The Honorary Alumnus/Alumna Award

Gunther Meisse serves as president of Mid-State Multimedia Group in Mansfield, which includes WMFD-TV, WOHZ-TV, WVNO Radio and WRGM Radio. Born and raised in Mansfield, he graduated from Mansfield Senior High School in 1960. He and his wife, Jeanne, reside in Mansfield and have six grown children and 17 grandchildren.

In 2010, Meisse was honored to be selected as a North Central State College "Entrepreneur of the Year” and was recognized by the Mansfield/Richland Chamber of Commerce as a “Leader of the Year.” In 2011, he was involved with the development fund drive for Ashland University College of Nursing’s new campus in Mansfield.

Meisse has served on the board of the Richland/Mansfield Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber Economic Foundation, the National Association of FM Broadcasters, the Ohio Association of Broadcasters and is presently on the board of the Radio Advertising Bureau. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Broadcasters.

Meisse formed the North Central Ohio Association of Broadcasters in the mid ’70s and also served as president of the local Community Improvement Corporation (CIC), and of Richland County Growth Corporation, which later became the Richland Economic Development Corporation. He also was one of the founders of the Richland Community Development Group and serves as its vice-chairman. He presently serves on the Board of the North Central State College Foundation and also chairs the UW Capital Drive Gateway Committee.

Jeanne Meisse was born and raised in Lawrenceburg, Tenn., graduating as salutatorian of her high school class. She received a B.S. at the University of Tennessee in 1963 and M.S. from Arizona State University in 1965. As a home economics teacher, she taught school one year in Phoenix, Ariz., and five years at Fairfax High School in Los Angeles, Calif., retiring from teaching in June 1970 to raise a family. After moving to Ohio in 1973, she was a stay-at-home mom for two young sons and became an active community volunteer.

She is currently active in and was a former president of Pleasant Valley Garden Club, Wednesday Study Club and Mansfield Area Delta Gamma Alumnae Group. She also serves on the newly organized Friends of Kingwood committee.

In 2008, she was elected vice president of Johnny Appleseed Broadcasting Co. Inc., GSM Media Inc., and Mid State Television Inc. In 1980-81, after her late husband’s untimely death, she was interim president of Mansfield Aircraft Products and subsequently a consultant for the new owners, Midland-Ross Corporation.

While currently serving on the capital fund drive committee for Ashland University’s Dwight Schar College of Nursing, she has attained a new level of excitement and appreciation for the leadership and staff of Ashland University and the field of nursing. She also served on the Mansfield Area Y capital campaign committee for its new building.