Melvin Willard Donaho

Melvin was born in Canton, Illinois on October 2, 1930, to Melvin C. and Lillie J. Donaho (both deceased). He was the eldest of six children: Waldo (deceased), Virginia (Byron Earhart), Kermit (Ursula) (both deceased), Timothy (Peggy) and Terry (Eileen). In 1955 he married Ruth Lois Gronert of Arlington Heights, Illinois. Ruth and Mel met at the University of Illinois where he graduated with a BS degree in 1957 and a MEd in 1959.

Mel and Ruth moved to northern Illinois in 1957 where he taught English, drama and debate for four years. In August, 1961, Mel was appointed a pre-doctoral instructor in the Department of Communication at the University of Michigan and was awarded a Trueblood scholarship. He was also appointed the first debate coach at the University where his teams won many honors in national competitions in both debate and forensics. While at the University of Michigan, Ruth and Mel adopted their gifted son, Stephen, in 1966. On August 25, 1966, Mel and Ruth celebrated their anniversary, brought home their son that morning, and Mel received his PhD that after noon from The University of Michigan all on the same day. In 1969, they adopted a lovely baby girl whom son, Stephen, promptly named Katherine (Kathy). Mel also has two wonderful grandchildren, Jennifer and Seth Wessman. In 1964, Mel taught and coached debate at Western Michigan University; in 1967 at Central Michigan University; and then he taught for twenty-five years at the State University of New York, College of Arts and Science at Plattsburgh. In 1995 Mel and Ruth retired to the Pebble Creek Retirement Community in Goodyear, AZ where Mel founded the PebbleCreek Woodcarving Club. As a recognized master carver, he taught over 300 residents to carve.

During his career, Mel was a well respected Professor of Communication and, over the years, was recognized with several outstanding instructor awards as well as two national awards from the University of Cincinnati as "The Outstanding College Debate Coach of the Year." In the late 1970's, Mel received a contract with the 8th Air Force, USAF, to conduct 93 forty hour work-shops per year in "Concepts of Leadership" for senior noncommissioned and commissioned officers on air bases throughout the Strategic Air Command. Mel thoroughly enjoyed selecting, training, teaching, and evaluating the instructors for these courses and the success they received. During these years, Mel wrote and had published five books; numerous articles; delivered hundreds of speeches and seminars; was a professional parliamentarian; and did extensive volunteer service for both his church, the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, and the Boy Scouts of America. His service with the BSA was recognized with the Silver Beaver and The Vigil Order of the Arrow.

He was also a poet of merit and had several published poems. Mel was especially honored to be the only civilian to ever receive the Excalibur Award for Distinguished Service on behalf of the Strategic Air Command for having taught in excess of 5,000 commissioned and non-commissioned officers. "If I can be remembered for only one thing, other than loving and serving my Lord, let it be the fact that I presented and outlined at the Air Force Education Convention held in Dallas, TX the original concept and procedure for creating and implementing The Community College of the Air Force which has helped so many thousand men and women of the Air Force to obtain a college degree." Mel also suggested to General Hoban at the 2nd Air Force Base in Shreveport, LA the need for a First Sergeant's position to serve and counsel young airmen which General Hoban implemented immediately. In the last few years,

Mel wrote and directed four highly successful major religious dramas. Like Abu Ben Adam, Mel would like to be remembered as "One who loved his fellow men." And, like Job, whom he greatly admired, "l know that my Redeemer lives". Mel's greatest sorrow was that his beautiful, talented, Christian wife, Ruth, entered her eternal rest just after their 60 years of marriage. Just one day prior to Ruth's passing she persisted to complete the robe for Job which Mel would shortly direct and said: It is finished. Ruth preceded Mel on September 24, 2015 with Mel at her side. It is our request that our ashes be interred at the bottom of Clear Pond in Camp Bedford near Malone New York — where we spent nine wonderful summers serving young Boy Scouts and our Lord.