A Sense of Centerville and Washington Township

David Warren McDaniel was born December 7, 1938, in Portland, Indiana, a small Midwestern community. He helped with chores in his family’s grocery store and was interested in biology and sports. Dave played football in college where he chose teaching as his profession. After he got married he moved to the area and met Hadley Watts, superintendent of Centerville City Schools. He began as one of the coaches for the Centerville High S...

Mark grew up in Wooster, Ohio and came to Dayton to attend Wright State University to study Theatre Directing and Management. This led to employment in 1996 to provide programming to the newly renovated Washington Township Town Hall Theatre. In 2016, Mark became the recreation director for the Township, where he oversees Town Hall Theatre along with a wide variety of activities, programs and facilities that make up the RecPlex. He ...

Kristen Marks is the Executive Director for the Centerville-Washington Park District. She has been with CWPD since 2002 where she began as the Park’s naturalist. In addition, she is the former president of the Ohio Park and Recreation Association and a member of the Centerville Noon Optimist Club. Founded in 1959 as the Washington Township Park District, the Centerville-Washington Park District now operates eight community parks, n...

Wayne Markworth was Director of Bands at Centerville High School for 35 years. He developed the marching band, known nationally as "The Centerville Jazz Band", into a unique and entertaining ensemble that performed an all-jazz format on the field. In 1992 they were the Grand National Champions. Wayne is an active clinician, adjudicator, arranger and trumpet performer and president of the music & consulting business Sh...

Vickie was Executive Director of Centerville-Washington History for over 14 years. She began as a volunteer and joined the staff as a museum assistant and later becoming Walton House Site Manager and administrative coordinator. To help promote local history, Vickie built collaborations within the community.  In 2016 Vickie guided a rebranding of the organization by changing the name from Centerville Washington Township Historical S...

Rajeev Goel is a local Technology entrepreneur who co-founded AccuFit Solutions, Inc. Through his business he helps to provide software applications and tools to help metal manufacturers manage their raw material more effectively. He has been involved in the community through Science Olympiad and more recently, The Centerville Education Foundation.  Rajeev is a Centerville High School graduate and son of Surender Goel originally fr...

Dr David Meyer was raised in a large family on a farm in Northern Ohio. A Vietnam War-Era Air Force veteran, he is an accomplished public servant who has greatly impacted the Dayton area as a Professional Engineer. Dave, along with his wife Kathleen, became a member of Centerville-Washington History in 2015, and he joined the Board of Trustees in 2017. He has taught at The Ohio State University, The University of Dayton, and is a P...

Terry Obrien grew up in Centerville, Ohio. He is a local entrepreneur who owns Trilevel Records and Video. Terry helps local Dayton artists write and produce music. Through collaborations with the City of Centerville and Centerville-Washington History, he has produced award-winning projects. He helps to promote local history through his Facebook page, Centerville, Ohio Nostalgia. His recent interviews with past Centerville High sch...

Sam, a senior at Centerville High School is the current Student Council President. He is a three-time state qualifier in debate, attending Northwestern University in the fall majoring in political science. In addition, Sam is president of the STAGE club, the theatre club for CHS as well as a regular on the stage. He sings for FORTE, Centerville’s premier Accapella group. As an Elk connector, he helps with freshman orientation and C...

Bill and Faye Elam founded bills donuts in 1960 but the original shop was in downtown Dayton. In the 1970s there were several locations throughout the Dayton area with stores in Vandalia, Wilmington, Kettering, and Huber Heights. In Centerville, the original shop location was closer to the intersection of Franklin and Main but the parking was limited, necessitating a move to the current location at Bradstreet and Far Hills. Initial...

Richard Diaz works as a Community Coordinator at Miami Valley Communications Council (MVCC), Founded in 1975, MVCC is a municipal communications and technology organization representing eight communities in the area including Centerville. MVCC was formed to monitor, regulate and administer common cable television franchise agreements, manage the operation of the council’s cable access television channels, and develop and implement ...

Bill Gaul moved to Centerville in middle school, attending Tower Heights Middle school. He graduated from Centerville High School during a time of growth and change. Bill joined the Washington Township Fire department as a volunteer firefighter in May 1979. After nearly 40 years of service to the department, including 11 years as chief, Bill retired in 2018. Retirement is still busy for Bill, who is on the board at Centerville-Wash...

Laura is the Centerville-Washington History 2022 scholarship winner. This extraordinary young lady has demonstrated her athletic talents and leadership abilities as Varsity Captain of the Centerville High School Swim Team, President of the National Honor Society, and Unit Representative of the East Unit Assembly. Her club memberships include Students Against Destructive Decisions, Key Club and French Club. Laura is very active in t...

Janet Watkins Black is a 6th-generation Washington Township resident. She grew up with her parents and grandparents on a 180-acre farm near Sheehan and Nutt Road. Janet taught 3rd grade for the Centerville School district and then worked at St Leonard Senior Living Community as an activity coordinator. She has been active in the community through Centerville-Washington History, Centerville Women’s Civic Club, and Normandy United Me...