City officials reported Thursday morning that former Bellefontaine mayor and city council member Don South passed away Wednesday evening. He was 85.
“We were deeply saddened at the news of former mayor Don South passing away last night,” Bellefontaine Mayor Ben Stahler said Thursday. “Don was a lifelong resident. He graduated from Bellefontaine High School and served his community proudly.
“He was on Bellefontaine City Council for four terms; from 1972 until 1980. In 1980, he became mayor of our community. By 1983, he responded to a higher calling to work with U.S. Congressman Mike DeWine in Washington, D.C.”
South was born Dec. 19, 1935, in Stub Road in Union Township to Paul and Mary Wilson South.
A 1953 BHS graduate, he served with the FBI Fingerprinting Division in 1953 in Washington, D.C. He also attended Ohio Northern University and The Ohio State University. The former city official married Barbara Renkert in 1968.
In his annual report to the council on the accomplishments of 1981, former Mayor South related the actions of his administration that resulted in cost savings to the city, including the elimination of the switchboard in the municipal building, an annual savings of $18,000 at that time; the purchase of an asphalt recycler; and installation of a traffic signal on State Route 540 and U.S. Route 33, according to an article in the Examiner archives.
Other accomplished denoted by South in his 1981 address included: the completion of reconstruction on south Main Street, installation of the Spring and Madriver Storm sewer, creation of a joint park and recreation board to supervise the construction and operation of the proposed East Field Park; wiring of hangars and other permanent improvements at Bellefontaine Municipal Airport; renaming Civic Park as Lewis B. Ratleff Park in honor of the former city service-safety director; and marrying 18 couples that year, without charge.
During his time on city council, South authored the advertising sign ordinance.
He resigned his mayoral seat to serve as an aide to former Congressman DeWine.
“Mayor South remained very active politically. He made numerous contributions to our community, and his presence will be sorely missed,” Mayor Stahler said.