New Scholarship Honors Doug Castle’s Legacy

MANSFIELD - Doug Castle was a local educator whose 50-year career spanned all aspects of education in Richland County. He had a special place in his heart for the underdog. When he died of brain cancer in 2018, his family established the Doug Castle Legacy Fund at the Richland County Foundation to carry on his work and honor his life. His wife, Liz; son, Michael, and daughter, Beth, want the fund to help in many areas including education, racial equity and inclusion, mentorship, and community building.

Doug began his teaching career in 1965 at John Simpson Junior High School and took an active role in coaching football, basketball, and track. Castle retired from Mansfield City Schools in 2000 after years of leadership including as principal of Simpson, and then worked as the Galion Middle School principal for the next five years. For many years he was also the director of the Mansfield Mehock Relays and then the Gorman Wrestling Tournament. Ohio State University Football Coach Jim Tressel hired Castle to work as an Academic Encourager for the young men on the football team.

Castle developed an administrative philosophy based on being fair and keeping a sense of humor. He was a staunch believer in disciplining children in a way that would not destroy their dignity or self-respect. He valued every student.

The first grant from this fund will be a $2,000 scholarship to a Mansfield Senior High School senior. The scholarship will be awarded annually at the discretion of the Doug Castle Legacy Project Advisory Committee. The scholarship will acknowledge and celebrate a student who has demonstrated leadership and commitment to community involvement through education, racial equity, and social justice. Priority will be given to a student interested in pursuing a degree and career in K-12 education.

The members of the scholarship selection committee are Liz and Beth Castle, Brigitte Coles, Donna Hight and Effie James. Applications for the scholarship are available through the Mansfield Senior High School Guidance Counselor Office. The deadline to apply is April 1, 2021.

Anyone can donate to the Doug Castle Legacy Fund online at richlandcountyfoundation. org, click the donate button and select the Doug Castle Fund. Or you can write a check to the Richland County Foundation and note the fund on the memo line.