"Grand Old Saint Mary's”- Catholic Man of the Year- Richard Castrop: Stories & Historical Accounts of St. Mary's Parishioners by Ed Quickert

“The time is fast approaching for the nomination of the 2021 “Catholic Man of the Year” award. 

In 1975, Alexander “Ollie” Rueckel was the first St. Mary parishioner to receive the award followed by Arthur G. Duemmel in 1984. In 1993 Richard Castrop became the third man from St. Mary’s to receive the award. Richard graduated from the old St. Mary High School and Bliss Business College. In 1944 he married Helen Haban, and together they raised four children. Richard was the past executive director of the Rosemont Center. He also served on numerous boards and organizations, becoming president of the diocese’s first parish council (Corpus Christi), the Diocesan Council of Catholic Men and the Serra and Kiwanis Clubs. He gave his time and talent to the United Way, the Ohio Association of Child Caring Agencies and Franklin County Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. He was associated with the Sisters of the Good Shepherd at the Rosemont Center for over a quarter of a century, where he led the expansion of their programs to include a group home, aftercare services and family, drug and alcohol counseling. Under his leadership, the number served at Rosemont grew from fewer than 10 to more than 650 young people and their families each year.” - by Ed Quickert