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Miami trustees choose  new chairman

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By Lindsey Hilty, Staff Writer Updated 11:55 PM Thursday, December 23, 2010

OXFORD — As Donald Crain of West Chester Twp. steps into the role of chairman of the Miami University Board of Trustees, he said he can think of no better way to serve his Alma mater.

“It’s been kind of a center of gravity for me throughout my life,” the 1970 graduate said. “I can never do enough for Miami.”

Crain, a partner with Frost Brown Todd, has served on the board for five years of his nine-year term, two as vice chairman. He replaces John S. Christie of Columbus.

Other governor-appointed members include S. Kay Geiger, David F. Herche and Jagdish K. Bhati of Cincinnati; Thomas Grote of Columbus, Dennis A. Lieberman of Dayton, Sharon Mitchell of West Chester Twp., Richard K. Smucker of Orville and Harry T. Wilks of Hamilton.

“We think that he will be a wonderful addition and a wonderful person to be at the helm of the board,” said Dionn Tron, Miami's associate vice president for communications, who called Crain an “exemplary leader.”

Crain said it is a role he has wanted for many years, and though his board commitment requires his presence in Oxford about 20 to 25 days each year, it is a “labor of love.”

“It is the highest form of service to Miami that one can give. Everything I have today, I owe to Miami, because it paid for my education. I got a great education there.”

Crain earned a full ride to Miami to play baseball after graduating from Hamilton Catholic High School in 1966 — the last graduating class before the school became Badin High School. He also played a year of basketball for Miami. He studied history, political science and education, before going on to the University of Cincinnati for his law degree.

A Miami Merger, Crain met his wife, Susan, his senior year when she was a freshman. His two daughters also attended Miami.

Crain has served as a longtime member and president on the Red and White Board; he has taught in the school of business; and he was a 20-year member of the Miami University Middletown Citizens Advisory Board.

Crain lived in Fairfield for 27 years and moved to West Chester Twp. in 2004.

His trustee term will end  Feb. 28, 2015.

Donald Crain

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