Schriver

Henry Schriver, Community Leader
Belden High School Class of 1932
Nominated by Ted Schriver

A graduate of Belden High School and the Ohio State University’s College of Agriculture, Schriver later served as Belden School Board President, and then worked to help consolidate Belden into Midview.
Schriver was a busy band parent to each of his eleven children, all Midview graduates, and the featured speaker at several commencements at Midview and other area high schools
As a state representative in the 1960’s he was instrumental in getting Lorain County Community College started.
As a dairy, grain and fruit farmer, Schriver generously offered his time, advice, assistance and equipment to other young people getting started in farming. His orchards provided “first jobs” to many area youngsters as fruit pickers. Those experiences with youth prompted him to write several speeches, such as “Cows, Kids and Citizenship”, in which he used rhyme to entertain and explain his philosophies.
“Cows, Kids, and Co-ops” was another speech in rhyme which he presented thousands of times across the country to encourage and guide young people to become leaders in their own community cooperatives.
Affectionately knows as the “Farmer Philosopher,” he has lived by his passionate belief that “People working together can and do accomplish things about which they dare to dream.” A film of Schriver giving that speech, wearing his customary overalls, was later used by the State Department in educational programs all over the world.
In 2004, in recognition of his lifelong work with co-ops, he was inducted into the National Cooperative Hall of Fame.
Member of the Lorain County Farm Bureau, 4-H, Easter Seals and the Junior Fair Board, to name just a few.
Helped established the local volunteer fire department, the Lorain County Regional Planning Commission, and the Lorain County Soil and Water Conservation District.
1964 National FFA Service to Youth Award
1967 American Institute of Cooperation Award for Educational Programs in Farm Business
1967 50th Anniversary medal authorized by Congress and presented by the Federal Land Bank of Louisville for Contributions to American Agriculture
1975 National Cooperative Education Award from the National Planning Committee for October Co-Op Month
1980 National 4-H Alumni Gold Key Award
1981 National 4-H Alumni Olin Mathiesen Award for County Honors
1987 National Association of County Agents Award National Friend of Extension sponsored by Epsilon Sigma Phi and its Ohio Alpha Eta chapter
1998 National Council of Farmer Cooperatives—National Institute of Cooperative Education Conference “Cooperative Philosopher” Award
2004 Inducted into the National Cooperative Hall of Fame, Cooperative Development Foundation, Washington DC

Henry Schriver, Class of 1932