HAMILTON, Ohio – Ray Zehler, who died in 2016 at age 83, was a 2022 inductee into the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Hall of Fame. This is Ohio’s top honor for individuals – past and present – who have made significant contributions to preserving and protecting the state’s natural resources.

While growing up on his family’s farm in Jacksonburg, Zehler noticed that his dad sodded the waterways and was selective in which trees he cut. That sparked his interest in conservation.

“I kind of picked up on it then but didn’t see the importance of it until I bought this farm (1965) and had some things to do,” he said in a 2014 interview. “I still can’t keep up with the multiflora rose and honeysuckle.”

Zehler joined the Izaak Walton League of America (IWLA) in 1967. In 2010, IWLA presented him with the 54 Founders Award, their highest honor. He was active at local, state and national levels. He was president of the Hamilton, Ohio, Chapter from 1983 to 1989 and the Ohio Division from 1988 until 1990. He was executive director of the Ohio Division from 1988 until 2015.

“I said I would do it for six months with no pay, but they couldn’t find anybody else,” Zehler said with a laugh. “Now it’s been over 20 years with no pay. I told them I’m giving it up next year.”

Zehler’s list of accomplishments reads like a history of the conservation movement in Ohio. In 1997, he received a $15,000 grant from the Great Lakes Commission to get counties involved in stream monitoring.

He was on the committee that drew up a blueprint for the Clean Ohio Fund, passed in 2000. He was then on the committee which distributed $40 million in funds to three counties.

Zehler worked on IWLA committees which consulted with the Ohio Environmental Council, establishing watershed plans and Total Maximum Daily Loads before blue-green algae was a buzzword.

He supported The Ohio State University’s School of Environment and Natural Resources (SENR) by raising funds for scholarships and the school. In 1991, he was added to the list of the SENR’s Honorary 100 in recognition of his support.

Zehler remained optimistic about youth and conservation. With his leadership, his home IWLA chapter and many surrounding chapters expanded their Young Ike’s programs to educate kids about conservation.

“They will see, if their parents don’t see, that we have water shortages and polluted water,” he said. “I think people will finally wake up to realize, if we don’t take care of it, it is gone.”

Zehler had an infectious smile and a quiet but contagious energy, said Jim Wentz, in his letter nominating Zehler to the Hall of Fame. He never heard him swear or get angry.

“Ray was a friend to all, an inspiration for many, and his work lives on through the rising leaders he touched on his journey through life,” Wentz said. “Ray was always happy when he was doing something good for the resource, and I think that is one reason so many people were drawn to help do the work he cared about so deeply.”

Zehler was married to his wife, Janice, for 62 years. They had five children. He was a veteran of the United States Navy, serving during the Korean War. Zehler retired from Fisher Body in 1978.

His daughter, Jenny Zehler-Allen, commented: “My father had an infectious excitement about protecting the environment and its resources. His talk and actions influenced his five children and 13 granddaughters. He touched many lives on his journey through life. They represent his vision and excitement about nature and protecting the environment.”