News
Former Faculty Member, Board of Trustee Added to Wall of Memories
During a spring All-College Celebrations meeting, Edison State Community College announced the addition of two members, Richard Bollenbacher and Darryl Mehaffie, to its Wall of Memories.
June 18, 2025
Bollenbacher worked as a professor of English at Edison State for 35 years. He also contributed to the faculty union and led disability services at the College. Currently, he champions a group of Edison State retirees that meets monthly and continues to support college initiatives.
“Dick was one of the founding members of the Edison State English department and faculty union back in the early 1970s when I arrived at Edison, as it was called back then,” said retired English professor Eileen Thompson. “He had an open-door policy. He had a coffee station in his office open all day long, where faculty could get coffee and discuss academics. This created a great camaraderie with the faculty that still goes on today.”
Leah Baumhauer, Coordinator of the Tutoring Center, added, “Professor Bollenbacher was my Edison State professor for one class—not one semester, but one class period, when he served as a substitute for my communications professor. But that is not my main connection to him. Dick is my stepdad. When I was growing up, he helped me see the important role Edison State played in our family and our community, which I have carried with me into my role here at Edison State. Dick’s hard work and dedication to Edison State and the community continue to make a positive impact and promote the value of education.”
L to R: Chris Spradlin and Richard Bollenbacher
Edison State President Chris Spradlin nominated Mehaffie for the Wall of Memories. Mehaffie served on the Edison State Board of Trustees for 25 years until his passing in 2024. Spradlin highlighted Mehaffie’s love and commitment to Edison State and its students and staff.
“His dedication was most obvious on days when the Board of Trustees would meet,” said Spradlin. “Darryl would arrive early, sometimes hours early, so he could interact with the people here on the Piqua Campus. This was typical for him in Greenville, because he was a resident of Greenville. He would stop by, check on the staff, and make sure they were doing well and had what they needed. It was the same at Piqua; Darryl took great pleasure in walking around the building and visiting with as many people as he could. Darryl also interacted with students. He would always be talking to me about a student he met and even prospective students. He took the time to learn about them. He would tell them about the benefits of Edison State, and he advocated for them.”
He continued, “I don’t think the College has ever had a greater advocate in its history than Darryl Mehaffie. It didn’t matter where he went or to whom he spoke, he would promote Edison State and all it had to offer, and he never missed an opportunity to lobby for resources that the College needed, and he was excellent at that.”
L to R: Mike Mehaffie, Chris Spradlin, and Steve Mehaffie
The Wall of Memories, established in 1998 by members of the Academic Forum, recognizes former Edison State employees who significantly impacted the lives of students, faculty, and staff and who will forever be a part of the college community. In 2025, the Wall of Memories transitioned to an interactive digital experience. Now, visitors can engage with the wall through a touchscreen and scroll through an extensive gallery of images and stories.