With a dazzling smile and a talent for tap dancing, Marion native Marilyn Meseke won the Miss America pageant in 1938. Marion is still the only town to have both a Miss America and a U.S. president. Marilyn’s Beginnings Meseke was born Mary Ellen Spurrier on October 7, 1916 in Lima, Ohio. Charlie and Clara […]
People
Entrepreneur Returns Home to Be a Part of Marion’s Future
Katie Grimes’ family has been in Marion for generations. She was born here to Michael and Mary Anne (Frericks) Grimes. She attended St. Mary’s Catholic School before graduating from Harding High School in 2001. “I’ve always had extreme love for Marion,” Grimes said. Grimes went to the University of Notre Dame in Indiana. She taught […]
LaRue Team Led By the Athlete of the Century
When a LaRue businessman was looking to make a splash, Walter Lingo bought a National Football League franchise for $100 and hired a man called “the greatest athlete in the world” at the 1912 Olympics. Jim Thorpe won two gold medals and set a world record which stood for decades. “It’s just like if [Lionel] […]
The Trial of Bill Anderson
One court case about a local man’s freedom made history. The historical marker for the trial of Bill Anderson in 1839 stands in downtown Marion in front of City Hall. Bill Anderson was a black man who moved to Marion in 1838. At the time, Marion was a stop on the Underground Railroad. Anderson was […]
Marion Native In National Spotlight
A Marion native’s modeling career has taken off. Karah Katenkamp has graced billboard in Times Squares and national TV ads for Kohl’s. Katenkamp attended St. Mary’s Catholic School through middle school. At just 14, she was scouted on the street in New York City while on a trip with her father. Her father was concerned […]
Custom Professional Accounting Celebrates 30 Years of Serving Community
When tax time rolls around each year, many people greet it with a moan. One local agency has been helping Marion families, nonprofits, farmers and businesses get those taxes done right. “It takes a special person to enjoy doing taxes,” said Jean Obenour, owner and founder of Custom Professional Accounting, located at 1714 Marion-Waldo Road […]
