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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E46]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING THE LIFE OF STEPHEN STRANAHAN
______
HON. MARCY KAPTUR
of ohio
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, January 15, 2019
Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of
Stephen Stranahan, an outstanding, accomplished, and uniquely generous
lifelong citizen of the Toledo area. A veteran, civic leader, and
philanthropist who never forgot his roots. He persevered in uplifting
the economic, civic, and cultural life of our region.
Steve was born on May 3, 1934 to Virginia Secor Stranahan and Duane
Stranahan, Sr. His father was the only child of Frank D. Stranahan, who
with his brother R.A. Stranahan, Sr., formed the Champion Spark Plug
Co. The product was regarded as the finest in the world during its
time, and its dependability contributed to U.S. victory in World War
II. Steve's mother grew up in the Old West End, her father a Toledo
resident since the 1850s and a prominent banker. She helped found the
Junior League of Toledo and the League of Women Voters in Perrysburg.
Steve attended Maumee Valley Country Day School, Brooks School in
North Andover, and Dartmouth College, where he majored in music.
He served as a specialist in the 107th Armored Cavalry Regiment of
the Ohio Army National Guard.
Steve's first job was in the marketing department of the legendary
Champion Spark Plug and where he worked his way up to serve as the
director of the company.
An entrepreneurial, creative business leader, he found an opportunity
to buy a small airport at Telegraph and Alexis roads, National Airport,
and operated National Flight Services, which later moved to Toledo
Express Airport as a fixed-base operator. He became a dealer of
Beechcraft airplanes, tracing his affinity for flight back to his
father, who was a pioneer of Champion's spark plugs for aircraft.
Throughout the 1960s, Steve took the mantra of community wide
leadership and became a rising civic leader, serving as president of
Downtown Toledo Associates, the Toledo Area Chamber of Commerce, and
Civic Pride Inc., which owned the Toledo Blades hockey team.
In 1964, he, along with Ned Skeldon, Willard I. Webb III, and Henry
Morse, arranged for the return of the minor league baseball team--the
Mud Hens--to Toledo.
Steve joined Paul Block, Jr., Ned Skeldon, and Thomas Anderson to
form Clear Water Inc. to campaign for cleaning up the Lake Erie
watershed. His firm, Riverview One, erected Fiberglas Tower in downtown
Toledo and he was a leader in Arrowhead Park, a Maumee business
development.
A pianist himself, he took his love of music and applied it to the
Toledo Symphony, an institution his paternal grandmother, Marie Celeste
Stranahan, helped to found. Having served as a long-time board member
and board president of the Toledo Symphony, he stressed financial
prudence and Steve and his wife were recognized in 2015 by the Toledo
Symphony for their stewardship of the institution.
Steve's overarching influence was most impactful on the University of
Toledo, having served as chairman of the Board of Trustees and as
chairman of the University of Toledo Foundation trustees. His
insistence on having an endowment fund set up for the University and
his leadership through much of the institutional growth helped
transform the University of Toledo from a municipal school to a state
university.
Toledo has been blessed with his life as a rare leader. Though an
``Ivy League'' success story, he dedicated his substance to the
advancement of life for all in the Toledo area.
Steve will ultimately be remembered for his dedication not only to
his family, but the family of greater Toledo. On behalf of a grateful
community, please let me offer his wife Ann Anderson Stranahan, his
children Frances Parry, Abbot Stranahan Ward, Stephen ``Josh''
Stranahan and Daniel Stranahan, his eight grandchildren and great-
grandson, his sister Mary Stranahan and brothers Michael, George, and
Duane ``Pat'' Stranahan, Jr., and his many friends and associates our
prayers and hope that they find comfort in the wonderful memories and
lasting accomplishments of Steve, and of his inspirational role in
bettering our way of life. His legacy lives on.
____________________