Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Ong to speak at Claymont baccalaureate


UHRICHSVILLE —John D. Ong of Hudson, a former ambassador to Norway, will be featured speaker at the Claymont High baccalaureate Thursday at 7 p.m. in First Presbyterian Church at 633 N. Main St., Uhrichsville.

The service is sponsored by Claymont High and the Twin City Ministerial Assn.

Seven students will be awarded scholarships during the service from area churches and/or Claymont High and all graduating seniors will be recognized.

Ong, a native of Uhrichsville and 1951 graduate of the former Uhrichsville High, was appointed by President George W. Bush as ambassador to Norway in 2001 and served until Nov. 30, 2005.

“As in the past we have always had a graduate from Claymont or its predecessor, Uhrichsville or Dennison High School as the main speaker,” said Rev. Mark Unrue, host pastor. “This year we are especially blessed to have John Doyle Ong be our speaker.”

Ong is chairman emeritus of the B.F. Goodrich Co. and retired as chairman of the board of directors in 1997 after more than 36 years of service to the company.

He held a variety of positions during his tenure at B.F. Goodrich, including vice-president and president of International B.F. Goodrich and president and chief operating officer.
From 1979 until 1996, he served as chairman and chief executive officer.

In 1984, President Reagan appointed Ong to the President’s Commission on Industrial Competitiveness, where he served as co-chair of its International Trade Committee.

He is a life trustee of the University of Chicago and is a trustee of Ohio State University, the Musical Arts Assn. of Cleveland, Ohio (Cleveland Orchestra), and the Fort Ligonier Assn., and a trustee emeritus of Western Reserve Academy in Hudson.

Ong received his undergraduate and master’s degrees from Ohio State University and his law degree from Harvard University. He is married to Mary Lee (Schupp) Ong; they have three grown children.

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