Until just recently it never occurred to me that some folks who happen to read my material might need to know something about me - other than just my name. I say "need" because it has come to my attention that there are those who make some assumptions about me that are in error. To avoid having such assumptions made I offer this profile to all who care to read it. I hope it erases any misconceptions about just who and what I am.
My name (of course) is Richard Neale Tarrant
Born on November 8, 1944 at 510 Perry Street in Vermilion, Ohio.
Family
Father's name - William B. Tarrant (d.May 28,1986).
Mother's name - Ella G. (Roscoe) Tarrant (d.June 23,1963).
Youngest of 8 children (4 boys and 4 girls). Three siblings, two sisters and three brothers, are deceased.
Married to Georgianne (Diener) Tarrant for 36 years. Her birthday is January 31, 1948. Georgi worked for the Lorain, Ohio Education System but is now retired after 30 years service. She has one brother and one sister. Her mother and father are both deceased.
Have an adopted daughter, Shannon. Also raised 2 foster boys.
Education & Work Experience
Graduate of Vermilion High School - Vermilion, Ohio - in June of 1963.
Volunteered for the Draft and entered the United States Army on May 5, 1965 and served in the Republic of Vietnam from January of 1966 until February of 1967. Worked as a Classified Documents Specialist in the Intelligence and Operations section of the HHD of the 2nd Signal Group stationed at Tan Son Nhut AFB and, later, Long Bien Post. Awarded Army Commendation Medal for "meritorous service" in the Republic of Vietnam.
Earned a B.A. degree in English (literature) from Cleveland State University (1983).
Have worked as a short-order cook, restaurant manager, clerk-typist, offset printer, punch-press operator, factory laborer/foreman, bartender, teacher and private club caretaker. Have worked in both the private and public/government sectors of business and industry. Currently volunteer coordinator of the the Vermilion Food Pantry as well as President and Executive Director of the nonprofit Vermilion News Print Shop (History) Museum at 727 Grand Street in Vermilion, Ohio.
Write free-lance history articles ("Yesteryear") for the local weekly newspaper (Vermilion Photojournal) and several other Ohio historical publications; own an operate several webpages concerning some local current and historical events; and have written and published three books (Rich Tarrant's Yesteryear - An anthology of Historical Narratives of Vermilion, Ohio and its People -2005, and Vermilion, Ohio Now & Then - 2012)and Sketches (of Vermilion personalities of a Yesteryear). Have also written an extensive amount of poetry and several short fictional stories.
Have served as an officer on the board of directors of several nonprofit agencies: the Lorain County Child Guidance Center; Edison School Parent-Teacher Association (Elyria, Ohio); Sunrise Place, Inc.; the Vermilion Area Archival Society; and the Vermilion News Print Shop (History) Museum.
Religious Matters
Life-long member of the Vermilion United Church of Christ, Congregational Church. Solidly believe in God and Jesus Christ. That faith is best demonstrated in the things I do with my life - both within and without the church. And I am (believe it or not) a minister of "Universal Ministries" - an on-line ministry.
Politics
Formerly a registered member of the Republican Party [if that troubles anyone take it up with Abe Lincoln] - but I maintain a strict non-partisan view of political issues and politicians, and do not refrain from expressing those views publicly or privately.
Interest - Hobbies
Currently interested in cooking, local history, writing, digital photography (member of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals),computer technologies (favoring Macintosh systems), and webpage construction and management (member of the International Webmasters Association).
September 8, 2012