Eight Exceptional Ohioans Joining the 2026 Senior Citizens Hall of Fame

What began as a simple summer job ultimately reshaped nursing student Nancy Bucci's vision for her future. Early in her career, she saw how dramatically nursing homes differed and how little guidance families had when choosing long-term care. This lack of transparency and the presence of unsafe, even illegal facilities inspired Nancy's lifelong commitment to improving outcomes for older adults - work that now makes her exceptionally deserving of recognition in the Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame.

Nancy spent several years as a nursing home surveyor for the Ohio Department of Health before moving into roles that broadened her influence, including consulting on regulatory compliance and running businesses that supported nursing homes with pharmacy and mobile radiology services. She later returned to public service as a nurse analyst in the Ohio Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, where she worked with attorneys and investigators on cases involving neglect, misappropriation, and Medicaid fraud.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Nancy played a pivotal role in the Ohio Department of Aging's Regional Rapid Response Assistance Program, helping protect vulnerable older adults through advocacy, testing, vaccinations, treatments, and monitoring in nursing homes and congregate care settings. Her work continued with the Nursing Home Quality and Accountability Task Force, contributing to statewide listening sessions and recommendations that strengthened transparency, resident advocacy, and overall quality of care.

After the pandemic, Nancy became Chief of the Quality Initiatives Division at the Ohio Department of Aging, where she led efforts to improve daily life for nursing home residents - most notably by championing the "Food is Love" training program. She retired in 2025, but her service continues; she now sits on the governor-appointed Ohio Advisory Council for Aging. Known for her compassion, mentorship, and unwavering advocacy, Nancy's legacy is best captured in the phrase: "Nancy Bucci is Love."

For more than 30 years, Padma Chebrolu has used the arts to build bridges across generations, cultures and communities. As founder and Artistic Director of the Cultural Centre of India, she has dedicated her career to advancing cultural understanding through performances, education and community engagement. Some of her most meaningful work involves sharing traditional healing heritage arts with people who often have limited access, including older adults, individuals with disabilities and those living with Alzheimer's disease.

Padma's ability to connect through movement and storytelling has shaped her impact across Ohio. She recalls performing for an audience who were blind or visually impaired, inviting them to experience the dance through sound, touch and rhythm - an interaction that brought joy to both dancers and participants. Since founding the Cultural Centre of India after arriving as a graduate student, she has led hundreds of workshops, residencies and programs in schools, libraries, museums, senior centers and community spaces while also mentoring apprentices and preserving traditional Indian dance for new audiences.

Her work has earned numerous honors, including recognition as an Ohio Arts Council Traditional Arts Master Teacher, the Ohio Governor's Award for Arts Education and the Ohio Arts Council Heritage Arts Fellowship. After a successful corporate career, Padma has continued creating healing arts and wellness programs for older adults, promoting physical health, emotional well-being and social connection. She adapted her outreach during the COVID-19 pandemic by offering virtual performances and interactive sessions that reached audiences locally and around the world.

Padma's passion for service was shaped by her father, whose lifelong commitment to helping others continues to inspire her. She embraces both her Indian heritage and her life in Ohio, encouraging younger generations to preserve and share their cultural roots. Looking ahead, her goal remains simple: stay healthy, stay happy and keep contributing.

William "Bill" McKarns rose from humble beginnings to become a respected leader in Ohio's dairy industry. After leaving high school, he earned his GED in the U.S. Army and returned home to build a Holstein dairy herd known for exceptional production and quality. His cattle and embryos eventually reached farms across the country and internationally, earning him a strong reputation in the field.

Bill became deeply involved with the Holstein Association at both state and national levels, serving as a representative, director and committee leader. In the 1980s, he championed the idea of expanding the national herdbook to include high-performing grade cattle so farmers could receive recognition for their animals' quality. Despite initial resistance, his persistence helped establish the Qualified Herdbook in 1992, earning him the title "Father of the Qualified Herdbook."

His leadership earned national honors, including the Holstein Association's Distinguished Service Honor Award and its first Distinguished Leadership Award. Bill's impact extended beyond agriculture after the tragic loss of his son Mark, whose wish to be an organ donor went unfulfilled due to legal barriers. Bill turned that grief into advocacy, working to improve Ohio's organ donation laws so others' wishes could be honored.

Known for humility and service, Bill mentored fellow farmers, supported his community, and raised eleven children with his wife Pauline. Even in later years, he continued giving back by leading a rosary group in Salem, Ohio. Bill passed away on July 14, 2026, leaving a legacy that shows leadership is built on character, persistence and a commitment to making life better for others.

Ralph, a Vietnam War veteran, former police chief, and retired hospital executive, brought steady leadership to SCOPE during a moment of crisis. When he arrived, all federal programs were ordered to shut down due to compliance issues, wiping out $700,000 in funding and forcing immediate layoffs. Soon after, United Way informed him that SCOPE owed substantial unemployment payments after previously dropping coverage. Ralph negotiated a manageable repayment plan, cut the budget to essentials, and even gave up his salary while seeking support from major charities and foundations. With board approval, he committed to leading SCOPE for five years, and community generosity - especially an exceptionally successful Christmas drive-brought the organization back to the break-even point by 2013.

Seeking long-term security, Ralph led SCOPE into a 2014 merger with Family & Community Services, Inc., providing administrative strength while maintaining program autonomy. As he monitored community needs, he realized that many seniors who once relied on SCOPE's food distribution could no longer travel due to health or life-changing events. He responded by building a county-wide Traveling Pantry from the ground up, securing funding, a vehicle, food sources, storage space, and volunteer drivers. Seventeen local partners helped launch the program, managed for more than a decade by Project Manager Kim Haas.

The Traveling Pantry began service in 2015 with 30 deliveries and eventually provided twice-monthly food support to 450 homebound seniors. During the COVID-19 pandemic, its impact grew dramatically as drivers operated five days a week to protect more than 1,000 senior households across two counties. By the time of Ralph's nomination, SCOPE had expanded from serving 776 older adults in 2012 to approximately 4,000 seniors, caregivers, and family members each month. His leadership earned him the Mahoning Valley Legacy Award for Professional Excellence in 2017.

Ralph's service to older adults continues today. He now sits on the Trumbull County Senior Services Board, helping direct levy funds to organizations that support senior wellbeing. His vision, resilience, and deep commitment to older Ohioans have strengthened SCOPE, expanded essential services, and uplifted thousands of lives. His legacy endures across Trumbull County and beyond.

Nancy Stranahan has spent more than three decades proving that one person can make a profound impact on the natural world. A nationally recognized conservation leader and cofounder of the Arc of Appalachia, she drew on her background in natural resource management and education to begin safeguarding Ohio's wild places in 1995. Over 31 years as Executive Director, she built a powerful network of supporters who helped expand the Arc to 40 preserve regions across multiple states, protecting over 18,000 acres, maintaining 90 miles of trails, and offering educational programs that foster nature literacy for all ages.

Nancy's influence reaches thousands through workshops, hikes, and community events, while the lands she protected welcome more than 150,000 visitors each year. Her career has earned honors including the Ohio Natural Resources Hall of Fame and the Ohio Biological Survey Naturalist Award. Her earlier entrepreneurial chapter - running Mill Creek Farm Bakery & Gift Shop and Benevolence Café in Columbus - taught her essential skills in personnel management, customer service, and community building, all of which later strengthened her leadership in the nonprofit world.

Guided by a philosophy that successful aging stems from meaningful work, empathy, and engagement, Nancy has long believed that giving is not sacrifice but expansion - an opportunity to enlarge one's sense of self to include people, places, and ecosystems. Her efforts have uplifted both human and natural communities. The Arc's preserves serve as wildlife sanctuaries, educational spaces, cultural repositories, and sources of restoration, including the Hopewell earthworks that stand as quiet testimony to her dedication.

At home, Nancy lives the values she advocates, practicing simple living with her husband through gardening, baking, and food preservation. Her story is one of unwavering purpose and connection to the natural world. Through her leadership, countless acres have been saved, communities educated, and lives touched - a reminder that lasting change begins with a single acre, a single person, and the courage to care.

Former Governor Bob Taft and Mrs. Hope Taft have spent their lives dedicated to public service, conservation, volunteerism, and humanitarian work. Governor Taft's commitment began with the Peace Corps, where he taught English in rural Tanzania and developed a deep belief in community-driven change. After earning degrees from Yale, Princeton, and the University of Cincinnati College of Law, he built a distinguished career in public service, serving as a state representative, Hamilton County Commissioner, Ohio Secretary of State, and finally Governor from 1999 to 2007.

As Governor, he championed literacy through OhioReads, mobilizing tens of thousands of volunteers, and advanced conservation by acquiring and transforming Middle Bass Island into a state park. His second term focused on innovation and education reform through the Third Frontier Project, major school improvement initiatives, and statewide academic standards. After leaving office, he continued his civic engagement through teaching and mentoring students at the University of Dayton.

Mrs. Hope Taft has matched that dedication with decades of leadership in prevention, volunteerism, and environmental stewardship. She co-founded Prevention FIRST!, advanced national youth wellness initiatives, and made underage drinking prevention a centerpiece of her advocacy. As Ohio's First Lady, she transformed the Governor's Residence into a "Living Museum" and created the acclaimed Ohio Heritage Garden, later helping inspire the designation of April as National Native Plant Month. Her environmental leadership, volunteer initiatives, and longstanding work with organizations across Ohio have earned numerous national honors.

Together, the Tafts have also contributed globally through the Tandana Foundation, which Mrs. Taft co-founded to support education, healthcare, clean water, and conservation projects in Ecuador and Mali. Married for 59 years, they have strengthened Ohio and communities worldwide through their combined impact in policy, education, conservation, and humanitarian outreach. Their shared legacy reflects decades of dedication to improving lives, preserving natural spaces, and inspiring others to serve.

For more than forty years, Merris Welge has demonstrated outstanding community service across Richland County and North Central Ohio. His volunteer journey began with Sertoma in 1986, where he spent decades supporting individuals with hearing loss, organizing educational field trips, and serving in leadership roles including Treasurer, District Director, and Executive Committee member. His dedication earned him Lifetime Member status and multiple honors.

Merris has also been a cornerstone of the North Central Ohio SCORE chapter since 1995, offering free business mentoring and contributing 10-12 volunteer hours each week. He has held key roles including Chapter Chair, Executive Committee member, and Office Manager, and received SCORE's National Distinguished Service Award in 2015. Over roughly 30 years, he has mentored an estimated 3,000 entrepreneurs, helping them launch, grow, and strengthen small businesses and nonprofits.

His commitment extends to broader community leadership. Merris has volunteered with the Richland Area Chamber & Economic Development, supported major committees, and often greeted guests at events with his signature warmth. He spent 12 years on the Third Street Family Health Services board and more than 20 years with Richland Newhope Industries, advancing healthcare access and empowering adults with developmental disabilities. Alongside his wife Jean, he has also provided significant philanthropic support to local law enforcement and community organizations.

Merris is known not only for his service but for his kindness, optimism, and ability to connect with people. Married more than 50 years and a devoted father of four, he has strengthened businesses, supported families, and enriched the community through decades of mentoring, leadership, and generosity. His lifelong commitment makes him a truly deserving Senior Citizen Hall of Fame inductee.