Lanier Township near Gratis in Preble County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Billy J. "Bill" Sewert
1923 - 2003
| | Hall of Honor | |
Photographed by Craig Doda, June 28, 2025
1. Billy J. "Bill" Sewert Marker
Sewert spent his life in service to his country in the US Army, receiving the Purple Heart Medal, and to his community working in journalism and writing a weekly Lewisburg village column for The Register-Herald.
He helped convert the old movie theater into the fire station, served on the village council and in many other organizations, and started the emergency squad.
Inducted into the Hall of Honor July 3, 2016
As recorders of Preble County history, PCHS and The Register-Herald are natural partners in co-sponsoring the Hall of Honor
Erected 2016 by Preble County Historical Society - The Register-Herald. (Marker Number 27.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Government & Politics • Industry & Commerce • Military. A significant historical date for this entry is July 3, 2016.
Location. 39° 39.495′ N, 84° 32.848′ W. Marker is near Gratis, Ohio, in Preble County. It is in Lanier Township. It is at the intersection of Swartsel Road and Ohio Route 122, on the right when traveling south on Swartsel Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7693
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Regionally, this marker is in Ohio’s Till Plains. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Irene Hardy (here, next to this marker); Sarah Elizabeth Daugherty Reynolds (here, next to this marker); Chester "Chet" (1908-1970) & Mary Palmer Wagner (1913-1985) (here, next to this marker); Jo Ann (1927-2010) & William E. Lange (1925-2012) (here, next to this marker); Paul Edwin Ray (here, next to this marker); Sherwood Anderson (here, next to this marker); Alfa Lloyd Hayes (here, next to this marker); Phyllis Ashman Campbell "Mamma Jazz" (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gratis.
Also see . . . Hall of Honor nominees sought. (Submitted on July 11, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
Photographed by Craig Doda, June 28, 2025
2. Preble County Historical Society & Nature Reserve - Hall of Honor
Credits. This page was last revised on December 2, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 2, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 93 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 2, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
