Paul R. Lankenau

Born - April 23,1904, at New Orleans; one of ten children; nine boys and one girl. FATHER: Dr. F. J. Lankenau; Mother: Helen Bleeke Lankenau moved to Napoleon, Ohio, in the year 1908. 1910-1922: Attended Napoleon Public Schools, President of the Senior Class - 1922. 1922-1924: Attended Defiance College. 1928: Attended Bowling Green State University, receiving Bachelor of Science Degree in Education. 1931: Paul married one of his teachers, Henrietta Roth Lankenau. 1933: They had a son, Ronald Paul Lankenau, who is now the Municipal Judge. Ron married Nancy Hohenberger, a registered nurse from Defiance in 1956. To them was born David Paul, who will be a Junior in High School next Fall; Jeffrey Roy will be a Freshman and Steven Ronald who will be in the 8th grade. 1939: Master of Science Degree in Education B.G.S.U. Holder of a life teaching certificate and Ohio Superintendent Certificate. 1924-1927: Teacher and Coach at Malinta, Ohio. 1928-1929: Director of Athletics at Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Indiana. 1929-1930: In charge of physical education and a coach at Grant High School, Stubenville, Ohio. 1930-1939: School Administrator, Ridgeville Corners Public Schools, Ridgeville Corners, Ohio. 1939-1942: Teacher and coach at Woodward High School, Toledo, Ohio. 1940-1968: Has taught in the Napoleon High School at various times. 1942-1948: Mayor, City of Napoleon. Henry County Republican Executive Committee - Past County Chairman. 1939: Admitted to the Ohio State Bar. 1952-1968: Has been engaged in the general practice of law. 1959-1968: Has practiced law in partnership with son, Ronald. 1952-1959: Served as first part-time Executive Secretary of the Napoleon Chamber of Commerce with Headquarters in his law office. 1943-1961: Heller Memorial Hospital Board of Directors, is, was, or has been a member of the following organizations (serving as an officer in many), Napoleon Kiwanis Club - Past President, Maumee Valley Scenic Highway Association, Henry County Bar Association - Past President, Ohio State Bar Association - Negligence Committee, American Bar Association, St. Paul Lutheran Church -Congregational Chairman. 1963-1965: Ohio District of the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church - Board of Directors. 1953-1968: Ohio Society for Crippled Children and Adults - Board of Directors. 1963-1965: Ohio District of the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church - Board of Directors. 1953-1968: Ohio Society for Crippled Children and Adults - Board of Directors. 19551956: President of Ohio Society. 1968: Member of the Ohio Society Executive Committee and is Vice Chairman of the Ohio Society House of Delegates. 1959-1968: Delegate member, National Society for Crippled Children and Adults. 1963-1967: National Society Board of Directors. 1964-1966: Member Executive Committee - National Society Board of Directors. 1966: Vice President of National Society. 19651967: Chairman - National Society Committee on Organizational Structure. 1968-: Selected by Napoleon Chamber of Commerce as the "MAN OF THE YEAR."

1) As a member of the Hospital Board, Paul was instrumental in organizing a campaign to secure the funds for building the initial portion of the present Heller Memorial Hospital in Napoleon; serving also as an inspiration to the communities and people of the county in making this facility a reality of health-service to the entire county.

Mr. and Mrs. Paul Lankenau at the Firemen's Convention Parade, June, 1947.

2) About 10 years after his success with the hospital; Paul, together with a small group of local businessmen, organized the Napoleon Chamber of Commerce and was very instrumental in its progress during the next seven years (1952/1959) until it had outgrown its part-time capability, becoming a full-time Chamber in the summer of 1959. Paul donated his services as the Chamber's Executive and was very often donating his own professional law-office and staff facilities for Chamber activities during that 7-year period.

3) As can be seen from the above biography, Paul has donated almost a lifetime to the Society for Crippled Children and Adults. Not only on the State and national level, where he has devoted many years of personal time and expense in traveling over the world on behalf of the Crippled Children's Society, but in Napoleon; he has been the founder and mentor of an Annual Christmas l'arty given for Henry County Crippled Children by the Napoleon Kiwanis Club. This event is about 15 years old and required that Paul annually secure a list of local children - their ages -and assigns the Kiwanis Club's members to select and give appropriate toys to their assigned children. He frequently serves as the Chairman of this Kiwanis project and always serves on the committee, making the program arrangements for this special party.

Submitted by the Family