Christy Counterman, Marketing Assistant
If you are old enough to be a Heritage Hiker (one who completed their first year of the Fall Hiking Spree during its first decade), then you are likely to remember broadcaster Paul Harvey. His daily stories on the radio shared the backstories, or the “rest of the story,” of many, much like the stories of the thousands of hikers who have participated in the Summit Metro Parks Fall Hiking Spree for these past 59 years. After nearly six decades of sprees, there are countless tales to recall, and happy surprises when vintage photos are identified and their subjects are located. Last Fall, in the September/October issue of Green Islands magazine, we published a photo of Bert Szabo, our first naturalist and one of the originators of the spree, awarding hiking staffs and certificates in December 1967. Alert reader Angie Tryon noticed the photo when it was shared on social media, identifying the boy as her now-husband and his dad. Grandson David Tryon is now the proud owner of his grandfather’s staff, which is now adorned with many more shields earned over the decades.
Recently SMP staff discovered a group of photos housed in the Special Collections Division of the Akron-Summit County Public Library. Other than the month and year, there is no identification on any of them. Perhaps you recognize some of these Heritage Hikers in this post and can help us share their stories.
One couple pictured was very familiar to us, as they were featured in a Throwback Thursday Facebook post on October 14, 2021. Longtime SMP volunteers Dave and Nancy Reinhart are making good use of their hiking staffs in this photo from October 1970. Dave is wearing his jacket from Stow Track & Field, where he would enjoy a 30-year coaching career. He carried young Rod, who looked forward to earning his first hiking staff. Nancy, who was expecting their daughter, hiked until she was nine months pregnant, and is surrounded by other hikers we hope to get to know as well.
In the 1960s and 70s, hikers who were the first to finish the spree each year were recognized for their accomplishments. In 1965 the honor went to Louis Thompson of Cuyahoga Falls. His grandchildren Jill, Louis and James began the hikes in 1967. In 1969, the first finishers were William Gerstenmaier of Goodyear Heights and his friend, Robert Jubin. They finished the spree on day one at 1:58 p.m.! It’s possible the spree propelled William into a lifelong career of adventure. The 14-year-old also single-handedly created a trail loop at Sand Run Metro Park to earn his Life Rank in the Boy Scouts. Later, he would graduate as valedictorian of East High School, followed by entering the Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD. He graduated from Purdue University with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering. That took him to NASA Lewis Research Center in Cleveland, where he began his 40-year NASA career, leading efforts with the Space Shuttle program and the International Space Station. Now an executive at SpaceX, he is still remembered for launching his long list of achievements in Akron, Ohio.
While Paul Harvey would say, “now you know the rest of the story,” we know there are many more stories waiting to be discovered. We’d like to hear your stories, whether they’re memories of a specific event or reminiscences of decades of hiking in the parks. If you earned your hiking staff between 1964 and 1974, we have a special Heritage Hiker tag for you. And now you know…the story continues!