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On August 25, 2020, Bellevue lost a valued citizen and one of the town’s treasures – Bill Oddo.  Bill has been a mainstay of the Bellevue Historical Society from its beginning.
Bill’s barber shop on Main Street was a gathering place for story tellers.  These stories sparked his interest in Bellevue’s history, so in 1983 Bill began writing a weekly article in the Bellevue Gazette spotlighting the town’s rich past.  These articles became one of the most popular features of the paper.
As a citizen, Bill has been very active in his church and community.   Bill’s faith was very strong as he served the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in many ways, especially in working with the CYO.  The Bellevue City Schools benefitted also from Bill’s efforts.  He was an organizer of the Bellevue Boosters Club and he helped to initiate the Halls of Excellence program at the High School (Bill himself was recognized for that honor in 2000) as well as the Athletic Department’s Athletic Hall of Fame.

Bill’s contributions to the Bellevue Historical Society are numerous.  In 1987, he was a founding member of the Bellevue Heritage Museum which became the Bellevue Historical Society.  He served the Society for many years on the Board of Directors, most of them as president.  A pet project for Bill was the Tremont House Project. 
In 2002, Bill was the Society’s president when the building was purchased. 
He compiled the book, Bellevue - A Pictorial History to help pay for the Tremont House, obtaining a grant for its publication so that all profits would go to the project.  In 2005, he was instrumental in the process required to have the Tremont House listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  More recently, he dedicated all profits from his latest book, Stories of Old Bellevue – Vol. V, to the project.  Just a few days before his death, on a drive past the Tremont House, Bill was excited to see the progress that has been made this summer.  

In 2010, Bill received the Individual Outstanding Achievement Award from the Ohio Association of Historic Societies and Museums for his work in helping to preserve local history.  A group of family and fellow Society members helped him to celebrate this award at a ceremony in Columbus.  At the presentation, his introduction began with, “For almost thirty years, Bill Oddo has been making history come alive in Bellevue, Ohio.”

On May 20, 2010, when Bill retired as president, the Bellevue Historical Society recognized Bill for his many years of dedication at a reception at the Willows Clubhouse.  Family and friends gathered to wish him well and to exchange stories.  Then-mayor David Kile proclaimed May 20, 2010 to be Bill Oddo Day. 
Bill will be remembered by posterity as Bellevue’s historian.  His many books and newspaper articles contain a wealth of information on Bellevue’s past that otherwise might have been lost.  We will surely
miss Bill.  He was THE reference person on questions about Bellevue’s history.

Details to be announced at a later date.

 

Author: Bill Oddo
$25.00
Stories of Old Bellevue - Book V by Bill Oddo features stories by Bill which were originally  written for publication in The Bellevue Gazette.  It consists of 122 pages of stories about Bellevue natives who became famous or who were successful in a variety of ways, Bellevue landmarks such as "The Rock" and the Bellevue Public Library,  Bellevue businesses and much more.
Be sure when ordering online to give us the address you would like the book mailed to.
 

For those in the Bellevue area, books may be purchased at:  Hunters Needs, 1831 W Main St  (Route 20 West) Bellevue, OH 44811  419-419-483-5789

 

 

 

Thank you for your support of the Bellevue Historical Society.
It's greatly appreciated!