Bob and Jan Archer had moved four times in seven years before settling in Ashland 50 years ago. They found that Ashland provided the elements in a community they wanted for their family and their interests in education, music and sports, so they stayed. Their three children all participated in Ashland High School sports, including football, swimming and tennis and one in music. Bob played football, basketball and baseball all through high school but here he pursued his love of golf and swimming. Jan played the piano and walked the golf course!

Bob came to Ashland as president of Eagle Rubber Company and recently retired as CEO of Kent Watersports now Kent Outdoors. He has a degree in Engineering Administration from Case and an MBA from Kent State. Jan has a master’s in Health and Social Services from Akron U and a bachelor’s in Church Music from BW. Both have been given honorary Doctorate degrees from Ashland University. She worked as a health planner at Samaritan Hospital, then as Director of United Way and Leadership Ashland. Both have been active in the community and at AU, finding numerous organizations to enjoy and to give of their time and treasure.

Some of the areas where they have given their time include the YMCA where Bob has served as board president, now as trustee emeritus, and chair of two fund drives. He currently serves on Ashland University’s Board of Trustees and the Ashbrook Center Board and is an Executive in Residence. He also is an active member of AU’s men and women’s basketball booster clubs as well as the volleyball and soccer teams’ clubs. Jen has been a member of the Ashland Symphony Board, the Ashland County Community Foundation Board, the United Way Board and Rotary Club. A special interest of hers has been the Center for Nonviolence at AU, having helped found it.

The areas where they have contributed include the Ashland City Schools, Ashland University, the city and the county. They were pleased to give the lead gift for the High School Auditorium and major gifts for both the Field House and the baseball field. Each year they give scholarships to academically achieving seniors for athletics and/or music. At Ashland University, they have funded the new baseball/softball complex and the soccer field improvements and given scholarship monies for men and women’s basketball, baseball, softball, soccer and wrestling. Other contributions have been made to the Library, the Seminary and the Ashbrook Center. Endowments have been made for the Ashbrook Center and the Nonviolence Center. In the city and county, they were lead givers for the YMCA additions and renovations, the Ashland Theater and the new Foundations Community Childcare Center. Other major gifts were made to the Salvation Army outdoor water park and the renovated Associated Charities building. They also provided the challenge gift for the new Devy McClure Outdoor Education Center.

Bob and Jan have been married 67 years and their family includes children Pam married to Mark, David to Tasanee, and John to Teresa. Their grandchildren include Jack, Maggie, Erin, Kelley, Kendall, Kimmy and Jimmy and their great grandchildren are Wilder, Rowan and Lottie.