by Roy Nichols

In August, Big Walnut Area Historical Society will host Roy Nichols who will present a program "They Missed Their Chance" about men who could have been President of the United States. The program begins at 7:30 on Tuesday evening, August 8, in the Myers Inn Museum Meeting Room. The program is open and free to the public.

Roy Nichols

Nichols talk features Aaron Burr, John C. Calhoun, Willie P. Mangum, Daniel Webster, Henry Clay, Lafayette Foster, Benjamin Wade, Samuel Tilden, Levi P. Morton, Adlai Stevenson I, Hiram Johnson, Frank Lowden, John Nance Garner, Henry C. Wallace, Alben Barkley, Nelson Rockefeller.

Several of these were VP's whose President survived assassination attempts; some were Presidents Pro Tem of the Senate who would have succeeded if the President had been killed or removed; and some declined the VP offer from a President who died in office. Tilden, of course, won the popular vote but lost the electoral count in a disputed election.

Roy Nichols graduated from Ashland High School and got his B.A. from Gordon College in Massachusetts in 1967 and M.A.T from Oberlin College in 1968. He taught history and American government in Midview High School in Grafton, Ohio, while he attended law classes and earned his law degree from Cleveland-Marshall Law School in 1972.

From 1972-75 Roy served as the Assistant Counsel for Ohio Secretary of State (in Elections division). From 1975 to 1979 he was Chief of the Corporations Division for Ohio Secretary of State. From 1979- 1983 he served as Chief of Legal Services Division of Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (Legislative Liasion for DRC). From 1983-2007 he was in private law practice but taught classes at Columbus State and other local colleges.

Upon retirement he formed Nicholsworth Presentations and gives historical talks on a variety of subjects, is a Professional Storyteller and plays Santa. He is a member of Vaudvillities cast member (3 shows per year); Hanby House volunteer; Church choir; Silvertones Chorus; enjoys karaoke and ballroom dancing; Forever Young Theater Group (once per year); Gillie Payers (3 plays per year); Underground Railroad Study Group.

Roy is active in Faith Covenant Church, Blendon Senior Center, Westerville Senior Center, Gillie Rec Center, Storytellers of Central Ohio, 2 Civil War Round Table Groups; Ohio History Connection; Westerville Historical Society; Delaware County Historical Society and the Griswold Center in Worthington.

(07/22/2017)