The Van Wert County Courthouse

Thursday, Mar. 28, 2024

The inspiration of Scott Niswonger

This Thursday, January 25, the Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce is honoring a Van Wert native with an award rarely given — the Cornerstone Award. This 1965 Van Wert High School graduate is someone who left his hometown, went to college at Purdue University, started his own business, and moved to Greeneville, Tennessee, where he has lived ever since.

Many people grow up in their hometown, leave, and then rarely return. It seems lately that many people have been pining over those “good old days” of growing up in Van Wert. Those of you on Facebook have probably seen the many postings from “You might be from Van Wert if…”  Growing up in Van Wert really was a special time for those of us with more years behind us than in front. I only hope that kids today feel the same way!

One individual in particular, did not forget his days of growing up in Van Wert. He spent his entire youth experiencing all this town had to offer a young boy. He attended Van Wert City Schools, played in the city parks, attended church, played football in Eggerss Stadium, and learned to fly airplanes at the Van Wert County Airport.  I’m sure there is much more he did that he may not even tell!

It has now been 53 years since Scott Niswonger left Van Wert for Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. Although Scott still had family and friends in Van Wert, many of us didn’t know who he was until nearly 15 years ago. That’s when talk of a performing arts center in Van Wert began. Someone who knew Scott mentioned that he was very philanthropic, thanks to the success he experienced through the hard work he invested in building his businesses.

I still remember the words shared with us when Scott was asked if he would like to help Van Wert build a performing arts center. It was something like, “You know, no one has ever asked if I would like to do something for my hometown. I’ve been involved in projects throughout Tennessee and Purdue University, but never my hometown. I would love to be involved, but I need for you to dream with me.”  Well, the rest is history!

Scott got involved in the PAC project that would later bear his name: the Niswonger Performing Arts Center of Northwest Ohio. Obviously, Scott gave financially to the project, but I will never forget the inspiration he gave to raise a city of under 11,000 people and a county of nearly 28,000 people to unimaginable heights and accomplishments.

He took a very nice, but rather typical school auditorium, to a performing arts center that has become one of the leaders in the Midwest United States. Scott did not pay for the entire project, but his inspiration made it possible for our community to raise close to $10 million and build what many performers and visitors have exclaimed is one of the finest facilities of its kind.

Once a fundraising committee was established, he made sure each member attended the opening concert at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center in Greeneville, Tennessee. He personally chartered a fleet of jets, including his own, and flew us down for the opening ceremonies and concert featuring legendary singer Gladys Knight. He also showed us what a classy event was like. Bottom line? Many community leaders were inspired and took Scott’s message to heart: “If we can build something like this in Greeneville, Tennessee, you can certainly do this in Van Wert.” And we did! Scott inspired us along the way in many other ways too many to mention.

Since that time, Scott and Nikki (Elliot) Niswonger, also a Van Wert native, have inspired and been very involved in their hometown in other ways such as Niswonger Scholars, our new Franklin Park, and just now as a partner in a new housing development we will see developing this spring behind the houses on Shannon Street extending to the NPAC and Van Wert High School/Middle School. There have been many other projects Scott and Nikki have been involved in that many don’t even know about.

This Thursday is a chance for Van Wert to say thank you to a young man who grew up to live his life by the motto “Learn, Earn, Return.” Thank you, Scott, for not forgetting Van Wert. Van Wert will never forget you!

FINÉ.

POSTED: 01/24/18 at 10:49 pm. FILED UNDER: News