for Diamond Savings and Loan.
Baron graduated from Morehead State University with a bachelor’s degree in education in 1974 and a master’s degree in education in 1975. He also attended the Darden Institute.
Active in his community, Baron is a past member of the Findlay School Board, past president of the Findlay Rotary Club and past board member of the Findlay • Hancock County Chamber of Commerce. He has also been active with Ohio League, Findlay Youth Baseball and the United Way. He is a member of the Grace Brethren Church in Columbus.
Baron is married to Jenny, and they have three children, Ted, Jack and Chas.
Dennis E. Bishop is involved in farming and real estate rentals with Bishop Farms of McComb and Bishop-Kandel Rentals LLC of Findlay. He has been involved with both interests since 1986. Also since 1986, he has taught real estate classes at The University of Findlay.
Bishop began his career in 1963 as a teacher and coach at Liberty Center High School. In 1964, he taught at Central Junior High School in Findlay, and from 1965-67, he was a teacher at Findlay High School. Bishop taught at Hagerstown Junior College in Hagerstown, Md., from 1967-68.
From 1968-95, he was manager of Bishop-Kandel Rentals and owned and operated Bishop-Kandel Realty brokerage from 1971-81. He was also co-owner of Bena Inc., a plastics manufacturing company, from 1981-83.
A graduate of Bluffton College with a bachelor’s degree in biology, Bishop went on to earn a master’s degree in botany from Bowling Green State University.
Bishop is active in his community as well. He is a trustee and treasurer of Winebrenner Theological Seminary and is a board member and treasurer of Blanchard Valley Regional Health Center. He is a past board member of Hancock Mutual Insurance Company and a past board member and past president of the Findlay Board of Realtors. Bishop also serves as a board member of Global Leadership, headquartered in Atlanta, Ga. He is a past president of Rotary and has served as a symposium speaker in the Ukraine on issues involving Christian values and farming. He attends St. John Mennonite Church.
In 1991, Bishop was honored as the Hancock County Soil and Water Conservation District cooperator of the year. He was inducted into the Bluffton College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001.
Bishop and his wife, Jan, have three children, Kurt, Bruce and Dawn.
E.T. Smith Jr. is president and chief executive officer of Hancor, Inc., of Findlay, a position he has held since 1999.
Previously, Smith worked at Aeroquip Corp. from 1979-99, holding various positions ranging from plant manager to group vice president. Prior to that, he was employed at Continental Can Company from 1976-79, working in positions ranging from process engineer to assistant plant manager. From 1966-76, Smith was enlisted in the U.S. Army.
Smith earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineer from Clemson University and his master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Alabama.
For 10 years, Smith has served as an instructor for Junior Achievement. He also started SAE’s Vision 2000 at Fallen Timbers Middle School.
In 1998, he was honored with the National Junior Achievement Bronze Award.
Smith and his wife, Katherleen, have two children, Brandon and Christianna.
