Welcome

Janet Lyne has been greatly involved in the choral music world since receiving her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in piano and choral music education at Bowling Green State University under the guidance of Richard Mathey, Dr Ivan Trusler, Dr. William Skoog, Dr. Barbara Lockard-Zimmerman, and Dr. James Paul Kennedy. She is retired from teaching vocal music K-12 and college level courses. She has been a member of the Ohio Music Education Association, American Choral Directors Association, Phi Delta Kappa-Education Honorary, Sigma Alpha Iota music fraternity, and Kappa Delta sorority. She also studied voice under Lester Freedman, founder of the Toledo and Dayton opera. She is the founder and director of the Henry County Chorale, an adult community choir. Janet is equally active in musical theatre, having served as director, assistant director, choreographer, vocal director, accompanist and/or conductor for 60+ shows at school, church, college and community theatres. Originally from Bryan, Ohio, Janet has also been a church organist/pianist/vocalist since the sixth grade. One of Lyne’s proudest accomplishments is her son Zach, who is a dispatcher for the Henry County Sheriff and fireman/EMT for Florida Fire & Rescue. She is also married to Larry Lyne, retired director of the Liberty Center High School band program. 

Shellee Murcko serves as the Treasurer for CCHC and earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Youngstown State University in vocal performance.  She sings at Holy Rosary Cathedral in Toledo, with the Henry County Chorale, and has appeared with several area theater groups.  She teaches private music lessons.  She has also worked as a liturgist and church musician and as head of historic cooking at Sauder Village. Shellee and Jim Murcko have lived in Napoleon since 1987.  They have two daughters who graduated from Napoleon schools and Jim taught music here for more than thirty years.  We have dedicated our lives to helping others develop their talents.  We look forward to continuing to help others learn and grow and bring arts and entertainment programs back to the auditorium at the Cultural Center.  This is such an exciting opportunity for our area! .

Larry Lyne has been involved in instrumental music since the 4th grade when he was introduced into playing a trombone in elementary school band by Max Treier, Director of Band at Cambridge City Schools. In the eighth grade, he started playing in the community Jazz Band under the direction of Howdy Max. After graduating from high school, he attended Bowling Green State University. While at the university, he had many individuals who influenced his life, but the top two were David Glassmier and Mark S. Kelly, director of University Bands. In his final semester, Mr Lyne student taught in Napoleon under the direction of Roger King, who became a lifelong friend. He was one of the founding members of Mr. King’s Community Band, which is still performing in Napoleon. After graduation from BGSU, Larry accepted a teaching position as Director of Instrumental Music at Liberty Center Local Schools, where he spent the next 35 years of his life as band director to over one fourth of the school’s population. He started students in the 4th grade and taught them until graduation from high school. The best part of teaching was having his son, Zachary, as a student. Both he and his wife, Janet, attend St. Paul Lutheran church. Mr. Lyne has been involved in most community functions involving music in the schools and community of Napoleon. He retired from teaching in 2009 but is still active in the music world. When asked what was one of the best things about retirement, he replied: Not having to ride a school bus on Friday night!  

Vicky worked as a Paraprofessional with students with special needs. My family moved to Napoleon in 1968 as new owners of Paul's Bowl A Way, then onto River City Bowl A Way. Her husband Bruce's family originated in Napoleon, with his Grandfather being Dr Tony Delventhal. Musicals, plays, choir & band programs have all been a joy to her. As a board member, she can't wait for the Cultural Center of Henry County to continue to grow and bring these events to life!

Yvonne Lassen Harter grew up in Napoleon. She attended West Elementary, Central Junior High and graduated from Napoleon High School with academic honors. Her father taught vocal and choral music teacher in the Napoleon Area Schools for over three decades. Her mother was the long-time organist of the First Presbyterian Church in Napoleon and taught private piano and voice lessons. Both of her parents were active in Community Concerts, an organization that brought renowned musicians to perform concerts in Napoleon, most of which were held in Central School’s beautiful historic John L. Johnson (JLJ) auditorium. 

Tom and his wife Beth have lived in Napoleon since 1971. Tom received a Bachelors’ degree in elementary education and a Masters degree in educational administration from Bowling Green State University. He retired from the Napoleon Area Schools after 40 years of service to the community, serving 32 years as an elementary and middle school principal. Long a supporter of the arts, Tom has continued playing the trumpet in local bands, churches, and in over 80 musicals. He serves as the bugler for the American Legion honor guard in sounding Taps at local veteran’s committal services and has sounded Taps three times at the National Soldier’s Monument in Gettysburg (PA) National Cemetery.

As the volunteer business manager for the Napoleon Community Band, Tom is always on the look out for venues to play at. Tom is a past president of the Henry County Historical Society and lives in a 115 year old historic home that they have restored. This is how he became interested in the Cultural Center project. “A community like ours needs an arts center where adults and students can express themselves through music, theater, and the graphic arts. Many communities, small and large, have places centered on the arts. Why not ours? In renovating the Central School Auditorium, we can salvage an historic building that will continue to serve and create memories for the area residents.”

  Phil Gerken grew up a few miles outside of Napoleon and graduated from Napoleon High School.  After earning an engineering degree from Ohio State University, he returned to northwest Ohio to begin his career and raise a family.  Phil and his wife Kate can be seen running their four children to numerous activities for church, school, sports and 4-H. Phil's career working for an automotive supplier has given him the opportunity to travel throughout North America "I have been to cities and towns of all sizes; the liveliest communities have historic areas that showcase culture and the arts, enticing people to visit."  The Cultural Center is a way for us to enrich the quality of life in Henry County for future generations.

 We honor Denny's dedication and service to our mission.

 Born in Napoleon, Ohio, Denny graduated from NHS in 1969. He played football, ran one and two miles in track and wrestled during his school years. Moving back home to Napoleon, Denny became involved with the effort to save his Alma mater for use as a civic cultural center. He has taken an interest in the physical plant and helping with repairs because he understands the synergy this project will provide for Napoleon, Henry County and the entire area. Denny is retired from GM, having worked at the Central Foundry in Defiance, Saturn in Spring Hill, Tennessee and finally at Louisiana Pacific in Sevilla, Michigan. Denny lives in rural Florida, Ohio, near the Maumee River. Denny is Husband to Mary and the father of Amy, Kristie, Kim, Kyle and Garrett.