A Worthy Life: Clarence W. Magsig

By Joellen Ulliman, Curator
May 2024

According to the zodiac, the classic Leo is ambitious, stubborn, passionate, courageous, devoted . . . a leader. Clarence William Magsig is just such a Leo, born under this sign on July 26, 1901. His family lives on a farm, and when his parents die young, he stays; it is expected he will become a farmer himself. However, he has very big dreams. He wants to go to college. He is kicked off of the farm and then moves to Findley to live with an uncle.

He attends Miami University in Oxford. He plays football and after graduating, earns a law degree from Ohio State. Clarence joins the bar in 1927. He becomes an assistant county prosecutor in charge of trial work.

In 1933, he marries Jane Hufford. They eventually have 3 children: William, Jarrett, and Martha. They build an 8-room home on Centerville Station Rd. and settle there in 1937, ready to raise their family and become part of the community. They enjoy collecting antiques and soon have a house full of them.

Prior to the Magsigs’ arrival, the 9 one-room schoolhouses and high school are consolidated into Washington Township School at 192 West Franklin. In 1923, students in grades 1-12 are welcomed to the new building.

Clarence gets involved as a school board member starting in January 1940. He serves for about 15 years through some of the most rapid growth this district has ever seen.

By the time Clarence joins the board, Centerville and Washington Township are growing exponentially. After World War II, the classrooms are crowded. Some have over 50 children! The schools are exploding with students due to families moving into new housing developments.

Clarence pushes for improvements to be done, and fast. During the war, construction has been halted everywhere for 5 years. Immediately after the war, he campaigns for additional wings on the existing structure.

The only bid for an east wing comes from Knowlton Construction and is $14,000 over the $200,000 raised by a bond issue. It is quietly known that there is 2 feet of stone under the school building, and the contractor realizes he does not really want to get involved in an expensive, long project. The bid expires in 30 days; the school board has no time to have the plans redrawn.

Clarence announces at a board meeting, “We’ll just go out into the community and raise the cash.” Educator C. L. Stingley notes the determined glint in his eye.

Clarence leads the door-to-door campaign talking to citizens, asking for cash only. Within 2 weeks, all funds are raised. The contractor begrudgingly takes on the momentous task . . . under the watchful eyes of Clarence and other board members.

The challenges in Clarence’s life do not end there. While working with his family at a school carnival in 1952, they hear on the radio that their home is struck by lightning and on fire. There is excessive damage done.

It takes 1 ½ years to completely renovate and make repairs. The Magsigs live in a re-purposed 2-story barn on their property while the work is being completed. In fact, after the renovations, 3 rooms are added and the “barn house” remains. By then, Clarence struggles to get up and down stairs; a bedroom and bathroom are located on the first floor.

However, the fire that burns so brightly within him is dimming. In Dec. 1956, he resigns from the school board and in 1959, he retires completely from work. His health is declining. He dies in 1960 at only 58 years old. Jane continues to live in the house and start a business from home selling antiques. She dies in the summer of 1995 at age 88.

In 1963, Dr. A.V. Black suggests the name of Washington Township School be changed to Magsig Junior High. Clarence’s spirit will always live on through a grateful community and thousands of students.

“If our meager worth lives in others, what matters then our destiny.”

inscription from Clarence’s tombstone