Norwalk's McGlinchy honored

May 24-- May 24--Larry McGlinchy has been named the 2019 Huron County Senior of the Year.

McGlinchy, who served as county engineer for a dozen years, received the award from the Enrichment Centers for Huron County. Two of his children presented him with the award Tuesday at a ceremony.

This year's nomination came from Diane Tuttle, who has been involved with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) support group facilitated by McGlinchy.

McGlinchy's involvement with NAMI was a personal one. He helped start the Huron County chapter in 1998.

Tuttle said she heard about NAMI and sought help for a family member by attending meetings and taking the Family to Family classes, which she said has helped that person immensely. Her family member is now more stable and she credits McGlinchy for that success.

In her nomination letter, Tuttle stated: "Larry's compassion and enthusiasm for the mentally ill and their families is refreshing."

She added: "Amazingly his age has not stopped him from continuing his involvement in our community. Larry continues to foster a positive attitude for everyone whose lives he touches, especially the mentally ill and their families."

Several years ago, McGlinchy and Brenda Soblesky worked to bring the "Crisis Intervention Team" national training to law enforcement and first responders in this area. This training teaches first responders how to handle persons who are having a mental health crisis. The goal is to keep those people out of jail and in treatment and on the road to recovery.

McGlinchy's community involvement includes being a National NAMI board member from 2000 to 2010, a long-time Norwalk Kiwanis member, a past Easter Seals board member and a Rails to Trails lifetime member.

McGlinchy served as Huron County Engineer from Jan. 3, 1993 until his retirement in December 2004.

He was born in Akron in 1934. He graduated from St. Vincent High School in 1952 and the University of Akron in 1957. He also awards an annual scholarship to a University of Akron Civil Engineering student. McGlinchy has four children, Mike, Judy, Tim and Eugene, and eight grandchildren.

His hobbies include gardening, travel, puzzles, watching sports and participating in the Silver Sneakers exercise program.

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(c)2019 the Norwalk Reflector (Norwalk, Ohio)

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