"I've always tried to be involved in community service," Doug Cade said with a self-effacing smile when he was asked why he got involved with the Lawrence County Bicentennial Bell project.

Cade said it was a combination of community pride and love of history.

"I'm a surveyor, and in surveying you learn how the state was created and how the counties were formed

and about the state's history, and this has always fascinated me," Cade said.

When asked to be on the bell committee, he readily agreed to be part of local history-in-the-making.

In working with the bell committee, Cade wound up wearing a lot of hats. He has been actively involved in planning the ceremonies surrounding the bell pouring at the Lawrence County Fair, and in the planning of a tour that will take the bell on a cross-county trek before it is officially placed at the Lawrence County Courthouse. He is also busy selling bicentennial bell mementos through his work with the Lawrence County Grange.

Wearing many different hats is nothing new to Cade. He is Grange Master for the Windsor Grange, chairman of the Ohio Valley Resource Conservation and Development Council and is vice president of the Ohio Floodplain Manager's Association.

A civil engineer and surveyor, he and his wife, Ruth, also an engineer, will soon open an office in downtown Ironton. Century Engineering will offer various forms of project assistance to local governments. Cade is the former special projects director for the Ironton-Lawrence County Community Action Organization.

Cade said the experience with the bell committee has been positive, with the effort paying off with lasting dividends.

"The ability to bring the community together and celebrate the making of the bell and then take the bell to people who can't be here to see it made, I think is significant," Cade said. "Without question, I've enjoyed being a part of this and I've enjoyed developing friendships here. The people on this committee are wonderful. None of them are selfish, everyone has given of their time, which is one of the most precious commodities that anyone has."