West Jefferson resident Jim Saunders (left) accepts a certificate of appreciation from Mayor Ray Martin.
(Posted Aug. 28, 2017)
By Sandi Latimer, Staff Writer
On Aug. 21, West Jefferson village leaders recognized the accomplishments of resident Jim Saunders and his late wife, Barbara, who recently passed away.
Mayor Ray Martin presented Jim with a certificate of appreciation for the work that he and Barbara have done for the American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary, and the village.
Barbara spent most of her 43 years in the Auxiliary as president. She founded the Fourth of July Bean Fest which evolved into the Street Fest. She was active in children’s activities and worked with Buckeye Girls State. She and Jim were responsible for the plants and flowers on Main Street and at the village administration building.
Jim, a Korean War veteran, has been an active member of the Legion and 40 et 8, as well as a big part of the Legion’s Buckeye Boys State program. He leads the color guard at West Jefferson High School football games and puts flags on veterans’ graves at five area cemeteries for patriotic holidays.
Jim heaped praise on his late wife, saying, “She loved the village.” He said she grew up in Cincinnati and they lived there for a while, then moved to West Jefferson. The couple returned to Cincinnati, but Barbara decided she wanted to get back to West Jefferson once again “because she liked it better than Cincinnati.”
Jim drew a standing ovation from those who filled council chambers, many of whom represented multiple generations of his family.
