Manchester High
School Alumni Page
Akron, Ohio

Family:

Married to Bethany for 10 years. (How you met? “She was singing.”) The couple has had three children: Selah, 6, is entering first grade at Nolley; Nathan, 5, is entering kindergarten at Nolley. “Our youngest son, Noah, died of brain cancer in 2005 at age 14 months.”

Location history:

We now reside in Manchester, after living near The University of Akron for 7 years and operating a free bed and breakfast for newly arriving internationals students.

Education after MHS:

Hiram College, BA 1986; and The Ohio State University College of Law, JD 1989.

Your Occupation history:

After college and law school, I worked for a federal judge for two years in Akron and then went to work for his old law firm in Canton. All that time I was volunteering at my church, The Chapel. When the director of international ministries left in 1994, I took his position, which was a big change from the practice of law. But I found that ministry is service at heart, and I have used my law degree daily to help people with problems, which is what I do now for the church as the “Mercy and Justice” pastor.

For several years I have been making plans to run for office, but our family has had a hard time these past few years; so I have been waiting for the right time, which appears to have arrived. My plan is to run for the Barberton Municipal Court this fall because the kind of work I have been doing is so similar to what a judge does — especially at a place like the municipal court. The court district includes Manchester, Green, Coventry, Copley and Norton, as well as Barberton, and I am looking forward to the campaign this fall. To prepare for being a judge, I have been working for the federal judge again part-time, as well as continuing my work at the church. It will be an interesting fall.

Spouse’s occupation:

Registered Nurse, but at home for now with our kids.

Did your MHS education or experiences influence your career direction?

Absolutely. I was not afraid to make a dramatic change and I think so many different experiences in school helped that.

Strangest thing you’ve done since high school:

Lots of travel . . . South Africa, Eastern Europe, Turkey, Japan and China (twice), where I ate yak jerky as the in-flight snack

Current Hobbies / Activities:

Playing lots of freeze tag, Go Fish, Candy Land and Monopoly.

Favorite Manchester memories:

Sports. Great classes in English and Social Studies.

Thoughts about attending Manchester schools, in general:

It was good for me . . . and it is good now for our kids. For example, the Nolley Relay for Life walk honored our son, Noah, who died of brain cancer, as all the morning kindergarten children walked around the track with his picture on.

What sports, if any, did you play or letter in at MHS?

Football, Basketball and Track.

Other H.S. activities or clubs you enjoyed:

Student government . . . served as Senior Class President

Which H.S. reunions have you attended?

5, 10, 20 and planning our 25th for August 24-25, with the Saturday night celebration at the Menches Canal Park location.

Favorite Movies:

Then -- Chariots of Fire

Now -- Anything with Bill Murray.

Siblings who are also MHS alumni:

Brad (Class of ‘77) is an emergency room doctor in Canton; Suzanne (‘79) is a pre-school director in Chicago; and Mitch (‘85) is Features Editor at the Akron Beacon Journal.

Friends can email Todd at: todd.mckenney@the-chapel.org

 

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