SIDNEY — Local businessman and philanthropist Ben Scott Sr. will be among five individuals inducted into the Lehman Hall of Fame at the Lehman Catholic High School Alumni Association’s 12th annual ceremony, Aug. 4. He will be joined by four other inductees: Tom Frantz, Judge William Zimmerman Sr., and the late Lester and Marilyn Kloeker.

Since the beginning of this tradition, the Hall of Fame Committee has sought to honor not only alumni, but outstanding faculty and supporters of Lehman Catholic. The Hall of Fame evening will begin with Mass at 5:15 p.m. in the Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Chapel. Cocktails and hors-d’oeuvres will be served at 6 p.m. with dinner to follow at 6:30 p.m. in the Geise Family Gymnasium.

Scott is not a graduate of Lehman Catholic but has been instrumental in carrying out the mission of the school. As owner and operator of McDonald’s from 1974 to 2001, he dedicated his time to not only growing his business, but cultivating the faith lives of young people. He has served on countless committees and boards at Lehman Catholic. Throughout the years, he has supported many organizations, but in the last 15 years, his efforts have been focused on Food For The Poor Inc. This organization builds homes for the poorest of the poor in Haiti. In the last decade, Scott has helped to raise more than $3 million to build more than 400 houses, three schools and a clinic. In addition, the funds secured farm tools and animals that lifted countless families out of poverty and into better futures.

In 2012, he authored “How Much Money Should I Be Giving to the Church?” as he wanted to share how reading scripture transformed his shift from giving some to moving beyond tithing. The book has been distributed in more than 250 Catholic churches.

Scott said, “It is our obligation to pass our faith on to the next generation,” and “Catholic schools provide daily prayer, retreats and faith formation that help put children on a path to discover God’s plan.”

Scott and his wife, Louise, live in Piqua and have two adult children, Caryn (Lehman 1987) and Benny (Lehman 1989). They also have five grandchildren, all graduates of Lehman Catholic.

Frantz is a 1977 graduate of Lehman who attended the University of Dayton and earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in 1981. Frantz is now vice president and co-owner of Eagle Bridge Company in Sidney. Having reached the rank of Eagle Scout, Frantz remains committed to the Boy Scouts of America as the scoutmaster of Troop 97 in Sidney. In addition, he has served in numerous positions for the district and council levels of the Miami Valley Council of the Boy Scouts of America, including advancement chairman and scoutmaster for several national jamborees. He is also involved with the Knights of Columbus No. 659.

Volunteering time to chair various charitable events over the years, Frantz continues to give much of his time to Lehman. Almost 20 years ago, then-football coach Chuck Asher asked Frantz to help out. He is still helping as an assistant football coach and will be with the Cavaliers for another season this year. His nominator shared that Frantz’s “outstanding character and selfless dedication of time to the Lehman community” are to be admired. Frantz and his wife, Joyce, live in Sidney.

Zimmerman, a graduate of Ohio Northern University, practiced as an attorney from 1979 to 2009, serving as director of the Shelby County Public Defender’s Office for more than 20 years. He also served as Shelby County Probate and Juvenile Court judge, and since 2016, has served as the judge for the Third District Court of Appeals. In addition to his professional accomplishments, Zimmerman has served on the Shelby County Bar Association, Holy Angels Parish Council, Holy Angels School Board, Lehman Catholic High School Board, Shelby County Board of Developmental Disabilities and the Alpha Center Board. He also provides law-related presentations to area high schools.

Zimmerman has logged time as a football coach at Lehman, serving as junior high head coach from 1989 to 1992 and assistant varsity coach from 1993 to 2002 and 2006 to 2008. His nominators shared that “he served in multiple capacities while his children attended the school, but more importantly continued his stewardship after they graduated.” Zimmerman and his wife, Deb, who live in Sidney, have four adult children, William Jr. (Lehman 1997), Kate (Lehman 2000), Matt (Lehman 2004), and Brad (Lehman 2005). They also have nine grandchildren.

The late Lester Kloeker, a 1953 graduate of Fairlawn High School, and Marilyn Kloeker, a 1953 graduate of Holy Angels High School, were fixtures of service to the Lehman community. The couple worked every Thursday and Sunday night bingo for years. Over the decades, both donated numerous hours working in the office and cafeteria. Their service to the school and to one another was legendary. The cross that hangs in the chapel at Lehman was donated by Marilyn to honor Lester’s memory. Lester passed away in 1992 and Marilyn in 2014. They are survived by five children, Jeff (Lehman 1975), Judy (Lehman 1976), Joe (Lehman 1980), Julie (Lehman 1984), and Jill (Lehman 1992). The couple’s daughter, Jill Burden, will receive the posthumous award in honor of her parents.

To obtain tickets to the Hall of Fame Dinner, email [email protected] before July 31.