The News Tribune

Robert W. Welty Appointed County Supt. Of Schools

Robert W. Welty, 46, principal of the Jewell School for the past 19 years, has been appointed as Superintendent of Defiance County Schools. The announcement was made Friday evening by the County Board. Mr. Welty began his new duties Monday, succeeding the late Paul H. Underhill, who died July 15. The contract is for 3 years.

Mr. Welty was born at Mt. Vernon, Ill., in 1909 and moved to a farm near Hicksville at the age of 5, with his parents, the late Austin Welty and Mrs. Martha Welty, now of Hicksville.

He received his elementary schooling in a rural school near his home and graduated from Hicksville High School in the Class of 1927. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Defiance College in 1931, and he attended Ohio State University for two summers, studying chemistry and education and obtained his Masters Degree in School Administration from the University of Michigan in 1942.

From 1931 to 1936 he taught chemistry and coached football and basketball at Hicksville, and took the principalship of the Jewell school.

He was married Aug. 25, 1931 to Marian Sprow of Reading, Mich. They have four children, Philip, Kent State junior next fall; Alan, 1955 graduate at Jewell who will enter Ohio State University this fall; Carolyn Lynn, sophomore in high school and Sheila, 8th grader.

While attending Defiance College Mr. Welty was a tackle for four years on the football team, and served as captain part of the time. He also took part in other sports.

Mr. Welty is a member of the Hicksville Masonic Lodge, Past President of the Defiance County Teachers Association and holds memberships in the Northwest Ohio Teachers Association, Ohio Educational Association and National Education Association.