Foundation names Schey advocate of the year
By Leesa Brown and Colleen Carow Girton

Ralph Schey with his wife Luci, a member of the Ohio University Foundation.

A Westlake man who left a German barracks at World War II's end for an Ohio dorm room has been honored with The Ohio University Foundation's most prestigious award.

The young veteran from Cleveland who arrived at Ohio University in February 1946 graduated less than three years later with a bachelor's degree. Today, Ralph Schey, BSCOM '48, leads a 7,500-employee company with sales of some $1.2 billion.

An active supporter and advocate of Ohio University for almost 35 years, Schey recently was presented the John C. Baker Award for outstanding service to his alma mater. The award is named for late President Emeritus John C. Baker.

Schey, who has served on both the Ohio University Board of Trustees and The Ohio University Foundation, earned a master of business administration degree from Harvard Business School in 1950. He quickly worked his way up at a variety of companies, from sales trainee to industrial engineer to executive vice president to president, until he was named chairman and CEO of Scott Fetzer Co., a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., in 1976. The Westlake firm manufactures a diverse range of products, from vacuum cleaners, pumps and gas compressors to textbooks and encyclopedias.

"Ralph Schey's business achievements, impressive as they are, are shadowed by his accomplishments and record of service to higher education and the community," President Robert Glidden said in presenting Schey's award. "Ohio University has been particularly fortunate to have a graduate who is so willing to share his talent and dedication with generations of students."

Ohio University, Schey said, "had an exhilarating influence on my life."

Its unique setting, personal approach and commitment to teaching "prompted me to take on things that were great challenges in my life, which in turn caused other people to exceed their expectations of themselves," he said. "It's not just what I learned, but what I learned while learning it."

Leesa Brown is Ohio University's assistant vice president for communications. Colleen Carow Girton, BSJ '93, MA '97, was until recently director of development communications.