My First Boss - Dave's Midwestern Ohio Memories

Series of Guest Blogs by an out-of-state Fish Report reader originally from this area about fond memories of growing up in Midwestern Ohio during the 50’s & 60’s

My First Boss

Sadly, my first boss, Don Ruhenkamp, recently passed away. Here’s his obituary. Don ran the Ruhenkamp Excavating Service, taking over during the 1960’s for his father Clem, who founded the business in 1928. Clem is pictured below in this 1940 photo wearing a suit, nothing like the cigar chomping old timer with the dirty wide-brimmed hat that I remember!

Don's son and son-in-law now run the three-generation business.

Don, like his father Clem, was a real character and a great boss. I can recall as a young kid in the 1950’s, Clem driving that ditcher back and forth in our fields on the family farm to lay clay tile for faster drainage. Don, still in high school, was his right hand man handling all the tile, laying them behind the ditcher. Don also closed up the ditches after all the tile were laid. It was quite an operation that intrigued me to no end, but my biggest fear was falling into the trench and getting covered up with dirt!

Don and old Clem were such personalities, the two would kid around with anybody and everybody they came across. And as Don's employer during high school, I was the target of many of his wisecracks. Of course, I provided plenty of fodder as a newbie on the crew. Here’s a past blog about one such escapade! My nickname for a while was Honey Dipper! Don had so many other talents as well; for example, he was a great horseshoe player and could throw ringers about 50% of the time. And what a softball player he was, hitting the long ball and speeding around the bases. Don loved sports of all kind and was an avid supporter of all Ft. Loramie High School sports.

For example, Don established the Loramie Field Crew, a group of volunteers and fans pictured above who maintained the football field. Don is front and center in the black shirt & hat, front row.

And he was a founding “gang member” as described in this blurb from the Loramie Historical Society:

The Owl Gang, by Ed Lachey

The Owl Gang was a group of young men in Fort Loramie, Ohio, who pretty much ran around together. They had common interest and they decided to build a meeting place, so they took it upon themselves to build a shack, a small building along the Miami-Erie Canal.

The first shack was probably about ten by ten, not too large, well built by these young men. So then with the help of some parents, I think mostly Edison Maurer, they decided to build a larger shack, about twelve by twenty-four; they had a cement floor and foundation and even had a drain which could be used when it was required to clean the floor. Also had a chimney which I think was mostly constructed by Jim Quinlin as he worked for Freytag’s as a helper. The building was more than ample to just relax and have fun. It seems they had a pot belly stove to heat the shack in colder weather., each member had their own locker which housed some of their private belongings. Having been there many times myself it was more than ample for playing cards, frying fish, rabbits, and perhaps a pheasant or two, which I think was prepared on a camping stove, and perhaps having some form of liquid refreshments.

One of the rules was no women allowed.

Dues were collected from each member, and it was hard to crack the membership if you were not an original member, although many friends did come for the parties.The original members were Tom and Ralph Gaier, Rich Bollheimer, Paul Maurer, John Lachey, Don and Leo Wendeln, Fred Drees and Don Ruhenkamp.

Ralph Gaier was President, and they had meetings such as how to make the mud alley easier to travel, so they decided to use cinders which were free for the hauling, and one fellow who wanted to become a member volunteered to use his father’s livestock truck to haul cinders. Not sure even after he did this if he qualified to be a member, as I say it was hard to crack the membership, but the cinders did help.

Members of this group also played High School basketball, until one night when going to the shack after basketball practice one of the member’s father’s auto, a 1930 Model A, was overloaded and became top heavy and rolled over on its side. All members escaped, but it happened at wrong time as the High School Basketball coach, think it was Mr. Westfall, did not like what he had seen, and dismissed the entire group from his team, did not make a winning season for him as he lost many good ball players.

This group of men all were productive citizens in their adult life and many could be considered role models for the younger folks. At this time May 2, 2013 all these fellows would be nearing the age of 80 years old. I am sure they could tell some really good stories. At this time I think the living members still remaining are Ralph Gaier, Rich Bollheimer, Paul Maurer, Don Ruhenkamp and Fred Drees.

Postscript, before Covid, the annual White Oak Jamboree was held on the site of the gang’s original shack! Women were very much welcome!

Don also served as long time Assistant Chief for the Ft. Loramie Fire Department, serving the needs of area citizens for over 30 years. Here’s a department photo from 1984. Don is on the far left, next to Chief Morrie Frey, the town barber.

Don also loved golf and served as the starter at Minster’s Arrowhead golf course. I always enjoyed reminiscing with him before golfing the course whenever visiting the area.

Rest in peace, my friend! Thanks for the lifelong lessons, your sense of humor and multitude of community services. Ft. Loramie is a much better place because of you.

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