The Professor Raymond W. Bixler Award

James A. Montaquila `66 is a school administrator, business owner and community service volunteer. He received his Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education from Ashland College and his Master of Science in Secondary Education from the University of Akron. Now residing in Peninsula, Ohio, Montaquila started his career in 1966 as a social studies teacher in Nordonia Hills Local Schools and Woodridge Local Schools. From 1975 to 2008, he participated in an administrative role for various local school districts. During 2008 to 2011, Montaquila worked as a driver training teacher for the Universal Driving Training Center and he currently acts as an entrepreneur in residence at Believe in Ohio. As an active member of the community, Montaquila has been a board member for the Cuyahoga Valley Homeowners Association, a candidate for the Summit County Council, and a chairperson for the Portage County Retired Teachers Association Scholarship Committee. He has served as a member of the Peninsula Library Board, as President of the Boston Township Board of Zoning Appeals, as a school board member for Woodridge Local Schools, and as Vice President of the Cuyahoga Valley Communities Council. Additionally, Montaquila took a critical role in establishing and supervising a G.E.D. program for incarcerated juveniles that produced over 200 successful candidates each year. The program included the first membership for a juvenile corrections institution in the Ohio High School Athletic Association and permitted an intake process of over 1,200 students each year. Montaquila also has contributed to the community with his position as marketing director for the National Driver Training School (Universal Driving Training Center), as business owner/manager for Peninsula Hardwoods and as owner/manager of the Terry Lumber & Supply Company. During the 1980s and 1990s, Montaquila owned and operated two successful lumber establishments that had over $10 million in annual sales at that time. He grew the sales from one of the companies to five states and negotiated with the National Park Service for funds to relocate a full service lumber yard.